There is a view that asserts that Antichrist’s rule will be regional, not global. There is faulty reasoning to reach this conclusion. Here is my response:
It is said about Antichrist:
. . . and all the world wondered after the beast . . . And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him . . .” (Revelation 13:3,8)
Those verses support the view that the beast will rule over the whole world. The Greek word translated ”world” and ”earth” is gē (γῆ).
The most authoritative lexicon is A Greek – English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature (BDAG). It gives six domain ranges of meaning for this word:
1. surface of the earth as the habitation of humanity, earth
2. the inhabitants of the earth, people, humanity
3. portions or regions of the earth, region, country
4. dry land as opposed to sea, land
5. earth-like surface that forms the bottom of a body of water, ground, bottom
6. earth w. ref. to limited areas and the material that forms its surface
The term is used innumerable times in the New Testament under the first and second senses. It is even used 82 times in the book of Revelation, most of those usages are in a global sense:
Rev 1:5, 7; 3:10; 5:3, 6, 10, 13; 6:4, 8, 10, 13, 15; 7:1-3; 8:5, 7, 13-9:1; 9:3-4; 10:2, 5-6, 8; 11:4, 6, 10, 18; 12:4, 9, 12-13, 16; 13:3, 8, 11-14; 14:3, 6-7, 15-16, 18-19; 16:1-2, 18; 17:2, 5, 8, 18-18:1; 18:3, 9, 11, 23-24; 19:2, 19; 20:8-9, 11; 21:1, 24
The context supports a global sense of the term:
“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.” (Rev 13:3).
“Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” (Rev 13:7-8).
The book of Revelation is not about a local region — but the cosmic, universal world. The phrase “all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages” has a universal thrust in the book of Revelation and there is nothing in this context to suggest that this is an exception limited to “tribes in proximity to Israel.” To list a few references:
“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,” (Rev 5:9).
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands” (Rev 7:9).
“And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”” (Rev 10:11).
“Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.” (Rev 14:6).
Further, there is a contrast of the symbolism between the second beast rising out of the earth with the first beast rising out of the sea (Rev 13:1). The same term is used in a similar context of previous beasts who arise out of the earth to attain power: “These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.” (Dan 7:17). This is an expression that indicates an emergence into power that was not previously possessed. It does not require a meaning of a particular region.
Next, the lexicon, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains, lists gē as a synonym with kosmos, a word that has primarily a “universal” sense.
Some argue:
“The third kingdom of brass which would bear rule over ”ALL THE EARTH” is the Grecian Empire of Alexander the Great. A map of the Grecian Empire will reveal that it DID NOT rule the whole world but only extended from Macedon in the West to the Indus River which is the border between India and Pakistan. It did not even extend to Western Europe. Now if the third kingdom which would bear rule over ”all the earth” did not rule the whole world, is it not incorrect to believe that the fourth kingdom which shall bear rule over ”all the earth” will not rule the whole modern world but only a portion of it?
What this fails to see is that the future Antichrist’s empire is not going to be limited by borders, as if the future Antichrist is going to be limited to chariots and spears.
It also fails to note Daniel 2:35, which uses the same term, “whole earth”: “But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.” (Dan 2:35). According to this reasoning then, the Lord’s kingdom in this verse will only be limited to the middle east, not a literal whole earth.
Finally, it may be asserted that another word such as οἰκουμένη oikoumenē cannot have a global sense, but only a:
“portion of the inhabited earth inhabited by the Greeks in distinction from the lands of the barbarians.t does not refer to the globe or the entire planet as the word kosmos. The word is sometimes used in connection with the Roman Empire and its subjects.
But the word, οἰκουμένη, oikoumenē, does in fact have a meaning according to the Greek New Testament lexicon, BDAG: “the whole inhabited earth.” How can anyone understand the following verses to be limited to only the Greek region:
“because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”” (Acts 17:31).
“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world–he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” (Rev 12:9).
“And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”” (Heb 1:6).
“Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking.” (Heb 2:5).
“For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.” (Rev 16:14).
Sound exegesis does effect real-life practical theology.
Pretribulationsts are teaching that the Church will not experience the Great Tribulation; and Preterists are claiming that the Church will not be in the Great Tribulation in the future; and some who argue that the universal Church will not be included in Antichrist’s realm since it will only be local.
But difficult times are coming upon the universal Church. God will call the last generation of the universal Church to experience the wrath of Antichrist. We need to be prepared with good teaching, and a blameless heart.
