Will an Antichrist Resurrect from the Dead?? Rev 13:3

Dale

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3 One of its [the Beast's] heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth followed the beast with wonder. --Revelation 13:3 RSV

Many people see Revelation 13:3 as a prophecy that some world leader will be killed, maybe shot in the head, and then be resurrected. This leader will go on to become the individual Beast or Antichrist of Revelation.

Should we look for an event like this? Will this be a crucial clue in the rise of a modern antichrist?

The question that should be asked is, if this person, this leader, is to rise from the dead, by whose power does this happen? Satan has no power to raise anyone from the dead. No such event is reported in the Bible. For an antichrist to be raised from the dead, God would have to give a quick resurrection to the most evil man on earth. Why would God give a special resurrection to a man of remarkable evil? Would God do this to further Satan's plans? No, this scenario is absurd.

Simply put: Satan can't, and God won't.

Some might reason that this world leader might only appear to be mortally wounded. He will be injured but make a full recovery in an apparent miracle. Although somewhat more plausible, I believe this scenario is simply not needed.

The Beast in Revelation is an alliance of nations, that is the reason for the multiple heads. In at least one passage, the Beast is spoken of as an individual person, a person who is the leader or ruler of the alliance. The basic meaning of the Beast is that it is an alliance of nations, possibly identified with a future version of the European Union. What if the wounded head of the Beast is a split country, namely Germany?

What do we know about this alliance? Today's world order arose from the ashes of WWII. Europe was divided into western Europe and eastern Europe, separated by an "Iron Curtain," in Winston Churchill's phrase, for decades. International organizations like the United Nations, etc., the European Union, and military alliances like NATO, NORAD and ANZUS all came about after WWII.

Germany was first split back into Germany and Austria, after the two being united during the Nazi era. Then Germany was further divided into four zones by the Allies, with the zone controlled by the Soviet Union becoming East Germany. The zones controlled by the US, Britain and France became West Germany. Berlin, the capital of pre-war Germany, was divided into West Berlin and East Berlin. Germany was divided on a de facto basis in 1945. The allies approved a Constitution for West Germany in 1949 and Parliament met in Bonn for the first time in 1949. East and West Germany were divided in law by 1949. In the following years, the division between the two became more aggravated. In 1961, East Germany started building the Berlin Wall to stop its citizens from fleeing to the West.

Reasonable observers weren't convinced that the parts of Germany would ever be re-joined. A book on Germany published in the 1960's referred to "the chimera of reunification."

This strange situation continued until the late 1980's, when a loosening of Communist ideology in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe made a return to normalcy look possible. The Berlin Wall was opened to two-way traffic in 1989. In the next couple of years, it came down completely.

In 1990, the reunification of Germany occurred with remarkable speed for a world-changing event. In February of 1990, the leader of East Germany expressed support for reunification. In March, East Germany elections elevated candidates to office favoring reunification. East and West Germany signed a treaty authorizing reunification in August 1990. This is all happening in about six months. In September, the Allied Powers signed a treaty, On the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany, giving up their remaining authority in West Berlin. This removed the last obstacle to reunification.

National elections for a united Germany were held in December of 1990.

If these incredible events don't qualify as the healing of an apparent mortal wound to a nation, part of the Beast, then what does?
 

Dale

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Hal Lindsay and other Dispensationalits are among those who have spread the idea that either the death and resurrection or wounding and recovery of a world leader will be a key end times event.

If anyone doubts that many conservative Christians are saying this, or have been taught an antichrist-resurrection scenario, a site called The Berean Call considers the question.

Answer from The Berean Call:
"Only God can raise the dead. Satan has no such power."

Link:
Question: The idea that the Antichrist will be resurrected from the dead by Satan seems to be the prevailing opinion among evangelical pretrib teachers. I would appreciate an expression of your opinion in a future issue of The Berean Call.
 
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Handmaid for Jesus

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God can and will raise the dead. Will He raise the Antichrist? I think scripture teaches that He will. Sometimes we cannot fathom what our Father would do because it makes no sense to us, or does not seem logical. God's will is God's will, despite logic.
Isa. 14:
19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.

20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
 
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eleos1954

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3 One of its [the Beast's] heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth followed the beast with wonder. --Revelation 13:3 RSV

Many people see Revelation 13:3 as a prophecy that some world leader will be killed, maybe shot in the head, and then be resurrected. This leader will go on to become the individual Beast or Antichrist of Revelation.

Should we look for an event like this? Will this be a crucial clue in the rise of a modern antichrist?

The question that should be asked is, if this person, this leader, is to rise from the dead, by whose power does this happen? Satan has no power to raise anyone from the dead. No such event is reported in the Bible. For an antichrist to be raised from the dead, God would have to give a quick resurrection to the most evil man on earth. Why would God give a special resurrection to a man of remarkable evil? Would God do this to further Satan's plans? No, this scenario is absurd.

Simply put: Satan can't, and God won't.

Some might reason that this world leader might only appear to be mortally wounded. He will be injured but make a full recovery in an apparent miracle. Although somewhat more plausible, I believe this scenario is simply not needed.

The Beast in Revelation is an alliance of nations, that is the reason for the multiple heads. In at least one passage, the Beast is spoken of as an individual person, a person who is the leader or ruler of the alliance. The basic meaning of the Beast is that it is an alliance of nations, possibly identified with a future version of the European Union. What if the wounded head of the Beast is a split country, namely Germany?

