Anti-Christ is Here PART 1 - The Great Controversy

written Michael Dantzie 2/12/08

Many people have wondered if there is an Almighty God why is

there sin and suffering, and why has this Almighty God permitted
evil to reign? Can the bible truly be trusted and is it really inspired
by God?

It is the purpose of this series of studies to prove from the

scriptures, that it is of a Divine source, and that this Divine source is
truly a God who “so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son” to die for the sins of the world, that the world might be saved
from their sins.

Dear reader you might be thinking, How can one “prove” the bible
and its authenticity? Let me give you an illustration to answer this
question. To trust someone, there has to be enough evidence, and
this evidence is usually, the fact that they have kept their word of
promise, every time they have given it. No matter how good a
person may seem, and is, if they were to always promise you
something, yet time and time again fail to accomplish what they said
they would, that person in your mind would loose your trust.
Although you might admit, they are amiable, yet they cannot be
trusted. God has given us His word, the Bible, and how are we to
know if we can trust it? To see if what He said in His word has come
true, are their portions of scripture that speak of God saying that
things will happen, and they have? Most certainly, these are called the prophetic portions of scripture. These
are the portions of scripture that we will be studying, for God Himself said that it is because He declares “...the
end from the beginning...” that He is the only God and that “...there is none else...” (Isaiah 46:9,10)

We begin this study first with laying a very important foundation to bible study, and reading. How do we rightly
interpret the bible? With so many ideas and opinions about what the bible says from what it doesnʼt, are there
any guidelines, rules, to guard us into right interpretation?

SECTION A:
How do we rightly interpret/understand the bible?
We must first understand that:
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The bible tell us from this verse that “all scripture” is inspired by God,
and there is only “one God” according to Eph 4:5,6, so therefore it
has one Author.

2 Peter 1:21
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men
of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Note: The scripture says “Holy men”, more than one man was inspired of God to speak the word of God. So
therefore if they were all inspired by One Author, then we are to find NO CONTRADICTIONS. Yet to eliminate
apparent contradictions, there is a rule the bible gives us to follow.
2 Corinthians 13:1
...In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

The word ESTABLISHED means according 1828 Websters Dictionary: Set; fixed firmly; founded;
ordained; enacted; ratified; confirmed. According to 2 Cor 13:1 how may we know that the word of God
may be fixed firmly, confirmed, founded, SURE? In the “mouth of two or three witnesses” .

1 NB: All scriptural references taken from the Kings James Version of the bible.
Luke 1:70
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Jesus said we are to “search the scriptures” and it is these scriptures that “testify of Him”. The word testify
means: Affirming solemnly or under oath, for the purpose of establishing a fact; giving testimony;
bearing witness; declaring. To bear witness is what the prophets did, as God spoke through them,
therefore in the mouth of two or three of them shall His word be established on any given topic, we wish to
seek understanding for. Any scripture we find, is to be supported by two or three more so that we allow the
bible to be its OWN INTERPRETER, for the bible explains itself. This is a safeguard to the sincere who
desire to understand the bible, and a safeguard against accepting false interpretations.
Another safe rule to rightly interpret the scriptures is to “take the bible as it reads” unless there is an
obvious symbol, or figurative language, which then it will have to be interpreted by comparing scripture with
scripture. This is a most simple rule, for if it is God who says He inspired the bible, and spoke through the
mouth of His holy prophets, then it stands to reason that He Himself would give the interpretation of a symbol
He Himself inspired. A simple illustration: Most of us if not all, when we see the symbols below recognise
immediately what they represent.
We recognise these symbols because we have been told what they mean. By whom have we been told what
they mean? By the creators of these symbols.
This is the exact principle we will use for Gods Holy Word. By a diligent searching of the scriptures we will
find as “hidden treasure” the precious pearls of truth that we need to rightly interpret and understand Gods
word, the bible.

