BBP: 17 The Effects of Antichrist’s Resurrection on Real Christians

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Chapter 17

The Effects of Antichrist’s Resurrection on Real Christians

A) Antichrist’s Resurrection will immediately begin worldwide and severe discrimination of real Christians

B) Biblically informed Christians will understand the meaning of Antichrist’s Resurrection Dan 12:10

C) Biblically misinformed Christians will be shocked and confused but helped by those with insight Dan 11:33

Primary Points

Eventually, God’s people will be hunted, imprisoned, and executed in the Greatest Persecution. But at least 3.5 years before that, after Antichrist’s Resurrection, powerful anti-Christian propaganda and severe discrimination will begin.
After Antichrist’s Resurrection, the only “religion” that will not be tolerated is biblical Christianity.
Antichrist’s Resurrection and the implementation of his Religious Covenant will immediately result in a campaign of public slander and discrimination with an unprecedented scope and intensity.
The Resurrected Antichrist will treat real Christians like the outdated and harsh Pharisees that Christ condemned.
The persecution of the Jews by the Nazis reflects a historical model that will probably be followed by the Resurrected Antichrist to lead the world to fulfill Christ’s prediction that the whole world will hate his followers (cf. Matt 24:9).
There will be two kinds of Christians on the Earth when the Antichrist is Resurrected. Biblically informed Christians will be like the men of Issachar … who understood the times and knew what Israel should do (1 Chron 12:32). Misinformed Christians will be confused, shocked, and afraid.
As with all of Christ’s commands, there will be consequences for Christians who disobey His command to “Watch!” intelligently and diligently for biblical signs of His Return.
When Antichrist’s Resurrection is literally fulfilled, many unbiblical beliefs about the Endtimes will be painfully but effectively proven wrong.
Fortunately, Daniel 12:4 seems to predict that misinformed Christians will fervently and humbly study prophetic Scripture with a new and more accurate perspective after Antichrist’s Resurrection.
Daniel 11:33 seems to predict misinformed Christians will be helped by Endtime Teachers who will have an accurate understanding of prophetic Scripture.

In the previous chapters we discussed the effects of Antichrist’s Resurrection on the non-Christians of the world. This chapter will discuss how this event will affect real Christians in the world.

A) Antichrist’s Resurrection will immediately begin worldwide and severe discrimination of real Christians

How will pagans and false Christians treat real Christians after Antichrist’s Resurrection? At this point, the Antichrist will be implementing his covenant with many (Dan 9:27) and promoting his own Religion (cf. ch. 14, sec. A). The Resurrected Antichrist will consider real Christians and Christianity to be a great obstacle to the growth of Antichrist’s Religion. Therefore, he will do all he can to lead his amazed, deceived, worshipping, and submissive followers to begin to fulfill another prophecy about God’s people in the Endtimes. Jesus said to His followers, after the beginning of birth pains: “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed” in The Greatest Persecution and “you will be hated all over the world because you are my followers” (Matt 24:8-10 NLT).

We have noted all along in this book that there will be a process for things to develop in the Endtimes that will require some time. Let us be reminded of what events will ultimately lead to for real Christians. Jesus said:

The time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. (John 16:2-4 NLT)

But stages of persecution will occur before Christians are arrested and killed by people believing the Antichrist is God and they are performing a holy service to him. The Antichrist’s Claim to be God will result in The Greatest Persecution (cf. Matt 24:15, 21). After that time, real Christians will be imprisoned and executed for not worshipping the Antichrist (cf. Rev 13:9-10). But such severe persecution will not develop immediately. It will take time, and a process for the world to come to a conviction that Christians must be hunted, imprisoned, beaten, and killed. That process will begin with Antichrist’s Resurrection and the spread of Antichrist’s Religion.

An increased hate for Christians all over the world because we are Christ’s real followers will begin immediately with Antichrist’s Resurrection. It was suggested elsewhere that virtually every religion in the world will be acceptable at that point (cf. ch. 13, sec. C.3). But not biblical and authentic Christianity. It will be the only “religion” that will not be tolerated. The entire pagan world and a multitude of false Christians will be worshiping the man that real Christians will claim is the Antichrist. That will not be popular. Authentic Christianity will quickly become the only rejected religion immediately after Antichrist’s Resurrection.