What do we know about this alliance? Today's world order arose from the ashes of WWII. Europe was divided into western Europe and eastern Europe, separated by an "Iron Curtain," in Winston Churchill's phrase, for decades. International organizations like the United Nations, etc., the European Union, and military alliances like NATO, NORAD and ANZUS all came about after WWII.

Germany was first split back into Germany and Austria, after the two being united during the Nazi era. Then Germany was further divided into four zones by the Allies, with the zone controlled by the Soviet Union becoming East Germany. The zones controlled by the US, Britain and France became West Germany. Berlin, the capital of pre-war Germany, was divided into West Berlin and East Berlin. Germany was divided on a de facto basis in 1945. The allies approved a Constitution for West Germany in 1949 and Parliament met in Bonn for the first time in 1949. East and West Germany were divided in law by 1949. In the following years, the division between the two became more aggravated. In 1961, East Germany started building the Berlin Wall to stop its citizens from fleeing to the West.

Reasonable observers weren't convinced that the parts of Germany would ever be re-joined. A book on Germany published in the 1960's referred to "the chimera of reunification."

This strange situation continued until the late 1980's, when a loosening of Communist ideology in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe made a return to normalcy look possible. The Berlin Wall was opened to two-way traffic in 1989. In the next couple of years, it came down completely.

In 1990, the reunification of Germany occurred with remarkable speed for a world-changing event. In February of 1990, the leader of East Germany expressed support for reunification. In March, East Germany elections elevated candidates to office favoring reunification. East and West Germany signed a treaty authorizing reunification in August 1990. This is all happening in about six months. In September, the Allied Powers signed a treaty, On the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany, giving up their remaining authority in West Berlin. This removed the last obstacle to reunification.

National elections for a united Germany were held in December of 1990.

If these incredible events don't qualify as the healing of an apparent mortal wound to a nation, part of the Beast, then what does?

As you said, satan does not have the power to resurrect anyone ... only God does.

For every truth of God ... satan has a lie ... and is extremely crafty and deceitful.

People who do not believe the dead are in fact dead and don't know anything (dormant in the grave) ... are primed to believe in familiar spirits and that they can in fact communicate with the dead. (which is not so)

satan and his demons certainly have the capability of "appearing" as something ... they are not ...

2nd Corinthians 11

New International Version
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

So yes, satan will counterfeit the resurrection (appear as people who have died) by this great illusion (working through the antichrist) and many will believe he is god because of this. MANY

People who believe in an "immortal soul" will be easily deceived, along with non-believers because of this "counterfeit resurrection" ... we are not immortal in any way, shape or form until Jesus returns ... and when Jesus returns he takes all the saved (resurrected and living) to heaven.

Also His return is not going to be any kind of a secret "rapture" ... it's going to be a loud and powerful event.

Paul sums it up quite nicely here:

1 Thessalonians 4

The Return of the Lord

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep (dormant in the grave) in Him.

15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

and here ...

1 Corinthians 15

51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

We are not and do not become immortal until the Lord returns and changes us.
 
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Berean Tim

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It seems to me when the 7 headed beast is rising from the sea one of the heads is already wounded and healed. 3I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;
I don't know if will see the wound happen or not. but , it's mentioned 3 times in chapter 13 so we should pay attention
 
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Douggg

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Simply put: Satan can't, and God won't.
2Thessalonians2:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.


The person will go into the temple sit, claim to have achieved God-hood. Apparently, at the time he will do miracles to support his claim. There is a unspecified amount of time that passes between his initial claim and him being killed. The "lie" is his claim.

The delusion will be that God brings him back to life, in Isaiah 14:18-20. Plus, we don't know behind the scenes interaction between God and Satan over the matter, like in Job, when Satan was allowed to do certain things to Job, but Job wasn't told the why everything bad was happening to him
 
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Douggg

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What if the wounded head of the Beast is a split country, namely Germany?
Dale, I don't think a country would fit Revelation 17:8b.

8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

That phrasing is similar to what is said about Jesus in Revelation 1:4.

4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

So I don't think it is talking about a country, but a person who will be killed and come back to life. It doesn't say resurrected in Revelation 13, so I don't think the person will be buried in grave or a tomb, before he comes back alive. But likely during the viewing time of his dead body. Everything caught on TV and witnessed by the entire world.
 
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BABerean2

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If these incredible events don't qualify as the healing of an apparent mortal wound to a nation, part of the Beast, then what does?

Could it be the "great city" destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, which was reconstituted as part of a nation by that godless organization known as the United Nations during 1948?

How many times have you heard preachers describe this "miraculous" event, in which a nation came back from the dead?


That nation's source of truth is the "Babylonian" Talmud, which derives its name from the city of "Babylon".


Rev_14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (Why is it fallen twice?)

Is this the same "great city" found in the verse below?

Rev 11:8 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.

Is the identity of that city found in the last few words of the verse above, as the place where our Lord was crucified?

.
 
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Dale

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God can and will raise the dead. Will He raise the Antichrist? I think scripture teaches that He will. Sometimes we cannot fathom what our Father would do because it makes no sense to us, or does not seem logical. God's will is God's will, despite logic.
Isa. 14:
19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.

20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.



Handmaid,




I apologize for the delay in giving you a reply. Also, I assume that we are talking about an antichrist being given a special resurrection, as opposed to this person being raised to stand before the Throne of God at the Day of Judgment.


