Many are digging a bit deeper into the geography in Bible prophecy, and for good reason. There is biblical evidence to suggest the Antichrist may not rule the entire world. Today, we will look at two such evidences: Prophetic Geography and Holy Hyperbole.
Prophetic Geography
The nations named by the Old Testament Prophets as being judged by Christ when He returns are located in the Middle East and North Africa.
Let’s examine this idea a little by looking in the Books of Joel and Zechariah.
Joel says the "surrounding nations,” as in the nations that reside around Israel, are coming against her at the end.
"Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, And gather yourselves there. Bring down, O LORD, Your mighty ones." Joel 3:11 NASB
Zechariah says these surrounding nations will be plundered by Israel after judgment upon them.
"Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance." Zechariah 14:14 NASB See also 12:2
In other words, "all nations" is qualified by the geography the Old Testament Prophets gave to us—as in all nations within this surrounding geographic area. Many times before I’ve called this Prophetic Geography. These are things that students of end-time Bible prophecy need to take a closer look at.
Holy Hyperbole
There is also more evidence that suggests the Antichrist's kingdom will not be global. Consider a few verses in the Book of Daniel. The first couple describe King Neb's kingdom:
"You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory; and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold. Daniel 2:37-38 NASB
Sounds global doesn't it?
The questions for us are: Did King Neb rule everywhere that man dwelt? Did Babylon rule the entire world? What about kingdoms in Europe at that time, or South America, or the Far East?
It then goes on to say that two more kingdoms after his will "rule over all the earth."
"After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth. Daniel 2:39, NASB
These two kingdoms are Medo-Persia and Greece (actually, Javan which is in Modern-day Turkey). Did they rule the entire world?
Consider, it is hyperbole, or a poetic device or expression used to describe the authority of these kingdoms rather than meaning they actually ruled the entire world. So, "all the earth" isn’t really all the earth. I’ve come to call this Holy Hyperbole, if it’s a thing, of course. More people need to weigh in.
So, when describes this end-time beast kingdom,
"Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. Daniel 2:40 NASB
and
"After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. Daniel 7:7, NASB
Do you think it will be global, or will it follow the same pattern as the others?
When it says,
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; Revelation 13:3 NASB
Is it really the whole earth? Good question!
Now, this doesn't mean the Antichrist won't have influence on nations he doesn't directly rule. I’m not teaching that. We are already seeing his religion (Islam) migrating to just about every nation in the world, and it’s not hard to surmise how that might play out when even the most “luke warm” followers of Islam suddenly realize their Mahdi has come, thereby, in their minds, proving their religion to be true.
Here's another example of possible Holy Hyperbole. Revelation says anyone who takes the Mark will "drink of the wine of the wrath of God."
"Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb." Revelation 14:9-10, NASB
Yet, Zechariah says there will be survivors among the Antichrist nations leaving open the possibility that even some of those who have taken the Mark might be saved.
"Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths." Zechariah 14:16 NASB
This needs further examination. Someone in favor of this interpretation might say “Well, God does love His remnants” as I’m inclined to say.
Not to mention, the phrase "all the nations that went against Jerusalem” suggests there will be some who haven't "went against Jerusalem.”
I wanted to keep this short so, in closing, I am of the opinion that the only Man who will ever rule the entire world is Jesus Christ. That is reserved for Christ. Only His kingdom will rule the entire world.
This is only scratching the surface, Bereans, and I’m not the first who has wondered about these things. There is much more to look at it. Go to it!
As a final note, I’m also inclined to ask this:
Was God’s solution to the previous attempt at a one-world government, religion and economy in Genesis 11 not sufficient? Let that rattle around in your brain for a while and think on it until next time.
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