"As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings."
--- Daniel 7:24 ---
"Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority."
--- Revelation 13:1-2 ---
Review
In my blog post titled "Four Great Beasts!" I talked about the vision of the "four great beasts coming from the sea" that the prophet Daniel had (Daniel 7:1-8) during the first year of Belshazzar, King of Babylon (504 B.C.). Each beast is a kingdom that ruled the earth - the Neo-Babylonian Empire (605-539 B.C.), the Medo-Persian Empire (539-331 B.C.), the Graeco-Macedonian Empire (331-30 B.C.), and the Roman Empire (ancient Roman Empire 30 B.C.-A.D. 476. The Revived Roman Empire is still to come). I concluded that the ten horns (Daniel 7:7) will come out of the revived Roman Empire since none of what is prophesied occurred before the fall of the ancient Roman Empire or afterwards. Another horn, a little one, will come up among the ten horns, and three of the first horns will be "will be pulled out by the roots" before the little horn. This horn will possess "eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts" (Daniel 7:8).
I then wrote a blog post titled "The Little Horn - Prophetic Timeline." The little horn will reign during the final week (seven-year period) of Daniel's prophecy of The Seventy Weeks (Daniel 9:24-27). The first sixty-nine weeks (483 years) ended when Jesus Christ was crucified and died. The seventieth week will occur during the "great tribulation" period as prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24:15-28. This period will culminate in the physical and glorious return of the Son of Man to earth (Matthew 24:29-31) where He will literally reign for one-thousand years (Revelation 20:1-7) from His glorious throne (Matthew 25:31). As I stated and explained in this post, I hold to the Dispensational Premillennialism view. Thus, everything you read from this point forward is based on this eschatological view.
Is the Little Horn the Antichrist?
The word "antichrist" is mentioned four times in 1st John and once in 2nd John. The only reference to a coming antichrist is found in 1st John 2:18 - "Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming."
The apostle John wrote that "even now many antichrists have appeared" (1st John 2:18). Some wrongly have used this passage to teach that we have had several antichrists in the world, including dictators like Adolph Hitler. But John was pointing back at those during the first century who denied "that Jesus is the Christ" (1st John 2:22), who denied "the Father and the Son" (1st John 2:22), who did not confess that Jesus is from God (1st John 4:3), and who did not "acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh" (2nd John 7). We can accurately call anyone today who denies the deity of Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh (John 1:1,14), as antichrists, especially those in the cults (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.). We can also say that those who claim to be the Christ are also antichrists - "For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many" (Matthew 24:5).
Yes, the little horn is the coming antichrist. More accurately, he is the beast that the apostle John saw "coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names" (Revelation 13:1).
The Rise and Reign of the Beast
In order to understand the book of Revelation and what was shown to the apostle John - "the things which must soon take place" (Revelation 1:1) - we must understand "the things" from the period of time (first century A.D.) that John knew and understood.
The Beast from the Sea
Revelation 13:1-2
"And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority."
The Dragon
The apostle John saw the dragon standing "on the sand of the seashore." This dragon is described in the previous chapter as "a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems" (Revelation 12:3). After a war in heaven against "Michael and his angels" (Revelation 12:7), "the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him" (Revelation 12:9). Satan and his angelic followers were cast from heaven to earth because he said in his heart - “‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’" (Isaiah 14:13-14).
Ten Horns and Seven Heads
Daniel 7:7 tells us that the fourth beast has ten horns. Daniel 7:23 states that the fourth beast "will be a fourth kingdom on the earth." The ten horns are ten kings that arise out of this kingdom, but "another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings" (Daniel 7:24). The king that will arise after the other kings is the little horn who will "speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One" (Daniel 7:25). Thus, the "beast coming out of the sea" is a continuation of the fourth beast (Daniel 7:7) - the revived Roman Empire - since its predecessor, the ancient Roman Empire, fell in A.D. 476.
On the horns were ten diadems. The word "diadems" in the Greek is diadēma which means crown. This word is used only three times in the New Testament - Revelation 12:3 (Satan), Revelation 13:1 (the Beast), and Revelation 19:12 (the coming Christ) who will have "many diadems" on His head.
Both the dragon and this beast have ten horns and seven heads. However, the dragon has seven diadems on its heads while the beast has ten diadems on its horns. Blasphemous names are on the heads of the beast. We see this again in Revelation 17:3 - "And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns."
