The Antichrist

In this document we want to define the role of the anti-Christ as related to the Bible.  Many people will add their opinion to what the scripture reveals about this person.  This document will not address anything out side of scripture or try to match the current events to a key point in the Bible  

Who is the anti-Christ?

The anti-Christ is used two ways in the Bible.  The first one is to generalize the anti-Christ as anyone who denies that the Jesus came to this earth in a body of flesh as mentioned in:

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Then there is the anti-Christ, This is refering to the man who will come on the scene after the rapture and claim to be God. He will sit in the temple as stated in 2Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. The temple mentioned here is the temple that will be rebuilt in Jerusalem on the temple mount. 

The anti-Christ's goal is to become like the true living God who created the heavens and the earth.  We can get a glimpse at satan's plan by his statements in Isaiah 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:.

The anti-Christ is called many names in the Bible, a partial listing is listed below:

Revelation 13:18 666
John 5:43 Another shall come in his own name
1 John 2:18 Antichrist shall come
Isaiah 30:31 The Assyrian; also Micah 5:6
Revelation 13:1 17:12, 13:3,4,12,14,15,17,18; 16:13; 17:7,8,12,13,16; Dan 7:11,19 The beast
Daniel 7:8 Little horn
Daniel 7:20 That horn
Daniel 7:11 The horn
Daniel 7:20 The other…horn
Daniel 7:21 The same horn
Daniel 7:8 This horn
Daniel 2:33 Of iron; also Dan 2:35,41,42,45
Daniel 8:23 A king of fierce countenance
Daniel 7:24 Another…king
Daniel 11:36 The king
Daniel 7:17 The (fourth) king
Revelation 17:10 The other…king
2 Thessalonians 2:3 That man of sin (or lawlessness)
Ezekiel 21:25 Profane wicked prince of Israel
Daniel 9:26 The prince that shall come
2 Thessalonians 2:3 The son of perdition
Revelation 16:14 Spirit of (a) devil
Revelation 16:13 Unclean spirit
2 Thessalonians 2:8 That wicked

The word anti has two meanings, anti can mean another or in place of, and against, so the word anti-Christ means another-Christ or against-Christ.

When will the anti-Christ appear on earth?

The anti-Christ will become known on the earth right after the rapture, this is  explained in the study of the rapture located on this site.  The anti-Christ will be a man as stated in 2Thessalonians 2:3 where it talks about the son of perdition.

The anti-Christ will be a great deceiver.  He will deceive the masses, people will worship the anti-Christ as God.  He will sit in the temple (the third temple which will be rebuilt Jerusalem durning the early part of the tribulation) and declare himself as God.     

Let's take a look at 2Thessalonians 2:3-8:

2Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; So here we find again that the man of sin (satan) will only be revealed after there is a falling away. The son of perdition will indwell a man, and will give him great power.  This power is in reality coming from satan himself.

This man possessed by satan will have the power to create many "miracles" before the people of the world as stated in  2Thessalonians2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 

Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.  This man will deceive the entire earth with the exception of the few who turn to Jesus in the time of tribulation.

2Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.  Here we find out a little bit of how satan thinks. This is also reflected in Isaiah 14:14 where satan is speaking "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
 

2Thessalonians 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? One way we know that the Bible is the true word of God is through Bible prophecy.  God has already told us what to expect and what we should be prepared for.  These versus of scripture will indeed come true 100%.
 

2Thessalonians 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. Once again we are reminded that satan will be made known of his identity when the time is right.  For now, the saints of God, the Church of Jesus Christ withholdeth the coming of the final anti-Christ.    
 

2Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.  At this time the power of the anti-Christ is already at work in the heart and minds of men.  Any Christian can discern the signs of the times as stated in Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. And Luke 21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
 

2Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: We read that final outcome of satan here.  The brightness of his coming is Jesus Christ at his second coming at the battle of Armageddon.  
 

When will he appear?

Matthew 24 gives us some insight to what the world will be like right before the anti-Christ will appear

Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Matthew 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

As you read this, you will find that this pretty much sums up the world at this time.

How do we know who the anti-Christ will be?

In the book of Daniel we are told that the anti-Christ will make a peace treaty with Israel and the rest of the world for one week which equals 7 years.  In the middle of those 7 years he will break the treaty and make war with Israel.

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. (6) And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. (7) And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (8) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

In the book of Revelation chapter 13 we read of some of the characteristics of the anti-Christ. He will be a great speaker, one who can hold your attention and seem to make sense of why you should worship him.  He will blasphemy the true God of Heaven and Earth by claiming that he is god. 

All those that oppose him will be hunted down and killed.  In this time of tribulation the anti-Christ will have power over the saints of God.  Those who did not turn to Jesus Christ before the rapture will need to prove their allegiance to the one true God and will be beheaded as stated in Revelation 20:4 .

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

** Note all references are taken from the King James Version.