Jan,Let me see if I can answer your question. You asked:How would you explain, that the world follow the anti-christ in astonisment,
and find it amazing what he do, if he started with making persecution ???First I must say I do not believe there is a human entity called the "antichrist." It is a spirit of anti Christ that is against Jesus as the true Christ. The false prophet is the only human being doing Satan's bidding. He is the antithesis of Jesus the true Christ of God. Just as 1 John 4:3 states.And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.There is nothing that claims this false prophet will come in trying to come in with great charm. We have to remember Jan we are speaking of God's wrath come to earth and the bloodline of disobedient Israel. God gives the beast 42 months to complete his work. Just as stated in Revelation 13:5;And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
And as you pointed out 2 Thessalonians 2:7 clearly states this power was at work 2,000 years ago. That power is Satan and his anti Christ spirit that works to deny Jesus as the true Christ. And at the point of the "harpazo" he (the false prophet who is the "mouth" given to blasphemy God) is given 42 months. That works out to 3 1/2 years.
And you stated:
But take a look on Daniel 9:23-27.v. - here you find this 3 and a half year,
from anti-christs seven year covenant.I have studied this many, many years Jan and there is no seven year "covenant" with anti-Christ. The seven year "covenant with many" was the covenant Jesus made with His shed blood. The first 3 1/2 years were His ministry here. After 3 1/2 years He, and Israel, were cut off. His life was cut off at the cross and Israel was temporarily "broken off" as a branch and the nation that was not a nation, the Gentiles (non Jews) were grafted in. Romans 11:17-24.
Jesus Christ is the "HE" of Daniel 9:27 and Israel are the "people of the prince to come." That Prince prophecied was the coming Messiah, not the false prophet.
Jan, all I do 18 hours a day is study God's Word. I am 55 years old and dying from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. I study His Word in Greek and Hebrew/Aramaic. When I stand before Him I want it to be not as a first time introduction, but as a homecoming.
One question needs to be addressed regarding this so named "AC" everyone points to. Where is he in the Bible? The only ones who end up being tossed into the lake of fire are:
1. The beast
2. The false prophet
3. Satan after the Gog/Magog event in Revelation 20:7-10.
Drop by my site and as you say, 'have an open mind' and read what His Spirit has to show regarding these false teachings Jan. http://p097.ezboard.com/bwonderfuloneYBIC,Michael deKruif