I don't know why you are interested in defending the notion that an antichrist figure will rise from the dead. There are some things you should think about before jumping to such a radical conclusion. I have always been taught that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is absolutely unique. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead but Jesus is--and will remain!--the only person in human history to raise Himself from the dead by His own power.


I took the following points from an article about the importance of Christ's resurrection.

"The resurrection demonstrated to the whole universe the deity of Jesus and God’s love for him."


An antichrist resurrection wouldn't be intended demonstrate God's love for this person or demonstrate the deity of this person. Which is why God won't do it and it will not happen.


"The resurrection gives us the joy of knowing that Christ is with us today!"




An antichrist resurrection won't give us joy. It could give joy to the followers of Satan, which is not God's purpose. God will not do this.


"Because of the resurrection, we can know that Jesus is personally coming back to judge and rule the world."


Will an antichrist resurrection show that this evil person will return in glory to judge the world? Once the question is stated, the answer is obvious: NO. God won't do this.


If the eschatology you were taught requires the resurrection of an antichrist, it is time to rethink these unbiblical views.





Link

10 Things You Should Know about the Resurrection
 
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Dale

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God can and will raise the dead. Will He raise the Antichrist? I think scripture teaches that He will. Sometimes we cannot fathom what our Father would do because it makes no sense to us, or does not seem logical. God's will is God's will, despite logic.
Isa. 14:
19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.

20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.



Handmaid,




You cite a passage in Isaiah 14 as evidence that an antichrist figure will rise from the dead.


Let's take a look at this passage.




15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.


16 Those who see you stare at you,
they ponder your fate:
“Is this the man who shook the earth
and made kingdoms tremble,
17 the man who made the world a wilderness,
who overthrew its cities
and would not let his captives go home?”

18 All the kings of the nations lie in state,
each in his own tomb.
19 But you are cast out of your tomb
like a rejected branch;
you are covered with the slain,
with those pierced by the sword,
those who descend to the stones of the pit.

Like a corpse trampled underfoot,
20 you will not join them in burial,
for you have destroyed your land
and killed your people.

Let the offspring of the wicked
never be mentioned again.








Apparently you are focusing on the few words in Isaiah 14:19, which says "you are cast out of your tomb".


When we look at the whole passage, it is clear this tyrant is cast down to a terrible death. Verse 15: "But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit." Note "realm of the dead" and "the pit." Verse 20 makes it clear that this tyrant is being punished for destruction and murder and concludes that even his offspring will "never be mentioned again."




What does "you are cast out of your tomb" mean? It doesn't mean resurrection, it means that this tyrant is unworthy of burial. It gives the impression that after military defeat, he is not only dead but has no partisans left to bury him. Either that, or his partisans have turned against him and don't bother to bury him. There is no sign whatever of a glorious resurrection or a return of hope for this person.





 
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Handmaid for Jesus

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Handmaid,




I apologize for the delay in giving you a reply. Also, I assume that we are talking about an antichrist being given a special resurrection, as opposed to this person being raised to stand before the Throne of God at the Day of Judgment.


I don't know why you are interested in defending the notion that an antichrist figure will rise from the dead. There are some things you should think about before jumping to such a radical conclusion. I have always been taught that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is absolutely unique. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead but Jesus is--and will remain!--the only person in human history to raise Himself from the dead by His own power.


I took the following points from an article about the importance of Christ's resurrection.

"The resurrection demonstrated to the whole universe the deity of Jesus and God’s love for him."


An antichrist resurrection wouldn't be intended demonstrate God's love for this person or demonstrate the deity of this person. Which is why God won't do it and it will not happen.


"The resurrection gives us the joy of knowing that Christ is with us today!"




An antichrist resurrection won't give us joy. It could give joy to the followers of Satan, which is not God's purpose. God will not do this.


"Because of the resurrection, we can know that Jesus is personally coming back to judge and rule the world."


Will an antichrist resurrection show that this evil person will return in glory to judge the world? Once the question is stated, the answer is obvious: NO. God won't do this.


If the eschatology you were taught requires the resurrection of an antichrist, it is time to rethink these unbiblical views.





Link

10 Things You Should Know about the Resurrection
My views are from scripture. If you have a problem with what scripture clearly teacher, your problem is not with me but with the Holy Ghost.
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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Hal Lindsay and other Dispensationalits are among those who have spread the idea that either the death and resurrection or wounding and recovery of a world leader will be a key end times event.

If anyone doubts that many conservative Christians are saying this, or have been taught an antichrist-resurrection scenario, a site called The Berean Call considers the question.

Answer from The Berean Call:
"Only God can raise the dead. Satan has no such power."

Link:
Question: The idea that the Antichrist will be resurrected from the dead by Satan seems to be the prevailing opinion among evangelical pretrib teachers. I would appreciate an expression of your opinion in a future issue of The Berean Call.
That is a deep subject.
I created a thread on the Sea and Land wild Beasts but it didn't seem to garner much interest.

The wild Beasts from the Sea and from the Land

The wild Beast Out of the Land

11 And I saw another wild Beast ascending out of the land,
and it had two horns like a lambkin and it spoke as a Dragon.
12 And the authority of the first wild Beast all it is doing in view of it.
And is making the land and those dwelling in it that to be worshiping the first wild Beast, of which was cured the blow of the death of it.
13 And it is doing great signs that even fire it may be making out of the heaven descending into the land in view of the men.
14 And it is deceiving those dwelling on the land thru the signs which was given to it to do in view of the wild Beast,
saying to those dwelling upon the land to make an image to the wild Beast which hath the blow of the sword and lives.
15 And was given to it to give spirit/breath to the image of the wild Beast, that also the image of the wild Beast should be speaking.
And should be causing as many as shall no should be worshiping to the image of the wild Beast, that they may be being killed.

