I’m going to annoy you today.

Yesterday I teased you that I’d be revealing the Antichrist.

And there you were up early this morning refreshing the page every second just waiting until this post appeared.

And still no identification?! No name, no picture, no Facebook page.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m only following the Scriptural precedent of describing the characteristics to look out for rather than the Antichrist’s name and address.

But stay with me because you need to know what to look out for and, who knows, maybe someone will read the seven characteristics and think, “Hey I know that guy!” And remember, although THE Antichrist may not yet have arisen, John warns us that there are many antichrists already in the world. So what are we looking for?

He is Lawless
Paul calls him “The Man of Sin,” literally “The Man of Lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:3). He will disregard God’s Word and God’s law and replace it with his own arbitrary laws. He will re-define what is evil and what is good. He will promote doctrinal and ethical lawlessness.

He is a Destroyer
In the same verse, Paul names Antichrist as “the son of perdition,” meaning “son of destruction.” He will physically destroy those who oppose him; he will spiritually and eternally destroy all who believe him and follow him.

He Opposes God
“He opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God” (v. 4).  Well, that doesn’t help much, does it? Half the world oppose God and exalt themselves over Him. But what’s unique about this opposition is that the Antichrist opposes mainly by substitution.

He is a Substitute
As “Anti” can mean “instead of” as well as “against,” Antichrist can mean “replacement Christ,” “instead of Christ,” “substitute for Christ.” Paul confirms this when he says that the Antichrist “sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thess. 2:4). This is not necessarily an enemy from outside the church, but from inside it. He opposes Christ by replacing him, by taking Christ’s titles, worship, and roles.

He is a Deceiver
The only other person called “the son of perdition” was Judas (John 17:12). Under cover of professing to be a friend of Christ, He tried to destroy Christ. This theme of deception is taken up by Jesus, Paul, and John when describing the Antichrist. In fact, the dominant message from passages dealing with the Antichrist is, “Don’t be deceived!” Just as Satan rarely comes painted red with horns, a fork, and a pointy tail, the Antichrist will not come with a big “A” on his forehead. Like Satan, he will come with false signs, wonders, and miracles; he will be so plausible and persuasive that, if it were possible, He would deceive even the elect (Matt. 24:24).

He is a Heretic
John’s main concern with the Antichrist is his promotion of false doctrine surrounding the person and work of Christ (1 John 4:3; 2 John 7). Just like the mini-antichrists in John’s day, THE ultimate Antichrist will not deny everything about Christ, but just enough to undermine the power of Christ’s gracious salvation.

He is a Politician
While Daniel and Revelation confirm and expand upon these six characteristics, their main emphasis is on the political nature of the Antichrist. He will head up a kingdom, even an empire, similar to other nation states or empires. These books also make clear that this aspect of Antichrist’s work will become clearer and clearer nearer the end of time. Deception will be replaced with destruction, fraud will give way to force, the wolf in sheep’s clothing will shed his fleece and bare his fangs.

Serious, scary stuff, isn’t it?

Yes, but forewarned is forearmed, and, as I’ll explain tomorrow, while God sends us this warning in His love, He also sends a ton of comfort as well.

In the meantime, any other marks and characteristics that I’ve missed?

  • MarkO

    I am comforted by the fact that Daniel, Revelation, the Olivet Discourse and the writings of Paul which you cite do not mention “the Antichrist.” In my observation it appears that the modern church has interpreted Scripture thru a Dispensational grid such that we are taught how to find “the Antichrist” even where he is not mentioned.

    One exampe that came up in discussion recently is Daniel 9:27 where it reads “And he will make a firm covenant with the many…” (NASB). We have been told that the “he”refers to the antichrist, yet there no such mention of him in Daniel 9 nor in the entire book of Daniel. The “he” in Daniel 9:27 instead refers to Christ, to Messiah. Why do we keep reading “the Antichrist” into texts where he does not exist?

