Who is the Antichrist?

Who Is the Antichrist?

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there be a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…. 6. And now ye know what witholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (hinders) will let (hinder), until he be taken out of the way. 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. 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders….

Introduction:

The prefix “anti” usually means against, but can also mean “another, or in place of.” For example, medicines that work against bacteria are called antibiotics. Medications that stop blood from coagulating (clotting) are called anticoagulants. Thus, Antichrist would be a person who is against Christ or in place of Christ. The Bible speaks of the Antichrist as a charismatic powerful person who is totally opposed to God, indwelt by Satan, and seeks the worship of the entire world. His appearing is being held back by the Holy Spirit, who is currently hindering his work. At the rapture, the Holy Spirit’s unique presence in believers will be gone, and he will be revealed and begin his work through Satan’s power.

The names of Antichrist

Antichrist is called the son of perdition (see above, 2 Thessalonians 2:3). Some think that Judas Iscariot will rise from the dead as Antichrist because Jesus referred to him as the son of perdition, the one other place that title is used in the Bible.?John 17:12 (Jesus praying to God for his disciples just before his betrayal) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name, those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the scriptures might be fulfilled.?In Daniel 9:26 he is referred to as the prince that shall come. In Daniel 11:36 he is described as the king who shall do according to his will (more a description than a title). In Revelation 13:1, he is called a beast rising up out of the sea.

His characteristics and his work:

When Judas was with the disciples at the Lord’s supper, after Jesus honored him by giving him a sop, Satan entered Judas and energized him to betray Jesus. In a similar manner, when the way is opened for Antichrist to be revealed, he will be energized directly by Satan. He will be empowered to do miracles like Jesus was able to do miracles. He will cause his followers to believe a lie through his deceit and unrighteousness.?

Antichrist will rule the world

During the latter part of the tribulation, Antichrist will essentially rule the entire world. The world will see him as a political, military, economic and religious genius. As he gains power, he will require all to have his mark or be unable to buy or sell anything. Through his second man, the false prophet, he will initially use religion to solidify his rule, and then basically destroy religion that fails to worship him as God. He will set up his own image in the rebuilt temple for worship.??He will eventually lead the entire world to rebel and oppose the coming of the Lord Jesus with his saints at the battle of Armageddon, at which time the armies of the world will be destroyed and antichrist will be cast into the lake of fire forever.

What should we be doing?

Rather than spend our time speculating over his identity, we believers should be looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. We should be preparing for his coming – confessing and abandoning our sins. We should be proclaiming the gospel to the lost. During this time, we are to focus on Christ, not the world. There are many “antichrists” in the world today, preparing for the coming of the true person of the Antichrist, who will be revealed after the rapture.?I John 2:15. Love not the world, neither the things of the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of the world abideth forever. 18. Little children, it is the last time, and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

We can see the world moving away from God. We need to focus on the Lord, prepare our lives for his coming, and witness to others.?