16 And it is causing all the small and the great and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the servants that may be giving to them a mark upon their right hand or upon their foreheads.
17 And that no one may be able to buy, or to sell, except he who is having the mark of the wild Beast or the name of the wild Beast, or the number of it's name.
18 Here the wisdom is being!
The one having mind, let him calculate the number of the wild Beast, for number of man it is, and its number six hundred sixty six.

6 Parts of 11 Parts

Kindgdom Bible Studies Revelation Series
thru
Kindgdom Bible Studies Revelation Series


THE BEAST OUT OF THE LAND

In the thirteenth chapter of the Revelation the awesome prophecy is given of two beasts terrible in power and strength that dominate all the inhabitants of the earth and make war against the saints. As we approach this scene may I say that it’s not surprising that most Christians, at the mere mention of the events that are portrayed in this portion of the book, start conjuring up mental images of grotesque beasts, one world government tyranny, or a super-man antichrist brutally killing the saints or imposing the fearful “mark of the beast” in their right hand or in their forehead, thus forever sealing their doom in eternal hell-fire and damnation. Thousands of churches and teachers use such apocalyptic imagery to frighten people into confessing their sins and “getting right with God.” Very often, their hearers do not truly get converted to a loving and intimate relationship with the Lord; they merely cry their eyes out and beg God for mercy in order to escape His wrath. As soon as the fear factor is discredited or wears off, the so-called repentance often loses its effect.
I would point out here that there are no chapter divisions in the original text of the Revelation, and armed with this understanding it may be clearly seen that the events of chapter thirteen are the continuation of the great drama unfolded in chapter twelve. The chapter begins with the conjunction “and” denoting continuity of thought and action. To show the flow we will begin with the last verse of chapter twelve and continue through the first two verses of chapter thirteen..............................

The Greek text indicates that this is “another” of the same kind as the first beast, or a “beast” in another form. In our last message we pointed out that the “antichrist” is not the same as the “beast” in the book of Revelation. There is indeed a relationship, but there is also an important difference. “Antichrist” refers to a spirit and to the people possessed by that spirit. Notice the language: “Ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists…they went out from us, but they were not of us…every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not…is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist…for many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” On the other hand, throughout the scriptures, the word beast refers to a system, and not to a man. The beasts speak of bestial systems, organizations, institutions, movements, and governments. The antichrist people may be found in the bestial system, but the bestial system is something beyond the people themselves.

This second beast is an earth-born beast. There is no possibility of confusing him with the first beast. They are utterly different. The first is a composite wild jungle beast, the second resembles a lamb, but inwardly bears the nature of a dragon. Outwardly he looks like a kinder, gentler, harmless beast, having only two horns, and those of a harmless kind — like the horns of a lamb. Also, he has no crowns on his horns, indicating that he has no political sovereignty. When he speaks, however, he speaks like a dragon; and for all his harmless appearance he is a true therion, a savage, fierce, and cruel brute. When we look at his character and pretensions we find that, bad as the other beast was, there is something here yet more dreadful. The second beast does not accomplish his agenda by brute force; he works deception through signs, wonders, and miracles. The first gives his authority to the second, and the second persuades men everywhere to give respect and pay homage to an image of the first. They are in league and covenant, each aiding and abetting the other.

I would now draw your attention to the fact that the expression “I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth” is literally in the Greek, “I saw another wild beast ascending out of the earth.” John did not say, “I saw a beast come up or ascend as a limited, one-time event, but coming up or ascending — denoting a continuous action. It is on-going. It is constantly being fulfilled. It cannot be bound by, nor does it predict or specify, any actual historical or future event. Instead, the beast is ascending, he is always ascending out of the earth-realm of the soul of man.
It is impossible to understand this truth of the two beasts unless we can distinguish between the sea, the earth, and the two beasts themselves. The first beast is not the sea-realm itself, but comes up out of the sea of humanity. The second beast is not the earth-realm itself, but comes up out of the earth, out of the soulical nature of man. So we are dealing neither with the wicked, surging masses of humanity nor the moral and religious people who bring a sense of stability to civilization..................
============================
From a Preterist view:

Revelation 13:8 - Apocalypse Fulfilled! | Book of Revelation Study Archive

THEOLOGIANS IDENTIFYING NERO WITH 666
(under construction)


Beast's Real Mark Devalued to 616 "Dr. Aitken said, however, that scholars now believe the number in question has very little to do the devil. It was actually a complicated numerical riddle in Greek, meant to represent someone's name, she said. "It's a number puzzle -- the majority opinion seems to be that it refers to [the Roman emperor] Nero."

James Stuart Russell, Parousia, p, 557.
Shirley Jackson Case, The Revelation of John: A History of Interpretation (Chicago, 1919), p. 319.
George Edmundson, The Church in Rome in the First Century (London, 1913), pp. 165-166.
B. W. Henderson, Five Roman Emperors (Cambridge: University Press, 1927), p. 45.
Arthur S. Peake, The Revelation of John (London: Joseph Johnson, 1919), p. 326.
Martin Kiddie, The Revelation of St. John (New York: Harper, 1940), p. 261.
Charles C. Torrey, The Apocalypse of John (New Haven: Yale, 1958), p. 60.
John Bright, The Kingdom of God (Nashville Abingdon, 1963), p. 240.
Austin Farrar, The Revelation of St. John the Divine (Oxford: Clarendon, 1964), pp. 158f
T. G. Driver, The Judean Scrolls (Oxford: Blackwell, 1965), p. 374.
Hillers, "Revelation 13:18," p. 65. See J. P. M. Sweet, Revelation. (Philadelphia, 1979) p. 218, note u.
Bruce M. Metzger, The Text of the New Testament, 2nd ed. (Oxford, 1968), p. 752.
John A. T. Robinson, Redating the New Testament (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1976), p. 235.

