“This is not the fantasy of a blockbuster Hollywood movie, nor is it a joke”, notes the blurb on the back of this End-times book. “The rise of the Antichrist is prophesied in the Bible, and this reality is coming to pass”.
Purpose and definition of terms
Michele Neal begins her study by explaining her reason for writing the book. The signs of the End-times are all around us. We need to understand these and make a timely response, in particular to what the Bible says about the rise of the Antichrist, and the effect of this on humanity in the context of the rapid changes now upon us.
The layout of the book is clear and progressive. The author first considers the meaning of the term ‘Antichrist’. Unfortunately, her initial definition is rather misleading, by claiming it simply means “someone who is against Christ. In reality, anyone who rejects Jesus Christ and His message of salvation through faith in Him, is effectively anti-Christian, and thereby is ‘anti-Christ’ in their personal beliefs and opinions” (p.29).
This is too wide a definition and not in line either with the use of the word in John’s epistles, where the emphasis is on deliberate deceivers and heresies (1 John 2:18, 2 John 7), or the biblical view of the final Antichrist as one who aims to take the place of’ Christ, which the author does go on to focus on.
The Anti-Christ is arising
However, Neal is right to issue a wake-up call to ‘Be aware!’ of the spirit of antichrist that is active in the world. The message is: Make no mistake – the Antichrist IS arising. She sets the scene by brief studies of the Antichrist in the prophetic visions of Daniel, and the descriptions of the character of Antichrist in the New Testament as Satan seeks to rule over disobedient mankind. But while he has authority over mankind in rebellion against the Lord, it is the God of Israel who rules and reigns (Psalms 93-99), and it is the Lord Jesus to whom all authority has been given.
Neal is right to issue a wake-up call to ‘Be aware!’ of the spirit of antichrist that is active in the world.
The meat of the book is the middle chapters, which focus on God’s shaking of the nations and what he says about the End-times, based on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. One issue here is Neal’s interpretation of ‘generation’ in Matthew 24. She rightly identifies this as the generation who are living at the time when all these signs begin to happen. But she then redefines ‘generation’ with a sense of it meaning ‘lifetime’, giving it a numerical value of 80 years to fit a scheme which takes us to 2028. At the same time, Neal reassures us that she is “absolutely not a ‘date-setter’!” (p.107).
Pandemic or plandemic?
The author also covers current situations, including a large section in chapter 4 on the coronavirus pandemic and vaccination. For her, Covid is a key part of what she sees as an attempt at global control based upon “unrelenting media fearmongering” which has been “hyped up to such a level of suffocating hysteria, leaving people paralysed with fear” (p.123). World leaders and the media are engaged in a ploy to get us to believe that Covid 19 is a pandemic, whereas it is more like a ‘plandemic’.
We should bear in mind that she was writing in July/Sept 2020, when hospital admissions had greatly reduced after the first wave so this may account for some of her observations. However, she also asserts that an insistence on a global vaccine displays a sinister intent. By containing our ID, medical and possibly financial details, and with an ability to track our every move, such a vaccination has the potential to be part of a globalist agenda to form a One World Government and Religion, conditioning us for the ‘new normal’ under the growing control of the Antichrist (pp.123-4).
Such comments may delight some readers but be upsetting for others for whom Covid has been a devastating reality. However, she does succeed in providing much material for us to think through even if our conclusions differ.
For Neal, Covid is a key part of what she sees as an attempt at global control based upon “unrelenting media fearmongering” which has been “hyped up to such a level of suffocating hysteria, leaving people paralysed with fear.”
Tribulation matters
Michele then covers the commendations and warnings that Jesus gave to the churches to encourage believers to be overcomers (Rev 1-3), and the rapture of the Church – considering that the Church has work to do until just before the opening of the sixth seal (Rev 6:12) at the start of the final 3½- year Great Tribulation. This is followed by sequential unfolding in some detail of the events described in Revelation. Neal gives the actual Scriptures and then offers personal comments on each section to assist our application of Jesus’ message, so we will know ‘What happens next’ and be prepared.
However, there appears to be an inconsistency over her use of the words ‘Tribulation’ and ‘Great Tribulation’ which seem to be used interchangeably, without distinguishing between them, in particular when it comes to their length. Is this a seven year period, or just half that time? This tension becomes particularly apparent with statements such as “The Antichrist rises to power during the Great Tribulation” (p.42). Most would say his rise to power occurs before, not during, this time, especially if by Great Tribulation the author is referring to the second half of 3.5 years. Though later she correctly states that the Antichrist will make a 7-year covenant (p.48), this is inconsistent with his rise to power during either a 7-year Tribulation or a 3.5-year Great Tribulation.
Dream-based theology
Another significant issue is that Neal’s belief in an early (that is, not a post-tribulation) rapture is based upon a dream rather than any careful biblical study. She admits that she was, like many believers, “tossed to-and-fro by the Church’s confusion on this subject. . . and didn’t really want to know what to think” (p.135). Her decision to pray about this resulted “a very vivid, powerful, all-encompassing dream of the Rapture” (p.136). For her, this settled matters!
The End-times are here, unfolding before our eyes, and the book confronts us with the need to make a choice.
She reports that in her dreams “I am informing people about the Rapture of true believers, and about complacent, half-hearted believers being left behind on the earth to endure the Great Tribulation period which will occur after the Rapture.” (p.63). In the dreams she goes on to warn those left behind about the rise of the Antichrist and New World Order. This background needs to be recognised when reading her long chapter on the rapture as this informs and affects her interpretation of Revelation and in particular the seventh seal.
Who will you follow?
Another key point is that the author explains how the message in her book was given to her at a retreat over Christmas 2019. Many of her comments in the book are the result of this time of personal study and listening to the Lord. Her aim is thus is to take the reader on a journey through the coming traumatic times by sharing what the Holy Spirit gave her. The result is both challenging and compelling – the Antichrist IS arising. The warnings are God’s outreach to encourage those who will repent and turn to him in the coming days, and separate those who will continue to rebel in disobedience against his plan of salvation. The End-times are here, unfolding before our eyes, and the book confronts us with the need to make a choice.
In a final plea to unbelievers, she asks, ‘Whom will you follow?’ Will it be the One who promises you life if you believe in the Lord Jesus so that you are counted worthy to escape the terrifying rule of the Antichrist and the coming wrath of God upon rebellious mankind, or the one who deceives and promises false worldly things (Satan) that he will not supply, which choice will lead to death in the lake of fire? To secure eternal life, from which all unrepentant sinners are excluded, we need to be ready when God calls us, either at the time we die, or when Jesus comes again as he has promised.
What the book lacks in scholarly rigour it makes up for in its main thrust, which is to warn the complacent and the unbelieving about the events that are prophesied, and which the author believes are likely to be coming very soon.
Overall, the book is written in an easy-to-read format, with many personal reflections. It contains a lot of Scripture and takes the reader through it in a sequential manner. What it lacks in scholarly rigour (there are a few inaccuracies in places) it makes up for in its main thrust, which is to warn the complacent and the unbelieving about the events that are prophesied, and which the author believes are likely to be coming very soon.
The book is written with humility and encourages further study – with some suggestions given. The author has shown the courage of her convictions in writing a book of this kind, which deserves to be read − though with caution and discernment.
