Who is the Antichrist?

When most people hear the term "Antichrist" they automatically think of a single man who will one day rule the world demanding all to worship him as God and execute those who refuse to worship him. They get this idea from Revelation 13, which describes a seven-headed, ten-horned beast rising out of the sea and causing the whole world to wonder after and worship him. Many Christians today are awaiting the arrival of the Antichrist and they believe that when he arrives it will be obvious that he is the man of sin Paul mentioned in

2 Thessalonians 2:3. However, there are some who believe that the Antichrist has already come or already appeared in the past. So how do we know who is the Antichrist and are we sure we haven't missed him?

Throughout history, people have labeled several men "the Antichrist" because of the horrific acts they've committed against mankind and kingdoms. In almost every century since the first-century church, there has always been a man labeled "the Antichrist." Nero Caesar, a madman responsible for the murder of tens of thousands of Christians during his reign over the Roman Empire, was considered by many in those days "the Antichrist," and for good reason. He called himself a god and demanded all to worship him. For this reason, early Christians considered him that wicked man that Paul, John, and others talked about that was to come. In the 1940s Adolf Hitler, leader of Nazi Germany, was called the "Antichrist" for his heinous crimes against humanity but especially against the Jewish people. In the last few decades, several US presidents were labeled "the Antichrist," some including Ronald Regan, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Other figures such as the Pope and other world leaders like Turkish President Erdogan have been included in the list of qualified Antichrists. With such a variety of answers, how can we know for sure who exactly the Antichrist is? The answer may surprise you.

Before we move further it's important to understand what the term "antichrist" means. Simply put, antichrist means "against Christ." This applies to anyone who works against or is opposed to Christ and His works. Another definition of "antichrist" is pseudo-Christ or a false Christ. Anyone who calls himself the Christ and tries to usurp the authority and power of Christ is an antichrist. The apostle John warned us about these antichrists in his epistle, where we find the first mention of the term "antichrist":

"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." 1 John 2:18

John indicated in his letter that not only will there be one particular antichrist that will consume the world, but that there are now many antichrists in the world. These antichrists existed even in John's time. They are people who are against the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord Himself warned His disciples about the rise of many false Christs, especially in the last days.

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

Matthew 24:24

Here is more proof that there are multiple antichrists in the world. The evil rulers in history like Nero that committed heinous acts against Christians and entire kingdoms should be considered antichrists. These wicked people were opposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, for they thought of themselves as gods and saviors. As we read further in John's epistles, the apostle goes on further to describe the other attributes of antichrists.

Denying Jesus as the Christ

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." 1 John 2:22

There are people who deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah who came to save us from our sins. Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Messiah is called a liar and an antichrist.

Denying Jesus is the Son of God

In 1 John 2:23, John said that whoever denies the Son is denying the Father, but whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Some people believe that worshipping Jesus goes against the commandment of having no other gods before the Lord (as mentioned in Exodus 20:3). However, what these people fail to understand is that Jesus and God are one and the same. Jesus confirmed it in John 10:30 when He said:

"I and my Father are one." John 10:30

In the gospel accounts, we see instances of Jesus accepting worship from those who He healed and delivered (Matthew 8:2; Matthew 14:33; Matthew 15:25; John 9:38). In John 20:28 the disciple Thomas, after finally seeing the resurrected Jesus for himself, he declared Jesus as his Lord and God. We have even further confirmation of Jesus' deity in John 1:1 which describes the Word, which is Jesus, being the same as God. Jesus is God's words manifested in flesh, so to say that Jesus is not God is blasphemy and going against Christ. So essentially denying that Jesus is the Son of God is antichrist as well.

Denying Jesus Came in the Flesh

"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." 1 John 4:3

John proceeds to further define an antichrist. Anyone who does not confess or admit that Jesus came in the flesh is not of God and has the spirit of antichrist. There are many people who do not believe Jesus ever came to earth and died for our sins. Not only do they not believe but they blatantly deny it. But as a believer of Christ, we know from the gospel accounts and the apostles that Jesus did indeed come in the flesh. Remember, Jesus is the word of God in flesh. To deny Jesus came in flesh is to deny God's words came in flesh, therefore denying God Himself. That is why we are told in 1 John 2:23 that whoever denies the Son (the Word of God) is denying the Father (the Lord God).

Now notice that John also mentioned that the antichrist spirit was already in the world during his time. This further proves that the antichrist is not just a man but a spirit, the same spirit responsible for spreading all these false doctrines that go against the gospel of Jesus Christ. This spirit gets in people who are strongly opposed to Jesus and/or look at themselves as the Savior and Anointed One. They spread lies about the word of God and deceive those who do not know, understand, or believe in Jesus.

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." 2 John 1:7

By these three points, we now know the character of the Antichrist and can identify that wicked ruler whenever he comes onto the world stage. But not only will there be one Antichrist, but there have already been many antichrists in the world opposing Jesus and warring against the saints. They all share the same characteristics. The Antichrist will deny that Jesus is the Christ because he will declare himself as the Christ, the chosen one to save mankind and the planet. The Antichrist will also deny that Jesus ever came in the flesh, therefore denying the Father and the Son. And by the Antichrist denying Jesus, he is denying the Word of God, which is denying the Lord God of Israel.

It is still too early for us in our present time to determine for certain who is the Antichrist. But by us knowing the characteristics of the antichrist spirit according to scripture, we will be able to identify him when he comes.