THE COLLECTIVE MAN THEORY

  • Wycliffe "Here is wisdom; he that hath understanding, acount the number of the beast; for it is the number of man, and his number is six hundred sixty and six."
Hank Hanegraaff, Sigmund Brouwer (2004)
"Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the Beast, for it is the number of man. His number is 666.'" (The Last Disciple, p. 310)

Jasper Seaton Hughes (1898)
"The words, "for it is the number of man," must not be taken to refer to any one man in contrast to other individual men, but man as opposed to God, sinful, apostate man." (Mystery of the Golden Cloth, p. 255)

Philip Mauro (1910)
"Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast : for it is THE NUMBER OF MAN ; and his number is 666" (Rev. xiii. 18)" (The Number of Man: Climax of Civilization)

John George Schmucker (1821)
"For it is the number of a man. The original should be rendered for it is the number of man, without the article, and not the number of a man's name, as some expositors have understood this expression. The learned Faber terms this verse an enigma ; I would rather call it the solution of an enigma, as it most assuredly is. I prefer the interpretation adopted by Bengelius, Bp. Newton, and Young, who suppose that the number of man means no more than the method of numbering in common use among men, as opposed to prophetic numbers ; according to which the numerical letters signify 666." (The Prophetic History of the Christian Religion Explained, p. 176)

Benjamin Seth Youngs (1823)
"Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: [and this is easily done] for it is the number of man ;"| not (as many suppose) some particular man, as an individual ; but MAN in his common gender, including male and female. Then as the number of the beast is the number of man, so the character of the beast is the character of man." (The Testimony of Christ's Second Appearing, p. 359)
 
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Dale

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My views are from scripture. If you have a problem with what scripture clearly teacher, your problem is not with me but with the Holy Ghost.


Let me continue with what I am saying about the use of Isaiah 14 to support an end times scenario.

In John Gill's famous commentary, when he deals with Isaiah 14, he is quite clear that 14:19 is not a resurrection from the dead.



<< Isaiah 14:19
But thou art cast out of thy grave
Or rather "from" it; that is, he was not suffered to be put into it, or to have a burial, as the following words show, at least not to be laid in the grave designed for him ... >>


Again,


<< ... but the sense here is not that the king of Babylon should be taken out of his grave, after he was laid in it, but that he should be hindered from being put into it; which very likely was the case of Belshazzar. >>


Not only is there no resurrection, Gill is quite clear there is no removal of the body after burial. The lack of proper burial is only a sign of rejection, of being discarded.

Gill is not oblivious to the eschatological connection for he compares this King of Babylon to the harlot, the woman of Babylon, in Revelation:

<< So the harlot of Rome shall have no funeral, but the kings of the earth will eat her flesh, and burn her with fire ( Revelation 17:16 ) , because thou hast destroyed thy land; >>



Link:
Isaiah 14:19 Commentary - John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
and
Isaiah 14:20 Commentary - John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
 
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Dale

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My views are from scripture. If you have a problem with what scripture clearly teacher, your problem is not with me but with the Holy Ghost.




Should we believe that the passage in Isaiah 14 foretells a special resurrection for an antichrist?


Matthew Henry comes to the same conclusion that John Gill did. The phrase "cast out of your tomb" or "expelled from the tomb" only means that this tyrant is unworthy of burial.

"That he should not have the honour of a burial, much less of a decent one and in the sepulchres of his ancestors."

and

"But this king of Babylon is cast out and has no grave (v. 19); his dead body is thrown, like that of a beast, into the next ditch or upon the next dunghill, like an abominable branch of some noxious poisonous plant, which nobody will touch ..."

Thrown "upon the next dunghill" is not resurrection.

Among famous commentators, both John Gill and Matthew Henry agree that the person referred to in Isaiah 14 is a King of Babylon, not some "future Fuhrer" or a coming antichrist. Both agree that the point of the passage is that his defeat is total and irreversible, which means that his death is total and irreversible.


Link:
Isaiah 14 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete)
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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Handmaid for Jesus said:
God can and will raise the dead. Will He raise the Antichrist? I think scripture teaches that He will. Sometimes we cannot fathom what our Father would do because it makes no sense to us, or does not seem logical. God's will is God's will, despite logic.
Isa. 14:
19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.

20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
Dale said:
Handmaid,
I apologize for the delay in giving you a reply. Also, I assume that we are talking about an antichrist being given a special resurrection, as opposed to this person being raised to stand before the Throne of God at the Day of Judgment.

I don't know why you are interested in defending the notion that an antichrist figure will rise from the dead. There are some things you should think about before jumping to such a radical conclusion. I have always been taught that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is absolutely unique. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead but Jesus is--and will remain!--the only person in human history to raise Himself from the dead by His own power.


I took the following points from an article about the importance of Christ's resurrection.

"The resurrection demonstrated to the whole universe the deity of Jesus and God’s love for him."

