The Anti-Christ

Periodically, different ones will make the claim that the end of the world is near. They point to various “signs” that indicate that the time is upon us. These signs are ripped from the book of Revelation and other places in the Bible with no regard to the context or the purpose of the book. The reality is that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief” (2 Peter 3:10), not with signs so we will expect it. But this certainly does not keep people from creating these fanciful theories.

One of the supposed signs of the end is the coming of the “anti-christ.” This entity is often linked with the beasts of Revelation 13. Many believe the anti-christ will be some political leader. Some have even suggested certain leaders in this country as the anti-christ. But I can tell you with certainty that none of these are the anti-christ.

So who, or what, is the anti-christ? It is really not as mysterious as many people think. To be able to answer this question, it may be wise to look at the passages that talk about the anti-christ. It is mentioned just four times in Scripture.

  • Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; for this we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18).
  • 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” (1 John 2:22).
  • 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” (1 John 4:3).
  • 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” (2 John 7).

Consider a few points about these passages:

  • None of the passages are from the book of Revelation. Even if one was to accept that the book of Revelation contains signs that point to the end of the world (which is not what the majority of the book is about), the book still does not mention the anti-christ.
  • The anti-christ is said to be coming at “the last hour,” not at the end of the world. Some believe these phrases are synonymous, but they are not. John said, “It is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). The last hour is not talking about the end of the world, but the time when we are under the gospel of Christ (Hebrews 1:2). The last days or last hour began in the first century, continues through today, and will continue until the end of the world.
  • The world is not anticipating the coming of the anti-christ. He is “already in the world” (1 John 4:3).
  • There is not one anti-christ, but many (1 John 2:18).
  • The anti-christ is connected with false teaching about Christ (1 John 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 7).

So who is the anti-christ? It is the false teacher. Those who would teach things contrary to or opposed to Christ are anti-christ. There are many in the world and we must be aware of them.

So it is really much simpler than most people make it out to be. The anti-christ is not some mysterious entity or some spiritual being. There are “many antichrists” because “many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 2:18; 4:1).

Do not be deceived by false teachers. Test their teachings. Accept only the truth, not what men claim is the truth.


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