Antichrist

The concept of the Antichrist has fascinated and perplexed theologians, scholars, and believers for centuries. Embedded within the puzzle pieces of biblical prophecy, the figure of the Antichrist emerges as a symbol of ultimate evil and deception. While the term "Antichrist" is not explicitly mentioned in all biblical texts referring to it's concept, its essence pervades various scriptures, pointing to its identity, nature, and role in the end times.

Antichrist References in the Bible

Matthew 24:24
Mark 13:21-22
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
1 John 2:18
1 John 4:3

2 John 1:7
Revelation 13:1-8
Revelation 13:11-18
Revelation 16:12-16
Revelation 19:19-20

The Origins of the Antichrist Concept

The roots of the Antichrist concept can be traced back to several biblical passages, particularly the books of Daniel, the gospels, epistles of John and the book of Revelation. The term “Antichrist” means either one who puts himself in the place of the Messiah, or the enemy of the Messiah. Apostle John is the only one to use this word. Matthew and Mark use the term “false christs". If we pay attention to the context, we will see that they are not speaking of a single person, but of a spirit behind a person who functions as the Antichrist.

Matthew 24:5

For many will come in My name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

Matthew 24:24

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Mark 13:21-22

At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

1 John 2:18

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.

1 John 4:3

...and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

2 John 1:7

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Characteristics and Actions in the Bible

So what do we actually know about the “Antichrist”? We don’t have much direct information about him, but we do have additional details that emerge from the context. The Antichrist is portrayed as a charismatic and persuasive leader who rises to power through cunning and deceit, captivating multitudes with promises of peace and prosperity. However, behind the façade of benevolence lies a malevolent agenda aimed at undermining God's kingdom and persecuting his followers. The Antichrist is often depicted as engaging in blasphemy, idolatry, and persecution, seeking to establish a counterfeit kingdom that opposes the reign of Christ.

Antichrist in Daniel

Antichrist in the Book of Daniel

Daniel 7:23-27

the 4th beast is a kingdom different from others which will devour, trample and crush the whole earth
10 kings will rise from this kingdom
after 10 kings a different king will rise and subdue 3 kings
he will speak against God, oppress the saints and intend to change appointed times and laws
the saints will be given into his hand for 3.5 years
God’s everlasting kingdom will be established

23…‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24 And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings. 25 He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time. 26 But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

Daniel 7:19-22

his appearance is more imposing than other kings
he will speak words of arrogance
he will wage war against the saints and prevail against them until the return of Jesus

19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.

Daniel 9:24-27

he will confirm a covenant with many for 7 years
after 3.5 years he will put an end to sacrifice and offering and set up abomination of desolation

25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.

Daniel 11:36-39

the king will exalt and magnify himself above every god
he will speak against the God of gods
he will be successful until the time of wrath is completed
he will honor a foreign god of fortresses with gold, silver and precious stones
he will have dominion over many

36 Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers, nor for the desire of women, nor for any other god, because he will magnify himself above them all. 38 And in their place, he will honor a god of forces—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. 39 And he will do so to the strong fortresses with foreign god whom he knows, he will increase his glory and will have dominion over many and will divide land for a price.

Antichrist in Thessalonians

Antichrist in the Epistle to Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction will be revealed before the return of Jesus
he will oppose and exalt himself above all
he will sit in the temple of God claiming to be god
his coming will be accompanied with every kind of power, sign, false wonder and deception

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. 4 He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you? 6 And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, 10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. 11 For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, 12 in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.

Antichrist in the Book of Revelation

Revelation 13:1-8

dragon will give power and great authority to the first beast with 7 heads and 10 horns
one of the heads will appear to be mortally wounded by a sword (Revelation 13:14) and then it will heal
the whole world will follow this beast and worship the dragon
the first beast will speak arrogant and blasphemous words and have authority for 3.5 years
he will wage war against the saints and conquer them
he will be given authority over the whole earth

1 Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?” 5 The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. 6 And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven. 7 Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

Revelation 13:11-18

the second beast will look like a lamb but speak like a dragon
he will have authority of the first beast
he will perform great signs and deceive the earth
he will tell people to make an image to the first beast and will give it breath so it could speak
all who refuse to worship the image will be killed
he will require all people to receive a mark to buy or sell

11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. 12 And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. 13 And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. 15 The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed. 16 And the second beast required all people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666.

Revelation 16:12-16

after the 6th bowl is poured out the water of Euphrates will be dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East
3 unclean spirits will come out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet
the spirits will perform signs and will assemble the kings of the earth for the battle of Armageddon

12 And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 14 These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.” 16 And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

Revelation 19:19-20

the beast and the false prophet will be captured and thrown into the lake of fire
the false prophet was acting on behalf of the beast

19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. 20 But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Revelation 16:13 identifies for us the “unholy trinity” of the Apocalypse: the dragon, the beast (the first beast) and the false prophet (the second beast). So who is the Antichrist? Which is the “lawless one”? We know that the Antichrist is a single person according to 2 Thessalonians 2, and we know that the first beast is a world government system which, according to Revelation 13, consists of "7 heads and 10 horns" empowered by the Devil according to Revelation 13. This leaves us with the second beast - the false prophet - as a candidate for the Antichrist, who will represent the first beast and essentially the devil.

Armageddon

Interpretations and Speculations

Throughout history, numerous interpretations and speculations have emerged regarding the identity of the Antichrist. Some have viewed the Antichrist as a specific individual who will arise in the end times, wielding immense political and religious authority. Others interpret the Antichrist symbolically, representing broader forces of evil and spiritual deception that manifest throughout history. Additionally, various figures and entities have been proposed as potential candidates for the Antichrist, ranging from historical figures to contemporary leaders and movements.

In conclusion, when we look at the bigger picture of God's plan and design for humanity, it seems like He is giving us a taste of living under men's rule from the time of creation until now, then the Devil's rule during the Great Tribulation and finally under Christ's rule during the Millennium, in order for us to make an informed choice which side we want to be on.

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