The Bible describes the coming ruler of the Tribulation Period as a man whom the whole world will wonder after: “Who is like him and who is able to make war with him?”

The Prophet Ezekiel gives us a glimpse of how these dual personalities can take place in just one man. Ezekiel 28 begins with a man who is seeking such power and recognition that he wants to be a god.

Ezekiel 28:1-11 A Message for Tyre’s King

1 Then this message came to me from the LORD: 2 “Son of man, give the prince of Tyre this message from the Sovereign LORD: “In your great pride you claim, ‘I am a god! I sit on a divine throne in the heart of the sea.’ But you are only a man and not a god, though you boast that you are a god.

3 You regard yourself as wiser than Daniel and think no secret is hidden from you. 4 With your wisdom and understanding, you have amassed great wealth—gold and silver for your treasuries. 5 Yes, your wisdom has made you very rich, and your riches have made you very proud.

6 “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you think you are as wise as a god, 7 I will now bring against you a foreign army, the terror of the nations. They will draw their swords against your marvelous wisdom and defile your splendor! 8 They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die in the heart of the sea, pierced with many wounds. 9 Will you then boast, ‘I am a god!’ to those who kill you? To them, you will be no god but merely a man! 10 You will die like an outcast at the hands of foreigners. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!”

Ezekiel is describing a literal human king who has aspirations of greatness, even to be exalted as a god. Then something disastrous happens to the king of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:11-19:

Ezekiel 28:11-19 “Then this further message came to me from the LORD: 12 “Son of man, sing this funeral song for the king of Tyre. Give him this message from the Sovereign LORD: “You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, The garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone—red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone, blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper, blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald— all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created.

14 I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire. 15 “You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you. 16 Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. 17 Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.

18 You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade. So I brought fire out from within you, and it consumed you. I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. 19 All who knew you are appalled at your fate. You have come to a terrible end, and you will exist no more.”

The mere man who was the king of Tyre wants to be god. The being who was once “perfect in every way,” Lucifer, also wanted to be God. When the heart of the king of Tyre reaches the point where he thinks of himself as so successful, accomplishing so many great works that they seem like supernatural miracles, and he believes he is God. It is at this point in Ezekiel 28:11 that satan enters the king of Tyre and takes over, for he also wants to be God.

The descriptions of the man who was the king of Tyre, but is now filled with satan and takes control, change from verse 11. This being was in Eden. He is the model of perfection, full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty. He was ordained and anointed as the mighty angelic guardian. This king of Tyre is not fully under the control of satan, and as satan, he will make himself god.

This becomes a significant Old Testament example that will produce a pattern for the coming antichrist that is described by the New Testament.

The word “antichrist,” does not mean “against,” it means “in place of.” The antichrist begins as a mere man, a great leader of the most powerful nation on earth. He accomplished more good things for his people than any before him. He begins to glory in his accomplishment. He praises himself publicly, as the king of Tyre did. He exalts himself to a place where he starts to think of himself as God. He even makes statements that his amazing works are “like miracles. He seeks to replace Christ with himself as God.

For the first three and one-half years of his term in office, he is hailed as a great leader, a good man who loves people and only wants to do good things for the citizens he is responsible for. He is respected all over the world as a wise and powerful leader. He can gather world leaders together to achieve tremendous trade deals and financial successes, just as the prophet Daniel said of the coming antichrist.

Daniel describes the coming antichrist as a financial genius, a military genius, and a political genius, and he will boast often of his abilities, wisdom, and accomplishments.

• Daniel 11:43 “He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things…
• Daniel 11:21 “He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries (intrigue or smooth talk).”
• Daniel 7:23 “The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth…and it shall devour the whole earth and trample it down and break it to pieces.”
• Daniel 11:39 — “He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god.”
• Revelation 13:4 — “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against him?”

He will achieve so many wonderful works that he will begin to think of himself as God. He will be an excellent builder, so that when the world witnesses the disappearance of perhaps a billion people, and is in mass chaos and turmoil, he will make a seven-year peace treaty with many nations. He will give the Jews of Israel the right to build the Third Temple at the Temple Mount, and bring peace to the world during the first three and one-half years of his reign.

Then, at the end of his term in office, he will be elevated to a world leader. He will go into the Temple at Jerusalem, and he will be proclaimed as God. A command will be given that all the world must worship him as God. Jesus and Daniel called this event “the abomination that brings desolation.”

This new world leader will be assassinated, shot in the head, but come back to life after three days. At this moment, satan will do what he did to the king of Tyre; he will enter the body of this world leader and take control of him.

