The Antichrist – Is He Real?

The concept of an Antichrist is typically associated with a person who will come in opposition to Christ, in the days just before Christ returns to establish His kingdom. The idea of the Antichrist is primarily found in the New Testament, particularly in the books of 1 John and 2 John, as well as in the Book of Revelation. At the same time, the Bible warns that many in the world have the same spirit as the Antichrist and oppose the work of God. “Even now many antichrists have come” (1 John 2:18)¹NIV New International Version Translations. This person is not Satan but will use every evil device of Satan to oppose the work of God. The Apostle Paul uses the term “the man of lawlessness” to describe these individuals (2 Thessalonians 2:3). The Antichrist is described as the embodiment of evil with great power to deceive those who would follow him. What are we, the modern Christian, to do with these warnings? Maybe more importantly, who are the lawless people among us today?

(1 John 2:18) – “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour”.

The word Antichrist is a combination of two words: “anti” which means “against” or “in the place of,” and “Christ,” which means “anointed one.” Therefore, we could conclude that anybody who opposes Christ or attempts to take His place is an Antichrist. The original “Antichrist” is Satan, who has opposed Christ throughout history. Even before humanity was created, Satan sought to displace Christ (Isaiah 14:12–14; Ezekiel 28:12–13) and has since inspired all opposition to God and Christ in the world. The coming of the final Antichrist means that the coming of Jesus Christ is imminent. However, no one can be sure when that day will come. There is plenty of speculation to go around, but it is not yet a national holiday on our calendar! This means we need to be discerning and not be misled by those who oppose God’s Truth. It is best to just always be prepared.

The Apostle Paul gives us some pointers to be on the lookout for. “And then the lawless one will be revealed… The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-9). The Apostle Paul describes the work of this lawless person this way: “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Paul’s words depict an arrogant power that opposes the freedom of religion and permits no rival to receive the worship claimed for itself. This power assumes to sit “as God.”

Lawlessness is defined as “a state of disorder due to a disregard of the law.” Do you think our country has descended into lawlessness? When leaders do not follow the laws and when citizens do not care about the laws, we have disorder and chaos. What would you add to the list? Lack of border enforcement, drugs, human trafficking, burgeoning debt, or what about gender-neutral showers and bathrooms? Just think about the damage being done by the indoctrination of our children. What about God’s Laws? When we do not honor the 6th commandment (Exodus 20:13), we have over 1,000 abortions daily. Not honoring the 8th commandment (Exodus 20:15) brings us theft on such a scale that we are seeing businesses closing or moving just to survive. Dishonoring the 5th commandment (Exodus 20:12) gives us a complete breakdown of the family unit. Oh yes, we have a state of disorder due to the disregard for the laws and the Laws! It does not matter whether it is God’s Laws or humanity’s laws, the people of lawlessness are well on their way to destroying a great nation.

Our response must be to become more discerning and not be misled by those who oppose God’s Truth. The goal is to avoid being led astray into this falsehood of beliefs. The most important thing should be to yield our lives to Jesus Christ and then get to know more and more of the Truth God has given us in His Word, the Bible. While there is no universally agreed-upon set of characteristics for “people of lawlessness,” the following are some common themes and characteristics that are often associated with the Antichrist and death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul:

• Opposition to Christ: Anyone seen as being a direct opponent of Jesus Christ and Christianity is suspect. This opposition may take various forms, such as denying the divinity of Christ or working against the spread of Christianity. Many faiths offer a promise of eternal life. However, it is only through Christ that we receive the wisdom and discernment to repent, and then receive forgiveness for past and future sins.
• Deception: Expect deceit and manipulation to be part of Satan’s lawlessness. There will always be a component of lies meant to lead people away from God’s Truth. It is often done by redefining sin. It comes as a serpent’s whisper, “Surely you will not die.” Omitting information and concealing the truth should be considered lies when they are done with the intent to deceive. In addition to false statements, deception encompasses statements that misrepresent or distort facts, as well as the withholding of information. People can deceive through outright false statements or by strategic silence.
• Charismatic Leadership: The Antichrist, and his many understudies will possess great charisma and worldly leadership qualities. These skills will be used to gain followers and exert influence on a global scale. With a populace dependent and addicted to social media, what took a generation to infiltrate in the past will ravage society like a raging forest fire. It makes one wonder if the Antichrist will even use TikTok Influencers to change public opinion. Always look for a humble heart before you sign up to follow someone!
• World Domination: Some theologians suggest that the Antichrist will seek to establish a global empire or system of control, often referred to as the “Beast” or “Babylon” in the Book of Revelation. The one-nation concept is already being discussed as part of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Here, our world would operate with perfect equality under a single leader. As people are required to swear allegiance to one nation or leader, we would have effectively taken upon ourselves the “mark of the beast²The mark of the beast has been interpreted to also mean allegiance to an AntiChrist..” Because of “perfect equality,” we would all be enslaved together!
• Blasphemy: The Antichrist is often depicted as engaging in blasphemy against God and Christ, making claims of divinity or divine authority. Whether this power is gained via the loss of religious freedom or through the forceful application of rules, it is simply an attempt to remove God and Christ from society. The good news is God wrote His Truth down for us!
• Persecution: Unfortunately, history has shown us that there has been a constant assault on Christians. It goes on today in virtually every country, including our own. We are told that when the end times come, it will be even worse! Just remember that if hate is present, it is not of God!
• Appearance of Peace and Prosperity: This idea of “people of lawlessness” may initially appear as a peacemaker or harbinger of prosperity. By the time the “Truth” is known, many find themselves entrapped in the true nature of destruction. You can find God’s footsteps in our world’s history. To lose history is to lose God Himself!

Conclusion

While the Antichrist is associated with end-time events, including the great tribulation, Armageddon, and the final judgment, history shows us that “people of lawlessness” have been impacting our world for thousands of years. You may even know of a few in our contemporary world today! The passages below suggest that there were already “antichrists,” or individuals and spirits opposing Christ, during the time the Apostles Paul and John wrote their letters.

(1 John 2:18) – “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.”

(1 John 2:22) – “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.”

(1 John 4:3) – “But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

(2 John 1:7) – “Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.”

It does not matter whether we interpret these passages as the Antichrist, a symbol of spiritual deception and opposition to Christ, or anticipate future figures who embody these characteristics and play a significant role in the disruption of the world. Remember this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-18).”

Contemplations

• Should anyone be concerned about the “end times?”
  • Ideas to Explore: Jesus Himself said He doesn’t know when they will be coming (Matthew 24:36). Shouldn’t our concerns be about a relationship with Jesus?
• Do you know of “people of lawlessness” either in history or in our present world?
  • Ideas to Explore: Leaders who do not follow their nation’s laws. Leaders who do not follow God’s Laws. Chaos caused by lawlessness through the improper application of restorative justice.
• What is the responsibility of those who select (vote) to make sure we pick humble leaders who follow both our nation’s laws and God’s Laws?
  • Ideas to Explore: Biblical consistent message about obedience to both humanity’s laws and God’s Laws. The pain and suffering caused by lawlessness.
• Why do people gravitate toward those who are charismatic rather than those who are knowledgeable?
  • Ideas to Explore: Charisma is not bad, but it can mask a deceitful heart. We want to “like” our leaders. The media has influenced our opinions.
• Where would you go to learn how to spot “people of lawlessness?”
  • Ideas to Explore: Churches may not teach the skills. The Bible. History. People you trust.