Q: #71. Who, or what, is the Antichrist?
A: As I have stated a number of times, I am not an expert in the study of eschatology (end times), but here is my understanding of who the Antichrist is.
He is given a number of names in the Bible, and when we look at them, we get a picture of who he is, some of his attributes, and what he will do. Following is a list of some of those names.
Little horn (Dan 7:8, 8:9)
King of fierce countenance (Dan 8:23)
Prince that shall come (Dan 9:26)
Vile person (Dan 11:21)
Willful king (Dan 11:36)
Worthless shepherd (Zech 11:16-17)
Son of perdition/Man of sin (2 Th 2:3)
Wicked one (2 Th 2:8)
The Beast (Rev 11:7)(Rev 13:1,3)(Rev 14:9)(Rev 15:2)(Rev 16:2)(Rev 17:3,13)(Rev 19:20)(Rev 20:10)
He will likely come out of the revived Roman Empire (Dan 7:24), and will receive his power from Satan (the Dragon)(Rev 13:2,4). Most scholars seem to believe he will be Jewish based on (Ezek 28:9-10)(Dan 11:37-38). However, others believe he will be Gentile based on other verses. Personally, I believe he will be Jewish based on the simple fact that unless he was of Jewish descent, the Jews would never believe he was the coming Messiah they are expecting.
At the beginning of the Tribulation (which lasts for 7 years), he will become a world leader and make a covenant of peace with Israel, but midway through the Tribulation (3 and a half years), he will break this treaty of peace and make war (Dan 9:27)(Rev 13:7).
Here is a list of some of the things he will do during the Tribulation.
He will:
Be boastful (Dan 7:8)
Trample down the Jews (Dan 8:10)
Desecrate the Temple (Dan 8:11)
Understand dark sentences (Be insolent and skilled in intrigue: NASB)(Dan 8:23)
Be deceitful, magnify himself, and oppose Jesus Christ (Dan 8:25)
Exalt and magnify himself above God, and speak against God (Dan 11:36-37)
Oppose God, set himself up as God in the Temple, and claim to be God (2 Th 2:3)
Have power and perform signs and wonders (2 Th 2:9)(Rev 13:13)
Be worshipped by many (Rev 13:4,8)
Speak great (proud) words and blasphemies (Rev 13:5-6)
Make war against the saints (Rev 13:7)
Make fire come down from Heaven (Rev 13:13)
The Antichrist (the beast) will be defeated by Christ at the end of the Tribulation and cast into the lake of fire (Rev 19:19-20).
I might also add here that the word “antichrist” is not just used to describe this single man in the Tribulation. It is also descriptive of any person who denies Jesus is the Christ or denies the Father and the Son (1 Jn 2:22), as well as, any person who does not confess Jesus is come in the flesh (1 Jn 4:3)(2 Jn 1:7).