“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” I John 2:18.
John is the only New Testament writer to use the term Antichrist. Antichrist is used only five times, all in these epistles, not once in the book of Revelation, where you might expect it to be.
This translation capitalizes the name Antichrist, whereas the word is not capitalized in the following usages, “many antichrists”; this is to highlight the difference between the two words.
The Antichrist is actually the man of sin, the beast, 666, the number of the name of the tribulation period world dictator.
The other antichrists mentioned in these passages are men who have been working to destroy the name of Christ throughout the church age.
Actually when you think about it they are preparing the way for this man God calls the beast.
These men and women are called liberal politicians, globalists, liberal theologians, atheists, communist, or socialists, these and more are all antichrists.
The Greek word, transliterated antichristos, has the same meaning all five times it is used, which is, “the adversary of the Messiah/Christ.”
This guy, the Antichrist, is also described by the Apostle Paul in II Thessalonians 2:3-9. I say this guy because I want everyone to clearly understand that the Antichrist is not a concept, a metaphor, or a type.
He is a man, a brute, sadist, narcissist, and a god hater who will force mankind to worship him or die. He will be an extremely powerful and intelligent person who will love neither women nor men, only power and military might.
“Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast [Antichrist] which I saw was like a leopard [swift in battle], his feet were like the feet of a bear [ponderously irresistible], and his mouth like the mouth of a lion [speaks with authority]. And the dragon [Satan] gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’ And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months [3 ½ years]. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.” Revelation 13:1-9.
There is more detail on these verses in the study of Revelation 13:1-10, posted here on 1-8-17.
He is the first horseman of the apocalypse, the rider on the white horse.
“Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, ‘Come and see.’ And I looked, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” Revelation 6:1-2.
Close your eyes for a moment and try to visualize this scene. You are standing on a vast plain, the sun is red and the skies are a muddy brown.
Suddenly something bumps you on the shoulder, large and muscular, it is a solid bump, you turn to look, and it is a beautiful white horse.
As you run your hand along its powerful flanks, you look up, and there is a man seated on it, arrayed in white robes, he has a bow slung over his shoulder, an exceedingly handsome man with a crown on his head, he looks down at you and he smiles.
He smiles not because he values you; he smiles because he wants you to worship him. If you have accepted Christ as your savior you do not have to smile back, Christians will not be here to see him.
As you look, there is only the slightest glint of evil in the eyes, as you begin to recognize this he bolts away in a choking cloud of dust; you watch until he disappears on the horizon, this man will ride throughout the entire tribulation, and cause unimaginable misery. Remember that, a man.
Like this evil person, many men have tried to mount that white horse, Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao Tse-tung. Vile, evil men who spoke of exalting mankind, but just enslaved and degraded the unfortunate masses who came under their power; and still men cry out for a man to lead them.
This world refuses to learn that, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” Lord Acton.
This is a fact of history, all the way back in time. Only the sinless Christ can lead in righteousness; and He will soon enough.
As referenced earlier, the Apostle Paul spoke of the Antichrist while trying to correct a misconception that the tribulation, the day of the Lord, had begun; upsetting many of the Thessalonians.
“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 [in Jerusalem], showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” II Thessalonians 2:3-9.
Though he was not known to them as the Antichrist, the Jews had some knowledge of this person’s activities from various passages in the Old Testament.
“He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints [believers] shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time [3 ½ years].” Daniel 7:25.
“Then the king [Antichrist] shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above them all. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things.” Daniel 11:36-38.
Antichrist rules with absolute authority as god for 3 ½ years, during the second half of the seven years of tribulation, then his end will come as surely as God has ordained the sun to rise tomorrow.
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” Revelation 19:11-14.
One can only imagine the deafening rumble of thunder as the King of Kings enters earth’s atmosphere spreading His glorious light all around as He reenters this darkened world to take possession.
“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet [see Revelation 13:11-18] who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two where cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Revelation 19:19-20.
Satan is then bound in chains and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years while Christ Jesus reigns on earth, after which Satan is released for a season during which he stirs up the rebellious among the people.
It is then that Satan will find his final resting place which God has ordained as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow.
“And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:10.
After one thousand years, the beast and false prophet will still be alive and tormented in fire and brimstone, and then along with Satan and all who reject Jesus as their savior will be tormented forever and forever.
This is not an exhaustive study, but is meant to clarify the difference between the Antichrist and the many antichrists.
Antichrist, 1 John 2:18a taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 11-26-11, updated on 5-24-18.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.