Welcome to Authorized Sword Ministries. This is Lesson 2 in our series, The End Times. Today's lesson is called The Tribulation and the Antichrist.

We're so glad you're here.

In our last lesson we saw the blessed hope of every believer: Jesus is coming again. Today we look at a darker subject. The Bible tells us about a time of trouble coming on the whole world, and a man who will rise up to oppose God. This isn't a lesson meant to scare you. It's meant to show you that God already knows how it all turns out, and that the Lord Jesus wins.

Our Key Verse

Today's key verse is Matthew 24:21.

"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." — Matthew 24:21 (KJV)

Jesus Himself said this. The world has seen terrible wars and plagues and persecutions. But Jesus said a time is coming worse than any of them, a time of great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world.

Jesus Warned About It

Matthew 24 begins with the disciples asking Jesus a question on the mount of Olives. They wanted to know when these things would happen, and what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the world. Jesus answered with a long warning. Part of it says:

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:" — Matthew 24:15-16 (KJV)

Jesus pointed back to the prophet Daniel. Something would be set up in the holy place, and when people saw it, they were to run. Then He told them how the trouble would end:

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." — Matthew 24:29-30 (KJV)

So the great tribulation ends with the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Every eye will see Him.

Daniel's Seventieth Week

Daniel was given a prophecy about seventy weeks determined upon his people, Israel. The last part of that prophecy says:

"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." — Daniel 9:27 (KJV)

Let's be careful here about what the text says and what is interpretation. The text says a coming "he" will confirm a covenant with many for one week. In the middle of the week he will cause the sacrifice to cease, and an abomination that makes desolate will follow until the end God has determined.

Many Bible teachers, including our church, understand each "week" in this prophecy as seven years. In that view, the first sixty-nine weeks ran up to the time of the Messiah, and the last week, seven years, is still future. That seven-year period is what we call the tribulation. The "he" who confirms the covenant is understood to be the Antichrist, who will make an agreement with Israel and then break it halfway through. This lines up with Jesus' words about the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel. Revelation also speaks of periods of forty and two months and of a thousand two hundred and threescore days, which are each about three and a half years, half of seven years.

The Man of Sin

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians because some were teaching that the day of Christ had already come. Paul said no:

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." — 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (KJV)

Here is a man who exalts himself above everything called God. He sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Paul calls him the man of sin and the son of perdition.

John uses the word antichrist in his letters, and he warns that a spirit of antichrist was already at work in his day:

"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." — 1 John 2:18 (KJV)

So there have been many antichrists, many false teachers who deny Christ. But the Bible also points to one final man of sin who will rise at the end.

What Holds Him Back

Paul goes on:

"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:" — 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (KJV)

Something, or someone, is holding back the full power of lawlessness until he be taken out of the way. The Bible doesn't name him in this passage, so this is interpretation. Many pre-tribulation believers understand the one who letteth to be the Holy Spirit working through the church, and they see His being taken out of the way as connected to the rapture. Others have suggested human government. What is plain is the ending: the Lord will consume that Wicked with the spirit of His mouth, and destroy him with the brightness of His coming. The Antichrist's power is real, but it is short, and it ends the moment Jesus appears.

The Beast of Revelation 13

In Revelation 13, John sees a beast rise up out of the sea. The world follows him and worships him. Then a second beast comes, a false prophet, who causes the world to worship the first beast. And John writes:

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." — Revelation 13:16-17 (KJV)

No one will be able to buy or sell without the mark, the name, or the number of the beast. And God gives this warning to anyone living in that day:

"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, 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:" — Revelation 14:9-10 (KJV)

People today often wonder whether some new technology is the mark of the beast. We should be careful. The Bible connects the mark with worshipping the beast and his image, during the time he rules. No one can take it by accident. At the same time, it's not hard to see how a world that runs more and more on digital payments and tracking could make a system like this easy to set up. That's an observation, not a prophecy, and we won't put a name on it that the Bible doesn't.

Jesus Wins

Here's the good news. The tribulation is not the end of the story. Revelation 19 shows heaven opened and the Lord Jesus riding out as King of kings and Lord of lords. And here is what happens to the beast and the false prophet:

"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." — Revelation 19:20 (KJV)

The man who claimed to be God is thrown into the lake of fire. Satan's last attempt to rule the world ends in total defeat.

Why This Matters

Why study the tribulation if we believe the church will be caught up before it begins? First, because it's in the Bible, and all Scripture is profitable. Second, because it shows us how serious sin is, and how much our world needs a Saviour. Third, because many who are left behind will need the truth. And fourth, because it should stir us to reach the lost now. Jesus said in Matthew 24 that the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world. Let's be busy doing our part.

If you're not saved, please don't wait. The Bible says that now is the accepted time, and now is the day of salvation. Trust Jesus Christ today.

A Simple Step for This Week

Here's our challenge for this week. Read all of Matthew 24 in one sitting. As you read, make two lists: things Jesus said would happen, and things Jesus told His followers to do. Then pray for one person you know who isn't saved, and ask God for a chance to share the gospel with them.

A Prayer

Let's pray together.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You know the end from the beginning, and that nothing in the days ahead will take You by surprise. Thank You that Jesus will destroy the man of sin with the brightness of His coming.

Lord, keep us from being deceived. Help us love Your truth, and give us a burden for those who don't know You yet.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Thank you for spending this time with us.

This is Authorized Sword Ministries. God bless you.

Study Questions

1. Read Matthew 24:21. How does Jesus describe the coming great tribulation?
2. What question did the disciples ask in Matthew 24, and how did Jesus begin to answer it?
3. In Matthew 24:15-16, what did Jesus say people in Judaea should do when they see the abomination of desolation?
4. What does Daniel 9:27 say will happen in the middle of the week? Which parts are plain text, and which are interpretation?
5. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, what will the man of sin claim and do?
6. What does 1 John 2:18 teach about "many antichrists"?
7. In 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, what is plain about how the Wicked one's power will end?
8. According to Revelation 13:16-17, what will people be unable to do without the mark?
9. What warning does God give in Revelation 14:9-10, and why can no one take the mark by accident?
10. How should the truth about the tribulation affect the way we reach the lost this week?

Verified Scripture References (KJV)

All quotations were checked word for word against the King James Version (bible-api.com, translation=kjv) on October 26, 2026.

1. Matthew 24:21 — "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
2. Matthew 24:15-16 — "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:"
3. Matthew 24:29-30 — "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
4. Daniel 9:27 — "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
5. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 — "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."
6. 1 John 2:18 — "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time."
7. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 — "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:"
8. Revelation 13:16-17 — "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
9. Revelation 14:9-10 — "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, 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:"
10. Revelation 19:20 — "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."

Sources

All sources were opened and checked on October 26, 2026.

1. Seventy weeks as weeks of years and the dispensational (futurist) understanding of the seventieth week: "Seventy weeks," Wikipedia ("Prophecy of Seventy Weeks"), sections on interpretation, including the dispensationalist view. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_Seventy_Weeks
2. Views on the restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2 (Holy Spirit and church, human government, and others): "Katechon," Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katechon