This intolerance of real Christianity will result in its public slander. Of course, we experience this very thing today, especially in the American media. But the public attack on the character of biblical Christianity will exponentially increase in scope and intensity at the very beginning of the Endtimes with Antichrist’s Resurrection.

With the implementation of his worldwide Religious Covenant and Religion, the Resurrected Antichrist will begin a powerful propaganda campaign against real Christians by publicly slandering them. Again, the Antichrist will be claiming to be the real Jesus Christ who is implementing a new covenant (Dan 9:27) to replace NT Christianity. Therefore, the Resurrected Antichrist may treat real Christians like the outdated and harsh Pharisees that Christ condemned.

In fact, he may imitate some things from Christ in His blistering statements about the Pharisees in Matthew 23. For example, Jesus rightfully and publicly criticized the Pharisees for over-burdening people with their legalistic laws (cf. Matt 23:4). The Resurrected Antichrist may unjustly criticize real Christians of the same thing, contrasting it with his own “easier” Religion.

Jesus criticized the Pharisees for hindering people from getting to Heaven (v. 13). Even now Christianity is widely criticized for claiming, There is one God and only one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the [crucified] man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5 NLT). The Resurrected Antichrist will probably initially claim there are many ways to have a relationship with God, and therefore, all pagan religions have some value. Accordingly, he will accuse narrow-minded Christians of being blind guides just as Jesus did the Pharisees (cf. Matt 23:15-17).

Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites seven times in his sermon against them. Surely the Antichrist will accuse Christians of the same.

Jesus said to the Pharisees “you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice and mercy” (Matt 23:23 NLT). Mercy in Antichrist’s Religion will mean tolerance for abortion, homosexuality, and all sorts of sins that real Christians rightfully condemn. The “intolerance” of biblical Christianity will become a foremost reason Christians will be hated all over the world (Matt 24:9).

The Antichrist’s public slander will result in increased discrimination of real Christians. It may not yet be officially condoned by all world governments, but the people of the world will hate Christians because we are followers of the real Christ. One thinks of the sinful discrimination that blacks experienced in America. People actually believed they were an inferior race of humans. The world will believe the same thing about Christians. Accordingly, it will be good business to exclude Christians and they may be banned from many services.

Obviously, anti-Christian propaganda and discrimination has already greatly increased in recent years all over the world. It would seem Christ’s prediction that the whole world would hate His followers has already begun to be fulfilled. But when the Antichrist’s Resurrection occurs and he begins to implement his worldwide Religion, this process will greatly increase with an unprecedented scope and intensity.

Eventually, after Antichrist’s Claim to be God and The Greatest Persecution begins, only real Christians will refuse the mark of the beast and be legally outlawed worldwide from being able to buy or sell anything (Rev 13:17). Even after that, such severe economic discrimination will ultimately lead to the hunting, imprisonment, and execution of all real Christians on Earth.

Therefore, it would seem there will be a period of about 3.5 years when Christian persecution immediately begins to intensify with Antichrist’s Resurrection. This will lead up to Antichrist’s Claim to be God, after which The Greatest Persecution will begin. This progression of Antichrist’s career against the Church can be summarized in the table and illustrated in the graphic on the following page.

Table: The 3.5 Year Progression of Antichrist’s Career

against the Church

After Antichrist’s Resurrection & during

The Beginning of Birth Pains

The Antichrist will implement his Religious Covenant that will immediately confront biblical Christianity.

The Antichrist will publicly slander biblical Christians.

The world will have a growing dislike for real Christians.

Unofficially, there will be a significant increase of discrimination and persecution against real Christians by the public.

After Antichrist’s Claim to be God & during

The Greatest Persecution

The Antichrist will outlaw biblical Christianity.

The Antichrist will demand that everyone on Earth receive the mark of the beast and only real Christians will refuse and be unable to buy or sell.

The Antichrist will demand the arrest, imprisonment, and execution of biblical Christians.

Therefore, note in the graphic above the time of “Severe Discrimination.” It will begin at least 3.5 years before the Greatest Persecution begins. During that time, the Antichrist will follow a proven process to lead the whole world to hate followers of Jesus (Matt 24:9).