    I also discovered after going back to the Hebrew that the NASB mistranslates this important clause. It should read something like “and he will make strong or make prevail a covenant with the many…”

    • David Murray

      I agree with you on the Daniel 9:27 text, Mark. However, just because the Antichrist has sometimes been read into texts where he does not exist, doesn’t mean we run to the other extreme and deny him where he is plainly revealed.

  • Alastair Manderson

    “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work…” 2Thes2:7a
    I would say that the characteristic would have to mean some histroic claim to the times of the Apostles, perhaps the origin of Anti-Christ’s false doctrine, or a desire to mis-represent Apostolic teaching as his own. Perhaps even, taking one of the faithful apostles and painting him as a figure like himself.
    I suppose “He is ancient” or “He is a keen historian” or something.

  • Peter Overduin

    While I never get too worked up about this, for me, a huge and seemingly ignored issue related to all this is the evangelical church’s view of millennialism. Couple an increasingly spiritually barren church with a false view of the return of Christ, especially pre-mil, or the pro-Israel view, where the temple must first be rebuilt, and many christians become ripe for deception. It is hugely scary that the anti Christ will be able to perform miracles,and so will deceive many who think that there will be a literal 1000 year reign of Christ…He will convince many he is the Christ.

    If only we would fix our eyes firmly on the horizon, knowing that when He comes, He will come in glory, with the angels, as lightning, and even on this round planet on which we live, all eyes will see Him.

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  • Theo K

    Aren’t all these characteristics pointing toward Roman Catholicism?

    • Pansy Blackwell

      According to John it doesn’t. Pope Francis believes that Jesus is God in the flesh. Daniel 11:37 doesn’t have anything to do with a Pope.

  • Edgar Ibarra

    The WCF, original, states that THE Antichrist is the Papacy. And they are correct.

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  • Steven Birn

    The singular anti-christ of scripture, the beast, is Nero not the Bishop of Rome.

    • RON

      Isaiah says he is an Assyrian. The Anti-Christ comes to power via the Fourth Beast in the Last Days. Zechariah 12:10 says Israel will be shown that their Messiah is Jesus Christ in the last days, and Revelation chapter 12 says Israel (Woman) will be protected by God in the Wilderness 1260 days. {It doesn’t add up that the Anti-Christ is a Jew or Muslim, or even a Pope, ruling from Jerusalem.) It adds up that he is a European ruler, born in Greece, with Assyrian (Turkish) parents (Next Door).

      This is established fairly easily, though God only revealed it to me lately, Daniel did say it would be bound up until the end. The Anti-Christ in Daniel 7 and 8 is shown, if read properly, to arise out of Two Kingdoms at once, how can this be ?

      Here goes, Daniel ch. 7, we understand this to be about the four beast systems, the Fourth Beast is where the Little Horn/A.C. will arise out of, most everyone understands the Fourth Beast to have been Rome, but in the Last Days/End Times this has to be the European Union.

      Now Daniel ch. 8, was about the He Goat (Alexander the Great) conquering Persia (The Ram) and Gabriel interpreted this dream for Daniel.

      Daniel 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the LAST END of INDIGNATION: for at the time appointed the END SHALL BE.

      {{ We should note, this is speaking of the END TIME, it is not speaking of Antiochus who came before Jesus was even born. The word Indignation means: ( Greek Word za’am meaning Gods Fury at Sin) so at the Last End of Indignation means right before Gods Judgment of Sin/Vials or Bowls of Gods Wrath (Revelation).}}

      20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. {{{ The Four Generals that stood up in Alexanders stead were Ptolemy , Seleucus , Cassander and Lysimachus. }}}

      23 And in the LATTER TIME of THEIR KINGDOM, when the TRANSGRESSORS are COME to the FULL, a King of FIERCE COUNTENANCE, and understanding Dark Sentences, shall stand up.

