Understanding the Antichrist: A Biblical Perspective

The antichrist is a “Popular figure” in the sense that many people have heard that there will be such an individual showing up on the world stage in the last days. I think most people have some understanding that this individual will be a devil, or a very evil person. Even Hollywood has inserted the idea of the anti-christ into many movies, literature, and music.

1 John 2:18: Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.

Let’s break down the above verse from 1st John 2:18.

• First, John tells us that “the last hour” began over 2000 years ago. This should tell us very clearly that we are in the Last Days. In-fact, the Last Days began at the Crucifixion of Christ and have continued for 2000 years, so we are now in the last of the last days.
• 2nd, even the Disciples and the early church had an understanding that an individual known as the antichrist would be appearing BEFORE the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ
• 3rd, and most confusing, is that even at that time “many antichrists” had already appeared.

Let’s focus on the 2nd and 3rd points of 1st John because they have confused many people. Because John states that there have been “many antichrists”, some have interpreted this to mean that there will NOT be a single, evil world leader known as THE antichrist. To interpret the text in this way is simply a misunderstanding of what was meant by this verse. We need to look at the entire Bible, in context, to fully understand what is meant here.

Why does John state that there have been “many antichrists”? Let’s look at the Biblical definition of antichrist.

1 John 2: 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.

2 John 1:7:  For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Scripture gives us a pretty good idea of what or who is considered “antichrist”. The antichrist denies the Father and the Son, the antichrist does NOT acknowledge that Jesus Christ came AS GOD in the flesh (became incarnate as a man).

Spirit of Antichrist 👿

1 John 4: 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 

³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 

The Spirit of antichrist has been around for a very long time and its job is to cause people to NOT BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God who takes away the sin of the world! The job of the antichrist spirit is to pull people away from the truth that leads to salvation!

The Disciples and the early Church Fathers recognized that, in addition to the pervasive antichrist spirit in the world, there would be a distinct INDIVIDUAL referred to as the ANTICHRIST, who would emerge at the end of days, just prior to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Does Scripture substantiate the existence of an INDIVIDUAL known as THE ANTICHRIST, or one possessed by Satan, who is yet to make an appearance?

2 Thessalonians 2:3: Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God 😲

Antichrist is the SON OF PERDITION👿

2nd Thessalonians acknowledges that the spirit of lawlessness has been at work for a very long time. The Spirit of antichrist is a spirit of lawlessness. At the end of days, this lawless spirit will indwell (possess) a very powerful man whose job it is to lead millions of people away from the Lord Jesus Christ. This man is referred to as the “man of lawlessness”, or the “son of perdition”. This MAN is THE ANTICHRIST. 👿Now we’re not only talking about the spirit of antichrist, but we are also talking about a particular man!

The phrase “son of perdition” used in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 is only seen one other time in scripture. Jesus used this term to describe Judas Iscariot, his betrayer.

John 13:27: After this, Satan then entered him (tfj: Judas Iscariot). Therefore Jesus *said to him, “What you are doing, do it quickly.”

John 17:12: While I (Jesus) was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

The Antichrist is the Beast of Revelation 13

The book of Revelation also describes the end of days antichrist, but through apocalyptic language. In Revelation, this individual is known as a BEAST, or more specifically, one of the heads of the BEAST. In the scriptures below, the dragon is Satan, and the final head of this strange beast that comes up out of the sea (abyss) is the antichrist. He is given authority to kill, steal, and destroy on the earth for 3.5 years.

Revelation 13: Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems (crowns), and on his heads were blasphemous names. ² And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 

³ I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; ⁴ they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 

⁵ There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months (3.5 years) was given to him. ⁶ And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

In our previous post titled “Daniel’s Beast Kingdom” we saw that at the end of days there will be a kingdom led by 10 world leaders. These 10 world leaders are the ten toes on Nebuchadnezzar’s statue in Daniel 2, and they are the 10 horns in Revelation 13. They are “kings without a kingdom”, or the financial, technical, and industrial titans of the world who will join together at the end of days to support the beast kingdom and the antichrist.

