The term “anti-Christ” is used in the Bible to mean against or instead of Christ. According to the Bible, the age in which we are living will end with the rapture of the saints. At the close of this age, we will see the ascendancy of a one world religious state government over which the anti-Christ shall preside. A one world government, with a United Nations Police to enforce international peace. 1 Thessalonians 5:3. To the Bible student who reads well his Bible, these things appear to be the preparation of the world’s stage for the appearance of the Antichrist.
In addition to an increasing desire for a one world government, there is also the international plea for all churches and religious to unite into one system with little regard for the great doctrines of the Holy Bible. The word antichrist is found five times in the Bible. In each instance it is used to identify the archenemy of Jesus Christ. 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7.
The term anti means against, and the term Christ means anointed. The Antichrist is therefore to be an anointed ruler with jurisdiction over the governments of the world. The religions of the world, including the Jews, shall accept him as their ideal leader in both religion and world government. John 5:18-43; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4. In four ways he is to be distinctly unique; 1) as an actor, he will be an archdeceiver in negotiating a temporary peace pact. 2) as a stateman or politician in civil problems, he is to have no superior. 3) as a religious organizer and leader, he shall be broad at first, then stricter, requiring worship of himself. 4) As a warrior, he shall turn to be the world’s most ruthless, murderous being.
His characteristics and works are described in detail by four Bible writers.
1. Daniel 7:2-27; 9:25-27; 11:36: 12:11
2. Jesus and John; John 5:43; 1 John 2:18; 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 7
3. Paul, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
4. Revelation by John, Revelation 13:11-18; 19:20
I. The Personality of the Antichrist
1. Nothing short of an incarnate human being meets the Bible requirements for this arch-actor and deceiver. He is to be an extraordinary person who shall be granted power over all nations and tongues, with deceptive powers in the political realm.
2. People will actually be willing to take his mark in their hands and foreheads as a pledge of allegiance to him in thought and in service in order to get food to eat. Revelation 13:7-18
3. Different from other men.
a. Who is like unto the beast? Revelation 13:4
b. Diverse from all those who precede him. Daniel 7:7
4. Highly intelligent. Revelation 13:11-17
5. Great orator and demagogue
a. A mouth speaking great things. Daniel 7:8
b. Mouth as the mouth of a lion. Revelation 13:2 this suggests the regal authority with which he speaks.
c. Great things is the content of his speaking. Revelation 13:5
6. Clever and prestigious politician.
a. Daniel 8:25
b. Revelation 17:3, 7; 17:16-17; 19:19-21
7. Military genius. Revelation 6:1-2; 13:4
II. His Five Names
1. Antichrist. 1 John 2:18; 2 John 7
2. The man of sin. 2 Thessalonians 2:3
3. The son of perdition. 2 Thessalonians 2:3
a. Judas Iscariot posed as a friend of Jesus but was all the time his personal enemy.
b. Acts 1:12; Revelation 17:8
c. It could be that the Antichrist, rather than a resurrected Judas, will be Satan incarnate in human flesh, as a posed virgin-born Jew with tradition, historical background to satisfy the hitherto blinded Jewish people.
4. The wicked one and lawless one. Daniel 7:25
5. A vile person. Daniel 11:21
III. His Origin
1. He is to originate from the masses of humanity at the time of the rapture.
2. From the ruin and rubble and abyss of evil governments, when total confusion and anarchy reign, the enemy of Christ shall appear. Revelation 13:1-11
3. He shall be identified with apostate Christianity in his lamb role of revelation at first.
4. In his administrative works and claims as a world leader in religion and politics, he shall be a profound imitating of the Father Satan, Son: Antichrist, and the Holy Spirit: Beast. Revelation 11:7; 17:8; 16:13; 13:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:9
5. Geographical division. Relating the Revelation prophecies with Daniel 2, 7, and 8. This man will arise out of one of the divisions of Alexander’s empire, lying to the west on the continent of Europe. Daniel 8:8; 21-23
6. Racial origin. Though there is by no means any decisive answer, there are suggestion that he may be a Jew. Daniel 11:37
IV. His Source of Power
1. The Devil will be more completely incarnate in the Antichrist than he has ever been in any human being.
2. Men are indwelt by demon spirits, but the Antichrist seems to be the very incarnation of Satan, bodily. Revelation 13:11-18; 19:20. Here are the steps on his rise.
3. Time of revelation: immediately following the rapture. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8; Revelation 6:1-2
4. Inconspicuous beginning. Antichrist will appear on the scene as one among several important world leaders, but nevertheless, starting out upon a career conquering and to conquer. Revelation 6:1-2
5. Treaty with Jews. Revelation 11:1-3
6. World power. By the middle of the seven-year tribulation period. Revelation 13:7; all other great powers will fall. Isaiah 14:1-15; Revelation 17:18
V. His Ministry
1. In the Antichrist’s world-wide rule he shall come into power with subtle cunning and deception and remain a sanctified sort of deceiver for some three- and one-half years, counterfeiting many of the good moral deeds of the ministry of the true Christ.
2. About the end of three- and one-half years of his peaceful reign, he shall break his covenant with the Jews and cause their oblations to cease, ascend the temple of God, and declare himself that he is God.
3. Daniel 7:21-28; 9:27; 11:21, 36, 45; 12:8, 11, 12.
VI. His Final End
1. The seven distinct years of the great tribulation seemed to be divided into two periods of deathly nature.
2. During about the first 3 1/2 years there shall be affected a one world church state with the Antichrist reigning predominantly in passive piece.
3. When the Antichrist is really revealed who he actually is by his breaking his covenant with the Jews and declaring himself to be God and requiring worship as God, then shall tribulation break forth in its physical fury.
4. Therefore, after shall Armageddon rage in its fury until Jesus shall come to the earth in flaming fire to destroy and cast down the Antichrist.
5. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
6. Defeated deceiver, he shall ultimately be cast alive into the bottomless pit. Revelation 20:10
