But what if the "little horn" that grows out of the compilation of the four kingdoms of Daniel 2 (iron and clay)is really a religio/politico culture and not a country? Then the Antichrist would be a product of the synthesis of Near Eastern/Western cultures commanding the respect of both cultures.
F.F. Bruce has an interesting interpretation of the "apostasy", "restrainer" and "man of sin" (Antichrist) in 2 Thessalonians. He says the apostasy is anarchy, a general breakdown of the rule of law. The restrainer is government that is holding back lawlessness and crushes the rebellion and in doing so, its mask is removed (the restrainer taken away) and the ruler is revealed to be the man of sin, the Antichrist.
The example he points to is Caligula attempting to erect a statue of himself in the temple in Jerusalem in 40 A.D. to solidify his claim to deity and the Roman senate refusing to go along with it.
It could very well be, but the point would still remain: The USA is not a small country (a "little horn") in comparison to any ten others, and Kenya lacks the necessary cultural connections.
He says the apostasy is anarchy, a general breakdown of the rule of law. The restrainer is government . . .
I don't think so. The Adversary's angels are shown to be behind the world's governments (Dan. 10), so why would they be restraining the AC? In addition, there have been many periods of anarchy or unrestrained government fiat in history and the final AC has yet to show up.
I'm of the opinion that the Restrainer is Michael the Archangel, whom God placed as the "prince" of Israel to protect her when He withdrew His Sh'khinah from the Temple (in Ezk. 10). Michael first drives the Adversary from Heaven (Rev. 12) and then "stands" still during the Great Tribulation (Dan. 12) in preparation for the "hand off" to Israel's proper King.
Shalom.
Interesting.