SECTION B
Where did the sin problem begin?
Revelation 12:7-9
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against
the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil,
and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the
earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
This war we could call a controversy between Michael and Satan.
Controversy means according 1828 Websters dictionary:
1. Dispute; debate; agitation of contrary opinions. A dispute is
commonly oral, and a controversy in writing.

What was this war about?

2 Peter 2:4
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains
of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (read also Jude 6; Luke 10:18; Isa 14:12-19; Eze 28:13-19)
This verse tells us that God did not spare the “angels that sinned”.

2 NB: All scriptural references taken from the Kings James Version of the bible.
What is sin according to the scriptures?
1 John 3:4
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Therefore for the bible to say that the angels that sinned, there must have been a law that they
transgressed against. For Romans 4:15 says “...for where no law is there is no transgression”
(read further text to show Satan hates the law of God: John 8:44; Acts 5:3; 1 John 3:8; Rev 12:9)

The war began in heaven has moved to this earth

Ephesians 6:11,12
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
The bible exhorts us to “put on the whole armour of God”.
What need would there be for armour if there were no war
taking place? Therefore we see the idea in the verse that
there is a war, not with flesh and blood, not with literal
weapons, not against our fellow man, but against the
“rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness”. The same entities, the fallen angels that
took up issue in heaven against Gods government, are
now seeking to lead Gods creation in the same rebellion,
to trample under foot the law of God. With any war that
takes place, there are different means by which one side
seeks to conquer the other. For example you have the Air
force, the Navy, and Ground troopers, therefore in this
spiritual battle, does the bible tell us specifically the “wiles
of the devil” he uses to “deceive the whole world”?
(Eph 6:11; Rev 12:9)

2 Corinthians 11:14,15
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness;
whose end shall be according to their works.
What an amazing scripture. The verse tells us that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, this
means he is a great counterfeit, he mixes truth with error, this is what you call deception. Deception never
works unless it has enough truth mixed with the lie to make it more plausible. The verse says Satan “has
ministers”, therefore what is the job of a minister? to preach, and teach. Some will accept their message,
those that accept the message, form a group, what do we call this group? A church. So Satan is using
ministers to preach to people to bring them into his church, into his organisation, by accepting his message,
preached by “his ministers” which has just enough truth to make it more acceptable, but the poison will still
do its work in the lives of all who accept a message from Satanʼs ministers. 1 John 3:8 says “He that
committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God
was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
This verse lets us know that the devil was the first one to sin, and we have read that “sin is the
transgression of the law” therefore the devil does not want anyone else to keep Gods law. So if the devil
has ministers according to 2 Cor 11:15, will his ministers preach a message that lets the listeners know that
Gods law has to be obeyed? Certainly not, they are his ministers, they do his will, they “transform
themselves as ministers of righteousness, so they are NOT ministers of righteousness, they do not exalt the
standard of righteousness, which is Gods commandments “...for all thy commandments are righteousness.”
Psa 119:172

3 NB: All scriptural references taken from the Kings James Version of the bible.
 Illustration to explain this verse
2 Corinthians 11:15 SATAN
GOD
Gods Order VS Satan’s Order

TRANSFORMS THEMSELVES
MINISTERS OF AS MINSTERS OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS RIGHTEOUSNESS

GOSPEL/TRUTH FALSE GOSPEL/TRUTH

MIXED WITH ERROR

CHURCH CHURCH
(Matt 16:18; 1 Tim (2 Cor 13:14,15;Rev
3:15; Rev 12:17) 2:9;13:1,2)

Does the bible give further proof and support to this verse that Satan has a church upon the earth
accomplishing his will?
Revelation 13:1,2
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise
up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and
upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of
blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his
feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth
of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat,
and great authority. There are two simple symbols we will
uncover today, to prove our point.
1. What is a beast in bible prophecy?
2. What does the dragon represent here in this verse?

