THE COMING

WORLD DICTATOR,
WHO WILL IT BE?
A HUNGER FOR CERTAINTY

TRY JESUS COURSE BOOK 19

“People are being dumped into this incredibly unintelligible society,
and they are swimming, barely staying afloat, and then trying to catch
on to whatever is going to give them a little safe ground.”
- Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stone Interview
WACO

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19 - THE COMING WORLD DICTATOR, WHO WILL IT BE?

Cult leader David Koresh (alias Vernon Howell) of the “Yahweh Koresh.” “I AM your God,” he wrote, “and
Branch Davidians believed he was Jesus Christ in sin- you will bow under my feet,” After holding authorities
ful form. He said he was the Lamb of Revelation who at bay for 51 days 74 died in the fires as the com-
alone could open the seven seals and foresee the end pound went up in flames.
of the world. He would hold his followers in awe as he
Time described him as “equipped with both a creamy
quoted large Bible passages from memory. Such was
charm and a cold-blooded willingness to manipulate
his power over his followers that they gave him their
those drawn to him... He was the most spectacular
wives and daughters as concubines.
example since Jim Jones, who committed suicide in
He told Nicole Gent she could be married to Christ, 1978 with more than 900 of his followers.” Former
be queen of the world, and her children would be as cult member Allison Manning said: “The people who
kings and queens. One of his wives, Robyn Bunds, died are not fruit cakes; just people who really wanted
23, said: “He had this amazing ability to recite verse. to serve God,” and go to heaven. “Their sincerity was
He just has a good way of interpreting the Scriptures. taken by a person who abused it.”
He is very believable.”
Cult researcher David Millikan’s comment is pertinent:
When the authorities came with a warrant to search Some people have “a hunger for certainty and are
their compound in Waco, Texas, Koresh’s followers prepared to sacrifice personal liberty to a group they
shot and killed four officers and wounded 16 others. believe holds the answers.” They want others to make
Ten days later he sent the FBI two letters signed their decisions and they will follow.

Why is our society so “incredibly unintelligible” and inse-

Why Are We So Insecure cure? Historian Manning Clark gives us the answer:
Bruce Springsteen, on his album The River, sings, “We are in a period of human history when no-one has
“Everybody’s got a hungry heart.” He’s perceptively in anything to say and the certainties have melted away....
tune with the times when he said, In a Rolling Stone The difficulty is how to put forward answers when we
interview: do not know what we believe.” Western scientific
reasoning has concluded that we are a biological acci-
“People are being dumped into this incredibly unintel-
dent and thus an absurdity. The trouble is something
ligible society, and they are swimming, barely staying
inside us rebels against this concept. People can’t live
afloat, and then trying to catch on to whatever is going
with this position. Our loss of God has left us insecure,
to give them a little safe ground.”
homeless and vulnerable.

2 THE COMING WORLD DICTATOR, WHO WILL IT BE?

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Jesus’ Last Message
In His last talk to His disciples, Jesus discussed two events: the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans (70
AD) and events leading up to His second coming (Matthew 24). At His coming He would end this present world
and set up His eternal kingdom. Jerusalem’s destruction illustrates, on a small scale, what will take place
worldwide in the last days.

1. What warning did Jesus give concerning last-day deceptions? Matthew 24:1-5 (page 700 in NIV Bible:
International Bible Society, 00195)
Watch out that no-one you. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Christ,”
and will .

2. In what way did Christ say that false prophets and false Christs would deceive many? Matthew 24:11, 24
(page 701)
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great and
to deceive even the elect - if that were possible.

The elect are the true followers of Jesus who will not be deceived.

3. What time of distress, did Jesus say, would come upon the world? Matthew 24:21, 22 (page 701)
For then there will be , from the beginning of the world until now
and never to be equalled again ... but for the sake of the elect those days will be .

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 The Antichrist of the Last Days
4. Taking up the theme of Jesus, what did Paul say was to happen before Jesus comes again?
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 (page 838)
Don’t let anyone you in any way, for that day [the second coming of Jesus] will not
come until the rebellion [Greek, apostasy = falling away] occurs and the
is , the man doomed to .

This “lawless man” is portrayed as the ultimate false Christ who will counterfeit Jesus’ second coming to
deceive the world, setting himself up as the final world dictator. This counterfeit is described using the same
terms as for Jesus’ coming. To be deceptive, a counterfeit has to be very close to the real. Who would be
fooled by a counterfeit $15 note!

5. What position will this lawless one claim as his? 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (page 838)
He will and will himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped,
so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, .

God’s temple is the church (1 Corinthians 3:16, page 808).

6. What position did Lucifer [Latin for “morning star”) want when he rebelled against God in heaven? Isaiah
14:12-15 (page 493)
How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star [Lucifer], son of the dawn! … You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to heaven; … I will make myself .”

