As we shall see, the Antichrist IS the same person as the false prophet. We will look at a few passages to show that the Antichrist is a Jew who will be in an alliance with a political leader who will guarantee Israel protection from their enemies during the coming Tribulation Period. He is called the Antichrist because the Jews will believe he is their Messiah and yet he is a “false Messiah.” He is called a “false prophet” because he will be making an image of the political leader and telling the world to worship his image, or they will be killed.

The ANTICHRIST/FALSE PROPHET: Jesus said in John 5:43, “I am come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.” Jesus knew that the nation of Israel would one day receive someone else as their Messiah. This will happen after the Rapture. The following passage shows us the revealing of the Antichrist: “Let no man deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the MAN OF SIN IS REVEALED, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). This was also prophesied by Daniel the prophet in Daniel 11:36-39: “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exact and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. But in their place, HE SHALL HONOR A GOD OF FORTRESSES; AND A GOD WHICH HIS FATHERS DID NOT KNOW he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with A FOREIGN GOD, WHICH HE SHALL ACKNOWLEDGE, AND ADVANCE ITS GLORY; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.” This “king” is indeed the “Antichrist.” He must be a Jew for we read here that he “shall not regard the God of his fathers.” I believe “his fathers” refers to “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” for God refers to Himself as the “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Exodus 3:15 and Acts 7:32). Besides that, the Jews would never receive a Gentile ruler as their Messiah. Yet Daniel tells us that he will “honor a god of fortresses” which brings speaks of the “political leader” who will guarantee Israel MILITARY PROTECTION. The Antichrist will, as already mentioned, honor him by demanding that the world worship him. In this sense, he is the Gentile leader’s “prophet,” but he is the “false prophet” to his own people and to the world.

The POLITICAL LEADER: This man will be the “Head of the Revived Roman Empire” during the Tribulation Period. I would encourage you to read of him in Daniel 7:7-8 and Revelation 13:1-10; 17:1-17 where we see the revival of the Roman Empire and the MAN who will be ruling over this empire. He is called the “little horn” in Daniel 7:8 and “the Beast” in Revelation 13:3-4, 14-15; 17:11, 13, 17. He will be a “political genius” who will gain the admiration of all of Europe and other democratic nations. Israel will see in him the one who has the military power to protect them and thus they will enter into a covenant with him for seven years (see Daniel 9:27a). The Antichrist (False Prophet) will then “honor this god of fortresses” by making an image of him and placing it in the temple of Jerusalem for all to worship (see Revelation 13:11-15 with Daniel 9:27b,c; 12:11; and Matthew 24:15). See their end in Revelation 19:20.

In closing, many have tried to guess the identity of the Antichrist/False Prophet but as we have seen, he will not be revealed until the Tribulation Period takes place. I do believe he may be “waiting in the wings and ready to come on center stage” after the Rapture of the church.  (DO)  (683.5)