A beast: Let us read Daniel 7:16,17,23 for the prophet Daniel

had a vision of four beasts, and an interpretation was given to him by the angel.
16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made
me know the interpretation of the things.
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from
all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
So what is one beast represent? A king and his kingdom. The bible makes it so simple, when we allow it to
interpret itself. Going back to Revelation 13:1,2, we now know for sure that this beast that rose up from the
sea, represents a kingdom.

4 NB: All scriptural references taken from the Kings James Version of the bible.
 What is the dragon that gave this kingdom its power,
seat, great authority?
Revelation 12:9
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent,
called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole
world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were
cast out with him.
The dragon is the Devil and Satan (Devil means in Greek
diabolos ʻaccuserʼ. Satan means in the Greek from Hebrew
śāṭān, literally ʻadversary,ʼ from śāṭan ʻplot against.ʼ)

Now we can read this verse knowing that the beast that
rose from the sea, is a kingdom which received its power
from the Devil himself. Here is indisputable proof from scripture that Satan has a kingdom upon the earth
doing his will.

(In future lessons we will be comparing scripture with scripture to unlock the rest of the symbols in
these verses, and identifying specifically what kingdom this is upon the earth)

Let us now go to Revelation 13:8,4

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast,
saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
From these verses we see that this kingdom can be worshipped, and secondly from verse 4, Satan (the
dragon) receives worship THROUGH the worship of this kingdom. What a thought, Satan is seeking
worship, through this kingdom?

Is there more evidence from scripture that tells us that Satan wants worship?
Matthew 4:8,9
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the
world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Satan had the audacity to approach the Son of God, and tempt Him to worship him. Then it makes
complete sense that Satan would have kingdom in which he will use to get the world to worship him, and
not Jesus Christ. On the other side we see that the Father in heaven is seeking “true worshippers” as well.
Two sides are looming, the side of Satan and his worshippers, and the side of Christ and His worshippers.
John 4:23,24
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in
truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Note: the Father God is seeking true worshippers, and those worshippers the verse says, “must worship
him in spirit and in truth”. That desire that some of us have to inquire into this book, called the bible, to know
whether it is the Divine word of God, this verse let us know, it is God that is doing the seeking, He gives us
the desire for righteousness and truth. (Further reading: Matt 5:6; John 6:44; Phil 2:13)

So far we have seen from the scriptures that Satan began a war in heaven, and this war was over his
allegiance to the law of God (2 Pet 2:4) and as a result of rebellion against the law of God, he was cast out
with his angels, and they brought this war to this earth (Eph 6:11,12), where they are seeking to lead men
and women into transgression of Gods law, so that men may suffer with them on judgement day.
We have learnt that this war is over the law of God, allegiance to it, or transgression against it. Satan has
on the earth a kingdom, which is doing his will, and his ministers (2 Cor 11:14,15) are preaching his
message to seek worshippers to worship him. This form of worship at its foundation will most certainly not
involve the keeping of Gods commandments, in fact Satanʼs ministers do not teach to its listeners the

5 NB: All scriptural references taken from the Kings James Version of the bible.
importance of obedience to Gods law, instead they will promote the philosophy that it is okay to break it and
still worship God.
From 2 Corinthians 11:14,15 we learnt that Satan is deceiving in the name of Christ, is there more evidence
of this in scripture?
Matthew 7:15; 24:3-5,23,24
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves.
Note: false teachers coming with the “appearance
of Christlikeness, yet “inwardly” they are wolves,
corrupt, deceivers.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the
disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us,
when shall these things be? and what shall be the
sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take
heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am
Christ; and shall deceive many.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is
Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

POINTS:
These deceptions are to be present before the coming of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Himself said “many shall
come” in His name, and shall deceive many. Another remarkable statement is that these false Christʼs, and
false prophets can show “great signs and wonders”, therefore a mark of being a minister of Jesus or a true
prophet IS NOT whether he/she can HEAL, or perform miracles, because Jesus said that false prophets will
do great signs and wonders. Its is whether they speak according to the word of God, for Isaiah 8:20 says
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in
them.”