An antichrist resurrection wouldn't be intended demonstrate God's love for this person or demonstrate the deity of this person. Which is why God won't do it and it will not happen.
"The resurrection gives us the joy of knowing that Christ is with us today!"
An antichrist resurrection won't give us joy. It could give joy to the followers of Satan, which is not God's purpose. God will not do this.


"Because of the resurrection, we can know that Jesus is personally coming back to judge and rule the world."


Will an antichrist resurrection show that this evil person will return in glory to judge the world? Once the question is stated, the answer is obvious: NO. God won't do this.
If the eschatology you were taught requires the resurrection of an antichrist, it is time to rethink these unbiblical views.
Link
10 Things You Should Know about the Resurrection
Handmaid for Jesus said:
My views are from scripture. If you have a problem with what scripture clearly teacher, your problem is not with me but with the Holy Ghost.
Let me continue with what I am saying about the use of Isaiah 14 to support an end times scenario.
In John Gill's famous commentary, when he deals with Isaiah 14, he is quite clear that 14:19 is not a resurrection from the dead.
<< Isaiah 14:19
But thou art cast out of thy grave
Or rather "from" it; that is, he was not suffered to be put into it, or to have a burial, as the following words show, at least not to be laid in the grave designed for him ... >>
I would think Isaiah 26:19 better supports an end time resurrection scenario.

The same exact form of the Greek word G450 used in Isaiah is used in 2 verses of the NT.........[dusted off a 12 yr old folder I had saved on this]

Orthodox Jewish Bible
Isaiah 26:19 Thy mesim (dead men, T.N. see also Daniel 12:2) shall live, together with my nevelah (dead bodies, corpses) shall they arise. Awake and sing for joy, ye that dwell in aphar (dust); for Thy tal (dew) is like the orot tal (morning dew), and Eretz shall give birth to repha'im (dead ones).

Isaiah 26:19
They shall live/rise-up/#2421, ones being dead of thee, carcass/05038 n@belah of me they shall rise/#6965. Awake-ye!/#6974 and be jubilant! ones dwelling/tabernacling of soil. That dew-of lights, dew of thee and-land healers/07496 rapha' she is casting.

[LXX] Isaiah 26:19 anasthsontai/#2476/450 oi nekroi/#3498 kai egerqhsontai/#1463 oi en toiv mnhmeioiv/#3419 kai eufranqhsontai/#2165 oi en th gh h gar drosov h para sou iama/#2386 autoiv estin h de gh twn asebwn/#765 peseitai/#4098
יט יִחְיוּ מֵתֶיךָ, נְבֵלָתִי יְקוּמוּן; הָקִיצוּ וְרַנְּנוּ שֹׁכְנֵי
עָפָר, כִּי טַל אוֹרֹת טַלֶּךָ, וָאָרֶץ, רְפָאִים תַּפִּיל. {פ}

Matthew 12:41
"Men Ninevites shall be resurrecting/standing-up/anasthsontai<450> (5698) in the judging with the generation/geneaV <1074>, this and they shall be condemning her, that they reform into the proclamation of Jonah and behold! more of Jonah here.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

That Himself, the Lord, in a shout-of-command in voice of Chief-Messenger and in trump of God, shall be descending from heaven and the dead-ones in Christ shall be resurrecting/standing-up/anasthsontai<450> (5698) First
=============================
Isaiah 26:19 Commentaries: biblehub

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

19. The answer to these utterances of disappointed hopes is the promise of the Resurrection.
The speaker throughout is the community, and the words are addressed to God, with the exception of an apostrophe to the buried Israelites in the middle of the verse. There is indeed no decisive argument against the view of those who think that the first half of the verse expresses the longing of the nation for the restoration of its dead (“May thy dead live, &c.”), and the second the triumphant assurance of the prophet that the prayer shall be fulfilled. But it is more probable that the language throughout is that of confident belief and hope.

Thy dead … arise] Render with R.V., Thy dead shall live, my dead bodies (collect. in Hebr.) shall arise. The dead saints are at once Jehovah’s dead and Israel’s.

for thy dew is as the dew of herds] Better, for a dew of lights is thy dew (O Jehovah). Comp. James 1:17. The word means “herbs” in 2 Kings 4:39, but the idea is too prosaic for this passage. It is a heavenly, supernatural, dew that is meant; as soon as this falls on the dead they awake to life. Duhm refers to a Talmudic representation of a dew kept in the seventh heaven which is to descend on the bones of the dead and quicken them into life. “Light” and “life” are frequently and naturally associated: Psalm 36:9; Psalm 56:13; Job 3:20; Job 33:30; John 1:4.

the earth shall cast out the dead] Render: the earth (or the land) shall bring forth shades (Isaiah 26:14). The verb is lit. “cause to fall,” but obviously in the sense explained under Isaiah 26:18.

