The Antichrist

It is important to note that the word “antichrist” as used in scripture in not capitalized, thus it is not the actually name but a description.  Neither is false prophet a name but a description. As of now, no one actually knows the individual who will be either the antichrist or the false prophet.  Perhaps the Roman Catholic Church is hinting or hoping that the pope will be the antichrist or false prophet. One of the many titles for the pope is vicarious christi.  This simply means vicar of Christ.  And, a vicar is defined as “one serving as a substitute or agent.”  Therefore, the Roman Catholic Church promotes and believes the man elected pope is a substitute for Jesus Christ.  This, in reality, makes him an antichrist because scripture clearly states that the Holy Spirit will be in place of Jesus Christ when Jesus leaves His earthly ministry (John 14:26).  Time will tell (soon) if the pope will be the antichrist or false prophet. We so often write antichrist (lower case) as Antichrist (upper case) but scripture does otherwise.  

 

The only places in scripture where the word antichrist or antichrists are written are found in I and II John.

 

I John 2:18, 22: 4;3 tells us: “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last time.” …. “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son…”…”And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”  Since italicized, the KJV emphasis that there is a “spirit of antichrist.” Also, we see that there are “many antichrists.”  There can be no denying that the “spirit of antichrist” is dominating today’s world with all the hatred and sin in the world.  Who can deny, also, that the increased support and promotion of both murdering babies in the womb (abortion) and sexual perversion (homosexual movement) is not a spirit of antichrist?  And how many different men throughout time have been labeled as the Antichrist? It should be understood that Satan does not know when the Lord is going to rapture His Church from the world but he has, no doubt, always had a man in the wings ready to possess and become the world leader known as the Antichrist.

 

In short, we do not find the word antichrist being a name but it is a description.  However, we cannot take away from the fact the when a man emerges as exposed for his evilness by possession that he will be the Antichrist in title which can be capitalized.

 

What are some of the descriptions attributed to an antichrist or this coming man? (All references to numbers are from Strong’s Concordance of the Bible)

 

Abaddon as found in Revelation 9:11. # 623 – a destroyer, i.e. Satan

Accuser of God’s people as is found in Revelation 12:9. # 2722 – to hold down, have, hold, keep (in memory), possess, seize on. # 2316 – supreme divinity.

Adversary as found in I Peter 5:8. # 476 – an opponent, arch enemy

Angel of the bottomless pit as found in Revelation 9:11. # 32 – a messenger.  # 12 – abyss, deep pit (pit not found in Concordance)

Angel of light as found in II Corinthians 11:14. # 32 see Angel of the bottomless pit. # 5457 – to shine or make manifest.

Anointed cherub as found in Ezekiel 28:14. # 4473 and # 3742 expansion; outspread (wings); imaginary figure

Antichrist/antichrists as found in I and II John, # 500 – an opponent to the Messiah.  From # 473 and # 5547 – opposite, i.e. instead of or because of (rarely in addition to) – often used to denote contrast, requital (compensation), substitution, etc.

Apollyan as found in Revelation 9:11. # 3 – a destroying angel

Beelzebul as found in Matthew 12:24. # 954 – dung god, wicked; Matthew 13:19, I John 5:18 #4190 – derelict, vicious, facinorous (atrociously wicked), malice, etc. 

Belial as found in II Corinthians 6:15. #955 – worthlessness, an epithet (in place of or abusive word for) of Satan

Deceiver of the whole world as found in Revelation 12:9. # 4105 – to roam—to go astray, err, seduce.  #3650 – complete throughout. #3625 – land (terrene part of the) globe, spec. Roman Empire--earth

Devil as found over 60 times in the Bible.  #s 1139, 1140, 1142, 1189, 1228 – a demonic being (neuter)—a deity, devil, god; a demon of supernatural spirit (of a bad nature); devil

Dragon as found in Revelation 12:9. # 1404 – a fabulous kind of serpent – a dragon

Enemy as found in Matthew 13:39. #2190 – hateful (odious or hostile), an adversary—enemy, foe

Father of lies as found in John 8:44. #3963 – father and # 5583 (liar) – a fabrication, falsehood.

God of this world as found in II Corinthians 4:4. # 2316 – a deity, a magistrate. #165 – age, course

Lucifer as found in Isaiah 14:12 only.  #1966 – to go intervening, the ensuing day or night—following next, ‘fallen”—the same as used in Genesis 4:6 as applied to Cain; #5307 – naphal – to fall—be accepted, cast (down, self, [lots], out), cease, die, divide…) lost, lying, overthrow…rot, slay, omit out…throw down

Man of sin as found in II Thessalonians 2:3. # 444 – man-faced, i.e. a human being: -- certain, man. And from # 435 – a man, husband, fellow, sir.  This pretty much assures us that the ultimate antichrist will be a man and not a woman. Although, women can be equally antichrist, per I John, in nature and spirit as can man.

Murderer as found in John 8:44. # 443 – a manslayer

Old serpent as found in Revelation 12:9. # 744 – original or primeval.  # 3789 – sharpness of vision, a snake, sly, cunning, an artful, malicious person, especially Satan

Prince of the devils as found in Matthew 9:34. # 758 – first (in rank and power) – chief (ruler), magistrate, prince, ruler.  Devils as defined above in Devil.

Prince of the power of the air as found in Ephesians 2:2. #758 see Prince of the devils. #1849 – privilege, superhuman, potentate, token of control, influenced. # 109, air, is just that or circumambient

Prince of the world as found in John 14:30. # 758 see Prince of the devils. World # 2889 – world in the widest sense, incl. inhabitants.  But it must be understood that God is sovereign over all things, including Satan, and he is restricted like a lion on a leash (I Peter 5:8)

Roaring lion as found in I Peter 5:8. # 5612 – to roar, #3023 – lion

Satan as found about 52 times in the Bible. OT # 7854, NT # 4567 – an archenemy of good—adversary, withstand; accuser; the devil

Son of perdition as found in II Thessalonians 2:3. # 5207 – kinship, foal, son and # 684 – damnable, (-nation, destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste

Tempter as found in Mathew 4:3 and I Thessalonians 3:5 – to test, i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, discipline: --assay (analyze), examine go about, prove, tempt (-er), try

Wicked as found in II Thessalonians 2:8. # 459 – lawless, i.e. not subject to (the Jewish) law, (by implication. A Gentile – or wicked: --without law, lawless, transgressor, unlawful, wicked

 

These are many descriptions of Satan’s second-hand person.  Will the Christian know who he is at his revealing? Do we know now? Although some differ on timing, scripture seems clear that the Church will be removed by the rapture prior to any Revelation-type wrath being pronounced on the world.  Although Daniel 9:27 certainly describes the onset and rule of the Antichrist (upper case), his name is not mentioned but his intent is described. Daniel 9:27 says, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” 

 

Most importantly, the redeemed in Christ should be looking for the blessed hope in Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13) and not the one who will fulfill the biblical narrative of the reality of the Antichrist.