We find that the "seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits" (Revelation 17:9) and that "they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while" (Revelation 17:10). We also learn that the ten horns “are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast" (Revelation 17:12-13). The woman (Revelation 17:3) "is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth" (Revelation 17:18).
Before answering the following questions - where are the seven mountains located? Who are the five kings who have fallen? What is meant by "one is?" Who is the king who has not yet come, but must remain for a little while when he comes? What city is the great city? - we must take a look at Revelation 13:2: "And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority."
The description of the beast very clearly indicates that the fourth kingdom, the revived Roman Empire, will be a composite of three of the four creatures of Daniel 7:4-6.
"Like a leopard" - "like a leopard" (Daniel 7:6).
"Feet were like those of a bear" - "resembling a bear" (Daniel 7:5).
"Mouth like the mouth of a lion" - "like a lion and had the wings of an eagle" (Daniel 7:4).
The beast "like a lion" is the Neo-Babylonian Empire; the beast like those a bear is the Medo-Persian Empire; and the beast like a leopard is the Graeco-Macedonian Empire. These three empires, combined with the revived Roman Empire will form a monstrous beast that has raw political and military power which comes from the dragon who is Satan.
>> “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits" (Revelation 17:9).
Geographically, the seven mountains could be Italy's west central coastal region where Rome is located - the city on the seven hills. Since Rome was the seat of government of the ancient Roman Empire, it would stand to reason that Rome would be the seat of government of the revived Roman Empire. This could also be referring to the region where Jerusalem is located. Some theologians teach that the seven heads symbolize seven mountains. The text dictates that the seven heads are seven mountains. The woman sits on these mountains. Another interpretation is that the seven mountains may be interpreted as seven kingdoms. This seems to fit well with Revelation 17:10 - "they (the seven mountains) are seven kings." Thus, the seven mountains are seven kingdoms, each ruled by a king.
>> "and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while" (Revelation 17:10)?
Many interpreters of this passage agree that the seven kings are powerful kingdoms maintained by military might and opposed to God's people. The Old Testament reveals five great empires that threatened the survival of the Israelites.
These five empires have fallen:
Egypt - when the Israelite's were in slavery, they tried to extinguish the Israelites through hard labor (Exodus 1:10-14) and the murder of all male babies (Exodus 1:22).
Assyria - destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel around 722 B.C. and took the Israelites into captivity (2nd Kings 17:1-23).
Neo-Babylonian Empire - destroyed the southern kingdom of Israel and burned Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (2nd Kings 25:1-21). The Israelites were taken into captivity for seventy years (Jeremiah 29:10, Daniel 9:2).
Medo-Persian Empire - during the days of Queen Esther (around 460 B.C.), "Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus" (Esther 3:6). Fortunately, the queen learned of Haman's plot and reported it to King Ahasuerus. Haman was hanged (Esther 8:10).
Seleucid Empire (part of the Graeco-Macedonian Empire) - King Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 B.C) desecrated the temple in Jerusalem in 168 B.C. by setting up a statue of Zeus and forcing the Jews to worship this statue and to sacrifice swine on its altar. His goal was the elimination of all traces of Jewish culture. The Maccabean Revolt spared the Jews and is remembered with the annual celebration of Hanukkah. Antiochus IV Epiphanes was an evil monster (Daniel 8:23–25; 11:21–35)!
>> "and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while" (Revelation 17:10)?
From John's perspective, the "one is" is the ancient Roman Empire which existed during his time.
>> "and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while" (Revelation 17:10)?
Daniel 7:1-8 is a vision of four beasts. There is no fifth beast. Three of the five kingdoms that have fallen represent the first three beasts in Daniel 7:3-6. The ancient Roman Empire, the sixth kingdom, represents the fourth beast. The kingdom that is still to come, the continuation of the fourth beast, is the seventh kingdom - the revived Roman Empire. This kingdom must remain a little while. Revelation 13:5 defines the reign of this beast as forty-two months (3 1/2 years) - the second half of Daniel's prophecy of the seventieth week (Daniel 9:27).
>> “The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
(Revelation 17:18)?
It should be noted that this is a reference to a specific city that existed during John's time based on the present tense of the statement "which reigns over the kings of the earth." A strong case can be made that Rome is "the great city." Ancient Rome reigned over the kingdoms of the earth until it fell in A.D. 476. Another case can be made that Jerusalem is "the great city" where Jesus Christ was crucified. "And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified" (Revelation 11:8). Nineveh is mentioned as "the great city" in Jonah 1:2; 3:2; 4:11. Babylon is referenced as "the great city" four times in Revelation 18.