Daniel 7:^24:  As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. ²⁵ He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time (3.5 years). 

²⁶ But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.

The “king” of the beast kingdom, or New World Order is the antichrist. 😈

In Revelation 13, the beast coming out of the Sea with the 10 horns and 7 heads is the Beast Kingdom, or the New World Order. It’s going to be a combination of the Historic world kingdoms of Daniel as indicated by the leopard, bear and lion and YET it’s going to be VERY DIFFERENT. This beast Kingdom will move as quickly as a leopard, be as strong as a bear and pretend to be as noble and kingly as a lion. The dragon who gives the beast kingdom it’s authority over the whole world is Satan, who has deceived the entire world (Revelation 12:9). When people begin to give their allegiance to this Beast Kingdom, and to the king of the Kingdom, or leader of the Kingdom, they will basically be giving their allegiance to Satan. 😈

Of course, because of the Great Deception also detailed in an earlier post (2nd Thess. 2: 10-12), most people will have NO IDEA that they are giving their allegiance to Satan. They will THINK that this New World Order, this New International Order is a good, noble, and a Just Kingdom. This Kingdom will initially appear “inclusive” as it encourages sin, it will appear benevolent, and it will seem Just.

Those who do not give their allegiance to this beast kingdom, particularly the practicing Jews and the “Bible Thumping Christians” will be labeled as racist, misogynist, hate-filled, intolerant and bigoted.

At this point, we understand that we are now speaking of a single individual and not simply a spirit that has influenced mankind because “it” is GIVEN a mouth to speak great blasphemies. Daniel 7:24 makes it clear that this is a “king” (the 11th king) that comes out FROM the 10 kings of the New World Order. The antichrist spirit is going to LITERALLY dwell within this man. We can even call this the unholy trinity.  The Biblical Trinity is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and describes the way that the TRUE GOD, YHWH Elohim exists in a relationship of LOVE.

In Contrast, but yet to MIMIC or PRETEND to be God over the earth, Satan will attempt to exist in an unholy trinity via the dragon (Satan), the antichrist (the “son” of Satan, or the dragon literally indwelling a man), and the unholy Spirit, the demonic spirits that are in the world stirring up the hatred and unbelief that is currently at work in the mystery of lawlessness (2 Thess 2:7).

Revelation 13: 7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 

⁸ All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. 

Revelation 13:7 tells us that this individual, this antichrist leader is NOT going to be recognized as a devil! People are going to LOVE this guy! He is going to SEEM like a SAVIOR! 😱 I imagine that there might be a terrible war, even a world war (started by the New World Order who has stated “never let a Crisis go to waste”, and out of the ashes comes their beast Kingdom (the phoenix rising).

The leader of this kingdom is going to seem like he has all the answers. He will SEEM like a man of peace. He is going to appear to bring peace out of chaos, death and destruction. Never mind the fact that he SECRETLY FOMENTED all the chaos, death, and destruction (WWIII) that he will SEEM to stop. That part of the conversation will be conveniently left out of the complicit media narrative.

The Antichrist is a counterfeit Savior

Prior to being revealed for his true devilish self, the antichrist will seem like a savior. He is a deceiver.

• He is going to bring warring nations into a global alliance.
• He is going to bring warring religions into a single one world religion,
• He is going to bring a desolated global economy together under a digital currency
• He is going to APPEAR to have the answers to fix climate change and stop global pandemics 💉
• He is going to appear to have it all together, the man with “all the answers”.
• and the world will WORSHIP him! 😱 Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of Life✝️ will SEE the TRUTH before it’s TOO LATE!

