Scripture describes the Antichrist’s arrival as sudden, deceptive, and initially non-violent—rising through political cunning, flattery/intrigue, and false peace rather than open conquest or legitimate royal inheritance.

He is not given the throne by birthright or popular acclaim in the normal way; instead, he seizes it “without warning” and “by flatteries,” quoted from Daniel 11:21 (ESV). This fits a consistent biblical pattern across Daniel, 2 Thessalonians, and Revelation: he emerges amid end-times chaos, appears charismatic and peace-making at first, gains power through deceit and supernatural deception, and only later reveals his tyrannical, blasphemous nature.

The primary passages that describe how he comes on the scene:

1. Daniel 11:21 – The “contemptible person” rises by intrigue

“In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries [or ‘intrigue’].”

In context (Daniel 11:21-24), this figure becomes a king by deceit “shall come in peaceably and seize the kingdom by intrigue”. He prospers initially through smooth words and cunning, not military might or hereditary right.

2. Daniel 7:8, 24-25 – The “little horn” arises among ten kings

“I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.” (v. 8) “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones and shall put down three kings. He shall speak words against the Most High…” (vv. 24-25)

He emerges after a ten-kingdom (or ten-king) coalition forms, quietly displacing three rulers. No fanfare or inherited throne—just opportunistic rise.

3. Daniel 8:23-25 – A king who rises “by his cunning” and “by peace”

“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king of bold countenance, one who understands riddles, shall arise. His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does. He shall destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall exalt himself. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, but by no human hand, he shall be broken.”

Key phrase: “by peace [or ‘security’] he shall destroy many” (some translations). He appears peaceful and prosperous at first yet uses that very peace as a weapon of destruction. His power is explicitly not his own—it comes from Satan (cross-referenced in Revelation).

4. Daniel 9:27 – He confirms a covenant (the deceptive “peace treaty”)

“And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week [seven years], and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate…”

This is often seen as the event that launches his public rise: he brokers a seven-year peace deal (perhaps with Israel or many nations), only to break it after 3½ years with the “abomination of desolation.”

5. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 – The “man of lawlessness” is revealed after the restrainer is removed

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God… For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth… The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth…”

He does not appear until certain preconditions are met (apostasy/rebellion and the removal of the restrainer). When he does appear, it is through Satanic power, counterfeit miracles, and deception—not raw military takeover.

6. Revelation 13:1-8 – The Beast rises from the sea and amazes the world

“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads… And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon… and they worshiped the beast…”

The beast (widely identified as the Antichrist) emerges from the chaotic “sea” of nations. A fatal wound is miraculously healed, causing the whole world to marvel and follow him. Again, the dragon (Satan) gives him his throne and authority. He is worshipped globally for 42 months.

Summary of the biblical picture

• How he comes on the scene: Suddenly and subtly (“without warning”), through political flattery, intrigue, and a false peace covenant—not by legitimate succession or brute force at first.
• What empowers him: Satan directly (power, signs, lying wonders).
• Initial impression: Charismatic peacemaker who prospers by deceit and “craft.”
• Turning point: After 3½ years he reveals his true nature—demands worship, commits the abomination of desolation, and turns tyrannical.
• Global reaction: The world is deceived and amazed, especially by the healed wound and false miracles.

This is the unified portrait Scripture gives in the key prophetic books. While Christian interpreters differ on exact timing, identity, or whether Daniel 11 is fully future vs. typological, the manner of his coming (deceptive, intrigue-filled, Satan-empowered rise) is consistently described across these passages. We need to remember that God is in total control during his reign. I believe Christians will be on Earth during much of the Antichrist’s reign. God promises to keep us from His wrath which is poured out on the Earth with the trumpet and Bowl judgements which occur during the last year prior to Jesus return to rescue Israel at the battle of Armageddon. The church is raptured at the trumpet blast at the opening of the seventh seal. Note it is at the end of the opening of the sixth seal that it says the great day of God’s wrath has come.

“Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:16-17

It is also the sixth church the church of Philadelphia that is raptured:

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:10

The seals and the churches reveal what is unfolding in the last seven years before Jesus returns. After defeating the Antichrist’s army Jesus sets up His Millennial Kingdom in a newly restored Jerusalem and a totally restructured Earth. The key Scriptures describing these events are found primarily in the prophetic books of the Old Testament (Isaiah, Micah, Zechariah, Ezekiel) and the book of Revelation. They portray major topographical changes to the earth during the time God pours out His wrath with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements. followed by the exaltation of Jerusalem as the highest mountain, where Jesus establishes His Millennial Kingdom. Go to http://www.millennialkingdom.net for more information anout what is next on God’s agenda for planet Earth.