The doctrine of the resurrection here presented is reached through the conviction, gradually produced by the long process of revelation, that the final redemption of Israel could not be accomplished within the limits of nature. It became clear that the hopes and aspirations engendered by the Spirit in believing minds pointed forward to the great miracle here described, and thus the belief in the resurrection was firmly bound up with the indestructible hopes of the future of Israel (cf. Romans 11:15). The idea is exhibited in a form which is immature in the light of New Testament teaching, but it practically represents the highest development of Old Testament revelation on this subject. The only passage which is slightly in advance of this is Daniel 12:2, and even there a universal resurrection is not taught. Here the hope is restricted to Israelites (see Isaiah 26:14) and no doubt to those Israelites who had departed this life in the faith and fear of God. On the other hand, the teaching of this verse is quite different from such passages as Hosea 6:2; Ezekiel 37:1-14. There rising from the dead is but a figurative clothing of the idea of national regeneration, whereas there can be no doubt that here a literal resurrection of individuals is foretold.'
====================
Pulpit Commentary

Verses 19-21. - THE PROPHET'S COMMENT ON THE SONG OF THE JUST. Having concluded his "song of the just" in a minor key with a confession of human weakness, the prophet proceeds to cheer and encourage his disciples by a clear and positive declaration of the doctrine of the resurrection: "Thy dead, O Israel, shall live." He then adds a recommendation for the present - a recommendation to privacy and retirement, until the judgments of God which he has predicted (Isaiah 24.) are shown forth upon the earth. Verse 19. - Thy dead men shall live. A universal resurrection of" some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2), is not yet announced; but only a resurrection of the just, perhaps only of the just Israelites. The object is encouragement, especially encouragement of those whom the prophet directly addresses - the religious Israelites of his own day. It is enough for them at the present time to know that, whether the day of the Lord comes in their time or no, when it comes, they will have a part in it. The assurance is given, and is made doubly sure by repetition. The prophet does not say, Together with my dead body they will arise; for there is nothing in the Hebrew corresponding to "together," and the ellipse of 'ira, "with," though suggested by Kimchi, is impossible; nor is it likely that he intends to speak of his own dead body at all. He may, perhaps, call the past generations of just Israelites "my dead," i.e. the dead with whom he is in sympathy; or the supposed personal suffix may be merely paragogic, as Rosenmüller argues. In any case the two clauses must be regarded as identical in meaning - an instance of "synonymous parallelism.... Thy dead men shall live; my dead shall arise." Awake and sing; rather, awake and shout for joy (comp. Psalm 35:27; Psalm 67:4, etc.). Ye that dwell in dust (comp. Daniel 12:2, "Many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake"). Thy dew is as the dew of herbs; i.e. refreshing, vivifying, potent to make even dead bones live. "Thy dew" may be said with reference to Jehovah, for changes in the person addressed are frequent in Isaiah; or with reference to the people of Israel, meaning, "the dew which Jehovah will shed on thee," i.e. on thy dead. Keil and Delitzsch
===========================
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Thy dead men shall live -

Very various interpretations have been given of this verse, which may be seen at length by comparing Vitringa, Rosenmuller, Gesenius, and Poole's Synopsis. In Isaiah 26:14, the chorus is represented as saying of the dead men and tyrants of Babylon that had oppressed the captive Jews, that they should not rise, and should no more oppress the people of God. In contradistinction from this fate of their enemies, the choir is here introduced as addressing Yahweh (compare Isaiah 26:16), and saying 'thy dead shall live;' that is, thy people shall live again shall be restored to to vigor, and strength, and enjoyment. They had been dead; that is, civilly dead in Babylon; they were cut off from their privileges, torn away from their homes, made captives in a foreign land. Their king had been dethroned; their temple demolished; their princes, priests, and people made captive; their name blotted from the list of nations; and to all intents and purposes, as a people, they were deceased. This figure is one that is common, by which the loss of privileges and enjoyments, and especially of civil rights, is represented as death. So we speak now of a man's being dead in law; dead to his country; spiritually dead; dead in sins. I do not understand this, therefore, as referring primarily to the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead; but to the captives in Babylon, who were civilly dead, and cut off by their oppressors from their rights and enjoyments as a nation.

Shall live - Shall be restored to their country. and be reinstated in all their rights and immunities as a people among the nations of the earth. This restoration shall be as striking as would be the resurrection of the dead front their graves. Though, therefore, this does not refer primarily to the resurrection of the dead, yet the illustration is drawn from that doctrine, and implies that that doctrine was one with which they were familiar. An image which is employed for the sake of illustration must be one that is familiar to the mind, and the reference here to this doctrine is a demonstration that the doctrine of the resurrection was well known.

Together with my dead body shall they arise - The words 'together with' are not in the original. The words rendered 'my dead body' (נבלתי nebēlâthiy) literally means, 'my dead body,' and may be applied to a man, or to a beast Leviticus 5:2; Leviticus 7:24. It is also applied to the dead in general; to the deceased; to carcasses, or dead bodies (see Leviticus 11:11; Psalm 79:2; Jeremiah 7:33; Jeremiah 9:22; Jeremiah 16:18; Jeremiah 26:23; Jeremiah 34:20). It may, therefore, be rendered, 'My deceased, my dead;' and will thus be parallel with the phrase 'thy dead men,' and is used with reference to the same species of resurrection. It is not the language of the prophet Isaiah, as if he referred to his own body when it should be dead, but it is the language of the choir that sings and speaks in the name of the Jewish people. "That people" is thus introduced as saying "my" dead, that is, "our" dead, shall rise. Not only in the address to Yahweh is this sentiment uttered when it is said 'thy dead shall rise,' but when the attention is turned to themselves as a people, they say 'our dead shall rise;' those that pertain to our nation shall rise from the dust, and be restored to their own privileges and land.

Awake and sing - In view of the cheering and consolatory fact just stated that the dead shall rise, the chorus calls on the people to awake and rejoice. This is an address made directly to the dejected and oppressed people, as if the choir were with them.