      {{ This is clearly speaking about the End Times/Last Days when the Sins have COME FULL/ Bowls of Gods Wrath, a Fierce King shall arise out of one of the Four Kingdoms that stood up in Alexander the Greats Stead, speaking Dark Sentences ( understanding Riddles and conundrums) and he comes to power. }}

      24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his Own Power: (Satan Possesses him) and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall MAGNIFY HIMSELF in his HEART, (He claims to Be God) and by peace shall destroy many:( Through a Peace Treaty he deceives many) he shall also stand up against the Prince(Jesus) of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

      {{ Jesus destroys the Anti-Christ/Armies without hand ( with the Sword of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) by the countenance of his coming, Amen. This guy magnifies himself and says in the Temple of God, I AM GOD !! }}

      Now, a little long winded there so to speak, but so many people say this is about Antiochus, so I always have to show/prove that this is about the End Times, when Gods Wrath is Come Full. This is about the Little Horn/Anti-Christ. And he ARISES out of THEIR KINGDOM in the LAST DAYS so he arises out of one of the Four Generals Kingdoms in the Last Days, but which one? Well, since the Anti-Christ arises out of the Fourth Beast also, then this other Kingdom has to lie within the borders of the European Union. Only Cassander’s Kingdom of Greece is in the European Union !!! The “Assyrian” arising from Greece would be very, very easy, Greece shares a border with Turkey, and many, many Turks live in Greece, so the Assyrian Anti-Christ is born in Greece, and comes to power in Greece, then in the European Union. But what does John say in Revelation about the Beast that arises out of the Sea ? By the way, he was on Patmos, a small Greek Island when he saw this vision.

      Rev. 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a LEOPARD, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

      The Main body is described by John as LIKE A LEOPARD !!!

      Put it all together, the “Assyrian” Anti-Christ is born in Greece, of Turkish parents or grandparents , he comes to power in the European Union.

      This is where the Anti-Christ is from. And he will be an Atheist.

      God Bless

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  • derektaylor

    David, thanks for this. In your previous post you mentioned that Revelation does provide us with a clearer Biblical picture of the Antichrist. Would you be talking about the first beast in Revelation 13, the second, or both? I have been studying this passage with a larger study of Revelation and am undecided as to whether the beasts in Revelation 13 are primarily speaking of an antichrist spirit or the final Antichrist, or both. Thoughts on this?

    • derektaylor

      I forgot to add that it is interesting to see that the Babylonian woman in Revelation 17 seems to be sitting on the beast from Revelation 13, and that the woman with the beast is sitting on seven hills. There are many things in these passages that do seem to point to papal Rome and therefore, I can certainly understand why the Reformers were practically unanimous in declaring the papacy to be Antichrist. John Calvin famously said that “even a 10 year old can see that the papacy is the Antichrist”.

      • RON

        The Great Harlot is All False Religion from the beginning of Mankind. The very first verse says come see the Judgment of the Great (W) Harlot (might delay the post so I will use Harlot) She was dressed in loud colors, with gold and drank of the abominations of the world. She had the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus on her hands. So this entity has to have been of Old and New in Johns time, it could not be the RCC. It was ALL False Religion. Mystery, (COMMA) Babylon the Great, Abomination are all descriptors, she began on a large scale in Babylon, she is an abomination (All False Religion is to God) and she is a Mystery….John dared not say Rome, so he only gave Hints at her Current (at his time) headquarters. So he says, Mystery, Babylon the Great, Seven Hills….. Rome was the headquarters of False Religion during Johns life. BUT…as you notice she is upon many waters, of many tongues, nations, peoples and multitudes, because False Religion has spread all over the world by the End Times.