What we have learnt from all these scriptures is that deception is being done in the “name of Christ”,
although there are many lies out there, Christ is making special notice of the ones that are done in HIS
NAME. This is a most serious matter when we understand what the name of Jesus Christ means, and for
what purpose He was given that name. In Matthew 1:21 it says “21 And she shall bring forth a son, and
thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” The angel told Joseph to
call His name Jesus: for “he shall save his people FROM THEIR SINS” this is the reason for the name of
Jesus, this is the hall mark of His mission, this is why He came to this earth, for He said “I am come to seek
and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:10. Now when you have a kingdom doing the will of Satan with
false ministers, false prophets, false teachers, deceiving in the name of Jesus with a false gospel, they are
misrepresenting the work of Christ, misrepresenting His mission, therefore destroying the character of
Christ, and in turn destroying the character of the Father God, for it was the work of Jesus to reveal the
character of God to men. (John 14:9). The bible says that “..God is love” and when there is a work being
done to misrepresent the character of God, which is love, then it is no wonder the vast majority of people
hate God, and cannot imagine serving Him, for they believe and have accepted the deceptions and lies that
have been promulgated by Satanʼs kingdom and his ministers.

When we look into the book of Revelation, which is a revelation of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:1) it is of no surprise
then that the “everlasting gospel” exhorts all to “worship him that made heaven and earth” and has a
warning not to worship the beast”
Revelation 14:6,9,10
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that
dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice,

6 NB: All scriptural references taken from the Kings James Version of the bible.
Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made
heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image,
and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of
his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in
the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who
worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
The gospel has to go to “every nation” and it calls for all to worship the Creator, we have read already from
John 4:23,24 how that worship is to be done, “in spirit and in truth”. What is truth?
Psa 119:142,151
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
So we learn that true worship to God involves the keeping of Gods commandments, His law.
When we look at Revelation 14:7 that calls the world to worship “him that made heaven and earth” its of no
surprise that in the very law of God, the fourth commandment to “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it
holy...is a call to observe the Sabbath because 11 “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth..”.
The Sabbath is therefore a memorial of TIME, set apart for holy use, and worship to the One who created
the world. In the gospel then there is a call to observe the commandments, but with a special call to the
observance of the Sabbath. Rev 14:7 says “fear God and give glory to him…” what does it mean to fear
God? (note: fear in the Old Englsih usage means reverence) Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion
of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
If there has to be a message to call the world to Fear God and keep his commandments, fear God and
worship the Him, that made haven and earth, by observing the Sabbath, which the Lord set aside, for us to
“remember”, then that tells us most of the world is not doing this.

Who is the Creator that the gospel calls the world to worship?
Jesus said in Mark 2:27,28
27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Jesus said that He is “Lord of the Sabbath”, the Sabbath is His day, therefore He is the Creator of the world,
therefore He deserves the worship of His creation. (Jesus as Creator Further reading: John 1:1-3,14; Col
1:13-17; Heb 1:1,2) In the everlasting gospel there is also a warning not to worship the beast (verse 9), the
kingdom which received its power from Satan and seeks worship. God is so serious in this issue, that those
who do eventually worship this kingdom, and his image, and receive his mark, God says, “the same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God”, Gods anger will be poured out upon them to drink, or experience.

What is the wine of the wrath of God, that will be “poured

out”?
Revelation 15:1
1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous,
seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is
filled up the wrath of God. In these plagues is filled up the
wrath of God, which according to Rev 14:10 will be poured out
upon the worshippers of the beast. These are called the “seven
last plagues”, Why call these plagues “the seven last plagues”
as if they were first plagues?
Well there were first plagues which fell upon Egypt upon the
Egyptians as an expression of Gods anger for enslaving His people, and due to their enslavement they
couldnʼt “worship in spirit and in truth”, likewise these “seven last plagues” will fall upon those who have
worshipped the beast and his image and received its mark, and the beast which attempted to compel those
who will not worship it (Rev 13:15,16)

