Who is the antichrist?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The people of the world are currently desperate for a savior who will rescue them from all their problems. The threat of war, economic uncertainty, terrorism, disease, and the seeming meaninglessness of life are all preparing humankind to accept what will be its last great human emperor, which the Bible describes in vivid detail. The Bible is quite clear as to when the Antichrist will appear, what he will do, and what his destiny will be: eternal punishment. We are called to know the true Christ and respond to Him, the only one who can bring the unity and peace the world longs for.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The history of humanity has shown that people will readily turn themselves over to anyone who appears to have answers to their problems, even to the point of worshiping them. For example, the Egyptian kings were esteemed as sons of gods because they brought order and prosperity (Exodus 7:1; 12:41). Later, Alexander the Great was granted divine kingship by his followers for his accomplishments, and he was worshiped after his death (Daniel 8:21; 11:3).
• A tracing of the Antichrist through Scripture begins in the book of Genesis. In God's curse handed down to Satan through the serpent in the garden of Eden, the first allusion to the Antichrist is given: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15). In this verse, God speaks about two seeds: the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. The seed of the woman can be followed through Scripture and is found to be a godly line that results in the nation of Israel, which in turn, gives birth to Jesus Christ. The seed of the serpent can be traced as well and results in the Roman nation (cf. Daniel 9:26; Revelation 17), which will one day deliver the Antichrist.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Bible clearly describes a coming world ruler who will make all others that have come before him pale in comparison. The traditional name given him is Antichrist, with the name coming from the apostle John: "Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour" (1 John 2:18).
• The prefix "anti" in the Greek can be defined in one of two ways. The most common meaning indicates something that is the exact opposite of what follows it (Matthew 5:38–39). The second definition, surprisingly, can mean "another," "replaced by another," or "instead of" (2 Corinthians 11:4). The coming Antichrist fits both of these definitions. He will at first seem to be "another" Christ: a savior that the world willingly welcomes and follows because of the apparent goodness that he brings about (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10). Soon afterward, however, he will reveal his true nature and display that he is actually the polar opposite of the true Messiah, Jesus Christ (Revelation 13:4).
• The apostle Paul writes that the coming tribulation period spoken about in the Bible (cf. Daniel 9; Matthew 24; Revelation 4–18) will not come about until the Antichrist is revealed: "Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God" (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4).
• Paul also teaches that there will be an event that will unleash the Antichrist upon the earth: "And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way" (2 Thessalonians 2:6–7). Many theologians believe this event will be the rapture of the Church. The Church's removal from the earth permits the Antichrist to be unveiled and begin his worldwide campaign of conquest.
• Speaking about the Antichrist's crusade, the apostle John writes about a vision he is given in Revelation (Revelation 6:1–2). The white horse in these verses signifies a conquering ruler, and the bow with no arrows symbolizes the thought that the Antichrist will win his campaigns mostly through peace, rather than war, in the beginning.
• The Antichrist will take possession of a ten-nation confederacy that will represent a revived Roman empire (Revelation 13:1–8; 17:1–13; cf. Daniel 7:8–11; 7:19–26; 9:24–27; 11:36–39; 11:40–45). Seven of the nations will willingly give themselves over to him, while three will be subdued.
• The Antichrist will also sign a false peace treaty with the nation of Israel (Matthew 24:15–21; cf. Daniel 9:24–27) and appear to bring peace to the Middle East. This and other actions prompt the world to marvel at his prowess: "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?" (Revelation 13:4).
• The Antichrist's false peace soon evaporates when, in the middle of his seven year reign, he enters a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and declares himself to be God, showing himself to be someone "who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God" (2 Thessalonians 2:4; cf. Matthew 24:15).
• The Antichrist will demand worship from all humanity and will execute any who do not bow down and worship him (cf. Revelation 13:15).
• God responds to the Antichrist’s challenge and begins to decimate the Antichrist, his kingdom, and all who follow him. This will be the period referred to by Christ as the Great Tribulation (cf. Matthew 24:21).
• The Great Tribulation culminates in the battle of Armageddon, when Christ returns, puts an end to the Antichrist's reign, and assigns him to eternal destruction (Revelation 19:20).
• While the Antichrist refers to the person in the end times, empowered by Satan to deceive people, the Bible identifies not just one, but many antichrists, referring to individuals or forces that oppose Christ and His teachings. Key passages include 1 John 2:18, which notes the presence of "many antichrists," and 1 John 4:3, which describes the "spirit of the antichrist" already in the world.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Antichrist's destiny is fixed and certain, as is every person's who chooses to follow a false messiah instead of the only true One. Because each new day brings humanity closer to the time when the Antichrist will be set loose upon the earth, it is critical that those who have not yet put their faith in Jesus Christ do so and escape the time of the Antichrist's rule: "now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Believers must be cautious and discerning, recognizing the signs of deception and distinguishing between the true Christ and the false messiahs that will arise. Jesus Himself cautioned against false prophets and deceitful leaders who would come in His name but lead people astray (Matthew 24:24). Believers should also recognize the human tendency to search for something to worship and the desire for unity and peace; however, we must point people to the One who is truly worthy of worship and the only One who can bring about true peace. Turning to the true Christ is essential, not only for avoiding the deceptions of the Antichrist, but also for securing our eternal security through the salvation that Jesus offers. By anchoring our faith in the true Savior, we ensure that we are not swayed by the counterfeit promises of a false messiah.

UNDERSTAND

• The Antichrist will initially appear as a savior, promising peace, but will ultimately reveal himself as the opposite of Christ.
• The Antichrist will sign a false peace treaty with Israel and demand worship, leading to widespread deception and persecution.
• The Antichrist is destined for destruction, as well as anyone who follows him.

REFLECT

• How can you ensure you’re following the true Christ, rather than being misled by false messiahs?
• How can your desire for peace and unity make you vulnerable to deception, and what steps can you take to protect yourself and seek true peace and unity?
• How does knowing the Antichrist's ultimate fate affect your understanding of current world issues?

ENGAGE

• Arnold Toynbee observed: "By forcing on mankind more and more lethal weapons, and at the same time making the world more and more interdependent economically, technology has brought mankind to such a degree of distress that we are ripe for the deifying of any new Caesar who might succeed in giving the world unity and peace." People long for unity and peace because God created us and desires for us to experience what is good. Yet without God, people will look elsewhere to satisfy their longings. No one but God can fill these longings and right all wrongs.
• The world is ripe for the antichrist. Emperor worship began in 29 BC at Ephesus with Julius Caesar, and Caligula (AD 37) was the first emperor to allow the veneration of a living Roman Caesar, with subsequent emperors, like Domitian, exploiting this practice for political gain. This phenomenon, where worship was voluntarily given to emperors for their peace and prosperity, parallels modern examples like Adolf Hitler, and foreshadows future New Age teachings that predict a coming world ruler who will supposedly exemplify human perfection (Levi Dowling, Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ). Clearly, people want a ruler they can follow who will solve the world’s problems. Yet believers have the special opportunity to point to the One who is truly worthy of worship, who truly is perfect, and who will right all that sin has destroyed.
• In what practical ways can you identify the "spirit of the antichrist" in today’s culture, and how can you respond with biblical truth?