Prophecy Watch: Consolidation of Power in the End Times

Prophecy Watch: Consolidation of Power in the End Times

“Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4–5, HCSB)

Jesus warned us as Christians that we should not be deceived. We are to be on watch in the world affairs because what goes on in the world will show indicators of what will happen in the end. One curious phenomenon that is going on today is the consolidation of power. You see this everywhere. The simplest example is in the merging of companies. But in recent times, we have seen the merger of currencies. Just 20 years ago, there were separate currencies all over Europe. With the invention of the euro, 25 countries with each its own currency went to just one.

Economically, we see fewer currencies and fewer markets. Politically, we see that coalitions of governments are coming together. Individual political entities are consolidating into groups of power. Some examples include: European Union, African Union, Arab League, ASEAN. What these unions show is that people can accomplish more together than separately. Power will be consolidated into smaller groups of people. Spiritually, we have seen the same thing. In the past, each village or town had their own god. Along with these gods, there were other gods for a variety of purposes. Rain gods, crop gods, love gods, moon gods, sun gods, and many other gods that were called upon for different purposes.

God as revealed in the Bible changed all this. He revealed Himself to a nation – Israel – and showed the world that He is the only God. Of course, people still consulted their own gods, but God persisted in reaching people. As time passed, God sent His Son – Jesus Christ – to show the world that He is real. Slowly but surely, the nations have come to know that there is one and only one God. There are still people who believe in other gods. Here lies the deception that Jesus warns against. Jesus told His followers that there is only one God. Yet He warns that in the future, someone will come and say that there is another god. He will claim to be god. Will He claim to be Jesus Christ? While some people have claimed to be Jesus Christ, the indication is that Jesus refers to a time when someone will claim to be the salvation for the world. This person will come in place of Jesus – an Antichrist. He will demand the loyalty and worship of everyone on earth. So, in the end the battle for consolidation of spiritual power will come to two people: Jesus and this Antichrist.

There can only be one.

Therefore, this Antichrist will try to show that he is the one God through amazing tricks (tricks that Jesus said would be used in order to deceive the elect). This means that Antichrist will claim to be God. But the point is that there will only be two choices. A person can choose to follow Jesus Christ or Antichrist. Where will this Antichrist get his following. Some have said that through his amazing work, he will draw a following. Others have said that he will be a powerful world leader. It is entirely possible that Antichrist will use a religion as the way to reach the world. Considering that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are linked through Abraham, and that all three make up over 70 percent of the world’s adherents, it is quite possible that this Antichrist will lead one of these religions. Some have said that the Antichrist will be a Muslim. It is possible, but only to the extent that everyone is deceived to believe that he is God.

Antichrist will try to consolidate his power in the first half of the “Tribulation Period”. He will show the world that he can be trusted to bring peace. Therefore, he could actually advertise his religion as peace. Perhaps this religion would already be established. Through his popularity, people will want to join his religion. (This is nothing new. There were emperor cults in the Greco-Roman times. These emperor cults were popular religions where people worshipped the leader of the country)

Antichrist will receive popularity through his peace program in the first half of the “Tribulation Period”. Then he will come to the temple in Jerusalem and claim to make everyone worship him.

This reveals another possible evidence for the likelihood that Antichrist will use Islam as his preferred religion. Since the founding of the state of Israel, the Temple Mount has been controlled by Muslims. They will not like the Temple Mount being given to the Jews.

After Antichrist claims the Temple in Jerusalem as his headquarters, he will demand worship from EVERYONE, not just people in his religion. The revealing fact about this demand is that the people will follow him willingly (Revelation 13:3-4).

At this time, everyone will be expected to follow Antichrist. He will demand worship from Christians. If Antichrist uses another religion, then it is possible to see Christians giving up Christianity to join him. We see this happening all the time. When a Christian marries a non-Christian, especially someone from Judaism or Islam, the Christian will leave Christ. So it will be in the time of the Antichrist.

There can only be one.

Antichrist will even demand proof of worship of himself from people who say they will follow him. While Jesus asks for voluntary worship and discipleship, Antichrist will expect his followers to “show proof of membership.” There has been much speculation on how this will be done. But there is no doubt that it can be done. How can someone mark everyone who adheres to a world religion? Hitler did it with the Jews during World War II. He marked everyone who was a Jew with a number, tattooed on their skin. In fact, the tattoo was marked on their arm. This mark was a mark of death. Anyone who kept this mark was killed. This lesson in history is a haunting reminder how important our faith in Jesus Christ is. The opposite will occur in the reign of the Antichrist. If you identify with him, then you receive a mark. When you receive a mark, you can show your proof of membership, and you receive priveleges.

As the whole world consolidates power to just one leader, technology will be streamlined to help the people. Security will be maintained (probably in a quasi-martial state of law.) People will be free to do whatever they want, except to worship God. People who identify with Jesus Christ, will be searched for and killed. Yet, this time of terrorism and persecution will not last.

Jesus hints that the second half of the “Tribulation Period”, which He calls the “Great Tribulation” will be shortened. He encourages His believers by saying that the terrorism and persecution of the Antichrist will not last. It will not be three and a half years. It will be shorter. He gives this word of encouragement to remind His believers that:

There will only be One.