The Bible tells us this about the antichrist. Once he is fully revealed as the son of perdition (indwelt by Satan). 👿

• He is a deceiver (2 Corinthians 11:14)
• He will confirm a Covenant with “the many” that will last for seven years. (Dan. 9:27)
• He is a man of lawlessness. He will totally DISREGARD the laws of God. He will promote SIN. (2 Thess 2:3)
• He speaks BLASPHEMIES against God and against Christ. (Rev. 13:5)
• He is prideful and boastful (Rev. 13:5-6)
• He will appear to perform miracles including calling down fire from Heaven. He will also receive a “fatal headwound that appears to be healed”. (fake resurrection) (Rev. 13:3)
• He will seek to destroy Christians and Jews (make war with the saints) (Rev. 13:7)
• He will exalt himself and bring the world into one religion where he alone is the focus of worship. (2 Thess 2:4)
• He will destroy “mystery Babylon” (other false religions) forcing all people to worship him alone. (Rev. 17:16)
• He is supported by the ten “kings” (leaders) who pledge allegiance to him. (Rev. 17:17)
• He IS the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, and he will desecrate the Temple of God (YHWH) (Matthew 24:15-16)
• If people refuse to worship him and take his mark, they will not be able to buy, sell, work, or live in the global antichrist kingdom. They will be BEHEADED. (Rev. 20:4)

Most scholars believe that the end times clock began ticking when Israel was REBORN as a nation. ⏰ In the Bible, Israel is known as the FIG TREE. Israel was REBORN as a nation on May 14, 1948.

Matthew 24 lists a series of signs, known as birthpains of the second coming. The signs listed have happened all throughout the ages, but when these signs hit a fever pitch, we know that Jesus’ return is imminent. (Mass deception on a global scale, LAWLESSNESS, famines, pestilence (plagues), Wars/rumors of war, earthquakes in various places, severe weather events, celestial signs in the sky, severe Christian persecution.)

Matthew 24:³² “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near; 

³³ so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. ³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

Are we seeing these signs today? Have we seen mass deception on a global scale? Have we seen massive plagues? What about wars and rumors of war, are they picking up? How about earthquakes and tsunamis? Have there been signs in the Heavens?

This Divided Kingdom will not cleave well together. Jesus tells us that a Divided Kingdom cannot stand. We know that even today, the Illuminati, Satan worshippers are working hard to bring about the New World Order. Are they working, now, with the leaders of Islam? Are these two groups the ones who do not mix together well, as iron and clay do not mix to form this final version of man’s kingdom on earth? Both worship the dragon (Satan), but in different ways. The antichrist is first and foremost a deceiver. He is a smooth talker, a silver-tongued devil who will convince nearly the whole world he is a “good guy”.

Both the Jews and the Muslims are waiting for their Messiah (Moshiach in Judaism/Mahdi in Islam).

Jewish Leaders are ANTICIPATING the coming of their Moshiach

One of the principles of Jewish faith enumerated by Maimonides is that one day there will arise a dynamic Jewish leader, a direct descendant of the Davidic dynasty, who will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, and gather Jews from all over the world and bring them back to the Land of Israel.

The Jewish leaders (Sanhedrin) believe that all the nations of the world will recognize Moshiach to be a world leader and will accept his dominion. In the messianic era there will be world peace, no more wars nor famine, and, in general, a high standard of living.

They believe that all mankind will worship one God and live a more spiritual and moral way of life. The Jewish nation will be preoccupied with learning Torah and fathoming its secrets.

Jesus Christ IS the Jewish Messiah

When Jesus Christ (Moshiach-Anointed One) was on the earth the first time, the Jewish leadership MISSED the time of their visitation. Jesus Christ, the true Moshiach, was here on the earth as the Son of God who takes away the sin of the world. ✝️ But the majority of Jewish people did NOT recognize HIM. Even though Jesus Christ FULFILLED over 300 JEWISH PROPHECIES of their coming Moshiach, they did not recognize Him

Isaiah 9:6: For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace

The “partial blindness” of the Jewish people was in-fact part of God’s plan; however, to bring the Gentiles (non-Jews) into the FAMILY of GOD through the JEWISH MOSHIACH (YAHSHUA HAMASHIACH/JESUS CHRIST).

