Revelation speaks a literal Being (or Beast, which is often refered to as the Anti Christ in capital letters.) that kills the 2 witnesses but Revelation also describes a “beast system” comprising of false prophet, beast, and Image of the beast that all are forced to worship(like Nebuchednezzar’s “god” that Shadrach and his companions refused to bow down to) as well as the “mark” comprising the basis of that hideous economic system coming into play at that time.
So when folks speak of THE ANTI CHRIST(as opposed to one of many antichrists who are in the world already infested by that one Spirit of ANTICHRIST), they are using the terms interchangebly with THE BEAST, THE MAN OF SIN, THE SON OF PERDITION, all names of that One which will work with the False Prophet who performs false wonders in the presence of the Beast and causing the Image of the Beast to speak as though it were a man.
The Beast system is an unholy trinity of sorts empowered by the Devil himself. The BEAST himself mocks Christ’s Christs death and resurrection. The Beast does so by seeming to suffer a mortal wound then coming back to life again deceiving many in the world. God of course has given over the world to delusion so that it becomes difficult to see thru the deceit of this “event”; though the Bible says many will and will be martyred for their faith in the REAL CHRIST!
[Revelation speaks a literal Being (or Beast, which is often refered to as the Anti Christ in capital letters.) that kills the 2 witnesses but Revelation also describes a “beast system” comprising of false prophet, beast, and Image of the beast that all are forced to worship(like Nebuchednezzar’s “god” that Shadrach and his companions refused to bow down to) as well as the “mark” comprising the basis of that hideous economic system coming into play at that time.]
Amen to that.
I understand that's what they're doing, but that's adding an interpretation to the text, and they should be clear that that's what they're doing. Nothing in Scripture guarantees that the "Man of Sin" and the Beast and the Antichrist(s) are the same, or even that the passages that speak about those three entities are speaking of the same time in history. They may be, but that's an interpretation people add to the text (based on their, yes: tradition); the text itself doesn't say it.
Revelation speaks a literal Being (or Beast, which is often refered to as the Anti Christ in capital letters.)
"literal"? John says: "having seven heads and ten horns..." (13:1) "now the beast I saw was like a leopard, feet of a bear, and his mouth like a lion" (13:2) two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon (13:11) where unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the beast (16:13) "I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast" (17:3)
No where in Revelation is the term "Antichrist" used, thus there is no provision in Scripture for making the association - it is purely gratuitous fiction by those who love to change the Bible to suit their fantasies and vanity.
If you interpret these things as "literal" physical descriptions of an actual flesh and bone "Beast" and fail to recognize that this is symbolic then there really is no hope at all in you understanding Revelation.
So when folks speak of THE ANTI CHRIST(as opposed to one of many antichrists who are in the world already infested by that one Spirit of ANTICHRIST), they are using the terms interchangebly with THE BEAST, THE MAN OF SIN, THE SON OF PERDITION, all names of that One which will work with the False Prophet who performs false wonders in the presence of the Beast and causing the Image of the Beast to speak as though it were a man.
So the kings of the earth, their armies and all that took on the "mark of the Beast" will be literally slain by a literal sword coming out of the mouth of the rider of the white horse. Interesting visual imagery. I don't recall reading in Acts that our LORD ascended into heaven on a white horse.
Acts 1:11 - "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
God of course has given over the world to delusion so that it becomes difficult to see thru the deceit of this “event”; though the Bible says many will and will be martyred for their faith in the REAL CHRIST!
I'm guessing that you have no idea how faith originates and how someone is saved (Ro 10:17) since all those who could evangelize are allegedly "raptured" to a cosmic party. Furthermore, do you have a role for the Holy Spirit other than allowing showmen to handle snakes on stage? The Scriptures teach that the Paraclete is the one who opens the Scriptures to the natural man (1 Cor 2:14), so is the Paraclete at the Wedding as part of the Holy Trinity or slumming it on Earth with the reprobates?
Also, you would gut the entire meaning out of 2 Peter 3:9 (Any "rapture" eschatology already rejects 2 Peter 3:10-13 so I wouldn't be surprised if you are comfortable with rubbing out that text) because the context of the passage is the Parousia and v9 would make zero sense if there was post-"Rapture" salvation. From a Reformed standpoint it makes perfect sense - God suffers through our wickedness until the last of the Elect is redeemed then He returns to judge the Earth.
As far as fantasies go, you have way to many inconsistencies, violence against sound doctrine and contradictions for this to even be a mildly interesting camp-fire story. I strongly suggest reading something other than "Left Behind" fiction to form the basis of your theological understanding.