Frequently Asked Questions About the End Times (Part 3)

1. How will we know that the Antichrist is coming into power? The main sign is the abomination of desolation when the Antichrist stands in the temple of Jerusalem proclaiming himself as God and demanding to be worshipped as God (Mt. 24:15, 2 Thes. 2:4).  This act by the Antichrist will be the most abominable (causing moral revulsion) act in all of human history.  The desolation, or destruction, it causes it catastrophic in scale compared to nothing in all of human history.

2. When does the final three and a half years of human history as we know it begin? It begins by the act of the abomination of desolation (Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14; 2 Thes. 2:3-4; Rev. 13:12-18).  We know that when this act happens God will bring the antichrist and all of his regime to an end in 3 1/2 years.  We also know that Jesus will return at this same time.

3. What is the abomination of desolation? It is when the Antichrist stands in the Jerusalem temple and declares himself to be God by setting up an idol in the temple and then seeking to force all who are on earth to worship him (Dan. 11:31-32; Mt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:14-17). The Antichrist’s statue or image will be the greatest abomination to God in history, because the Antichrist will demand to be worshipped as God and many will fully respond to this demand.  This image will talk and breathe and demand worship to be given to the Antichrist.

4. When is the abomination of desolation set up? At the perfect time the Antichrist sees as his opportunity to accomplish his agenda.  It will start the final three and a half years of natural history. It will occur after the Antichrist puts a stop to the sacrifices in the temple and end his covenant of peace (Daniel 9). The desolation will occur in two different ways. First, the Antichrist will seek to desolate or destroy any who refuse to worship him. Second, God will desolate or destroy in judgment all those who yield to the pressure to worship the Antichrist. The abomination of desolation is referred to seven times in Scripture, five times by Daniel (Dan. 8:13; 9:26, 27; 11:31; 12:11) and twice by Jesus (Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14).

5. Who is the restrainer in 1 Thessalonians 2:6-7? The restrainer is a combination of two forces that currently restrain the Antichrist, referred to as something and someone by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8. These forces will be removed to allow the Antichrist to come to a place of international political power. Paul describes the restrainer of the Antichrist as a what (neuter in v. 6) and as a He (masculine in v. 7). Thus, the restraining force is a what and a He working together. Paul taught that the power of the state is appointed by God to restrain evil (Rom. 13:1-4). The power of the state is what and the He is God and His sovereign decree. Some wrongly teach that the Holy Spirit is the restrainer who is removed when the Church is raptured before the Great Tribulation. If that is true, then nobody could be saved in the Great Tribulation because it takes the work of the Holy Spirit moving on an unbeliever’s heart in order for salvation to occur.

Be blessed,

Wes