Hi Douggg,
If I may come in on this interesting conversation. Now let`s consider this scripture -
`A king shall arise having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty but not by his own power: he shall destroy fearfully....through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his hand; & he shall magnify himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity....` (Dan. 8: 24 & 25)
Thus we see that the leader of the `terrifying` Federation, overcomes his opposition, not so much by military power but by cunning & deceit.
regards, Marilyn.
Hi Marilyn, welcome to this forum. Same Marilyn from CARM, right?
In Daniel 8:24-25, the person comes to be leader of the kingdom of the transgressors - the ten kings, who will eventually pledge their kingdom to him when he become the beast 3 1/2 years later (thereabouts) - through help of the occult, craft....
continues relying on the occult (Satan and fallen angels) for his success until the day he is destroyed by Jesus's return.
Initially, he becomes leader of the EU final form in the European Antichrist model, as king 7 of the Roman Empire, (kings of the Julio Claudian family - 6 of which are historic presently). That's him as the leader coming up among ten kings in Daniel 7.
In Daniel 8, he will have been the leader of the EU for a while - when Gog/Magog is on the verge of invading. Which is why it says he "stands up" in Daniel 8:23. "stands up" is an idiom, a saying, for prepares to go to war. It is something animals do right at they charge toward each other and fight.
So he positions his EU military in Greece, Daniel 8:9, to be a deterent to stave off the Gog/Magog invasion - which takes place anyway...and Gog's army is supernaturally destroyed by God. The little horn, and his European leaders move into the middle east grabbing up the oil fields in the aftermath, which is him gaining control of the former 3 historic kingdoms territories in Revelation 13.
In the aftermath of Gog/Magog, the Jews will think they are on the brink of the messianic age, and their deliverer is the little horn person because of his intent to come to the defense of Israel. He becomes the king of Israel, most likely anointed by the false prophet, who will arise. Thus, a false messianic age of peace and harmony, throughout the world will begin. He thus destroys many by peace, luring them into a false sense of security.
He confirms the Mt. Sinai covenant, as the Jews are expecting, by having the law read to the nation from the temple mount, Deuteronomy 31:9-13, to begin the 7 years. A perpetual cycle in the text of Deuteronomy 31:9-13 of a law that Moses made.
The false messianic age, and false messiah, causes many Christians to think the Jews were right all along, and the great falling away in Christianity will begin. 2thessalonians2:3-4.
3 years, 4 months into the 7 years, the sudden destruction begins, the Day of the Lord, when the person goes into the temple, which will be completed 220 days from the beginning of the 7 years, stopping the daily sacrifice, and sits claiming to be God..."the transgression" of desolation of Daniel 8, because he will have become magnified in his heart that he has achieved God- hood - which is in Daniel 8 and Ezekiel 28:1-10, which those two pair together by him being magnified in his heart, and Ezekiel 28:1-10 paired with 2thessalonians2:3-4 of sitting in the seat of God.
After God has the person killed for his audacious act of claiming to be God, and brought back to life in disdain for him; the person becomes possessed by the unclean spirit of the original beast ascending out of the bottomless pit - Nimrod, the Assyrian - which it all but names Nimrod in Micah 5 - the person become the 8th king of the Roman Empire, continuing the short space as it says in Revelation 17:10 of 42 months.
The ten kings of the European Superstate - which is in the process of creating its own military now - will pledge their kingdom to the person, and will rule with him for one hour - the 42 months, to dominate the world.
So yes, he uses craft to prosper from the outset, but he gets into it so heavily, that Satan is able to convince the person in his heart that he has achieved God-hood. The personality of the persons makes it possible because he seeks out help from the occult, Kabbalah, because he will be a Jew, and has a tremendous ego (not because he is a Jew, but just his particular personality).
To identify the person, in the early stages, what is necessary is that the person have a stern look about him, and that he is leader of Europe, over a ten king form of government, and is a Jew.