One of the final signs of the end, which the Bible devotes numerous chapters to, is the rise of a one-world government headed by a Devil-possessed tyrant known as the Antichrist or "the Beast." The 13th chapter of the Book of Revelation says that the world is going to actually worship Satan, in the person of this bestial world leader. "And they worshipped the dragon [the Devil] which gave power unto the beast [the Antichrist]; and they worshipped the beast" (Revelation 13:4).

The stage is rapidly being set for the world to accept global leadership. Famed British historian Arnold Toynbee (1889-1975) was correct when he said, "The nations are ready to give the kingdoms of the world to any one man who will offer us a solution to our world's problems." The first president of the United Nations General Assembly, Paul-Henri Spaak, who was also a prime minister of Belgium and one of the early planners of the European Common Market, as well as a secretary-general of NATO, affirmed, "We do not want another committee, we have too many already. What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all the people and to lift us up out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man, and whether he be God or devil, we will receive him."

The New World Order

We are hearing more and more about the "New World Order" or the "global community." President George Bush popularized the term when he said in a speech before the U.S. Congress during the Gulf War, "We stand today at a unique and extraordinary moment. … Out of these troubled times a New World Order can emerge. … Today that New World Order is struggling to be born." [56]

The Jerusalem Peace Accord

It appears that this coming world leader will rise to power on a wave of global euphoria as he arrives on the scene to temporarily save the world from its desperate economic, military and political woes. Like Satan himself, who frequently appears as an angel of light, this man will deceive most of the world into thinking that he is a great man of peace, a hero. The prophet Daniel wrote of the Antichrist, "By peace he shall destroy many," and "he shall come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom by flatteries" (Daniel 8:25; 11:21).

The Bible indicates that an ingenious seven-year peace agreement or "covenant" will be pivotal to his claim to world leadership. This pact will temporarily resolve the Middle East crisis, working out a compromise between the Jews and the Arabs regarding Jerusalem and its holy sites. A focal point will be Mount Moriah, in Jerusalem, sacred to Jews (their temple stood there before being destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.), and sacred to Muslims (their holiest shrine in the city, the Dome of the Rock, stands there today). Scripture indicates the Antichrist's covenant will enable the Jews to rebuild their temple, where they will revive their ancient rituals of animal sacrifice (see Daniel 8:23-25; 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

Enter Russia

The prophet Ezekiel calls the Antichrist "Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh" (Ezekiel 38:2, NKJV). Scholars agree that the ancient land known as Magog is a powerful country or region of peoples to the north of Israel. "Rosh" is believed to refer to the Russian people. For these reasons a majority of Bible students believe that the Antichrist will rise out of the current chaos in the former Soviet Union.

Scripture points to the leading nations of Europe, indicating that they will be key players in the Antichrist's world government, whose leaders will fully unite behind him. "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast" (Revelation 17:13).

A Savior Turned Sour

Although most of the world will initially hail the Beast as a political savior, three-and-a-half years after the enactment of the seven-year covenant, he will revoke the peace pact and show his true colors. At this time he will invade Israel and establish Jerusalem as his world capital.

He will also outlaw all religions, except the worship of himself and an image of himself that will somehow be empowered to speak and "cause those who refuse to worship it to be killed" (Revelation 13:14-15). Jesus said that when you see this image, the "abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place [temple] ... then shall be great tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the world" (Matthew 24:15,21). It will be a time of ruthless repression and persecution of believers in God by the Beast and his regime. (See also Daniel 7:21,25; 8:23-24; 11:31-35; 12:10; Revelation 13:5-7.)

It is at this time that the Antichrist imposes his infamous "666" one-world credit system.

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