But there is a single and pervasive dominant image of the Anti-Christ today. That of a slick man supposedly of peace but with an agenda from hell. Some Christians say this image can be found in the Bible. They’ve been turning it into publishing gold dust for decades. ibid.
Whether believers in the existence of the Anti-Christ think he is already here or waiting quietly in the wings, they all consider him the embodiment of evil. ibid.
He has been studied with particular vigour in the United States. ibid.
Interestingly, this big brother aspect of the Anti-Christ is also present in Islamic tradition. ibid.
When will Jesus return to defeat the Anti-Christ and usher in the Millennium? ibid.
The crucial piece of this puzzle is the identity of the Antichrist, the tyrannical figure who both leads and inspires the new world order ... for many years, rapture theologians identified the Soviet Union as the Antichrist. But after September 11, they became quite certain that the Antichrist was closely connected with the Arab world and the Muslim religion. This means, quite simply, that for rapture theologians, Islam stands at the heart of the tyrannical ‘new world order’. Precisely here we discover why the idea of a ‘new world order’ has such potential to move global politics in profoundly negative directions, for rapture theologians typically welcome war with the Islamic world. As Bill Moyers wrote of the rapture theologians, ‘A war with Islam in the Middle East is not something to be feared but welcomed – an essential conflagration on the road to redemption.’ Further, rapture theologians co-opt the United States as a tool in their cosmic vision – a tool God will use to smite the Antichrist and the enemies of righteousness. This is why Tim LaHaye, co-author of the best-selling series of end-times books, could lend such strong support to the American invasion and occupation of Iraq. By virtue of that war, LaHaye believed, Iraq would become ‘a focal point of end-times events’. Even more disturbing is the fact that rapture theologians blissfully open the door to nuclear holocaust. Rapture theologians have always held that God will destroy his enemies at the end of time in the Great Battle of Armageddon. But since World War II, they have increasingly identified Armageddon with nuclear weaponry, thereby lending biblical inevitability to the prospects of nuclear annihilation. As one prophecy writer put it, ‘The holocaust of atomic war would fulfil the prophecies.’ Richard T Hughes, Revelation, Revolutions, and the Tyrannical New World Order
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Revelation 11:7&8
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Revelation 13:1-4&7&11&12&18
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. Revelation 19:11-13&19-21
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:1-15
The first attack of the Sons of Light shall be undertaken against the forces of the Sons of Darkness. The War Scroll
They shall fight against Mesopotamia ... They shall fight against all the sons of Assyria and Persia. ibid.
The sons of Levi ... shall fight against all their troops, when the exiles of the Sons of Light return from the wilderness of the peoples to camp in the wilderness of Jerusalem. ibid.
For the God of Israel has called out a sword against all the nations, and by the holy ones of His people He will do mightily. ibid.
There shall be a battle and horrible carnage before the God of Israel for it is a day appointed by Him ... As a battle of annihilation for the Sons of Darkness. ibid.
The first attack of the Sons of Light shall be undertaken against the forces of the Sons of Darkness. ibid.
We stand now on the eve of Armageddon. The darkest evil comes this way. The Omen 2006 starring Liev Schreiber & Mia Farrow & David Thewlis & Pete Postlethwaite & Michael Gambon & Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick & et al, director John Moore, opening scene coven of Cardinals & head Cardinal's presentation to Pope et al
When Armageddon takes place, parking is going to be a major problem. J G Ballard, Millennium People
Some rapture Christians go further and actually yearn for nuclear war because they interpret it as ‘Armageddon’ which, according to their bizarre but disturbingly popular interpretation of the book of Revelation, will hasten the Second Coming. Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion p302