The Counterfeit Resurrection of the Beast: Revelation 13:3–4 – “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast…”

The healing is the very reason the world worships him: 2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 – “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish…”

Paul parallels John here: the Antichrist’s power is deceptive, supernatural, and satanically energized.

This man, who is now fully possessed by satan, will become “the beast, the son of perdition.” He will be the antichrist who John describes in Revelation chapter 6:1, who comes out to conquer the world riding on a white horse, with a bow in his hand, but no arrows. He comes to conquer the world with Peace.

It was the desire of this new world leader to be known as “A Peacemaker.” Now he has his chance when a billion people who disappeared, those who love Jesus are “caught up,” the Greek word “harpazo,” and taken to heaven during these seven years of the antichrist’s reign on earth.

Daniel 9:27 “Then he (the antichrist) shall confirm a covenant with many for one week (7 years); But in the middle of the week (3 1/2 years) He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering (at the new Temple). And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

In these first three and one-half years of the antichrist’s reign, he will conquer by peace. This will be the opening of the first seal of Revelation chapter 6:1

Beginning with the opening of the second seal of Revelation 6:2, the last three and one-half years of the seven-year Tribulation will begin, called. “The Great Tribulation.”

Revelation 6:1-2 “As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.”

Now empowered and indwelt by satan, famine, pestilence, natural disasters, and the death of two-thirds of the people on earth will take place in seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowl judgments (Revelation 6-18).

2 Thessalonians 2 describes this world leader in his first three and one-half years as a great and marvelous leader. After the church, made up of believers in Jesus, is removed from the Earth, the restraining force that prevented the world from knowing who the antichrist really is will be removed.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 “The man of lawlessness will be revealed—the one who brings destruction. 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?

6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.”

At that time, at the beginning of the second three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation, the “beast” will unleash hell on earth.

Revelation Chapter 13 Gives Us a Detailed Description of the antichrist at his introduction to the world

Revelation 13:11-17 “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Revelation 13:11: “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.”

Another beast – This is distinct from the first beast (Rev. 13:1–10, rising from the sea, representing the Antichrist and his political power). Here, the “earth” may symbolize religious, social, or cultural foundations. Many interpreters see this second beast as the False Prophet (later named in Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10).

Two horns like a lamb – Outwardly, he imitates Christ (“the Lamb”), suggesting a counterfeit gentleness, religious authority, or deceptive piety.

Spoke like a dragon – Despite appearances, his words reveal the voice of Satan. This paradox highlights deception: false religion presenting itself as peaceful but speaking lies and blasphemy.

Revelation 13:12: “And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”

He exercises all the authority of the first beast – The False Prophet has delegated authority from the Antichrist. His role is not independent; he functions as the enforcer of the Antichrist’s power.

He causes worship of the first beast – This is the religious component of the Antichrist’s empire: a global cult of worship. Religion is not abolished but corrupted into idolatry.

His deadly wound healed – Refers back to Rev. 13:3. The supposed “resurrection” of the beast is used to awe the world. The False Prophet exploits this miracle to demand worship, imitating Christ’s resurrection.

Revelation 13:13: “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.”

Great signs – Miracles are used as instruments of deception (cf. Matt. 24:24; 2 Thess. 2:9).

Fire from heaven – Echoes Elijah (1 Kings 18:38). By imitating God’s true prophets, the False Prophet gains credibility. These counterfeit miracles are calculated to validate his false message.

Revelation 13:14: “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.”

He deceives those who dwell on the earth – A repeated phrase in Revelation for the unrepentant world. His power is rooted in deception rather than truth.

He deceives by supernatural signs… granted to do – Permission is given by God; Satan cannot operate outside divine sovereignty.

The Image of the beast – This recalls Daniel 3, where Nebuchadnezzar demanded worship of his image. Here, the Antichrist requires a visible idol—possibly a technological marvel, statue, or AI-like projection—that becomes the center of enforced worship.

Revelation 13:15: “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”

Breath (life) given to the image – A parody of God breathing life into man (Gen. 2:7). This false “life” may be technological animation, demonic empowerment, or supernatural deception.

The image speaks – the god-like power of the beast and the false prophet cause the image to speak.

Cause… to be killed – Worship is enforced by the death penalty. This reveals the totalitarian nature of the Antichrist’s regime: religion, politics, and economics unified under compulsion.

Revelation 13:16: “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,”

World-wide power – There will be no social class, wealth, or freedom that exempts anyone. This is a global system under the complete control of the beast.

Right hand or forehead – A counterfeit to God’s seal on His servants (Rev. 7:3; 14:1). Whereas God’s mark is voluntary and spiritual, the beast’s mark is compulsory and economic.

The Mark – Likely a literal, visible mark (tattoo, branding, or technological implant). Its precise form is debated, but its meaning is allegiance to the Antichrist.

