The term antichrist immediately brings up a particular reaction within us. It’s a mysterious word, full of evil, power, and fear. Most people have heard this term or name, but few know where it comes from. The word antichrist is found only a handful of times in the New Testament, all in the epistles of John.
In this post, I will introduce what the Bible says about the spirit of the antichrist found in 1 John 2. We will look at who is the antichrist in the Bible. As well as what does the Bible say about this person. Then I will go into more specific details about this coming world leader.
Who Is The Antichrist?
INTRODUCTION
For reference, here are some other names used in the Bible for the antichrist: Man of Sin (Iniquity), Son of Perdition (Destruction), Lawless One, The Deceiver, The Beast.
1 John 2:18-22 - 18 Little children, it is the last hour. As you have heard that the antichrist will come, even now there are many antichrists. By this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us. But they went out, revealing that none of them were of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have written to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? Whoever denies the Father and the Son is the antichrist.
There are two main activities of the antichrist. These define who this he is and what his purpose is.
A. Stand against, oppose and be an adversary to Christ Jesus
B. Take the place and replace the true Christ with a false christ.
From 1 John 2, we see that the antichrist spirit can take on three forms. We have seen this in history and can see evidence of them in our world today.
A. Many antichrists (plural) - a series of historical personas.
example: cults/political leaders
B. Spirit of antichrist - which operates in the world today
C. Antichrist (singular) - the title of a specific person
(Revelation 13:1 – Beast, 2 Thessalonians 2:3 – son of perdition (destruction,
waste), – man of sin) - this person is the main focus of this post.
FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS ANTICHRIST SPIRIT (PERSONS) IN 1 John 2.
1. Appears to have fellowship/relationship with the church - (1 John 2:19 - They went out from us, but they were not of us).
2. Denies that Jesus is the Messiah (1 John 2:22 - Who is a liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?).
Examples of this:
Examples:
-Jehovah's Witness say Jesus is not God. He was the archangel Michael.
-Mormons say Jesus was the spirit child of the Father and Mother in heaven
-Some cults talk of a Christ consciousness
-Some suggest Jesus did not come to be crucified or die, that this was a mistake
3. Denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22-23 - Whoever denies the Father and the Son is the antichrist. No one who denies the Son has the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father.)
4. Denies that Messiah has come (1 John 4:3 - every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist). Many people will talk about believing in the historical figure of Christ, but if you ask them is He the Messiah (the Saviour who died, was buried, and rose again) they don't believe. It is not just believing in the person Jesus, but having faith in His place as the Messiah.
When John wrote his books, he was mainly concerned with correcting a doctrinal error that had developed in his day, specifically that some were denying the humanity of Jesus Christ.
So we see in the time of John that “antichrists” (false teachers) had arisen who were denying the true Christ and deceiving many. This is also happening right now. Today, we are talking about the stage of Satan’s “antichrist program,” which will come to pass in the last days.
This final person will be Christ’s last opponent. He will also be a “mirror Christ,” a demonic “savior” whose origin, nature, and purpose completely oppose Christ’s.
Let's look at some characteristics of this person from scripture. Here are specific Bible verses about the antichrist.
BIBLE VERSES ABOUT THE ANTICHRIST?
1. HE WILL BE VERY INTELLIGENT
DANIEL 8: 23-In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king will arise, having a fierce countenance, skilled in intrigue (understanding hidden things).
He will overcome and seduce the world with his intelligence and powers of perception.
2. HE WILL BE A POLITICAL GENIUS
DANIEL 9:27 – makes a covenant with Israel
He begins as a “little” horn, but will arise to become the world leader. His will promise peace and prosperity. He will bring opposing forces together with ease. He will bring peace to difficult situations. He will likely promise to solve many of the world’s promises.
Daniel 9:27 reveals that he will even bring such peace to the Middle East that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem will be returned to Jewish sovereignty and the Temple built, and the Jews will be able to worship in the Temple again.
3. HE WILL BE A ECONOMIC GENIUS
North King - DANIEL 11:43 - But he shall have power over the hidden treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt. And the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps
He will be a leader controlling the world’s economy. Under his leadership, everything will be globalized. It would seem from the midpoint of the Tribulation until Christ's second coming that no person will be able to buy or sell without his permission.
Revelation 13:16-17 - He causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, so that no one may buy or sell, except he who has the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name.
4. THE BEAST BE A MILITARY SUPERPOWER
Revelation 13:4-5 They worshipped the dragon who gave authority to the beast. And they worshipped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war with him?” He was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. And he was given authority to wage war for forty-two months.
This beast will have such military power that it says that who will be able to wage war against him? It also says that he was given authority to wage war for 42 months.
We know that halfway through the Tribulation, his mask will come off, and the antichrist will be revealed for what he is. He will dominate the whole world. No earthly power or nation will be able to stand in his way. He will crush everything and everyone before him. He will rule the world with military dominance.
5. THE ANTICHRIST WILL BE A RELIGIOUS IDOL
Revelation 13:15 He was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
There will come a time when the antichrist will raise an image of himself and call for the worship of that image. Part of that worship will include receiving the Mark of the Beast as confirmation of loyalty, and failure to worship the antichrist will lead to death.
Paul says of this antichrist in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the Temple of God, showing himself as God.
The antichrist will unite the world in the worship of himself. All the religions of the world will be brought together in the worship of one man.
FURTHER THINGS RELATED TO THE ANTICHRIST?
1. The beast will appear during the closing days of Israel’s history.
2. Many wonder, is he alive today? Who is the antichrist today? We just don’t know. If the rapture is moments away then probably yes. If the rapture is 100-500 years from now, not likely. Since, as I believe, the antichrist in the Bible will be revealed at the beginning of the tribulation period and the church will be raptured before this time, it would seem to suggest that no Christians will not know the identity of the antichrist before we are taken to heaven.
3. His manifestation is currently being held back by the “restrainer.”
2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 - Now you know what restrains him that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already working. Only He who is now restraining him will do so until He is taken out of the way.
The Restrainer is generally understood as the working of the Holy Spirit through the church. When the church is raptured (taken from the world), the antichrist will have the freedom to do what he wants.
4. It would appear that near the middle of the Tribulation, the antichrist shall be violently killed, possibly assassinated. (Daniel 11:45; Revelation 13:3, 12, 14). He will have a mortal head wound. He will be raised back to life (Revelation 11:7; 13:3, 12, 14; 17:8).
5. The beast will be controlled and empowered by Satan (Revelation 13:2-5) - The dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.
6. He will invade the land of Israel and desecrate the Temple with idol worship (Daniel 9:27; 11:41; 12:11; Matthew 24:15; Revelation 11:2). He will seek to persecute the Jewish people (Daniel 7:21, 25; Revelation 12:6).
7. His claim to deity will be accompanied with signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).
8. The antichrist will speak great blasphemies against God (Daniel 7:8; Revelation 13:6).
9. He will require all to receive his mark (666) to buy and sell (Revelation 13:16-18).
10. He will fight against Christ when Jesus returns to earth in the second coming. In this battle, he will suffer total defeat (Revelation 19:19).
11. It will all end when he is cast alive into the lake of fire (Daniel 7:11; Revelation 19:20).
CONCLUSION
The hope that we have is in Christ. The beast will be a tremendous terrible power that will terrorize the world during his reign, but Jesus, with simply the word of His mouth, will stop and defeat him. We don't have to live in fear because 1 John 4:4 - You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Subscribe to my audio podcast.
Comments