        We must remember, this is Her Judgment, God is showing John the Harlots Judgment. She is seen as a fornicator, this is how God described Israel every time they served false gods. She has made the Kings drunk with her wine, the Disciples were drunken with the Holy Spirit yin/yang. The Beast that carried her represented all the Beast Systems, and False Religion was a part of every Beast system, hence she rode his back. BUT…The last Beast and his Kings will do away with the Harlot (This is Gods Judgment, he placed this on their hearts). Now the Beast that was, and is not, yet is, is no mystery. Satan is the 8th King which will possess the 7th King (Anti-Christ) He rules from afar in the first 6 kings so is part of them, but he is ruling in absentia so he is not a part of them. So the Beast that was, and is not, yet is, is not really a mystery. Satan rules via his demonic beings but will rule by possessing the Anti-Christ. (who is an Atheist)

        Rev. 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

        { The Kings in League with the Beast do away with the Harlot, but WHY ? Because the Beast desires to be the ONLY GOD !!! He Magnifies Himself in his own Heart (Daniel 8) So he does away with all False Religion and all Saints he will come against (Those that missed the Rapture and Israel )

        17 For God HATH PUT IT IN THEIR HEARTS TO FULFILL HIS WILL, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

        The Great Harlot is All False Religion from the Beginning of Mankind. God Judges her in Revelation 17, and she is no more. So anyone that says the Anti-Christ is in league with Islam is way off, I think him doing away with Islam, will make him popular.

        There will be no gods but the Anti-Christ, he will Demand Worship.We Christians will be in Heaven.

        Rome and Babylon only represent False Religion as bastions for her folly.

  • Sunny

    GOOD article, BUT slightly incomplete! Found few more interesting ones ;-)

    The Secret Pre Trib-Rapture lie EXPOSED -
    http://housechurchesuk.weebly.com/the-secret-rapture-lie.html

    Antichrist… but not as we’ve known it! -
    http://www.unveiling.org/articles/substitutes.html

    And the most horrible one –
    http://www.remnantofgod.org/rccsex.htm

  • George Frank OcampoJR.
  • TheLastOneComing

    if you really wanna know when hes coming . well i’m already here. if you want me to prove it to you . i must die and walk the next . but i got other plans then the one in the book .

  • alex

    peter nein

  • craigeandrewhughes

    I think he’s just a normal gay guy who doesn’t even know it’s him, but he dreams of things, and those scriptures are interpretations only personal to him and a lot less sinister than you think.

    • craigeandrewhughes

      Metaphors for the events in his life.

  • Tom Tomas

    Philadelphia will no place for a false prophet it will be no place for his security and his henchmen, NYS will be of limits to the Vatican and all the followers of the false prophet. They will all inherit the afflictions they have caused the real holy father the word. They will be as chickens as hunted rabbits as those who are afflicted by sorcery they will suffer the wounds and the eating of the body and drinking of the blood. Every brown nosing fool who follows their orders any raising arms against Christ. The city will have a protection against the black magic he brings and his backwards blessings. He will take his cursed flesh with him his curses will have no effect on the grounds of this nation. All those who raise arms against the word will cast into the tomb the energy will begin to increase in power leading up to the week of his visit 3 days prior every city place he plans to visit he feel unwelcome god speed and sealed.

  • Adam C

    The antichrist is the son of god! Jesus isn’t god he worked for him. The son of god, the antichrist, the messiah is all the same person, just different spin offs. Now this is also the holy grail. The holy grail is the bloodline of god. After gods sons DNA gets sequenced it will give man perfect health. Once the DNA studying is complete the top 1%ers (aka living bloodline of Christ that run this planet) will nuke the article poles. The water is going to rise 666 feet. Google the hight of the Washington mounent because that’s what it’s there for built by the free masons. So this is how the anticrist will kill more then ever before. This will also be the comletion of the pyramid with the all seeing eye at the top. New world order people!!!!!

  • RON

    Christians will not be here for the Tribulation, so all of that worrying id for naught brother.

    • Peter Overduin

      I wonder if 3/4 of the world’s Christians, now living under the worst tribulation seen in centuries, would agree. Interesting that American believers think they will be raptured before the tribulation (contrary to scripture) as if the measure or advent of the tribulation is applied to when it hits the southern US Bible Belt. That seems to me to hold a degree of spiritual arrogance.