Revelation 13:3-4
"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; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”
The word "slain" in the Greek is sphazō which literally means "slaughtered to death." Jesus was literally "slaughtered to death" while being scourged and crucified. With His blood He purchased for God "every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9). Thus, in order to display himself as being God, the "man of lawlessness" must appear as if he was "slaughtered to death." The wounds that Jesus incurred while being beaten, scourged, and crucified were healed when He rose from the dead. He showed the wounds on both hands and His side to His disciples to prove to them that He was alive! The "son of destruction" will do something very similar to show that he is God. The whole world will be so amazed at this deceptive miracle that they will blindly follow the beast and worship Satan, "who deceives the whole world" (Revelation 12:9).
Revelation 13:5-7
"There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven."
Satan will give this beast "a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months." Daniel 7:8 states that the little horn “possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts." Daniel 7:25 states "He will speak out against the Most High." This is repeated and extended in Revelation 13:6 - "And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him."
This beast will be given authority to act for forty-two months - the second half of Daniel's seventieth week (seven-year period) which occurs during the second half of the great tribulation period. In Revelation 11:1-2 John was given a "measuring rod like a staff." He was told not to measure the "court which is outside the temple" because “it has been given to the nations; and they will tread underfoot the holy city for forty-two months." The forty-two-month period occurs after the "two-witnesses" prophesy for "twelve hundred and sixty days" (Revelation 11:3). This will occur during the first three and a half years (1260 days) of the seven-year great tribulation period. "When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them and overcome them and kill them" (Revelation 11:7). This was the beginning of his final war against the saints which has been going on since "sin entered the world" (Genesis 3:1-24, Romans 5:12). Satan will give the beast authority "to make war with the saints and to overcome them" (Revelation 13:7). The little horn "was waging war with the saints and overpowering them" (Daniel 7:21). Satan will also give the beast "authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation" (Revelation 13:7). No one will be "able to wage war with him" (Revelation 13:4).
Revelation 13:8
"All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain."
The "man of lawlessness," the "son of destruction," will exalt "himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God" (2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4). He will come "in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish" (2nd Thessalonians 2:9-10). He will display himself as being God and everyone whose name is not written in the Lamb's book of life will worship him.
If you are in Christ, saved by grace alone through faith alone in Him, then your name is written in the Lambs book of life. You will not be on this earth during the second half of the great tribulation period. Whether you are in the grave or alive, you will be "caught up" (raptured) in the clouds with your brothers and sisters in Christ to meet the Lord in the air. You will be with Him forever (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Revelation 13:9-10
"If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints."
Earlier in this book Jesus tells John "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; Revelation 3:6,13,22). In this case He was speaking to the seven churches - Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Revelation 2:1-3:22). He then gives this same exhortation to those saints who are destined to go into captivity and those who choose to kill with the sword. The prophet Jeremiah wrote something similar:
"Then the LORD said to me, “Even though Moses and Samuel were to stand before Me, My heart would not be with this people; send them away from My presence and let them go!
“And it shall be that when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you are to tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD:
“Those destined for death, to death.
And those destined for the sword, to the sword.
And those destined for famine, to famine.
And those destined for captivity, to captivity" (Jeremiah 15:1-2).
There will be those who come to faith in Christ during the great tribulation period. They will refuse to worship the beast, or his image, and will not receive the mark of the beast. They will be "beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God" (Revelation 20:4). By their faith and perseverance in the face of imprisonment and certain death, they will demonstrate that they are saints of the Lamb who was slain.
The Beast from the Earth
Revelation 13:11-12
"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed."
The prophet Daniel was only given a vision of "four great beasts" that "were coming up from the sea, different from one another" (Daniel 7:2). There is nothing in the Old Testament that mentions a fifth beast. John describes this beast as having "two horns like a lamb" yet "he spoke as a dragon." This same apostle wrote of Jesus as the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29,36). This monster as the appearance of Christ yet he speaks like his father Satan. Jesus gave us this warning: “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15).
The purpose of this beast is to make all of the inhabitants of the earth "worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed." How is he going to do this?
Revelation 13:13-15
"He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed."
>> He will perform great signs.
Jesus used this same phrase to describe what will happen in the last days - “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders ..." (Matthew 24:24). The apostle Paul wrote that the "lawless one" is coming "in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders" (2nd Thessalonians 2:8-9).
>> He will make fire come down from heaven to the earth in the presence of men.
