The Antichrist Series

End Times Doctrine

The Antichrist

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gbDtgHjWN8&list=UUnsKqgXUXKLZ13J7FrnC6uQ&index=13

Before we begin, the majority of the Scriptures used in determining the person and work of the Antichrist is found in Matthew chapter 24, Daniel chapter 9, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, 1 John chapters 2 and 4, and chapters 6; 13; and 19 of the Book of Revelation.

Further, as a qualifier, this is in no way a complete study, it is merely an overview to give you a basic understanding. There are others who have gone much deeper into this topic, as I have teaching studies through the books of Revelation and Daniel, and if I could give one piece of counsel, be careful to make sure you stick to the Scriptures, and not base your study off of current events, or based upon our own or other people’s opinions.

Now, throughout the ages, people have become absolutely fixated and obsessed in finding out just who the Antichrist is, and the attempts have been numerous. In the early church they saw it as possibly as one of the Roman emperors, and the names Nero and Domitian were bandied about. Martin Luther saw it as the papacy of the Roman church, or the Pope. In WWII, people were sure it was Hitler, and more recently names such as Kennedy, Kissinger, Nixon, Gorbachov, and Clinton have been mentioned.

They come up with these names generally by either their actions, or by adding up the numeric value of their names, and if they add up to the magical number of 666, which the Bible refers to as the number of the Beast, or the Antichrist, then they’re the guy. (I’ll deal with this in a future study.)

Today with the new coronavirus pandemic, the racial violence, and the economic devastation that is happening around the world, the world is ready for someone, anyone who will come and bring some sort of order and peace out of the mess, which is prime material for Satan and the Antichrist to work with.

In speaking of the end times and how Jesus will come as thief in the night, which is what we looked at last week in our Wednesday’s Word on the Rapture, it says something that fits this scenario.

“For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

This is exactly how the prophet Daniel describes the coming Antichrist, and how he will make a covenant with many for a 7-year period, but then renege on this agreement half way through.

And so, in wanting peace at any cost, the world will accept this man of sin, this man of lawlessness, and will be so caught in his web of lies that they will have no escape from the ultimate destruction he is bringing, that is, the destruction of their souls.

Now, the term “antichrist” is a similar expression as the term “false christ.” In the majority of these cases it is used it refers to individuals who present themselves throughout the church age, and will deceive many with false teachings about God and Jesus Christ, along with deceptive signs and wonders.

This is seen in what Jesus said in Matthew 24:24 about these signs of the end.

“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)

I love that it says if possible, and this I believe matches what Paul tells us in his first letter to the church in Thessalonica saying, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)

The Apostle John indicates that the spirit that pervades these individuals, that is, these antichrists is one that denies that Jesus is the Christ, or Lord.

“But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:2)

But while there are many antichrists, there is only one Antichrist, which is seen in the definite article that is use describing him in John’s first letter.

“It is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” (1 John 2:18)

Now, the Bible has various names and titles for the Antichrist. He is called the little horn, in Daniel 7:7, the prince that is to come in Daniel 9:26, and the one who makes desolate in Daniel 9:27. Paul describes him as the man of sin and the son of perdition (lawlessness) in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the lawless one in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, and in Revelation 6:2 he is called the Beast.