What occurred in Nazi Germany in the 1930’s and 40’s offers us a historical model that will probably be followed by the Resurrected Antichrist. Again, the process took several years. First, there was public anti-Jewish propaganda and slander. 20 years before the start of WWII, Adolf Hitler issued his first written comment on the “Jewish Question” in which he defined Jews as a race and not members of a religion. He stated that Jews are a “race-tuberculosis of the peoples,” and the goal was to remove them altogether. ^[1] Of course, as Hitler’s popularity grew, so did his propaganda of the Jews.

This led to increasing levels of hatred for the Jews in Nazi Germany. Already they were being severely discriminated against, being rejected from jobs and schools. Then they were forced to publicly identify themselves by wearing a yellow armband with the star of David. Later, they were forced to live in Jewish ghettos, apart from the rest of society. Eventually they were exterminated in concentration camps. ^[2] The following timeline reflects this progression:

1933: Adolph Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany; boycott of Jewish shops and businesses; laws barred Jews from holding civil service, university, and government positions; public burning of books written by Jews.

1935: Jews barred from serving in the German armed forces; anti-Jewish racial laws enacted; Jews no longer considered German citizens; Jews could not marry Aryans.

1936: Jewish doctors barred from practicing medicine in German institutions.

1938: Mandatory registration of all property held by Jews inside the Reich; Office of Jewish Deportation established to increase the pace of forced emigration; 17,000 Polish Jews living in Germany expelled; Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) which were anti-Jewish riots in Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland; 200 synagogues were destroyed; 7,500 Jewish shops looted; 30,000 male Jews sent to concentration camps; Decree forced all Jews to transfer retail businesses to Aryan hands; All Jewish pupils expelled from German schools.

1939: Nazis began segregating Polish Jews in ghettos, usually in the most run-down area of a city. Ghettos were shut in by walls, fences, or barbed wire. No one could leave or enter without a special permit.

1941: German Jews required to wear yellow star of David with the word “Jude”; nearly all Jews in occupied Poland were forced into ghettos and struggled to survive despite extreme hardship.

1942: Mass deportation of Jews to killing centers.

As noted, eventually the world’s hate for followers of the real Christ will lead to the time … when those who kill real Christians will think they are doing a holy service for God (Matt 24:10; John 6:2). But there will be a painful process leading up to that which will immediately begin in a shocking way with Antichrist’s Resurrection at the very beginning of the Endtimes.

B) Biblically informed Christians will understand the meaning of Antichrist’s Resurrection Dan 12:10

There will be two kinds of real Christians on the Earth when the Antichrist is Resurrected: biblically informed Christians and biblically misinformed Christians.

Biblically informed Christians will be like the men of Issachar … who understood the times and knew what Israel should do (1 Chron 12:32). As it says in Daniel, at the end time … those who have insight will understand (12:9-10 NASB). This will be because they diligently and humbly studied and correctly understood biblical prophecy.

These Christians will have already recognized the possible fulfillment of the emergence of the 10-nation Endtime Coalition and the Rising Antichrist, as discussed in previous chapters (cf. BBP chs. 4-9). Therefore, they will be watching with a special carefulness for Antichrist’s death and Resurrection.

Because biblically informed Christians will understand the biblical doctrine of the Endtimes, they will be much more prepared to glorify God with love, joy, and peace instead of confusion, panic, and paralysis. Contrary to biblically misinformed Christians, biblically informed Christians will be ready for action, serving, and fleeing … like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast (Luke 12:35-36 ^[3]).

C) Biblically misinformed Christians will be shocked and confused but helped by those with insight Dan 11:33

Unfortunately, many Christians today do not even know the Antichrist’s Resurrection is predicted in Scripture. And even many more have never heard an accurate teaching on it. Remember the Thessalonians? Because they did not understand the biblical sequence and substance of Endtime events they had become easily unsettled and alarmed by a false teaching about the Endtimes (2 Thess 2:2). This “Thessalonian Panic” was discussed in the previous book (CET, ch. 16, sec. B).