The term “antichrist” means not only “against”, but also “in place of Christ”. While the Bible says there are many
antichrists through whom Satan has worked (1 John 2:18, page 862), the ultimate antichrist is Satan himself. He
wanted God’s position in heaven, and as we approach the end he hasn’t changed. Satan knows he has no hope,
but he’s trying to take as many people with him as possible.

7. In accordance with whose work will be the coming of the lawless one (antichrist)? How will he deceive those
who perish? 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10 (page 838)
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of displayed in all kinds
of , and , and in every sort of that
deceives those who are perishing.

8. Why will some people perish when Jesus comes? 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (page 838)
They perish because they to the truth and so be . For this reason God
sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who
believed the truth but have in wickedness.

When we take ourselves outside of God’s protection, then we are at the mercy of Satan. By our choices each day
we’re either opening our hearts to God’s will or hardening ourselves against it. It’s not enough to know the truth—
the devil does that (James 2:19, page 855). Many, sadly, will be lost who know the truth. We need to love Jesus
who is the truth (John 14:6, page 764).

4 THE COMING WORLD DICTATOR, WHO WILL IT BE?

 Satan’s henchmen to help him in his final attack on
Revelation on the Antichrist God’s people. The three together constitute a
The book of Revelation enlarges Matthew 24. It counterfeit trinity, symbolised as Babylon. The final
expands the concept of a counterfeit Christ in chap- antichrist is a worldwide false religious coalition that
ters 13-18. In chapter 13 two beasts are portrayed: will combine with secular, political powers to enforce
one from the sea and one from the earth. These are its false gospel and religious system on the world.

(605 BC), imposed idol worship on God’s people (Daniel

The Beast Out of the Sea 1-3). Satan used the Roman governor Herod to try to
The sea beast is pictured as having 10 horns with destroy Jesus at birth (Matthew 2:13-16). During the
10 crowns and seven heads each with a blasphemous Middle Ages the church, in apostasy, used civil power to
name. It resembles a leopard, has feet like a bear and a enforce its false gospel and religious system.
mouth like a lion. It receives its authority from the
The sea beast has all the characteristics of these pre-
dragon (Satan, Revelation 12:3-4, 9). It’s a composite
vious powers and culminates in its final stage - the
of the four beasts and horns in Daniel 7, that represent
seventh head (Revelation 17:7-11). Its fatal wound

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the powers Satan has used against God’s people down
that is healed (Revelation 13:3) is a counterfeit of
through the ages. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon
Jesus, death and resurrection.

The Beast Out of the Earth

The land beast is lamb-like but speaks like a dragon. It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing - counterfeit religion used
by Satan to carry out his devious plans.

9. What does the land beast do? How does it deceive people? Revelation 13:11-14 (page 874)
He exercised all the of the first beast on his behalf, and the earth and its inhabitants
the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed
and , even causing to come down from heaven to earth in full view of
men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he
the inhabitants of the earth.

Fire from heaven was used, in the time of Elijah, to show who was the true God (1 Kings 18:38, page 254). At
Pentecost it indicated the giving of the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ followers (Acts 2:1-3, page 771). Here it is used to
deceive people into thinking God is acting. The land beast is a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit
points people to Jesus (John 15:26; 16:14, page 765) so the land beast, through miraculous signs, will deceive
the world into worshipping the sea beast.

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10. Jesus predicted a time of great distress. What will happen to those who refuse to worship the image of the
beast and receive its mark? Revelation 13:15-17 (page 874)
He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who
to worship the image to be . He also forced everyone … to receive a mark on his
right hand or on his forehead, so that no-one could buy or sell ,
which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

The antichrist sets up a religious dictatorship - not like Hitler or Stalin - but through deception and subtlety, forc-
ing the world to worship the image to the sea beast. Because of insecurity many will be prepared to sacrifice
freedom for certainty. Could a subtle dictatorship happen today? Note what renowned thinker Francis Schaeffer
says: “What of tomorrow? In the United States, for example, a manipulating authoritarian government could come
from the administrative side or from the legislative side. A public official … at the highest level has wisely said,
‘Legislative dictatorship is no better than executive tyranny.’. . . ‘When freedom destroys order, the yearning for
order will destroy freedom.’”(How Should We Then Live?)

