Will there ever be a World President? Surprisingly enough many think that there will be and they are eagerly looking for him. Shortly after Barak Obama was elected President of the United States in 2008, CNN had a headline that said -“Barak Obama is ‘President of the World.” [1] Their headline came not from a particular political party, but from comments of others around the world. In addition, Henry Kissinger who was the former Secretary of State under Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford said that Obama’s election “will mark the beginning of a new world order.” [2]
I do not included these things in my message in order to speak negatively of our President or to insinuate that he is the Antichrist. He’s not. The Bible says that this man will not be revealed unto after the Rapture and the pulling back of the Holy Spirit’s restraining influence. (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) I say these things to help us to see how ready the world is to receive a leader who can bring everything together. The time is becoming ripe for the rise of a One-World President.
I. Will There Ever Be a World President?
Will there ever be a World President? I’m not sure what his title will be, but the Bible tells us very clearly that there is a day coming when one man will try to rule the entire world. Many Bible scholars refer to him as the ‘Antichrist.’
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1. Many Antichrists
First we see that John spoke of – ‘many antichrists.’ The prefix ‘anti’ can mean – “against.” This term can be used of anyone who opposes God and His Son. There have always been those who have been in opposition to Christ. Such people are ‘anti-christ.’
2. The Man Called the Antichrist
There have always been many antichrists, but John looked for a particular individual who would be ‘the Antichrist.’ This man will be the culmination of what it means to be anti-Christ.
II. What Will the First World President Be Like?
Daniel 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
The book of Daniel has much to say about this coming world leader. Let us notice but a few of the things Daniel tells us:
* He will be a king with fierce appearance
* He will be a master of deception and succeed in almost everything he does
* He will be empowered by Satan
* He will become an enemy to God’s people
* He will take on the Lord Jesus Christ
* And in the end he will be destroyed
The book of Revelation tells us much about this coming leader.
Revelation 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
A. Charmer
What kind of man will the Antichrist be? Scripture teaches us that he will begin as a charmer. He will be like no other man who has ever walked upon the earth. In the beginning he will be very appealing to the masses.
1. He Will Come Riding a White Horse
Obviously this is symbolic, but what does it mean? What do you think of when you think of someone riding a white horse? The good guy. The hero of the day. The Antichrist will appear on the stage of mankind as a good guy. He will be a charmer that causes many to love him.
2. The ‘Savior’ Man Has Been Looking For
Bible author and teacher John Phillips does a great job of writing a biographical sketch of this man.
“The Antichrist will be an attractive and charismatic figure, a genius, a demon-controlled, devil-taught charmer of men. He will have answers to the horrendous problems of mankind. He will be all things to all men; a political statesman, a social lion, a financial wizard, an intellectual giant, a religious deceiver, a masterful orator, a gifted organizer. He will be Satan’s masterpiece of deception, the world’s false messiah. With boundless enthusiasm the masses will follow him and readily enthrone him in their hearts as this world’s savior and god.”
B. Conqueror
1. He Will Have a Bow, But No Arrows
Scripture teaches us that he will begin his reign with the power of diplomacy rather than force. One of his great acts of diplomacy is the establishment of a 7-year peace treaty with Israel whereby they are allowed to rebuild the Temple. (see Dan 9:27)
2. He Will Be Given a Crown to Go Forth to Conquer
What the world will not see is that guiding this man’s silver tongue is an evil heart that intends on conquering the world.
Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
The Antichrist will be an evil man. Consider Paul’s description of him.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 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; 4 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.
a. Man of Sin
The Bible says that we’ve all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We’re all born with a sinful nature. As someone has said – “We’re not sinners because we sin. We sin because we’re sinners.” We’re sinners by: nature, choice and practice.
But this man is characterized as being completely sinful. He will be an evil man. Verse 8 in this same passages calls him the ‘’Wicked one.’
b. Son of Perdition
The title ‘Son of Perdition’ is very strong. It’s a title Jesus gave to Judas who betrayed Him. It can mean one of two things:
i. One who is destined to bring destruction
ii. One who is destined to be destroyed
Revelation 19:20 And the beast (Antichrist) was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be cast into the lake of fire, even before Satan or the rest of sinful humanity. What a terrible person this man must be.
C. Counterfeit
2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 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 greatest part of this evil man’s power will be his ability to deceive. Satan is a master of deception and he will empower this man to deceive the world. Since the beginning of time Satan has desired to be worshiped as God and he will use this man as his final agent to bring this to past. In some ways it’s as though God is going step back and allow Satan to give it everything he has in his final attempt to overthrow God and rule the world. Demons that have been chained in the bottomless pit for centuries will be released and allowed to join Satan and his evil army.
III. What Will the First World President Be Your President?
A. The Bible teaches us that there are two kingdoms in this world:
1. Kingdom of Light that is ruled by God
2. Kingdom of Darkness that is ruled by Satan
These two kingdoms are not imaginary. There are as real as the car you drive and the food you eat. The Bible teaches us about these two kingdoms and what will be their ultimate end. Today it looks like the Kingdom of Darkness is often winning, yet the Bible tells us of its ultimate destruction. On the other hand, the Kingdom of Light sometimes looks like its losing, yet the Bible tells us of its ultimate victory.
B. Everyone is a Part of One of the Two Kingdoms
The Bible also tells us that each of us are a part of one of these kingdoms.
1. We Are Born as a Part of the Kingdom of Darkness
We are born with a sinful heart and to become a part of God’s Kingdom of Light, there must be a change in our spiritual citizenship.
2. We Must Be Born-again to Become a Part of the Kingdom of Light
We must as Jesus described it – be born again. Jesus said: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (see John 3:3) Nicodemus could not understand how a full grown man could be born again. Jesus told him that that which is born of the flesh was flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Just as we experience a birth of the flesh, so we must experience a birth of the spirit.
This spiritual new birth is not optional. Jesus said: “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (see John 3:8) Not, it would be good if you were born again, or you should be born again. But – “Ye must be born again.”
How can a person be born again and translated from Satan’s kingdom of darkness into God’s kingdom of light?
a. He must recognize and admit that he is a sinner in God’s sight
b. He must believe that Jesus, God’s Son, died on the cross for his sins
c. He must come to Christ and ask for His forgiveness
The Antichrist is a symbol of what is and what is yet to come. Already there is a movement of antichrist that flows throughout almost every facet of this world and one day, there is going to be a man called Antichrist who will seek to rule and reign over all of God’s creation. Those who do not know Christ are already a part of his kingdom and one day they will share with him in his ruin. The Bible says that in the end the Antichrist will be cast into a lake of fire and so will every person who never receives Christ as their Savior and is born again.
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[1] “Barak Obama is ‘President of the World’”, CNN Politics. Com 5 November 2008, http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/05/international.press.reaction/ (accessed April 17, 2015)
[2] Henry Kissinger, “A Chance for a New World Order,” New York Times. Come, 12 January 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/opinion/12iht-edkissinger.1.19281915.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 (accessed April 17, 2015)
[3] Erwin Lutzer, When a Nation Forgets God: 7 Lessons We Must Learn from Nazi Germany (Chicago: Moody Press, 2009), 37
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