The Antichrist

2021-12-05

Previously, we spoke about a one world empire that is present in the last seven years, and a king that will arise over the world system. This king is commonly called the Antichrist. We saw how he presumably will be a Roman and will rule over a revived Roman empire (Daniel 9:26-27).

The term Antichrist is a correct Biblical term, as it is employed of this man in 1 John 2:18 and 1 John 4:3. He is also called the beast (Revelation 13), the man of sin and son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3), and “that Wicked” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Here are some particulars about this man.

It is important to understand that Antichrist does not mean “against Christ,” though this man definitely is. Antichrist means “in place of Christ.” His plans are to supplant Christ. He will claim to be Christ.

First, this man will be empowered by Satan: “the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority” (Revelation 13:2). We saw how this man is called the son of perdition; Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, was also called this (John 17:12), and also was possessed by Satan (John 13:27). Since Satan had just been thrown out of heaven in the previous chapter, he pours all his power into this man (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

He also will imitate Christ in that he will be killed and will rise from the dead. “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:3), “which had the wound by a sword, and did live” (Revelation 13:4).

Satan’s workings in the Antichrist will cause the entire world to worship him (Revelation 13:8). They will say, “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4). It is possible that he had died in the war mentioned in Revelation 6:2, and this was the world’s response to his resurrection.

He will blaspheme God (Revelation 13:5-6; Daniel 7:20). He will claim to be God and sit in the Temple in Jerusalem (2 Thessalonians 2:4). As a result, he will persecute Christians severely (Daniel 7:21; Revelation 6:9-11; 13:7, 15).

He will have an assistant known as the false prophet (cf. Revelation 16:13). Together they will implement a worldwide economic system and a worldwide religious system. This will be examined in a future post.

God will give the world over to the worship of this man in a great falling away (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). The Antichrist will be destroyed by Christ Himself (Revelation 19:20). They will be thrown into the lake of fire. We will look at this in a future post as well.

We cannot speculate who this man is at this point. When the time comes, it will be clearer, whether it be in our lifetime or in the distant future.