To illustrate, Wikileak’s founder, Julian Assange, love him or loath him,

had his bank accounts frozen when he raised the ire of the U.S. by
publishing embarrassing leaked diplomatic cables. The US vice-presi-
dent, Joe Biden, likened him to a “hi-tech terrorist.” Sarah Palin called
on the US government to hunt him down like an al-Qaeda or Taliban
leader, calling him “an anti-American operative with blood on his hands”.
Former Arkansas Governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee
said he should be tried for treason and executed if found guilty. This,
despite Defence Secretary Robert Gates saying: “Is this embarrassing?
Yes. Is it awkward? Yes. Consequences for U.S. foreign policy? I think
fairly modest.” According to analysts, the leaks show how well the dip-
lomats function. A number of newpapers have also published the leaked
information, without such repercussions. Time said, “Wikileak’s revela-
tions could change history.” (Massimo Calabresi. Time, Dec 13, 2010)

The terrorist bombing of the New York World Trade Center and the Pentagon (Sept 11, 2001) has heightened our
insecurities. The world will never be the same again!

The Issue in the Final Crisis

11. Whom are we called to worship? Revelation 14:6, 7 (page 874)
Worship who the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.
The last great conflict between truth and error is but the final struggle in the longstanding controversy concerning the
law of God. Will we choose to follow human laws or God’s laws? Those who have accepted Jesus’ free gift of
salvation will honour Him in keeping His commandments and remaining loyal to Him. They will worship the Creator
rather than the beast, and worship God’s way rather than human being’s way!

6 THE COMING WORLD DICTATOR, WHO WILL IT BE?

12. Which commandment is referred to here?
For in six days the Lord MADE the HEAVENS and the EARTH, the SEA, and all that is in them,
but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the SABBATH day and made it holy.
(Exodus 20:8-11, page 54)

Deliverance: The Antichrist Defeated

As we have stated, God’s claim for worship is based on the fact that He made us. The word worship comes
from Old English “worth-ship”. God, as Creator, is worthy of our adoration and allegiance. This gives life mean-
ing and purpose. It gives value to human beings, in contrast with evolutionary theory, which says that life is just
a gigantic accident, and therefore has no significance.

13. Who will overthrow the lawless one? 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 (page 838)
And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be at the proper time. For the
secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till
he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be , whom the
will with the breath of his mouth and by the splendour of his .

14. Who has the promise and assurance of eternal life? 1 John 5:11-13 (page 864)
I write these things to you who in the name of the Son of God so that you may that
you have life.

Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and utterstoc

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Standing for What You Believe Abednego, were among the princes Nebuchadnezzar
Revelation 13 draws its message from the story in took as captives when he conquered Jerusalem in
Daniel 3 (page 627). Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the 605 BC. Out of all the thousands of Jews, Shadrach,
image of four metals (Daniel 2, Guide 11) made a Meshach and Abednego were the only ones who
great impression on him. But he didn’t like the view refused to bow in worship of the image. (Daniel must
that his great empire would end. He made a similar have been away on some other business at the time).
image, but all of gold - to show that his kingdom
They could’ve rationalised and said, “We
would last forever. The image was 60 cubits high and
six cubits wide (27 x 2.7m; a cubit is about 0.45 m).
can’t be much use to
Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone to bow down to
God if we’re dead.
the image under threat of death for refusal.
We’ll bow down, but
we won’t really
be worshipping this
image.” But they didn’t do that. They stood
for all to see them.
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8 THE COMING WORLD DICTATOR, WHO WILL IT BE?

 Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He couldn’t believe that the soldiers were killed by the heat.
anyone would defy his decree. He gave them a sec- Then, to the king’s amazement he saw “four men
ond chance, because he obviously liked them. They, walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed,
along with Daniel, had shown such promise in their and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” He
training (1:18-20). shouted to them, “Servants of the Most High God,
“If you are ready to fall down and worship the image I come out!” When they came out of the fire they were
made, very good,” said the king. “But if you do not unharmed.
worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blaz- Nebuchadnezzar, quite overwhelmed by the experi-
ing furnace.” Defiantly he added, “Then what god ence, said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach,
will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and
Their reply to the king was courageous, “O rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied
Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves the king’s command and were willing to give up their
before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the lives rather than serve or worship any god except their
blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us own God.”
from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. Such will be the attitude of those who worship and
But even if he does not, we want you to know, O follow Jesus in the last days. Here is the safe ground
king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the Springsteen sees us needing. Faith in God brings cer-
image of gold you have set up.” tainty and security without surrendering freedom. As
The king couldn’t believe his ears! How dare these you talk with Jesus about the issue of your loyalty and
captives defy him. He ordered them to be tied up and worship of Him in the final crisis, indicate below how
thrown into the furnace. So hot were the flames that you feel you will respond to Him.

Jesus, this guide has helped me understand

about the antichrist.
Lord Jesus, I want to be among those who
stand true to You in the last days.
Jesus, I have chosen You as my Saviour and
I am willing to follow You and worship You.

How does the way we worship show our loyalty to God?

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used
by permission of International Bible Society. (NIBMIN 00195)
Copyright © Errol Webster 2011
Published by: The Seventh Day Adventist Church, South Pacific Division Design
and Layout: DEC Creatives, Bonnells Bay, New South Wales, Australian Cover
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