Getting back to an end time topic, I thought I would tackle the biblical figure known as the “AntiChrist.” This is no doubt one of the most intriguing individuals in my opinion. The Bible mentions him several times, so let’s look at what the Bible has to say, and discuss various traits of this person in detail.
Is the AntiChrist Literal or Symbolic? Is it a Man, Government, or Group of People?
First, the Bible is quite clear that the antichrist is a literal person. It is not just a symbolic phrase used. The Bible repeatedly makes references to a literal person (as I will show later).
Here is a great question we should all ask: “Is the antichrist a person, a religion, a government, or a group of people?” My reply to that would be: All of the above. Let me explain why:
Why the AntiChrist is a Group of People
In 1 John 2:18, John makes a statement saying,
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.
The thing to point out in this verse is that there were many “antichrists” in John’s time. What does that mean? The word anti means “against or in place of”.
At the time of the apostles, many people were already trying to make the claim of being the “messiah.” They were trying to take the place of Christ. Furthermore, many were evil individuals who were against the nature and/or teachings of Christ.
So it is clear that there were many “antichrists” back then, and there are many today. This use of antichrist simply denotes the fact that there are individuals going against (or impersenating) Christ or His teachings.
Just like there are many “Christians” (meaning people for Christ or following Christ’s teachings), there are many antichrists going against Christ’s teachings or message.
So it is clear that in that context, there are many antichrists, and will continue to be many. Therefore, it is accurate to say antichrist can refer to a group of people.
Why AntiChrist Can Refer to a Religion
Expanding on the above point, it is also important to note that Antichrist can also refer to a religion. Just like antichrist can be a generic label to identify any persons or group of persons who are against Christ or trying to impersenate Christ, a religion can also be antichrist in nature.
Any religion that seeks to use Christ in any way that goes against the Bible, or any religion that teaches false doctrines is an antichrist religion. It is against Christ, and against the word of God. Therefore, it is antichrist religion.
Why AntiChrist Can Refer to a Government
Keeping with the same mindset, antichrist can also refer to a government. Any government which seeks to do things that go against Christ or His teachings, can be considered antichrist in nature.
Why the AntiChrist is a Literal Person: A Man
Now we come to the interesting part: While any group of people or any organization (government/religious) can be antichrist in nature, only one individual will be The Antichrist.
THE antichrist will be the the one embodyment of all of the above: He will lead the antichrist natured government, he will embody and be a part of the antichrist religion, he will also be a hero to the antichrist individuals.
All of those things will be perfectly embodied in this man known as the Antichrist.
Jesus Is to God, as the Antichrist is to Satan: Jesus is the Nature of God, Antichrist is the Nature of Satan
If you could take God’s will, God’s mercy, God’s compassion, and God’s nature, and place that essence in a human body…You would have Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ completely submitted to the Father, therefore, seeing Jesus Christ was almost as if you seen the Father. In fact, Jesus himself said: “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
Having Jesus Christ, was like having “God with us.” Being the Son of the Living God, he completely reflected the Father’s will, laying aside His own will to do that of the Father in all things, even unto death.
In this same way, the Antichrist will be the exact nature of his father: Satan. If you could take Satan’s evil, cunning, lying, blasphemous ways, and embody that into one individual, you would have the Antichrist.
Just like Jesus completely submitted to the Father, the Antichrist will completely sumbit to his father: Satan. Just like Jesus was completely good, the Antichrist will be completely evil.
Jesus Christ said, “I am the light.” Jesus perfectly represents an individual who was without sin, and perfectly did the Father’s will in all things. The Antichrist, in contrast, will represent a person perfectly evil who perfectly rejects God’s will in all things. He will represent the dark side. Even the things which may appear to be good about the Antichrist, will inevitibly be a mirage or act only towards an inevitable evil goal.
So What Does the Bible Say About the Antichrist? Bible Verses on the Antichrist:
The book of Daniel in the Old Testament is one of the first books of the Bible that mentions the Antichrist in detail. Daniel has a vision, and in the vision he sees many things. This takes place in Chapter 7 of Daniel:
If we read, we see that Daniel first sees 4 great beasts (a lion, bear, leopard, and the dreadful beast). The last beast is the worst beast, far more wicked than the others.
We are then told by the angels that these 4 beasts represent Kindoms. Many view this to mean the 4 world empires. 3 have risen and fallen (Babylon, Meso-persia, and Rome), and 1 is yet to be.