Who Is the Antichrist? | 3 Views

Type of Doctrine: Typically Tertiary

"Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour."

-1 John 2:18 ESV

Why Does It Matter?

Should we expect an end times antichrist? In other words, should we expect an evil person at the end of time who will deceive the nations? Or have we had many antichrists? Or can anything or anyone who opposes Christ be considered antichrist? This article will cover the main views on this topic.

This is typically considered a tertiary issue. Why? This issue usually does not affect a primary doctrine or the church that one would choose to attend.

What Is It?

The word "antichrist" comes from a Greek term from Scripture. It could be interpreted in a couple of different ways. The author of the entry in the New Dictionary of Theology comments:

The term (Gk. antichristos) is used in the Bible only in 1 Jn. 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 Jn. 7. As used there, it probably indicates an opponent of Christ, rather than (as the Gk. anti could also imply) one who falsely claims to be the Christ. But many later interpreters have taken up the latter possibility and have seen the antichrist as a false Christ (cf. Mk. 13:22) as well as an opponent of Christ. (31)

Key Scriptures:

• [1Jo 2:18 ESV] 18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

  • (Note: It's important to notice the plural in this verse ["antichrists"]. Does that mean there are more than one antichrist? Answering that question may affect your view below.)

• [1Jo 2:22 ESV] 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

• [1Jo 4:2-3 ESV] 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, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

• [2Jo 1:7 ESV] 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

3 Views on the Antichrist

View	Description
The antichrist is a future individual	Jewish apocalyptic literature expected an evil person at the end of time. This person, as they thought, would be a political ruler who would try to persuade people he was divine. He would also convince the nations to persecute God's people. Similarly, in the early church and medieval time periods, many also thought that the antichrist would be a future individual. (As noted earlier, some have considered this person to be an opponent of Christ while others have considered this person to be a false Christ, or perhaps both!)
The antichrist is a specific entity but not a specific person	In the 1500s, many Protestants identified the antichrist with an institution, not a specific person. Many claimed that the antichrist was the Roman papacy (i.e., the succession of leaders/popes in the Roman Catholic Church).
The antichrist is a principle of opposition	Others understood the antichrist as a general principle of opposition against God and his people. At times this may be an individual; other times, however, it may be an institution. Some still believe that there may be a final antichrist figure as well.

Application

In a specific sense, John gives us some application points in the following verses.

• Don't deny that Jesus is the Christ

  • [1Jo 2:22 ESV] 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

• Don't deny that Jesus Christ became human

  • [1Jo 4:2-3 ESV] 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, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

  • [2Jo 1:7 ESV] 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

However, in a broader sense we should not think, say, or do anything that is against Jesus' desires. How do we know his desires? We should read the Bible!

Regarding the future, and the potential of an antichrist coming, we should hold fast to Jesus until the end. He is worthy of our continued faithfulness. (For more on end times views, click here.)

Where Can I Learn More?

Bibliography:

-Ferguson, Sinclair B., David F. Wright, and J. I. Packer, eds. New Dictionary of Theology: A Concise and Authoritative Resource. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1988.