The prophet Elijah prayed to the Lord God to answer the prophets of Baal with fire. The Lord answered his prayer when "the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench." All the people who witnessed this "fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God. (1st Kings 18:24-39). Fire coming down from heaven will persuade the inhabitants of the earth to worship the dragon instead of the Lamb.
>> He will erect an image of the beast, give breath to it, and cause it to speak.
The word 'breath' in the Greek is pneuma - which also means spirit or wind. 'pneuma' is referenced 379 times in 344 New Testament verses. It is mostly interpreted as Spirit (the Holy Spirit) and spirit. It is interpreted as 'breath' in 2nd Thessalonians 2:8, Revelation 11:11, and Revelation 13:15. Just as the Lord God breathed the "breath of life" into the nostrils of the man (Adam) He created in the garden (Genesis 2:7), the beast will breathe his evil spirit into the image of the beast. Unlike the statue of Zeus that Antiochus IV Epiphanes erected in the Jewish temple (168 B.C.), this image will appear to be alive - it will "speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed."
Revelation 13:16-17
"And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name."
God tells the four angels who are granted authority "to harm the earth and the sea" not "harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bondservants of our God on their foreheads" (Revelation 7:2-3). The number of those will be sealed is one hundred and forty-four thousand (144,000) - twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:4-8).
Contrast this with those who worship the beast, those whose names are not written in the lambs' book of life (Revelation 13:8). They will receive the mark of the beast as an act of worship to the beast, regardless of their station if life (small or great), their economic position (rich or poor), and their societal rank (freemen or slaves). There will be major economic constraints for those who do not receive this mark: they will not be able to buy or sell. Those who do not worship the beast or his image, who do not receive the mark, will be beheaded (Revelation 20:4).
Revelation 13:18
"Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six."
There are many interpretations of the number 666 - what does it really mean, is it literal or figurative, and on and on. This verse states that "the number is that of a man". It is not a number that is associated with the eternal God. John also tells those who have understanding to calculate the number of the beast. Did John already calculate this for us when he said that 666 is the number of a man or is there more to this? To avoid speaking where the Bible does not speak, I'm going to stick with what I know from this passage: 666 is the "number of a man" and the "number of the beast."
The Demise of the Beast
In Daniel 7:9-10 we see a courtroom in heaven. The Ancient of Days (God the Father) took His seat on the throne. The purpose of this court proceeding was to render final judgment on the little horn (Daniel 7:8) who spoke arrogant words and blasphemies against God, and waged war against the saints (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:6-7). The courts final verdict - the dominion of the little horn "will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever" (Daniel 9:26). The body of the beast that was slain will be "destroyed and given to the burning fire" (Daniel 9:11).
Scripture very clearly teaches the following:
Jesus, the Son of Man will return to earth in the same way that He ascended into heaven - in the clouds (Acts 1:9-11).
All of the tribes of the earth "will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:30).
When He returns "His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south" (Zechariah 14:4).
When "the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne" (Matthew 25:31).
He will literally reign on the earth for one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-7).
The Final Destruction of the Beast
At the end of the great tribulation period, when the Son of Man returns, "the beast will be seized" along with his "false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image." They will be "thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone" (Revelation 19:20). The dragon, Satan, will be bound for a thousand years and thrown into the abyss. The abyss will be shut and sealed "so that he would not deceive the nations any longer" (Revelation 20:1-3).
Revelation 20:7-10 - The Final Destruction of Satan
"When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
Revelation 20:11-15 - The Great White Throne Judgment
"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
Are You Ready?
Time is short. None of us are guaranteed that we will live to see tomorrow. I have known too many people who had plans for the next day but suddenly and unexpectedly died.
The apostle Peter tells us that "by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." But the Lord "is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2nd Peter 3:7,9).
Jesus said “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God ... He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:16-18,36).
Christ, the eternal Son of God, stepped out of eternity and became a man. He was tempted in every way imaginable but never sinned. Because He claimed to be God, He was arrested, beaten, scourged, had a crown of very sharp thorns pushed on to his head, and was crucified. The sinless Son of God took our sins upon his body and drank the full cup of God's wrath - what we deserve! When done, He declared "It Is Finished" - both the justice and love of God kissed on that cross. Christ died and was buried. But that is not the end of the story. HE IS RISEN! Christ rose from the dead on the third day! This is the gospel by which I am saved from the just and eternal wrath of God.
Are you ready for that moment when you will either worship Him forever as your God and Savior in heaven or face Him at the Great White Throne Judgment?
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth"
2nd Timothy 2:15
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture cited in this post is taken from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update.