Will the coming Antichrist be a person or a system?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ginnybee on January 8, 2010 at 10:06am

Thank you, Alan. That makes good sense. I was wondering, also though, if someone would like to explain how they view particularly the description of Antichrist in the bible, for example, the seven headed, 10 horned beast. Could that illustration pertain to a political system where there are seven leaders in charge and maybe seven oppressive laws apportioned to them? ..or something along those lines, lol.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by littlesheep88 on January 8, 2010 at 8:24pm

By Mary Fairchild, About.com Guide
Who is the Antichrist?
Although the Bible does not specifically name who the antichrist will be, it does give us some clues as to what he will be like.

Speculation
During my research I came across a lot of current speculation about the antichrist, who he is or who he might be. A great many unlikely guesses were among the suggestions. The most popular names to come up were George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and the Pope. I too have been accused of being the antichrist by a few of my readers who don't agree with a biblical perspective or an editorial I've written. However, it's highly improbable that one of these (Bush, Obama, Benedict, or Me) is the actual "son of perdition" spoken of in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2.
Bible Names for Antichrist:
By taking a look at the different names for the antichrist in the Bible, we can gain a better understanding of the kind of person he will be.
Antichrist
The name "antichrist" is only found in 1 John 2:18, 2:22, 4:3, and 2 John 7. The apostle John was the only Bible writer to use the name antichrist. Studying these verses, we learn that many antichrists (false teachers) will appear between the time of Christ's first and second coming, but there will be one great antichrist who will rise to power during the end times, or "last hour," as 1 John phrases it. He will deny that Jesus is the Christ. He will deny both God the Father and God the Son. He will be a liar and a deceiver.
1 John 4:1-3 says, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world." (NKJV)

By the end times, many will easily be deceived and embrace the antichrist because his spirit will already dwell within the world.

Man of Sin
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, the antichrist is described as the "man of sin," or "son of perdition." Here Paul, like John, is also warning believers about the antichrist's ability to deceive:
"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." (NKJV)

The NIV makes it clearer that a time of rebellion will come prior to Christ's return and then the "man of lawlessness, the man doomed to destruction" will be revealed. The antichrist eventually will exalt himself above God to be worshiped in the Lord's Temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Verses 9 and 10 say that the antichrist will do counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, to gain a following and deceive many.

The Beast
In Revelation 13:5-8, the antichrist is referred to as "the beast."

"Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made—the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered." (NLT) We see this name "the beast" used for antichrist several times in Revelation.

The antichrist will gain political power and spiritual authority over every nation on the earth. He will most likely begin his rise to power as a very influential, very charismatic, political or religious diplomat. He will rule the world government for forty-two months. According to many eschatologists, this time frame is understood to be during the latter half (3.5 years) of the tribulation. During this period, the world will endure a time of unprecedented trouble.

A Little Horn
In Daniel's prophetic vision of the end of days we see "a little horn" described in chapters 7, 8 and 11.
In the interpretation of the dream, this little horn is a ruler or king, and speaks, of the antichrist. Daniel 7:24-25 says, "The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time." (NIV)

According to many end times Bible scholars, Daniel's prophecy interpreted together with verses in Revelation, specifically point to a future world empire coming from a "revived" or "reborn" Roman Empire, like the one in existence at the time of Christ. They predict that the antichrist will emerge from this race.

Joel Rosenberg, author of fiction (Dead Heat, The Copper Scroll, Ezekiel Option, The Last Days, The Last Jihad) and non-fiction (Epicenter) books about Bible prophecy, bases his conclusions about the antichrist on extensive Scripture study including Daniel's prophecy, Ezekiel 38-39, and the Book of Revelation. He says that at first, the antichrist won't appear to be evil, but rather a charming diplomat. In an interview on April 25, 2008, he told Glenn Beck of CNN that the antichrist will be "somebody who understands the economy and the global sphere and wins people, a winsome character."

Rosenberg went on to say, "No commerce can be done without his approval. He will be ... seen as an economic genius, a foreign policy genius. And he will emerge out of Europe. Because Daniel chapter 9 says, the prince, who is to come, the antichrist, will come from people who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple ... Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans. We are looking for someone of a reconstituted Roman Empire ..."

False Christ
In the Gospels (Mark 13, Matthew 24-25, and Luke 21), Jesus warned his followers of the terrible events and persecution that will occur before his second coming. Most likely, this is where the concept of an antichrist was first introduced to the disciples, although Jesus does not refer to him in the singular:
"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." (Matthew 24:24, NKJV)

Conclusion
Is the Antichrist alive today? He could be. Will we recognize him? Perhaps not at first. However, the best way to avoid being deceived by the spirit of the antichrist is to know Jesus Christ and be ready for his return.

(http://christianity.about.com/od/endtimestopicalstudy/a/antichrist.htm)

Be Blessed :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gregory Paul Danielson on September 3, 2015 at 4:05pm

In my studies the Holy Spirit teaches me that the little horn (that man of sin, the son of perdition) is not that antichrist, neither the beast, but an ignoble inexperienced leader that's allowed by God to weaken and waste away that nation he arose out of;  bringing it to desolation because of exceeding sin.  