      • RON

        The pre trib rapture is a fact sir. Revelation 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of MUCH PEOPLE IN HEAVEN,

        7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB is COME, and HIS WIFE (Church) hath made herself ready.

        8 And to HER (Church) was granted that she should be arrayed in FINE LINEN, CLEAN and WHITE: for the Fine Linen is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the SAINTS. {Remember this, the Fine, White Linen, is the Righteousness of SAINTS ALONE.}

        11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and HE (Jesus) that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

        14 And the ARMIES which WERE IN HEAVEN followed him upon White Horses, Clothed in FINE LINEN, White and Clean. {These are us SAINTS, as noted above in verse 8 of this Chapter, this is not in doubt.}

        19 And I saw the BEAST (Anti-Christ), and the KINGS of the Earth, and Their ARMIES, {PEOPLE WHO HATE GOD} gathered together to MAKE WAR against HIM (Jesus) that sat on the horse, and against HIS ARMY.{US SAINTS}

        20 And the Beast was Taken, and with him the False Prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the MARK OF THE BEAST and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

        ====================

        Now, use logic. How can we the Saints be in Heaven, getting Married to the Lamb of God/Jesus, while the Beast/Anti-Christ, His Kings and their Armies are STILL ON EARTH, unless Jesus Raptures us to Heaven for this purpose, while their is still evil on the Earth ?

        There is no way this can happen without a “Catching up” or Rapture. It is impossible. It is plain as day brother.

        ============================

        A little added info on why the misconception by many remains.

        Neither Matthew 24 or 2 Thessalonians 2 shows a Post Tribulation Rapture as many think. 2 Thessalonians 2 says the Man of Sin will be revealed before the Day of Christ/Lord or Second Coming. THIS IS TRUE, but since the Rapture is before the Second Coming, this changes nothing. We understand the First Seal to be the Anti-Christ, we the Church are in Heaven, then he is REVEALED BEFORE THE DAY OF THE LORD/Second Coming……We Saints come back with Jesus as Rev. 19 states, IMMEDIATELY AFTER the Tribulation, so this 2 Thessalonians 2 scripture in no ways changes anything. You see for some reason, Post tribbers think the Anti-Christ having to be revealed before the Second Coming means before the Rapture…..But that is just not true, the Rapture and Second Coming are two separate events……..AS REV. 19 PROVES.

        Matthew 24 also proves no such thing.

        29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

        30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

        31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from ONE END OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER.

        {{ So WE the Church come back with Jesus (Rev 19) IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION

        Verse 30…. The World Sees Jesus coming back, but Rev. 19 says we the SAINTS are with him…..Just a misunderstanding by Post Tribers here.

        And 31 Says that the Elect are Gathered from where ? ONE END OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER.

        You see, those to passages say nothing about a Post Tribulation Rapture. That is just a misconception.

        We are in Heaven while the Beast/Kings and their Armies are on the Earth.

        And the traditional Jewish Marriage Feast was One Week.

        The anti-Christ is given power to overcome the Saints in Daniel and Revelation. These are the Saints in the 5th Seal, who were under the alter and wanted vengeance on THOSE THAT DWELL ON EARTH (That’s present time at that time) All the people who miss the Rapture but gives their lives to Christ afterwards will have to endure unto the end….They are the 5 Foolish Virgins who had No Oil (Holy Spirit) in their Lamps (Bodies) thus missed the call to the Wedding.

  • susan

    he is donald trump

    • Dianna

      describes him to a t. creepy how he has all the Christians and Evangelicals under his dark spell.

    • Crystal

      Actually, everything i have read about the antichrist describes Obama to a T. But just stay blind.

      • Pansy Blackwell

        Well, then you must have missed or interpreted Daniel 11:37 incorrectly. That verse doesn’t describe Obama at all, of the King James Version

  • Pansy Blackwell

    the antichrist will be a descendant of Germany, same as Adolph Hitler. The forerunner of the antichrist.