Revelation 13:17: “and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

Complete Economic control – This is the merging of religion, politics, and commerce. The mark is not merely spiritual but tied to daily survival.

Buy or sell – Refers to total exclusion from economic participation. This implies a global monetary system under central authority.

Mark, name, number – Three possible identifiers, all denoting allegiance to the beast. The number (explained in v. 18 as 666) will be decipherable to believers at that time.

See Also:

• Revelation 11:7 “When They Finish Their Testimony” Charlie Kirk, A Voice For Jesus In The Last Of The Last Days
• This Is Our Final Opportunity To Tell The World About The Return Of Jesus Before The Feast Of Trumpets
• The Time Of Charlie KIrk’s Death Is Described By Jesus
• A Statement By Jesus That Confirms He Will Return For His Church During The Feast of Trumpets
• The Seven Year Peace Plan Of Daniel 9:27 May Be Underway: Trump Meets With Seven European Leaders

See Rob’s 45 Published Books That Take You Verse by Verse Through The Bible, Fully Explaining All of These Events for the last of the Last Days:

See All 45 of Rob’s Books

Sources and Citations

Biblical Sources

Pride and Claim Being God: Ezekiel 28:2 (NKJV): “Because your heart is lifted up, and you say, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, in the midst of the seas,’ yet you are a man, and not a god, though you set your heart as the heart of a god.”

The King of Tyre is rebuked for pride and claiming divine status.

Wealth and Trade: Ezekiel 27:3–4, 12, 16, 25 (NKJV) “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’ Your borders are in the midst of the seas. Your builders have perfected your beauty… Tarshish was your merchant… Syria was your customer… The ships of Tarshish were carriers of your merchandise. You were filled and very glorious in the midst of the seas.”

Tyre’s seafaring and international trade is emphasized, with specific mention of goods and nations.

Precious Stones, Wealth, and Beauty: Ezekiel 28:12–13 (NKJV): “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.” Symbolically applied to the King of Tyre, describing wealth, beauty, and pride.

The Judgment of Tyre: Ezekiel 26:3–5 (NKJV): “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you… They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; I will scrape her soil from her and make her like the top of a rock. It shall be a place for spreading nets in the midst of the sea.’”

This prophecy is fulfilled historically in stages (Nebuchadnezzar’s siege, then Alexander’s conquest).

Historical Sources

Nebuchadnezzar’s Siege: Josephus, Against Apion 1.156–157 (Loeb edition): Records that Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for 13 years (586–573 BC).

Alexander’s Causeway and Conquest: Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 2.18–24. Describes Alexander the Great’s 332 BC conquest of Tyre, building a causeway to reach the island fortress and fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy that Tyre would be “scraped like the top of a rock.”

Quintus Curtius Rufus, History of Alexander 4.2–4.4: Provides further details of the siege, including the destruction of the city and slaughter/enslavement of its inhabitants.

Tyrian Trade and Wealth: Herodotus, Histories 2.44: Notes Tyre’s temple of Melqart and its vast wealth. Strabo, Geography 16.2.23: Describes Tyre’s maritime trade and economic power.

Scholarly and Archaeological Sources

John Day, Yahweh and the Gods and Goddesses of Canaan (Sheffield Academic Press, 2002), pp. 132–135. Discusses Tyre’s role as a Phoenician power and the religious-political arrogance of its kings.

Edward Lipiński, Itineraria Phoenicia (Peeters, 2004). Comprehensive study on Phoenician trade routes and Tyre’s central role.

K. Lawson Younger Jr., A Political History of the Arameans (SBL Press, 2016), pp. 269–272. Confirms Tyre’s interactions with Assyria and Babylon, supporting the biblical description of its wealth and arrogance.

James B. Pritchard (ed.), Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament (Princeton, 1969), p. 308. Provides inscriptions mentioning Tyrian kings and their political alliances.

The Spiritual Dimension

• Isaiah 14:12–15 – Parallels Ezekiel 28’s shift from earthly king to Satanic imagery: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…”
• Luke 10:18 – Jesus: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
• Revelation 18:11–19 – The lament over Babylon echoes Ezekiel 27’s lament over Tyre, showing continuity in God’s judgment on arrogant, trade-driven empires.
• Biblical texts (Ezek. 26–28, Isa. 14, Rev. 18) describe Tyre’s pride, wealth, and judgment.
• Historical records (Josephus, Arrian, Curtius, Herodotus, Strabo) confirm Tyre’s wealth, trade, and destruction.
• Scholarly sources reinforce the archaeological and cultural context of Tyre’s prominence.
• Theological parallels show the blending of earthly arrogance and satanic pride.

Categories: Robert Clifton Robinson