Church Age
Emergence of the Antichrist
From the teaching of Apostle Mary Banks
The emergence of the Antichrist represents a pivotal moment in biblical prophecy, marking the rise of a powerful figure who will bring unprecedented persecution upon God's people. This event must occur before the Day of the Lord begins, as Scripture clearly establishes that the Day of the Lord cannot come until there is first a falling away and the man of sin is revealed. The Antichrist, also called the son of perdition, will oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, even sitting in the temple of God and showing himself to be God.
The beast rises up out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns, bearing blasphemous names upon his heads. His appearance combines features of a leopard, bear, and lion, and he receives his power, seat, and great authority directly from the dragon, which is Satan. One of his heads appears to be wounded to death, but this deadly wound is healed, causing all the world to wonder after the beast. The earth worships both the dragon who gives power to the beast and the beast himself, saying who is like unto the beast and who is able to make war with him.
The Antichrist is given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, with power to continue for forty-two months. He opens his mouth in blasphemy against God, blaspheming God's name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. Most significantly, it is given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, with power being granted over all kindreds, tongues, and nations. All who dwell upon the earth shall worship him, except those whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
This persecution of the saints by the Antichrist serves as a test of the patience and faith of God's people. Those who understand among the people shall instruct many, yet they shall fall by the sword, by flame, by captivity, and by spoil for many days. Some of them of understanding shall fall to try them, to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end. The persecution is so severe that the prayers of the saints crying out day and night for vengeance will ultimately trigger God's response through the trumpet judgments.
The scriptures
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 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.
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 there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 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 all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
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. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.