Micah 5 Calls the Antichrist “the Assyrian” and Reveals the Geographic Location of His Kingdom
I’ve read a great deal about the two legs of King Nebuchadnezzar’s statue in Bible prophecy being the Eastern and Western Legs of the Roman Empire even from those whose eyes have been opened to an Islamic Antichrist. The idea of a revived Roman Empire has become so etched in our minds that we cannot fathom Daniel’s fourth beast as having nothing to do with Rome.
To be fair Daniel 12:9 says,
“Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. [NASB]
Since the Old Testament prophets prophesied about the same end-time events, it follows that this goes for the other books as well. Well, now is that time and many eyes are being opened so it is understandable that some are not, yet.
But consider this. I just read this recently in the discussion area of one very popular prophetic website that does not recognize an Islamic Antichrist and is still looking in Europe for a revived Roman Empire:
Everyone is welcome here, and our hope is that we will be a blessing to you, and you to us. However, we ask that if you do not yet believe as we do, and are not joining to gain understanding of our belief, that you please not try to correct our understanding of Scripture. We are firm in what we believe and do not desire, nor require, “conversion”.
There is a point at which people live in the dark willfully as a result of self-imposed ignorance and I think this is it. That’s sad to me.
Alas, I lament that so many lovers of prophecy are missing the very things they have been longing to see!
Watching people look for the rise of the Antichrist’s kingdom in Europe while it’s forming right now in the Middle East is the closest we will come to watching the Jews miss the First Advent of Christ while He was standing right before them. They, too, were looking in a different geographic area.
John 7:40-43 NASB Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” [41] Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” Still others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? [42] “Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” [43] So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him.
The Old Testament, which they were all familiar with, does say the Christ would come from Bethlehem:
Micah 5:2-4 NASB “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” [3] Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel. [4] And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.
They knew Jesus lived in Nazareth, but, apparently, they did not know Jesus was born in Bethlehem [Luke 2:4-7]. And, really, I don’t think it would have mattered if they had known.
Now, extend me some grace as I rephrase the above passage from John 7 to make a point:
Some of the people therefore, when they saw these things, were saying, “This certainly is the one of whom God spoke in former days through His servants the prophets, who prophesied in those days for many years that He would bring him against Israel.” Others were saying, “This is the antichrist.” Still others were saying, “Surely the antichrist is not going to come from the Middle East, is he? “Has not the Scripture said that the antichrist comes from Europe and from Rome, the hills where the Pope is?” So a division occurred in the Church because of this.
And so says the Church not knowing that “the people of the prince who is to come”, the people who actually destroyed the Temple in 70 AD, “came” from Rome but were born in the Middle East [Daniel 9:26]. While no serious prophecy teacher would ever say any of the literal references to the nations listed in Scripture that Christ defeats upon His return are located in Europe, it doesn’t seem to matter.
This brings us back to Micah 5 and something you’ve probably never noticed before. This passage ends with a startling revelation. The same passage that predicts Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and His Millennial rule over all the earth also says this:
Micah 5:5-6 NASB This One [Jesus] will be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land, When he tramples on our citadels, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men. [6] They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, The land of Nimrod at its entrances; And He will deliver us from the Assyrian When he attacks our land And when he tramples our territory.
Jesus will come to Israel’s aid when the Assyrian invades. So, the question for you to consider is, has there ever been a time in history when Jesus has led an army against Assyria to save Israel from an invasion?
What is the implication, then? Since this has never happened in history, the implication is that when Jesus returns, He will defend Israel against the invading Assyrian, or the Antichrist. Why is he called the Assyrian? Well, logic suggests that in order to be called an Assyrian you must come from Assyria. So, where was Assyria and what are the modern-day countries that inhabit this geographic area? If we identify these things, we can know the geographic location of the Antichrist’s kingdom.
The Assyrian Empire, the second Biblical World Kingdom, encompassed Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Iran and Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
- Isaiah 21 Reveals the Geographic Location of the Antichrist’s Kingdom
- Revelation 13:2 Reveals the Geographic Location of the Antichrist’s Kingdom
- Zephaniah Names the Nations Christ Defeats Upon His Return and None of Them Are European
- Questions to Ask People Who Are Still Looking in Europe for a Revived Roman Empire
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