upgraded September 21, 2006
The Antichrist (governmental leader) will first be revealed by confirming a seven year peace agreement (covenant, contract - Daniel 9:27) that will allow daily sacrifice by the Jews in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.
Since Israel's rebirth in 1948, the Arab oil producing countries have refused to even recognize the right of Israel to exist as a nation. The Arab nations have attacked Israel continuously since 1948 in an attempt to destroy Israel as a nation. Israel has continued to exist because of Israel's military power. On every occasion that the Arab nations have attacked Israel, the Arab nations have suffered a humiliating defeat. The peace agreement will come following still another humiliating defeat of the Arabs. At the time of the "seven year covenant," the Antichrist will be forced to negotiate with Israel, because Israel will remain as a military power until the time of the peace agreement. The Antichrist in developing his coalition of power will not personally want to recognize Israel as a nation, but will be forced to because of Israel's military power. The "seven year covenant" will necessitate an agreement among Arab oil producing countries to allow the re-establishment of daily sacrifice by the again-victorious Jews. The Antichrist will be forced to recognize Israel as a nation, and will allow them to practice their religion by re-establishing daily sacrifice.
The formation of nations that agree to the "covenant" that allows the re-establishment of daily sacrifice by the Jews, is a coalition of seven Arab/Muslim countries allied with the Antichrist, and ten "Judeo-Christian" world leaders or kings allied with the Jewish False Prophet (Pope).
Revelation 12:3 (NIV) Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.
Revelation 13:1 (NIV) And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.
Revelation 17:3 (NIV) Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
Daniel 7:19-22 (NIV) "Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws--the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell--the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.
We are given the definition within the Word of God of "horns" and "heads:"
Daniel 7:24 (NIV) The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.
Revelation 17:12-13 (NIV) "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.
Revelation 17:9-11 (NIV) "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
The seven heads are other kings or countries that will be involved in the empire of the Antichrist. The seven heads and ten horns are referred to as two separate parts of the whole. The reason that these are always referenced in this manner is that they will never fully blend into a single unit. The seven heads are Islamic kings or countries allied with the Antichrist. The ten horns will be represented by "Judeo-Christian" kings or countries, allied with the Jewish False Prophet (Pope).
The four ancient world empires were created militarily. Historically, whoever controlled the world's military, controlled the world. Today, whoever controls the world's oil, controls the world. Today, with some maneuvering, O. P. E. C. could control the world. After negotiating the covenant that will allow re-establishment of daily sacrifice, the Antichrist will start his rise to complete world leadership by gaining control of a percentage of the world's oil. This will catapult the Antichrist to world power as he cripples and extorts the world financially. Once he gains a percentage of the world's oil, he will control the world. From this point, he will direct a One World Government and the Mark of the Beast:
Revelation 13:16-18 (NIV) He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.
In knowing that the Antichrist will be the King of Syria, some light has already been shed on other countries that will ultimately be involved in the kingdom of the Antichrist:
Daniel 8:9 (NIV) Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land.
The Beautiful Land is of course Israel.
Saudi Arabia, a Moslem country, is located due south of Syria. It is a huge oil producer, member of O. P. E. C., and must certainly be included in any coalition that would control the oil of the world. Saudi Arabia will be in the kingdom of the Antichrist.
Iraq, a Moslem country, is located due east of Syria. Iraq is also a huge oil producing country, member of O. P. E. C., and will also be included in the kingdom of the Antichrist.
Lebanon is the only country that is directly "toward the Beautiful Land" from Syria, and has already fallen to the King of Syria.
The coalition of Saudi Arabia and Iraq is adequate to completely cripple the world when they ration oil. Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Lebanon are the three horns that will fall to the King of Syria.
Daniel 7:8 (NIV) "While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
Daniel 7:20 (NIV) I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell--the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
Daniel 7:24 (NIV) The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran combined with Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and the Sinai Peninsula is the area described as being actual historic Syria by the martyred Antun Saada of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. It is the present goal of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party to bring these independent countries back together into the Syrian State.
The Antichrist will also gain control of the Moslem countries of Egypt, Libya, and Sudan (in which is the Nubian Desert).
Daniel 11:42-43 (NIV) He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission.
The Antichrist will not control the Moslem country of Jordan (Edom, Moab, and Ammon) which has made a treaty and peace with Israel.
Daniel 11:41 (NIV) He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand.
Though Egypt has a treaty with Israel, she has maintained less than "open armed peace."