How unsettled and alarmed will Christians be who have not been correctly taught about the Endtimes, when a famous leader of a minor country is miraculously resurrected from the dead? How about the millions who were taught the Real Christ is supposed to come and “rapture” them before the Antichrist comes to persecute them? Their world will be shattered. Their fear will be paralyzing. And the Devil will certainly find ways to take advantage of their confusion. Confusion is where the Devil works. In the previous book, you read:

As with all of Christ’s commands, there will be consequences for Christians who disobey His command to “Watch!” intelligently and diligently for biblical signs of His Return… [W]hen the Antichrist’s Resurrection occurs, mistaught Christians will be freaking out, and be very confused and afraid.

Because of that, the Antichrist will have a great advantage over those believers who were not prepared to face him. Which again, is what all of the painless, popular, but false teachings on the Endtimes lead to. The Antichrist’s unique weapon over such Christians will be: Surprise. Shock. When we are shocked by painful events, we are emotionally shaken and alarmed like the Thessalonians, and therefore, mentally and spiritually weakened. Shock makes it all the more difficult to exercise faith at a time when it is most necessary.

When the Endtimes begin, God will expect His people to glorify Him. But because popular teaching has left many unprepared for these things, many will be overwhelmed with fear. But Jesus said, even when these devastating Beginning of Birth Pains occur, “don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately” (Matt 24:6 NLT). But much of the Church will disobey Christ and panic at the beginning of the Endtimes because popular and false teaching on this doctrine will leave them unprepared. (CET, ch. 16, sec. C)

In Christ’s Endtimes Teaching, several Endtime views were explained and biblically evaluated based on Christ’s Endtimes sermon, Paul’s Thessalonian epistles, Revelation chapters 6-7, and Daniel (cf. CET chs. 11-16). It is hoped that study can especially help many teachers of God’s word to be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15 NLT). Hopefully, God will raise up more Teachers before the Antichrist’s Resurrection to help His people better understand the prophetic Scriptures. But unfortunately, it seems probable that the Church will remain rather deceived and misinformed about biblical prophecy until the Antichrist’s Resurrection occurs.

The Church could have, and should have, understood the doctrine of the Endtimes better. The NT Scriptures on this topic are a lot more clear than the OT Scriptures and God expected us to carefully study them and sufficiently understand and teach them. But most Christians will probably not be sufficiently interested to do so until after the Antichrist’s Resurrection. When Antichrist’s Resurrection is literally fulfilled, many unbiblical beliefs about the Endtimes will be immediately, painfully, and effectively proven wrong.

Those believing the biblical details of Christ’s Return do not matter (apathetic Pan-tribulationism) will hopefully believe otherwise. Those emphasizing or ignoring the literal meaning of biblical prophecy (e.g. Amillennialism) will hopefully change their perspective. The many who believe we are to be “raptured” off the Earth before any Endtime events occur (Pre-tribulationism) will be shocked into abandoning what their Pastors claimed was true.

For example, Pre-tribulationist John Walvoord reflected a foundational teaching of that view when he wrote regarding the book of Revelation: “Nowhere in scenes of earth that describe the end time (chaps. 6–19) is the church pictured as involved in the earthly struggle.” ^[4] But when Antichrist’s Resurrection occurs, surely all Pre-tribulationists will recognize they are already living in the middle of the book of Revelation, chapter 13, where this event is described!

Hopefully, these misinformed Christians will fervently and humbly study prophetic Scripture with a new and more accurate perspective. Christ’s Endtimes Teaching will no longer be ignored as something only for the Jews. Revelation chapters 6, 12 and 13 will be understood as applying to the Church, instead of just some kind of invented “post-rapture” Christians on Earth during Christ’s Wrath. And they should readily understand from Revelation 13 that Antichrist’s Resurrection was predicted, and The Greatest Persecution will follow (vs. 3-10), and they should prepare for it.

In fact, it seems there is a prediction that biblically misinformed Christians will indeed fervently and humbly study prophetic Scripture with a new and more accurate perspective after Antichrist’s Resurrection. An Angel told Daniel: “But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase” (12:4 NLT).

