Sheep-goat judgment
The Antichrist is only going to control a fourth of the world politically, according to Revelation 6:8. Well, in Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus described the sheep-goat judgment. This will take place after His return. Christ will determine which nations are worthy to enter the Kingdom. The nations being judged will involve non-Jewish people from all over the world who survived the Day of the Lord and didn’t worship the Antichrist. This is because all of Israel will be saved at the physical return of Christ and everyone who takes the Mark of the Beast and worships the Antichrist’s image will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.
So, what will be the criteria for this judgment? Jesus will say to the righteous that “to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” This doesn’t mean that when you do something for the poor, sick, hungry or imprisoned, you’re doing it for Jesus. Jesus made it clear that “whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother.” When Saul was murdering Christians, Jesus appeared to him and said “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Clearly, Christ’s brothers are His followers. Jews are also Christ’s brothers, because of His Jewish ethnicity.
During the Great Tribulation, persecuted Christians and Jews will receive help from non-Christians that refuse to worship the Antichrist and take his mark. They’re going to be rewarded by being allowed to enter the Kingdom. Those individuals who refuse to help persecuted Christians and Jews will receive eternal punishment.
Sheep nations, led by the United States
In the end times, there are three groups of nations: sheep nations, goat nations and nations which are initially loyal to Babylon the Great. The most important characteristic to look for is their treatment of Israel. For example, God is going to judge the nations for having divided up His land, the land of Israel. Nations which honor God’s promise of the land of Israel to the Jews, specifically Jewish sovereignty over Jerusalem, are more likely to be sheep nations. In addition, countries with lots of committed Christians, a growing Christian population or significant numbers of Charismatic Christians are probably sheep nations. Finally, sheep nations will tend to have favorable views towards Americans, because the United States is the leader of the sheep-nation group in the end times.
A little while back, US Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman gave a wonderful speech summarizing why the United States is the ultimate sheep nation. From the beginning, God has used the United States as a refuge for His people, Christians and Jews. The United States opened a consulate in Jerusalem in 1844, it was the first country to recognize the sovereignty of Israel in 1948 and both the Senate and the House of Representatives recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and ordered that the US embassy in Israel be moved there. That occurred in 1995 and the order was carried out by President Trump in 2018. The US was the first country to move its embassy to Jerusalem, it has officially recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and Americans, especially Evangelicals, strongly support Israel. The US has the largest Christian population in the world, with a high commitment level, and it’s home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.
With this in mind, what nations join the United States as a part of the sheep-nation coalition? Just to reiterate, Revelation 6:8 makes it clear that the Antichrist will only have political control over one quarter of the world’s population. Most of the world’s population lives in South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia. Over one-third of the world’s population lives in China and India alone. Some of the most populous countries in the world are nuclear powers, such as China, India, Pakistan and the United States. The Antichrist probably won’t risk nuclear confrontation with these massive countries.
In addition, many of the world’s most populous places are far away from the Antichrist’s area of control, like Indonesia, Brazil and Bangladesh. For the record, Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa are the areas that the Antichrist has the greatest control over. He’s the ruler of Russia, he conquers much of the Middle East, North Africa and parts of East Africa and he controls a ten-nation coalition coming out of Western Europe.
The Americas and Oceania
Putting it all together, with their Christian heritage, respect for Israel and geographic isolation from the Antichrist’s zone of influence, the Americas and Oceania are the regions that will have the most sheep nations. Already, Guatemala has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and has moved its Israeli embassy. Unsurprisingly, Guatemala has lots of committed Christians. Neighboring Honduras, which has opened a trade office in Jerusalem and recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, also has many committed Christians. Brazil has seen a huge increase in its number of evangelical and Charismatic Christians and it has opened a trade office in Jerusalem. Australia has opened a trade office in Jerusalem and maintains a close relationship with the United States. Clearly, the Americas and Oceania will be home to several sheep nations.
Of course, it’s possible that there will be isolated sheep nations in other regions. One possibility is the Philippines. The Philippines is pretty far from the Antichrist’s area of control, it has lots of Christians, a history of helping the Jewish people and is favorable towards the United States. Naturally, however, there will be sheep nations which don’t meet all of these criteria.
Central Europe
For example, the Czech Republic is one of the most secular countries in the world, but it has opened a trade and tourism office in Jerusalem and strongly supports Israel. Indeed, Central Europe tends to be more favorable to Israel than other parts of Europe. After all, Hungry and Slovakia have also opened diplomatic delegations in Jerusalem. Despite being closer to the Antichrist’s empire, Central European countries could act as a safe zone for Christians and Jews fleeing from persecution in neighboring areas. If the US continues to militarily protect Central Europe, it’s certainly a possibility. That said, the Antichrist will control some sheep nations. A few of these occupied sheep nations are directly mentioned in the Bible.