The book of Daniel, specifically chapters 2, 7, and 8 reveal seven kingdoms, which coincide with Revelation 13 & 17.  Most prophecy students assume a four kingdom view, but the truth is the image reveals seven kingdoms: Egypt, Babylon, Media/Persia, Greece, Rome, Divided Rome, and the U.S.A.  That which king Neb. dreamed was God's way (by Daniel) to inform them that the Bablylonian kingdom would be succeeded. What most believers miss is that Babylon conquered Egypt, even as God gave the Egyptian kingdom to king Neb. (2 Kings 24:7; Ezek. 29:19). This why Daniel said what he did in Daniel 2:37.  Daniel Chapter 2 reveals seven kingdoms, not four.

Daniel 7 is all about the seventh kingdom, the U.S.A.  The "four beasts" in this chapter refer not to physical kingdoms as traditionally taught, but to four eras that make up the U.S.A.  How we know this is by Daniel 8:22, "Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power."  The word " up" is amad, which means to abide, tarry, remain, etc.  In other words, these four, which are four kingdoms, as per Daniel 7:17, are not physical kingdoms, for they come not about by power (conquest), rather these kingdoms refer to four eras that build upon another, to the fourth, which make the seventh kingdom, the U.S.A.  

Scripture then reveals these four eras: 1st Era: 1789 - 1913; 2nd Era: 1913 - 1933; 3rd Era: 1933-1953; 4th Era: 1953-2009, which has ten kings (Eisenhower - Bush Jr.; that after the tenth king (Bush Jr.) then comes the little horn (an ignoble inexperienced leader) who is identified in Obama (scripture gives great detail identifying the little horn, which Obama matches perfectly), but Obama is not that antichrist; rather he works in concert with the false prophet (pope?) and the beast (the U.S. of the fourth era that receives a mortal head wound during the little horn's reign that is healed by the U.S. being possessed by Islam.  

Scripture teaches me that the Antichrist consists of the little horn (leader and mouth), the false prophet (another beast), and the beast (the U.S. possessed by Islam). 

In Christ,

Greg

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David Samuel Milumba on September 8, 2015 at 4:39am

My sister my contribution is that we as believers we are not suppose to be concerned about the Anti-Christ for we are not looking for their appearance even though they do appear openly for I believe they are already here working through disobedient people. The Lord is faithful, in Hebrews 13:5 He tells us that He would never leave us or forsake us, what a beautiful promise hence we do not need to worry about the anti-Christ. In the book Titus 2:13 the Lord is telling us what we should be waiting for, His second coming to earth. I am looking for the second of my Lord and not the Anti-Christ for I do believe they have already been defeated by our victorious king, Jesus Christ who is reigning forever and ever.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gregory Paul Danielson on September 8, 2015 at 12:29pm

Amen. But what was the reason for Jesus Christ's first Advent? Wasn't it to demonstrate the law of righteousness that had been forsaken by the Sanhedrin, which by their traditions corrupted society, that Jesus Christ, who is the Personification of the law of righteousness, that whosoever believes in Him (which means those that believe in Him agree to His way of righteousness) understood  His gospel preached was for them to  repent and keep the law of righteousness, which He made it possible for us to do by His cross?

But His gospel has been turned into another, which is not another, but a lie, which today believe we no longer live by His law of righteousness; that because of them thinking this, His gospel has been replaced by another: "the Substitutionary  Sacrifice of Christ" doctrine, which is deceiving believers, leading them to think they're something they are not.  This other gospel (The Substitute Sacrifice of Christ) has pervaded 99.9% of today's church, leaving an remnant that have and do His law of righteousness, which those that believe this other gospel think it's impossible to keep His law, which has indoctrinated them to think anyone who says the keep the law of righteousness are deceived themselves, and a liar.  

But what "they" fail to understand is that it's by grace (godly sorrow) through faith (believing in Jesus Christ who is the Giver and Personification of the Law that demonstrated the law of righteousness while in the flesh) in Him that makes it possible for us to keep the law of righteousness (which differs from the law of ordinances).

Therefore all believers that believe it's impossible to keep the law of righteousness, won't, for they believe it's impossible. But Jesus said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes" (Mk. 9:27).

Those that do not believe it's possible to keep His law, according to scripture, they are antichrist's, for they don't believe it's possible to keep His law of righteousness, which we do by grace. Therefore every believer that believes it's impossible to keep His law of righteousness, most likely, have bitten the apple of deception this other gospel teaches, which causes them to be of that spirit of antichrist (1 Jn. 2:19).

This is why we need to be diligent and vigilant; to make our calling and election sure; and to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for God has an expectation upon all those that name the name of Christ to keep His law of righteousness (2 Tim. 2:19).  

The bottom line is today's church misconstrues Romans 6:14: "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." The law we are no longer under isn't referring to the law of righteousness, which we are required and expected to keep, but to the law of ordinances. 

Therefore whosoever keeps not neither agrees to the law of righteousness is of that spirit of antichrist. 

In Christ

Greg

• ▶ Reply