This prophecy referred to the entire book of Daniel. ^[5] Evidently at the time this prophecy was given, it was not God’s will for His people to fully understand it. But when the time of the end is upon us, that will change. God will want Christians to understand how Daniel’s prophecy applies to them. Accordingly, Wiersbe comments:

The book [of Daniel] was to be treasured and protected and shared with the Jewish people. However, the book was “sealed” in this sense: The full meaning of what Daniel wrote would not be understood until “the time of the end” (see Matt. 24:15). Even Daniel didn’t fully understand all that he saw, heard, and wrote (Dan. 12:8)! ^[6]

Accordingly, God knows such knowledge and interest in these prophecies probably requires some current events to occur first. When God’s people see these prophecies being fulfilled before their very eyes, then the prediction in Daniel 12:4 will be fulfilled.

When will many … rush here and there to increase their knowledge of the prophecy and book of Daniel? The time of the end. ^[7] More specifically, when the prophecy in the book of Daniel is being fulfilled. Hopefully, this will include the prophecy in Daniel concerning the Rising Antichrist and the 10-nation Endtime Coalition (cf. Dan chs. 7-8; BBP chs. 4-9). But surely this predicted rush to increase Christians’ knowledge of the prophecy in the book of Daniel will begin after the shocking and paradigm shifting event of Antichrist’s Resurrection (cf. BBP chs. 10-16).

What will the many be doing at the time of the end with the prophecy in the book of Daniel? Rush here and there to increase their knowledge. Contrary to what many have taught, this is not talking about some increase in scientific or technological knowledge during the “information age” (cf. BBP ch. 1, sec. C.3). These many will rush here and there to increase their knowledge about the words in the book of Daniel ^[8] because his prophecy particularly about the Rising Antichrist will be coming true in front of their own eyes. If these predictions are not fulfilled during Antichrist’s Rise, then certainly they will be after Antichrist’s Resurrection.

Accordingly, Wiersbe explains the topic that will be studied by these Endtime Christians:

“Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” is not a reference to automobiles and jet planes or the advancement of education. It has reference to the study of God’s Word in the last days, especially the study of prophecy.

Amos 8:11-12 warns us that the day will come when there will be a famine of God’s Word, and people will run here and there seeking for truth but won’t find it. But God’s promise to Daniel is that, in the last days, His people can increase in their knowledge of prophetic Scripture as they apply themselves to the Word of God. ^[9]

The need to rush here and there for their knowledge of prophetic Scripture to increase, suggests that a great deal of effort will be required. ^[10] Because this is speaking of the time of the end, it may not be referring to increased travel. Surely God knew the Internet would be available at the time of the end and helps for study would be provided there.

The good news is that at the time of the end Christians will more faithfully obey God’s commands about studying and understanding prophetic Scripture. In the first chapter of the first book of this Endtimes Essentials series, the following two Scriptures were addressed (cf. CET ch. 1, sec. C).

First, God commanded especially His Teachers:

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).

In the time of the end God’s people will do this as many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.

Likewise, Paul warned:

The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but … will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Tim 4:3-4 NASB).

But in the time of the end God’s people will stop being afraid, academic, and apathetic about understanding prophetic Scripture (cf. CET ch. 1, sec. B). Instead, they will endure this doctrine of the Endtimes and rush here and there so their knowledge will increase.

Will the Endtime Christians’ search for knowledge about prophetic Scripture be successful? The prophecy promises it will be. The literal Hebrew reads: knowledge will be increased, not simply sought after. Thus the NLT quoted above is accurate: many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase (Dan 12:4). ^[11]

There is another prediction in Daniel that assures us Christians’ knowledge of prophetic Scripture will increase in the Endtimes. Elsewhere we read: Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many (Dan 11:33 NASB). ^[12] Likewise, the ESV has: And the wise among the people shall make many understand. An even fuller translation is the NCV which reads, Those who are wise will help the others understand what is happening in the Endtimes.

Daniel makes it clear that there is a connection between when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase about the prophecy in the book of Daniel at the time of the end (12:4); and those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many (11:33). In fact, these same Endtime Teachers who have insight and who will lead the many to righteousness are mentioned again in Daniel 12:3, just before the prediction in verse 4. In other words, it is because God will provide the Endtime Teachers who have insight that the efforts of the many to increase their knowledge about the Endtimes will be successful.