Isaiah 42:6: “I am the Lord, I have called YOU (tfj: Jesus Christ) in righteousness,
I will also hold YOU (tfj: Jesus Christ) by the hand and watch over You,
And I will appoint You (tfj: Jesus Christ) as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the nations (gentiles), ✝️💡

Here are just 8 Jewish prophecies about the Jewish MOSHIACH that Jesus fulfilled.

1. The time of His birth (see the Daniel 8 & 9 Timeline)
2. He would be born in Bethlehem.  (Micah 5:2)
3. He would be born of a virgin.  (Isaiah 7:14)
4. He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.  (Zechariah 11:12)
5. He would be mocked.  (Psalm 22:7,8)
6. He would be crucified.  (John 3:14)
7. He would be pierced.  (Psalm 22:16)
8. He would die with the wicked, but He would be buried with the rich.  (Isaiah 53:9)

What are the odds of Jesus fulfilling JUST these 8 Messianic prophecies, let alone the OVER 300 that He fulfilled?

Professor Peter W. Stoner was Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College and Chairman of the science division at Westmont College. In his book, Science Speaks, Professor Stoner outlines the mathematical probability of one person in the first century fulfilling just eight of the most clear and straightforward Messianic prophecies.

Josh and Sean McDowell quote Stoner in their book, Evidence That Demands a Verdict:

We find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 10¹⁷ (1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000).

In case you’re wondering, the Mega Millions had a $1.6 billon jackpot in October 2018, and the odds of winning it were merely 1 in 302,575,350. — The Statistical Probability of Jesus Fulfilling the Messianic Prophecies – Theology for the People

There were SEVERAL prophecies in the Jewish Tanakh (Old Testament) that indicated the Jewish people WOULD REJECT their own Moshiach.

Psalm 118:22: A stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.”

Isaiah 53:7: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

Barabbas is a “type” of the antichrist whom the Jewish people WILL RECEIVE 😱

At the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, Rome allowed the Jewish people one prisoner that could be set free. They were given the choice between the murderer Barabbas. The name Barabbas literally means “son of the father” in Hebrew. They chose to FREE the murderer and rebel Barabbas, and to crucify their Moshiach Jesus Christ, the True Son of the Father (God). Of course, this is not to malign the Jewish people because this was God’s plan all along.

However, their acceptance of a murderer in place of their True Moshiach Jesus Christ (Yahshua) is a FORESHADOWING of what will happen at the end of days when they RECEIVE the antichrist as their Moshiach.

John 18:40: So they shouted again, saying, “Not this Man (tfj: Jesus), but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a rebel.

Jesus Himself told us that the Jewish people WILL RECEIVE the ANTICHRIST as their Moshiach. Sadly, they will be deceived into TRUSTING this individual. This misplaced trust will ultimately be their UNDOING. The antichrist will appear to be Israel’s Moshiach, which means he will CLAIM to have some connection to the line of David. But he is a deceiver, and he will turn on them in the final 3.5 years of the Great Tribulation (Time of Jacob’s Trouble).

John 5:43: I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

Ultimately, after the time of Jacob’s trouble, the Jewish people WILL recognize Jesus as their MOSHIACH. ✝️ For the majority of them, this will not happen until Jesus returns. The Lord will UNBLIND their eyes. The Bible says that when the Jewish people finally realize WHO Jesus is, they will MOURN as one mourns for the loss of an ONLY SON. 😭

Romans 11:25: For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial blindness 🧑🏻‍🦯‍➡️has happened to Israel UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

Zechariah 14: 3Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. ⁴ On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west forming a very large valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and the other half toward the south.

Zechariah 12:10: “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of pleading🕊️, so that they will look at Me whom they pierced✝️; and they will mourn for Him😭, like one mourning for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.

Muslim leaders are ANTICIPATING the coming of their Mahdi⚔️

In Islamic eschatology (study of the end times), Muslims believe that their Mahdi will appear to rid the world of evil and injustice. He is said to be the descendant of Muhammed. The Mahdi is in several compilations of the Hadith but is not in the Quran.

