{15}   STUDY: ANTI-CHRIST

Description

The name “antichrist” appears 4 times in the Bible, only in Apostle John’s writings (1Jn 2:18,22; 4:3; 2Jn 7). However, there are many Bible passages on a person thought to be the same as the antichrist because of the similarities in character and actions.

Dan 7:7-11,17-26; 8:8-14,21-26; 9:26-27; 11:21-24,31-39; 12:11-12

Mt 24:24; Mk 13:6,21-22; Lk 21:8; 2Th 2:3-9

Rev 11:7; 13:1-18; 17:8-18; 19:19-20; 20:10

Different names:

He is called antichrist because:

His Actions

He is a man with tremendous political power. He will start off as a leader inside a political entity of 10 kingdoms and will destroy or take over 3 of them. He will eventually become a world dictator.

He is from Satan who dominates 7 secular empires (in the past and in the future), and eventually controls all national, political, cultural, or racial institutions in the world.

He will be mortally wounded but will live again. Because of this wonder, many people follow him.

He will perform miraculous signs and wonders. He will deceive many people by claiming himself Christ.

He will confirm a covenant with the Jews at the beginning of the 70th Seven (the 7-year tribulation) and allow them to worship in the (possibly newly built) Temple in Jerusalem.

He will be held back until the moment determined by God. That which “holds him back” is interpreted differently by different people. It can be the Holy Spirit, or the political institutions of the world, or simply God’s will.

He will conquer and destroy his enemies by deceit and then dominates the world.

He will break the covenant with the Jews and stop the worship of God in the Temple (of Jerusalem) at the midpoint of the 7-year tribulation.

He will speak boastfully, proclaim himself God during the second half of the 70th Seven.

He will be helped by the false prophet who will make people worship him. An image of him will be set up in the Temple, described as “the abomination (something that God hates) that causes desolation (destroying the proper function of the Temple).”

He will make war with the saints, defeat them, and kill them for a period of 3.5 years.

His End

He will lead an army against God at Armaggedon but will finally be destroyed by a supernatural act of God.

He will be thrown into the burning hell forever, along with Satan and the false prophet.

His Identity

There are 3 groups of possibilities: [1] a historical figure, including Nero, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Napoleon, Hitler. However, this is unlikely as events described above have not yet happened. [2] a symbol representing a political or religious institution, such as the European Union or the Roman Catholic Church. [3] a real person who has yet to come. He may still be unkown or may be already in power today. He will first assume power in a country within the territory of the ancient Roman Empire. As he can make a covenant with the Jews concerning the worship in the Temple, some believe him to be at least partially Jew, possibly from the Israeli tribe of Dan (see commentary on 7:5-8).

Application

        Despite countless speculations in the past, especially in the last 30 years, no one is sure about when or how the prophecies concerning the antichrist will happen. It is therefore useless to speculate. We only need to know that God has a definite plan and that plan will certainly be realized. We are to look forward to the ideal conclusion of world history and be watchful.