Who will these Endtime Teachers be? Those who have insight translates the Hebrew word ūmaśkîlê. The TWOT notes its verb form means:

An intelligent knowledge of the reason… the process of thinking through a complex arrangement of thoughts … to gain insight into the words of the Law… Still another usage of the verb is to have insight or comprehension [which is] seen as God’s gift to Israel through his … teachers… Another usage stresses the idea of causing to consider, give insight, and teaching. David indicates that the Lord made him understand the details of the pattern of temple furniture (1 Chr 28:19)… The noun also has the sense of insight or understanding. ^[13]

Unfortunately, the common translation as the wise (NIV, NLT, ESV, NET, etc.) suggests these men will be skilled and encouraging counselors in practical wisdom. On the contrary, they will be a special group of Endtime Teachers who will be skilled in accurately explaining the prophetic Scriptures, like the prophecy in the book of Daniel (12:4). Obviously, when those who have insight among the people … give understanding to the many (11:33) about the doctrine of the Endtimes, it will also be encouraging, and these Endtime Teachers will also be those who lead the many to righteousness (12:3). ^[14]

Again, Daniel reveals a connection between the character of God’s people in the Endtimes and the ministry of the Endtime Teachers. Speaking of the Antichrist, we read in Daniel 11:32:

By smooth words he [the Antichrist] will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action (NASB)

Why will these people who know their God … display strength and take action in response to Antichrist’s activities? Because in the next verse we read: Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many (v. 33).

In the previous book, Christ’s Endtimes Teaching, the reader was warned that accurately understanding the doctrine of the Endtimes, is necessary to possess the necessary confidence and clarity to glorify God in the Endtimes. This is why Jesus was so intent on teaching the substance and sequence of Endtime events in His Endtimes sermon. It was precisely because the Thessalonians did not understand these very things, that they experienced their “panic” when they believed the Endtimes had already begun (cf. CET ch. 16).

God intends for His people to glorify Him in the Endtimes. Therefore, He is going to cause things like the Antichrist’s Resurrection to wake up Christians and compel them to rush here and there to increase their knowledge of the prophecy in the book of Daniel and other Scriptures at the time of the end (Dan 12:4). He is going to further enable this by raising up Endtime Teachers who have insight and will understand the prophetic Scriptures accurately and will help the others understand what is happening.

During the Endtimes, God will be sending unbelievers a powerful delusion and false prophets to deceive many people (2 Thess 2:11; Matt 24:11 NIV). In contrast, He will be sending His people Endtime Teachers who will understand the Endtimes so they can help the others understand what is happening.

During the OT Age, God’s Word was communicated through Prophets. The NT revelation was given through Apostles. But the Endtimes will be the Age of the Teachers who are finally and accurately explaining the written revelations of the Prophets and Apostles in prophetic Scripture. In the early Church, Paul could say, God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers (1 Cor 12:28 NASB). But the ministry of apostles and prophecies ceased when the completeness of the OT and NT revelations was received and recorded in Scripture (1 Cor 13:8, 10 NIV). ^[15] Therefore, God has now appointed in the church, first … teachers. And this will be reflected in the Endtimes.

These Endtime Teachers with insight are mentioned three other times in Daniel. In 12:9-10 it is repeated that those who have insight will understand the biblical prophecy that has been sealed up until the end time (NASB). Also we read in Daniel 11:35: Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time (NASB).

It is expected that such influential and helpful Teachers in the Endtimes will be a special target for persecution. What will be their reward for all the effort they devoted to studying, understanding, and teaching the prophetic Scriptures to God’s people, and being persecuted for it? For all eternity Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever (Dan 12:3 NASB).

Do you want to be one of these Endtime Teachers if the Endtimes occur in your lifetime? Do you want to be among those who have insight among the people regarding the prophecy of Daniel and the doctrine of the Endtimes? Do you want to help the others understand what is happening in the Endtimes? Do you want to be among those who have insight at the time of the end and will shine as bright as the sky and lead many to righteousness and whose glory will shine like the stars forever and ever because of this monumental ministry?