7 NB: All scriptural references taken from the Kings James Version of the bible.
Is this kingdom the Anti-Christ? (remember we will be studying who this kingdom is?)
Revelation 13:6,7
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and
them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him
over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
The scripture says this kingdom (the beast) speaks blasphemy “against” God. It is doing a specific work
against Him, and also targets Gods people to persecute them. To work against God is the very meaning of
the word anti-Christ, yet this word found in 1 John 2:18; 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7 means more than just working
against God, but the word ʻantiʼ in the Greek means “in the place of” in the room of, instead of, these show
more of a replacing to Jesus Christ, more of a presentation of another Jesus, and another gospel, more of
what Satan desired in heaven, worship, Antichrist seeks worship “instead of” Christ. This is what we see this
kingdom in Revelation 13 wants, worship, and Jesus said Matthew 4:10 “...for it is written, Thou shalt
worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
Daniel 7:25 presents a kingdom that is described as doing the same work as this kingdom.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most
High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times
and the dividing of time. (read Matthew 24:15, Jesus told us to study the
book of Daniel)

Note: That this kingdom in Daniel 7 speaks “great words against the Most
High” just like the kingdom in Revelation 13, he also persecuted Gods
people, the saints, just like the kingdom in Revelation 13, yet there is one
more work he thought to do, that Revelation doesnʼt bring out. He shall
“think to change times and laws”. As the bible tells us that his work is
against God and His people, therefore these laws he thought to change
must be Gods laws, and times.
This is very serious, as Jesus said that those that worship the Father “must
worship him in spirit and in truth”, and the truth is Gods law, which is the
standard by which we know what is sin (1 John 3:4) now it is sin that Jesus
came to die for. So if there is a kingdom that seeks worshippers to worship
it, but this kingdom will teach its worshippers not according to Gods law,
but they can worship God while breaking the law, then we have the same
Satanic hatred and contempt for Christ manifested in this kingdom,
because His law, is being trampled under foot. Jesus said “if ye love me
keep my commandments” John 14:15. The bible also says that “this is the
love of God, that we keep his commandments” true love for God is shown
by obedience, true worship for God is shown by obedience to His law, no
relationship can work, if there is no love, for God will not and cannot accept
submission based upon anything else but love. God is seeking worshippers who will love Him “because He
first loved us” 1 John 4:19 because He sent His Son into the the world to die for ours sins, that through Him
we might be saved from our sins. (John 3:16,17; 1 Cor 15:1-3; Rom 6:23; 1 John 1:9) To have a kingdom
seeking worshippers and to teach those worshippers that Gods law is not important to keep, is to cast
contempt for what Christ did on the cross, for the seriousness of sin, is only understood by looking at the
suffering of the Son of God upon Calvary, suffering for our sins, our transgressions, carrying our sorrows of
guilt, while He was innocent, because the bible says, “he was tempted in all points yet without sin” Heb
4:15. The death of Christ shows indisputably that there is a law, for Christ died for sin, and sin is the
transgression of the law, His death makes the law honourable, it makes it eternal and unchanging, His
death shows that God has a law. For like any government there is a law to maintain order, yet when there is
a transgression against that law their is a penalty for the individual when proven guilty in the courts, Heaven
works similarly. A law has been broken, yet the difference is God has supplied an antidote for our sins, and
He does not want us to pay for our crimes of sin, because then we will not be able to be with Him, forever,
therefore Christ has paid the price. This is called mercy, and we dont deserve this, and God granting this to
us is called grace because we cannot earn Gods favour, or love for us because the bible says “while we
were yet sinners Christ died for us” Rom 5:8. It is for us to humble ourselves and confess our sins to Him,
and He will abundantly pardon, for Christ died for us, and condemns us not (John 3:17), so why would we
die, when life has been provided upon condition we confess our sins to Him, and accept Him into our lives?
8 NB: All scriptural references taken from the Kings James Version of the bible.
9 NB: All scriptural references taken from the Kings James Version of the bible.