What does Scripture say about him and who he is?
Last week and the week before we asked the questions: Who is the Son of Man and Who is the Alpha and Omega. We learned from Scripture that it is the Christ!
This week we’ll look into the question:
Who is the Antichrist?
When we pick the word ‘Antichrist’ apart it is ‘Anti‘ and ‘Christ‘, just the opposite of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you agree that most people when they hear the word ‘Antichrist’ think of the Book of Revelation?
Interesting enough though, the word “Antichrist” is never mentioned in the Book of Revelation.
So what does “Antichrist” mean?
The Strong’s Concordance* describes it as “an opponent of, an imposter for the Messiah: – against Christ or instead of Christ”.
We find the word “Antichrist” mentioned in the Scriptures 4 times:
1 John 2:18
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrist have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
1 John 2:22
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
1 John 4:3
and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
2 John 1:7
For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
But, everyone is talking about the Antichrist in the Book of Revelation! And yes, that is correct.
Where does the he appear?
And what does he look like?
Studying the Scriptures we will find that he is mentioned and appears in the Book of Revelation as the beast! Check out the following verses:
Revelation 11:7; 13:1-4; 13:11-12; 13:14-15; 13:17-18; 14:9 + 11; 15:2; 16:2; 16:10 + 13; 17:3 + 7-8; 17:11-13; 17:16-17 + 19-20; 20:4; 20:10
The Antichrist is revealed in
Revelation 6:1-2
Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
The King James Study Bible comments on this verse as follows:
**The Antichrist man is now revealed. His seven-year career is depicted by this white horse representing peace. And in verses 4, 7, and 8, his, the Antichrist’s, career is depicted respectively by:
the red horse: upheaval and killings;
the black horse: enormous inflation and famine; and
the pale horse: death—to the Antichrist and his followers.
The first seal initiates the conquest by the false savior—the false messiah, the Antichrist.**
All this is going to happen after the believers have been raptured or taken up by the Lord to be with Him. So, we won’t be affected by the Antichrist and his career during the seven-year Tribulation period.
However, God still warns us in Scripture, His word, to watch out and not be deceived. We know that God is right all the time and it’s to our advantage to heed His advice.
But why would it be important to us, you may ask?
Look at the following two verses in Matthew 24 and 1 John 4:
Matthew 24:5
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”
1 John 4:3
and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
As we just read in 1 John 4:3d, the Antichrist is now already in the world!
The Antichrist is already among us. He is a great deceiver which is why God warns us to watch out and not be deceived. The Antichrist plays the man part in Satan’s false trinity.
Satan’s false trinity! Who is in it?
Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet!
To be more specific, Satan is playing the part of God, the Antichrist man the part of Christ, and the false prophet the part of the Holy Spirit.
‘gotquestion.org’ gives us some other biblical references describing the Antichrist—quoted from “what-is-the-antichrist”:
The imposing, boastful king of Daniel 7 who oppresses the Jews and tries to “change the set times and the laws” (verse 25).
The leader who establishes a 7-year covenant with Israel and then breaks it in Daniel 9.
The king who sets up the abomination of desolation in Mark 13:14 (cf. Daniel 9:27).
The man of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12.
The rider on a white horse (representing his claim to be a man of peace) in Revelation 6:2.
The first beast—the one from the sea—in Revelation 13. This beast receives power from the dragon (Satan) and speaks “proud words and blasphemies” (verse 5) and wages war against the saints (verse 7).
The Antichrist comes in many different shapes and sizes. Using God’s word, however, we will be able to discern any antichrist or deceiver that might come our way. So, keep reading your Bible and stay strong in the Lord!
Just one more reference. The Antichrist will be the final Gentile world ruler [Revelation 13:7].
What do you think of the Antichrist?
Do you agree that he is already among us?
Please post your comment, we would like to hear from you.
All Scripture quoted is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ** Commentary taken from The King James Study Bible. Copyright © 1988 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson.
*(The new Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible Red-Letter Edition – Greek Dictionary of the New Testament pg 30 #500)
** Commentary taken from The King James Study Bible. Copyright © 1988 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson.
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