Then ask God for the necessary passion, focus, and humility to study the most emotionally challenging and intellectually complex texts and doctrine in Scripture. And pray that you will obtain a sufficient understanding before the Antichrist’s Resurrection when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.

https://itstartedwithwords.org/resources/antisemitism/timeline-of-antisemitism/ ↑
Information on the process of Jewish discrimination and persecution in Nazi Germany was derived from: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/ghettos-in-the-holocaust and

https://www.museumoftolerance.com/education/teacher-resources/holocaust-resources/timeline-of-the-holocaust.html ↑
For an explanation of the suggested translation of Luke 12:35-36 see CET, ch. 10, sec. C. ↑
Walvoord, Rev, loc. 1874. ↑
The claim that the prophecy referred to in Dan 12 refers to the entire book is supported by K&D who write:

The revelation of these chapters is not only in point of time the last which Daniel received, but also forms the essential conclusion of all earlier revelations, then the expression used of the sealing of this last revelation refers plainly to the sealing of the whole book. (Dan12:4) ↑
Wiersbe, Dan 12:4. ↑
Even the Amillennialist Young writes on the fact that Dan 12:4 is referring to the Endtimes:

Evidently, Daniel had written down his revelations, as he received them… The time of the end is the consummation, when the Lord shall return from heaven. The “words” which Daniel was to shut up contained revelations which extend to the “end.” The “end” therefore, is not the terminus of the reign of Antiochus. (257) ↑
Accordingly, Young writes: “Jerome (ca. A.D. 400) followed by many excellent interpreters, refers the action to the study of the book [of Daniel] itself” (258). ↑
Wiersbe, Dan 12:4. ↑
Walvoord notes regarding the Endtime rush here and there to increase … knowledge (Dan 12:4):

John Calvin translated it, “Many shall investigate, and knowledge shall increase.” Leupold interprets the verse to mean, “Many shall diligently study it [Daniel], and knowledge will increase.” In the Hebrew the word “knowledge” is hadda’at, literally, “the knowledge,” that is, understanding of this long prophecy. Some consider the sentence as referring to the eyes of a reader running “to and fro” in reading the Word of God (cf. 2 Chr 16:9). Whether or not physical wandering and travel is involved, the implication is that attempts to understand the truth will require considerable effort. (Dan, 291-2) ↑
It is claimed here that Dan 12:4 is predicting the Endtime search for understanding biblical prophecy will be successful. In addition, it seems Dan 11:33 supports this when it predicts: Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many (11:33 NASB).

However, this is debated, even in translations. The NIV has: Many will go here and there to increase knowledge. This is at best neutral, but surely does not promise success (cf. NCV, CEV). The GNT has many people will waste their efforts trying to understand what is happening. But the more literal NASB is clear: many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase (cf. NLT above; ESV, NET).

Admittedly, Hebrew scholars agree with Walvoord that Dan 12:4, “is difficult to translate” (Dan, 291). Young adds: “The phrase is extremely difficult to interpret” (257). Accordingly, even Bible translations differ.

However, most versions have it as the NLT: many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase (cf. NASB, ESV, CSB, NET, KJV, NKJV, cf. Walvoord, K&D, Calvin, Leupold; as usual, Wallace (BST) and Hill (EBC) are rather useless on the meaning of Daniel 12:4.). The difficulty of translating the Hebrew may be demonstrated by the NRSV which has: Many shall be running back and forth, and evil shall increase.

Young acknowledges that K&D (through Klieforth) favor the view that the many’s search will be successful. But he responds:

However, I find myself unable to accept any of these views, because they do not seem faithfully to reflect the force of the Heb. verb. This verb means “to go,” “to rove about.” Thus Satan speaks to the Lord and says that he has come from “going to and fro in the earth” (Job 1:7b). The present occurrence seems to reflect upon Amos 8:12, “And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” The verb appears to describe a vain travelling about in order to discover knowledge. (258)

There are problems with Young’s more pessimistic view. First, he implies that the verb (shuwt) refers to an aimless or unproductive wandering about. But the Hebrew does not imply that. Second, the verse from Amos 8 seems to be in a different context than Daniel 12. The former will most likely be fulfilled during “the Day of Lord” when God is punishing Israel (cf. Amos 8:9-10). Dan 12 involves all of God’s people, including the Church, and includes all Endtime events in Daniel’s prophecy. Third, Young does not consider the promise that Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many (11:33 NASB). ↑
Unfortunately, several translations are again obscure at Dan 11:33 regarding the effect of the Endtime teachers. For example, the NIV has, Those who are wise will instruct many (cf. NET, NLT), which is at best neutral regarding the effect of the wise. Again, the NASB seems better which has: Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many. ↑
TWOT, 877. ↑
Unfortunately, far too many commentators seem to misunderstand who those who have insight will be. Some fail to distinguish them at all. Walvoord claims, “they are illustrations of faithful saints in all ages” (290). However, Dan 11:33 makes it clear that Those who have insight among the people are distinguished from the many they will be teaching. Do all believers have equal insight and knowledge of Scripture? Of course not. This is why Christ himself gave the teachers [to the Church] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Eph 4:11-12 NIV). And He will do the same in the Endtimes.