Occupied sheep nations
One of these countries is Iraq. Isaiah prophesied that during the Day of the Lord, “Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, ‘Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.’” Assyria, modern Iraq, is the work of God’s hands. In spite of heavy persecution, there has always been a remnant in Iraq. Daniel 11:41 says that the Antichrist will invade the Beautiful Land, which Genesis 15:18 says includes everything north of the Nile River to Lebanon, and everything east of the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River. Basically, the Antichrist will conquer the Middle East, including Iraq. Despite being occupied by the Antichrist, Iraq, along with Egypt, will turn to the Lord.
According to Daniel 11, Egypt is the Antichrist’s biggest obstacle to taking over the Middle East and North Africa. Eventually, the Antichrist will conquer Egypt. Judging from Isaiah 19:19-25, God will use this defeat to bring the Egyptians to repentance. Isaiah prophesied that during the end times, the Egyptians, “will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.” He added, “the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day.” The phrase “in that day” almost always refers to the end times, specifically the Day of the Lord. In the end, all Egyptians will follow Jesus, but their country will be conquered by the Antichrist.
On a side note, an interesting connection between Israel and Egypt is energy. Israeli company Delek Drilling and American partner Noble Energy have received approval from Israel’s anti-trust regulator to export natural gas from Israel’s Tamar and Leviathan offshore fields. The Egyptians are looking to become a “key international trading and distribution” center for natural gas. This may explain why Egypt, Israel and Russia have problems with each other in the end times. Ezekiel 38 prophesies that one of the reasons the Antichrist invades Israel is “to capture spoil and to seize plunder.” Israel’s economy is going to boom in the end times and this is one of the motivations for the Antichrist’s invasion.
Note that Italy, Greece, Cyprus are also a part of this energy boom. During a visit to the United States, Italian politician Matteo Salvini said, “Between Italy, the United States, Israel, Brazil, Poland and Hungary, there is a closeness in their vision of the world, of rights and values.” On the surface, it seems like Italy would be on the Antichrist’s team. This is because the ten-kingdom coalition that the Antichrist eventually controls comes out of the geographic area of the Roman Empire, specifically Western Europe. It goes without saying that Italy was the center of the Roman Empire. Having said that, Italy may resist the Antichrist. Daniel 7:8 prophesies that the Antichrist will take control of the ten-kingdom coalition, removing three of the kings in the process.
There are two versions of the ten-kingdom coalition. As a unified international body, the ten-kingdom coalition collectively recognizes the Antichrist’s seven-year covenant with Israel. This recognition will mark the beginning of their short stint in power. Three-and-a-half years later, the Antichrist takes control of this coalition and replaces three kings. Daniel 7:24 states that he will subdue them. This suggests that he puts down a rebellion. Will the Antichrist install puppet governments, or will he replace these three countries altogether? Either way, the implication is that these three nations don’t completely support the Antichrist. Who might these three kingdoms be?
It’s pure speculation, but Italy, Greece and Cyprus make a lot of sense. A little while back, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced American support for the EastMed pipeline from Israel, through Cyprus to Greece. The eastern Mediterranean natural gas boom is going to turn countries like Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Egypt into significant players in the energy market. Incidentally, when the Antichrist invades Israel to take plunder, Israel’s immediate neighbors won’t be able to stop it.
Ezekiel 38 prophesies that “the merchants of Tarshish” will helplessly ask the Antichrist “Have you come to capture spoil?” Tarshish was a son of Javan, who was a son of Japheth. The descendants of Tarshish were originally in Asia Minor, modern Turkey, but they eventually settled along many Mediterranean coasts, like Greece and southern Italy.* So, Italy, Greece and Cyprus may resist the Antichrist.
*Hodge, B. The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2013), p. 165, 168, 180
Goat nations, led by Russia
As we’ve seen, the Antichrist will only have political control over one quarter of the world’s population. Obviously, he’s the ruler of Russia. In addition, the Bible prophesies that he conquers much of the Middle East, North Africa and parts of East Africa. Finally, he controls a ten-nation coalition coming out of Western Europe. When he invades Jerusalem, he draws support from Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. These are the general areas of his control.