“Shia Islam is the second-largest denomination of Muslims; it gives greater weight to the title Imam than does Sunni Islam. Most Shia believe there have only been twelve “true” Imams, the last of which has been hiding unseen on earth since the ninth century. According to this belief, “the last Imam” will one day return, along with Jesus Christ, to defeat Satan and an antichrist-like figure, Al-Masih ad-Dajjal.”

Muslims believe that Jesus Christ was a prophet, but they FAIL to acknowledge HIM as the Son of God. According to the Bible, this is spirit of antichrist! (1 John 4:3) 👿

In Sunni tradition, before the arrival of the Mahdi, the earth would be filled with anarchy and chaos. Divisions and civil wars, moral degradation, and worldliness would be prevalent among the Muslims. Injustice and oppression would be rampant in the world.

Mahdi is a title meaning “guided one.” He is anticipated as the “perfect Muslim” who will reappear and unite the world under Islam. According to Shia beliefs, Muhammad bin al-Hasan was born near the end of the ninth century and was no longer seen after the middle of the tenth century. This disappearance was supposedly not the result of death but of a divine cloaking, known as occultation.

The doctrine of occultation contrasts with the belief of Sunni Muslims and a small proportion of Shia Muslims who believe al-Mahdi has not yet been born. Or, at least, that he has not yet publicly appeared on the world stage. Shia belief in the role of the Twelfth Imam is at least partially responsible for Iran’s approach to international politics.

Some observers of world events wonder about a possible connection between the Muslim Mahdi and the Biblical Antichrist.👿

1. The Bible says that the tribulation will last for seven years, and Islam claims that the Twelfth Imam will rule the world for the same amount of time.
2. Muslims anticipate three years of chaos before the revealing of the Twelfth Imam, and the Bible speaks of three and a half years of tribulation before the Antichrist reveals his true nature by desecrating the Jewish temple.
3. The Bible describes the Antichrist as a deceiver who claims to bring peace but who actually brings widespread war⚔️; the expectation of the Twelfth Imam is that he will bring peace through massive war with the rest of the world. ⚔️

Will the antichrist be the coming Islamic (MAHDI)? Will he be a “secret worshipper” of Islam for the first 3.5 years of the Tribulation? The Bible indicates he will first appear to be the Jewish Moshiach before he shows his “true colors”, desecrating the Jewish Temple.

666, The number of the beast 👿

Daniel 2:43:  And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.

We at dyingworld believe that we are in the last days, even the “eleventh hour”. ⏰ Because we believe this, we also believe that the antichrist is alive today. Who is he? Like many Christians, we have some thoughts on this, but until he is conclusively revealed, we cannot know for sure.

However, God did give us a clue in His Word, and it is about a number….666. I’m sure most people on the planet have heard of 666. What is 666?

Revelation 13: 16: And he (tfj: false prophet) causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, (tfj: mark of the beast)

¹⁷ and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. ¹⁸ Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

For centuries people have tried to figure out this puzzle (666), the number of the Beast, the antichrist. In Hebrew Gematria, this number has been identified as Roman Emperor Nero, Hitler, and others throughout the ages. Of course, these individuals were influenced by the antichrist spirit, but they were NOT THE ANTICHRIST.

The world has wondered…who is the antichrist? How can we recognize him? Is he alive and on the earth today? The best way to recognize the antichrist is to have a CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CHRIST!!! The only way to spot a counterfeit savior is to KNOW the REAL SAVIOR – JESUS CHRIST. ✝️

Revelation 13:18: Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

You may find this short video very interesting if you are wondering about the number 666. Things are not always as they seem.

Take heart, Jesus Christ IS GOD and HE has overcome the world! He will defeat the antichrist, and the New World Order and Jesus will set up His Glorious and Righteous Kingdom that will have no end! Hallelujah!!!