Walvoord also suggests the Endtime Teachers will be evangelists, and “those who have influenced others to [saving] faith” (290). Some derive this from the prediction that they will lead the many to righteousness (Dan 12:3). The NET perhaps suggests this when it has they will teach the masses (11:33), implying a lot of unbelievers. But the connection between Dan 11:32 and verse 33 clearly suggests otherwise. Those with insight (v. 33) will be teaching the people who know their God (v. 32), not pagans. These Endtimes Teachers will give understanding to the many (11:33) about the words and prophecy in the book of Daniel (12:3), instead of conducting evangelistic crusades for unbelievers.

Among commentators there is a general lack of belief or clarity that these Endtime Teachers will be helping God’s people understand the doctrine of the Endtimes and the prophetic Scriptures. Some seem reluctant to call them Teachers of doctrine at all (cf. Hill, EBC). This is based on the fact that the Hebrew word sākal used to refer to them can mean, “a wise dealing and use of good practical sense” (TWOT, 877). Thus the common translation, the wise (NIV, NLT). But the context of the work of those with insight makes it clear that their primary ministry will be to give understanding of the doctrine of the Endtimes and prophetic Scripture (cf. Dan 12:4).

Calvin is confusing on this point. At Dan 11:33 he strongly denies those with insight are “teachers.” But when commenting on Dan 12:3 he says the same Hebrew word there “means those who are endued with understanding … the teachers.” Young is slightly more clear when he refers to them as “the learned” and “those who instruct others in the way of truth” (256). K&D describe them as: “The intelligent who, by instructing their contemporaries by means of word and deed, have awakened them to steadfastness and fidelity to their confession in the times of tribulation and have strengthened their faith.”

In addition, many suggest the prophecies regarding the Endtime Teachers were fulfilled in the 2^nd century B.C. during the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes and as recorded in Maccabees (cf. Hill, EBC). But this is only half the truth and the least important truth. Such scholars ignore the near/final and partial/complete nature of many biblical prophecies (cf. CET ch. 12, sec. B; K&D at Dan 11:35).

Finally, it is admitted that Daniel seems to place the ministry of the Endtimes Teachers especially during The Greatest Persecution. This is the most likely period of time when Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time (Dan 11:35 NASB). But the increase in knowledge enabled by those who have insight will include all of the prophecy in the book of Daniel (Dan 12:4), including those about the 10-nation Coalition and the Rising Antichrist in Daniel chapters 2, and 7-9. Therefore, it seems their ministry will be raised up before Antichrist’s Claim to be God and The Greatest Persecution, so that the people who know their God will be prepared to display strength and take action even during The Beginning of Birth Pains after Antichrist’s shocking Resurrection. ↑
Understandably many will disagree that the miraculous gifts of Apostles and Prophets have ceased in the Church. But if the reader wishes to disagree with integrity, then they are asked to biblically refute the 5 books this author has written on Apostles, miracles, and the gifts of prophecy, miracle working, and tongues. All of these books were written with the same level of scholarship demonstrated in the Endtimes Essentials series. All of them are also available free of charge at www.trainingtimothys.com in the “Scholar’s Section” under “Biblical Critique of Charismatic Doctrines & Practices.”

The author means no unnecessary offense to the many dear Christians who would disagree. But it is this author’s opinion that the unbiblical doctrines and practices of the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements have severely damaged and divided the Church and will be especially dangerous in the Endtimes. Therefore, the in-depth biblical study provided in these books should be carefully considered by anyone who wants to be a Bible Teacher who can present yourself to God as one approved because you correctly explain the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15 NIV & NLT) about Charismatic and Pentecostal doctrines and practices. ↑

Chapter 17

The Effects of Antichrist’s Resurrection on Real Christians

Contents

Primary Points