Since Revelation 16:12-16 prophesies that many countries to the east of Israel will be independent during the Day of the Lord, it’s doubtful the Antichrist controls South Asia, East Asia or Southeast Asia. This makes sense, because most of the world’s population lives in those regions. Sadly, many of these countries invade Israel at the Battle of Armageddon. While they’re not directly under the Antichrist’s control, they apparently aren’t sheep nations either. They’re probably a part of the Babylon the Great group.
Now, while some of the countries that the Antichrist conquers are sheep nations, many of them aren’t. Iran is one example. Although Iran is going to join the Antichrist in his invasion of Israel, which we learn in Ezekiel 38:5, the Antichrist will attack them sometime later. Daniel 8 indicates that Iran will be conquered by the Antichrist.
In this vision, Daniel saw Greece symbolized by a goat, with Alexander the Great represented as the goat’s big horn. The goat destroyed a ram with two horns, which represented Media and Persia. After the goat conquered the ram, the goat’s horn was snapped and four horns took its place. The angel Gabriel told Daniel that the four horns were four kingdoms. These were Alexander’s successors. One of these kingdoms was known as the Seleucid Kingdom, based in Iraq and Syria. The Bible referred to the Seleucid rulers by the title “King of the North.” The Antichrist is also called the King of the North. Naturally, he will come out of the area of the Seleucid Kingdom, namely Syria.
Well, in verse 17, Gabriel informed Daniel that “the vision pertains to the time of the end.” In classic Bible fashion, this prophecy had a partial fulfillment historically, but the complete fulfillment will happen during the end times. This means the Antichrist is going to destroy Iran.
Another participant in the Ezekiel 38 invasion is Put. Is this name referring to a place or a people group? Well, Put was a son of Ham, one of Noah’s sons. So, Put is referring to a people group, not a geographic location. Obviously, this invasion will happen in the final years before Christ’s return. Consequently, it’s important to find out where this people group eventually settled. According to research by Bodie Hodge, Put’s descendants mainly wound up in Libya, but they also spread throughout North African countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Mali.* In summary, Libya and much of Northwest Africa will join the Antichrist in invading Israel during the end times.
Needless to say, trusting the Antichrist is a pretty stupid move. After successfully invading Israel, the Antichrist will begin conquering other countries. Libya will be one of those countries conquered by the Antichrist. He will also conquer Ethiopia.
Cush is listed as one of the participants in the Ezekiel 38 invasion. Cush is commonly associated with Ethiopia and some English translations of the Bible even substitute Ethiopia for Cush.** In other words, Ethiopia will join the Antichrist in invading Jerusalem. Although initially allies, the friendship won’t last. The Bible prophesies that the Antichrist conquers much of the Middle East, North Africa and parts of East Africa, including Ethiopia.
*Hodge, B. The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2013), p. 128-129, 182
**Ibid., p. 124-128, 181
Babylon the Great group, led by the United Kingdom
The most intriguing group of nations during the end times is the Babylon the Great group. This group will fluctuate the most, because after Babylon the Great is destroyed, they’ll have to choose between the Antichrist’s financial and religious systems or the sheep-nation alliance.
First off, with its strong Christian heritage, large Jewish population, global financial impact and location on a deep-sea water port, London fulfills all the requirements for being Babylon the Great. Revelation 17 says Babylon the Great “sits on many waters” and the waters “are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.” This has two meanings. First, Babylon the Great is a diverse, multicultural city. Second, it rules over a diverse group of nations. Well, 53 countries are currently members of the UK-led Commonwealth of Nations, numbering almost two-and-a-half billion people. That’s over one-fourth of the world’s population and the Commonwealth includes four of the most populous nations in the world: India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Bangladesh.
On top of that, Babylon the Great will control a coalition of ten kingdoms. The ten kingdoms will come out of the geographic area of the Roman Empire, specifically Western Europe. How do we know that? Rome controlled North Africa, the Middle East and most of Western Europe. Well, the Antichrist is going to defeat many countries in North Africa and the Middle East during the Daniel 11:22 War. Likewise, the ten kingdoms will be to the west of Israel. They’ll also be powerful enough to stop the Antichrist in his first attempt to invade Jerusalem. Putting it all together, the ten kingdoms come out of Western Europe.
At the beginning of the end times, Babylon the Great is the dominant global power. The cosmopolitan, international city, known for its extravagant wealth, is going to be an economic powerhouse and a financial center. Consequently, it will rule “over the kings of the earth.” This creates resentment and allows the Antichrist, who will be the ruler of Russia at the time of the end, to take over the coalition of ten rulers. The Antichrist will take control of this ten-kingdom coalition, remove three of the rulers and then attack Babylon the Great. After he destroys Babylon the Great, the Antichrist will create his own financial system: the mark of the beast.