He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.

He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.

The horn is pompous and boastful against “the Most High” (Re 13:6).  He will persecute the saints (2 Th 2:8-9; Re 12:13-17; 13:1-10, 16-17). 

God will permit him to have his way for “a time and times and half a time.”  This is three and a half years (4:16; Re 11:2-3; 12:6; 13:5).  This period is equivalent to the 1,260 days (12:6) and the forty-two months of Revelation (11:2; 13:5).  This is the last three and a half years of the Tribulation, or in other words, the Great Tribulation.  Jesus’ Second Coming takes place at the end of this three and a half years. 

The Antichrist wants to eradicate the past.  He desires to “change the times.” He wishes to reorganize civilization in a way that suits his values.  In doing so, he will change “law” (singular).  This is not Bible law but the foundational law fundamental to the state of society. 

PRINCIPLE: 

God always puts limits on man. 

APPLICATION: 

The last world dictator will attempt to remake societal laws after his own fashion.  This will revolve around humanistic thinking.  He will change the constitutions of national entities in an attempt to resolve man’s problems by means of man.  He will disregard natural law and ignore the laws of economics, government, and morality.  He will dare to think of himself as the solution to the problems of man.  This delusion will last for three and a half years in the Tribulation.  His power will be limited to a very definite period, and then God will pull the plug on him. 

Re 13:5-8, “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. ⁶ Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. ⁷ It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. ⁸ All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”