I'm not taking my view from anything but scripture. (well..and actual history). Scripture via the NT, includes Rome - the empire which went "diverse" and remains with us today. It was not named by the OT prophets because Rome didn't exist then. I do not hold with a revived Roman empire because the roots of Rome resides, still, with us today. As east and west. Rome started as a Republic and only went to one ruler after Julius Ceasar (and thus the reign of the ceasars') just before Christ's time. It separated to east and west. Islam comes up in the east at 600 AD and hasn't stopped to this day. The 4th empire is long lived and for all intents and purposes east and west supply the legs with the right leg (west) "favored". But this scenario brings the full world of men, all men into the equation and this is required to fulfill prophecy. IF Islam, out of the east, attempts one world dominion, scripture tells us what will happen - they won't succeed because of Israel and it's protected state.
Silk.....what we are seeing here in our conversations with "Straightshooter" is his thinking that the Antichrist possibly be a Muslim and the coming World Wide Empire will be the Eastern Block of Muslims countries. Now this is a relatively new idea that seems to be catching on today due mainly to the growth of Islam and the revival of its territorial goal of conquering the world for Allah.
There are several books written on this that relate to this topic. Probably the one that our brother is linked to and the one that
provides the best biblical foundation is entitled The Assyrian Connection. It was written in 1993 by Phillip Goodman, and a revised edition was published in 2003. Now I do not know that to be the case at all and it is only an assumption on my part.
In his book, Goodman argues that the Antichrist will rise from the Eastern wing of the old Roman Empire, coming from the ancient Greek sphere of influence that was incorporated into that empire. Getting even more specific, he argues that the Antichrist will come from the Seleucid area of the Greek sphere — specifically, from Assyria, meaning either modern-day Syria or Iraq.
This by the way is the same area where Antiochus Epiphanies came from. Although he never specifically states that the Antichrist will be a Muslim, he leaves this distinct impression by claiming that he will come from an area dominated by Islam.
He also uses Micah 5:5 to identify the A/C as Assyrian. Personally I do not believe there is any validity to the use of Micah 5:5 to determine the national identity of the Antichrist. Micah 5:3-15 is entirely about the Millennium. The Antichrist will be dead and gone during that time. Rev. 19:20-21 says that at the Second Coming of Jesus — at the end of the Tribulation — the Antichrist and his False Prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire where they will be tormented eternally (20:10).
Therefore it seems clear to me that all the prophet is saying in Micah 5 is that during the Millennium the Lord will protect Israel from all its natural enemies.
What am I saying???? With all due respect to Straightshooter, it is my opinion that it is the Revived Roman Empire made up of the 10 members of the European Union that will make up the One World Order that produces the A/C and IMO he will probably be a Jew.
But hey........I was sure that Alabama would be Ohio State last week so what do I know.