"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." (Revelation 6:1-2)

When Jesus, the Lamb opens the First Seal of the scroll in Heaven it releases the 'Antichrist' upon the earth. The Antichrist will be a man that quickly rises up through society, becomes very powerful and ultimately declares himself God and Savior of the world. Notice in the above verse that he has a bow but no arrows. This tells us that he will give the impression of rising to power by peaceful means but his actual motive is war and world domination. The Bible even describes him as being a vile, or despicable person who is a 'smooth talker':

"And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries." (Daniel 11:21)

"And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many..." (Daniel 8:25a,b)

The Bible doesn't say how long it will be after the Rapture occurs until the Tribulation begins, but it does tell us what will mark the beginning of the Tribulation and how long it will last:

"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)

The above verse tells us that the Antichrist will "confirm", or strengthen a peace treaty either with Israel and others or between Israel and others. This may not be the Antichrist's own treaty but one that may already be in existence that hasn't worked or one that is begun by another party and only strengthened by him. This act of confirmation will mark the beginning of the Tribulation.

The Hebrew word for "week" in the above verse is "shebuah", which means a "week of years", or in other words seven years. This tells us the length of the Tribulation. This verse also informs us that in the middle of the week, or after three and one half years the Antichrist will "make it desolate", or defile the Jewish Temple which Israel is currently making preparations to rebuild in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount. This defilement will occur when he causes "the sacrifice and the oblation to cease" in the Temple.

The construction of the Third Temple is so near that the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish-legal tribunal who convenes in one of the Holy Temple chambers was reestablished in 2005 after a sixteen-hundred year absence. You can keep track of the progress to build the Temple by visiting the website of The Temple Institute.

The Antichrist is not to be trusted because he is a deceiver and a liar. The Bible tells us the Antichrist will deny both God the Father and Jesus, God the Son:

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:22)

The Antichrist will even say that Jesus is not coming in the flesh:

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." (2 John 1:7)

The Antichrist will be under the direct control of Satan himself. He will attempt to get everyone in the world to worship him by performing false miracles. It will even appear as though he is killed and then raised from the dead imitating Jesus' resurrection:

"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." (Revelation 13:3)

It will be through the evil powers of Satan that these false miracles are performed:

"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders," (2 Thessalonians 2:9)

There will be an image made of the Antichrist and everyone will be told to worship it or die. Learn more about the Image Of The Beast...