Daniel 8:23 – The Most Infamous Man – Bible study

Daniel 8:23 The Worlds Most Infamous Man I want to speak to you about the most infamous Bible character in the Bible; indeed, the most infamous man in history. Strangely enough, while we know much about him, there is also much we dont know. 1. We dont know his name. 2. We have no idea the dates of his life. 3. We dont know his nationality. 4. If you are saved and what I believe of the Bible is true, you and I will never know that person in his full power. Yet, for anyone who knows the Bible, this man is the most feared and dreaded man in Scriptures. We refer to him simply as the anti-Christ. 1. Anti is Greek and means against. 2. He is the one against Christ. Even though we do not know the exact time of his birth, we know that he will come to his greatest power during the time period we call the Tribulation. The Bible does not tell us exactly when the Tribulation will happen but this verse tells us that we are waiting on a particular event to take place. "when the transgressors are come to the full" He will come when sinners have reached their full. The idea is that God Himself has a limit as to how much sin He is going to let come to pass, then judgment is going to come! 1. God had His full of sin in Noahs day. 2. Gods limit got hit by the northern kingdom in Isaiahs day, then the southern kingdom hit it in Jeremiahs day. 3. All of Israel hit when they rejected and crucified Jesus. 4. God has a limit to how much sin He will allow our day as well! a. God is only going to let America get by with so much. b. God is only going to let you get by with so much. c. God is only going to let mankind get by with so much before He commences the greatest judgment of all, the Tribulation. For those of you interested in such things, there are five main Bible chapters that discuss this Man of Sin. They are Daniel 7 and 8; 2Thess 2, Revelation 13 and 19. Let me share with you some of the basic truths about The Worlds Most Infamous Man. I. This man will be a great ruler, the leader of the greatest world federation in the history of mankind. A. \#Dan 7:23\ reveals that he will arise out of earths fourth world kingdom. Dan 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 1. The four world kingdoms have been: a. Babylonian b. Medes and Persians c. Greeks d. Romans 2. He will be a part of the revived Roman empire. B. \#Dan 7:24\ tells us that when he arises, the world federation will have ten major players. He will replace three of them. Dan 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 1. We presently have an organization which could become this ten nation confederation. It is called G8. 2. G8 stands for Group of 8. 3. It started as G6 in 1975. 4. It is comprised of the United States, Germany, France, Japan, Italy, Canada, United Kingdom, and Russia. 5. The 44th G8 Summit will be held in Italy this year and the 45th in Canada next year. II. Many passages describe him.. A. He will be a great speaker. \#Dan 7:25\ 1. This is emphasized in the vision that Daniel was receiving the interpretation for. Dan 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 2. It is mentioned again in the New Testament counterpart to Daniel, Revelation. Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months. 3. We are actually told that one of his tools to rise to power will be his ability to speak and flatter. Dan 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 4. He will use this great ability to lead people down a corrupt path. Dan 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. a. We must first be careful that we do not fall into the trap of wicked speech – flattery, lying, backbiting, rumor mill, gossip. b. We must second be careful that we are not deceived by those with this amazing gift. c. No mans words make wrong right! B. \#Daniel 7:25\ He will have great power. 1. He will "think to change time" and "they shall be given into his hand." a. That is, this fellow will think to change the natural order of things, eternal things that God has created. b. We have seen the definition of marriage, of a man, and of a woman be changed by those whoso farhave not been proven to be the anti-Christ. c. Imagine what HE will change. 2. The New Testament also mentions the anti-Christs power. Rev 13:7 and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. C. This power will not be of his own but will come from another. 1. Revelation tells us a. the dragon gives him his power. Rev 13:2 and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. b. then it tells us who the dragon is! Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 2. \#2Thess 2:3-10\ Describes the Satanic nature of this individual. a. First by the names it calls him. (1) \#2Thess 2:3\ Man of Sin, Son of Perdition (2) \#2Thess 2:8\ that Wicked b. But then it directly tells us. 2Thess 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, c. \#2Thess 2:4, 10\ It also describes what his four purposes are. 2Thess 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (1) He opposes God. (2) He exalts himself. (3) He wants to show himself as God. (4) \#2Thess 2:10\ That they might not be saved. D. Despite this Satanic connection, he will be very successful and popular. Dan 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 1. Notice the two good things this man will accomplish. a. "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper." b. "and by peace shall destroy many." 2. His success will be in creating policies that help businesses and bring world peace. 3. While the flattering speech sounds more like a Democrat, his policies sound more like a Republican. 4. One of his greatest accomplishments will be in producing peace between Israel and the world; unfortunately he will break the treaty after 3 1/2 years. Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. E. He will stand against God. This is a point prominent in all texts. Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 1. He shall speak against God and "wear out," harass continually, Gods saints. 2. \#2Thess 2:4\ He will actually proclaim himself to be god. 3. \#Rev 13:5-6, 16-18\ For 42 months, he will overcome the saints. F. His quests will lead him into the Battle of Armageddon Re 16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. There is much more that the Bible speaks of concerning the infamous man, but time is lacking. Let me conclude for right now by saying, "You do not want to meet this man," and "You dont have to." If you will trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, you can miss him and the grief that he will cause. If you have not, I pray you will today.