Ye that dwell in dust - To sit in dust, or to dwell in the dust, is emblematic of a state of dejection, want, oppression, or poverty Psalm 44:25; Psalm 119:25; Isaiah 25:12; Isaiah 26:5; Isaiah 47:1. Here it is supposed to be addressed to the captives in Babylon, as oppressed, enslaved, dejected. The "language" is derived from the doctrine of the resurrection of the body, and proves that that doctrine was understood and believed; the sense is, that those wire were thus dejected and humbled should be restored to their former elevated privileges.

For thy dew - This is evidently an address to Yahweh. "His" dew is that which he sends down from heaven, and which is under his direction and control. Dew is the emblem of that which refreshes and vivifies. In countries where it rains but seldom, as it does in the East, the copious dews at night supply in some sense the want of rain. "Thence dew" is used in Scripture as an emblem of the graces and influences of the Spirit of God by which his people are cheered and comforted, as the parched earth and the withered herbs are refreshed by the copious dews at night. Thus in Hosea 14:5 :
 
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sdowney717

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3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;

This was a lying wonder, the head just seems to have been mortally wounded. Not a resurrection by God occurred. And it had 6 other healthy looking heads.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

That beast was nowhere near dead, it's head was crushed, which fulfills the Gen 3 prophecy. But it has 6 more heads. This beast is not destroyed until much later when it is cast into the lake of fire.
 
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Dale

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It seems to me when the 7 headed beast is rising from the sea one of the heads is already wounded and healed. 3I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;
I don't know if will see the wound happen or not. but , it's mentioned 3 times in chapter 13 so we should pay attention


I am paying attention but it looks like this prophecy is accounted for by events that have already happened. You do make a good point when you say that when the Beast with seven heads comes out of the sea, the tumult of events, it is already wounded. A wound in those days meant chopped with a sword, there were no guns. One of the heads of the Beast is already wounded when it first appears. This could imply that the timeline we are given in Revelation starts with the end of WWII, when Germany has just been divided. Or perhaps it starts with the rise of the Common Market/EU, which followed in the next few years.

The injured head of the Beast is already wounded when we first become aware of this Beast. Yet Revelation doesn't tell us that the Beast, or one of its heads, was assassinated. No assassin is given or referred to. It doesn't say that the Beast, or a head, blundered into a trap, or that there was a conspiracy to kill it. We are told only that one of the heads was wounded, probably with a symbolic sword, and so divided. When it is healed, the wound, or division ceases. This is perfectly consistent with the scenario I put forward in the OP.
 
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Douggg

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I am paying attention but it looks like this prophecy is accounted for by events that have already happened. You do make a good point when you say that when the Beast with seven heads comes out of the sea, the tumult of events, it is already wounded. A wound in those days meant chopped with a sword, there were no guns. One of the heads of the Beast is already wounded when it first appears. This could imply that the timeline we are given in Revelation starts with the end of WWII, when Germany has just been divided. Or perhaps it starts with the rise of the Common Market/EU, which followed in the next few years.

The injured head of the Beast is already wounded when we first become aware of this Beast. Yet Revelation doesn't tell us that the Beast, or one of its heads, was assassinated. No assassin is given or referred to. It doesn't say that the Beast, or a head, blundered into a trap, or that there was a conspiracy to kill it. We are told only that one of the heads was wounded, probably with a symbolic sword, and so divided. When it is healed, the wound, or division ceases. This is perfectly consistent with the scenario I put forward in the OP.
Dale, in Revelation 13, the world worships the beast. The beast that is worshiped and the image made of him is a person. And the number of the name of beast is the number of a man.
 
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As you said, satan does not have the power to resurrect anyone ... only God does.

For every truth of God ... satan has a lie ... and is extremely crafty and deceitful.

People who do not believe the dead are in fact dead and don't know anything (dormant in the grave) ... are primed to believe in familiar spirits and that they can in fact communicate with the dead. (which is not so)

satan and his demons certainly have the capability of "appearing" as something ... they are not ...

2nd Corinthians 11

New International Version
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

So yes, satan will counterfeit the resurrection (appear as people who have died) by this great illusion (working through the antichrist) and many will believe he is god because of this. MANY

People who believe in an "immortal soul" will be easily deceived, along with non-believers because of this "counterfeit resurrection" ... we are not immortal in any way, shape or form until Jesus returns ... and when Jesus returns he takes all the saved (resurrected and living) to heaven.

Also His return is not going to be any kind of a secret "rapture" ... it's going to be a loud and powerful event.

Paul sums it up quite nicely here:

1 Thessalonians 4

The Return of the Lord

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep (dormant in the grave) in Him.

15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

and here ...

1 Corinthians 15

51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

We are not and do not become immortal until the Lord returns and changes us.



Eleos: << As you said, satan does not have the power to resurrect anyone ... only God does.>>


I'm glad we agree about that.


Eleos: << Also His return is not going to be any kind of a secret "rapture" ... it's going to be a loud and powerful event. >>


I could not agree more.



Eleos: << People who believe in an "immortal soul" will be easily deceived, along with non-believers because of this "counterfeit resurrection" ... we are not immortal in any way, shape or form until Jesus returns ... >>

In the Baptist church, I was taught that eternal life begins as soon as we are saved, not in the afterlife.


I don't know why you want to attack the immortal soul. If there isn't any such thing as an immortal soul, why did Jesus say:


26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Matthew 16:26 NIV

Also, in the following verse, Jesus clearly distinguishes between body and soul.


28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28 NIV
 
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