The Antichrist will be the last great leader that humanity will give itself at the end of time, and who will lead it in its ultimate revolt against the Lord and his Christ. God sent his only Son to save humanity lost in sin. He is the perfect Man. But most men rejected him, Israel in particular (cf. John 1:5.10-11). Jesus predicted that if another comes they will receive him (cf. John 5:43). This sums up the meaning of the Antichrist.

Indeed, it is inaccurate to call him Antichrist (ante = Latin: before). The Greek word “anti christos” rather means “one who is against Christ” or even better “one who supplants Christ” (cf. 1 John 2:18; 2 Timothy 2:3-4). Some think that the Antichrist would only be a pernicious system or a collective evil spirit which would manifest itself particularly at the end of time. But we believe that a large number of biblical texts are more reminiscent of a real personality:

Will the Antichrist really be a person?

For the apostle John, the Antichrist is a person: 1 John 2:18-19. There have always been precursors of the Antichrist of the end times: for example Antiochus Epiphanes (cf. Daniel 30 8:9-26; 11:21-35), but also others: 1 John 2:18 -19.22; Matthew 24:5.24. In 2 John 7, we read that the characteristic of the Antichrist is to deny Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God (cf. 1 John 4:1ff). The apostle Paul gives the Antichrist names that can only be applied to one person: 2 Timothy 2:3-4.8. The name “son of perdition” is also given by Jesus to Judas (John 17:12).

Several passages in Daniel also bring to mind a character: Daniel 7:24-26; 8:23-35 25. In Daniel 9:27, there is talk of a king, a destroyer: cf. Daniel 11:36.38.41.45.

In Revelation he is called “the beast” (Revelation 13:1; 17:8; 19:19-20; 20:10) which is in contrast to Jesus Christ “the Lamb” (Revelation 5:6 ; 6:16; 14:1; 17:14; 21:22-27). In Revelation 17 it is clearly stated that the beast is a king, that is, a person.

The seduction of the Antichrist

Satan already caused the first men to fall by means of seduction: cf. Genesis 3; 2 Corinthians 11:3. He disguises himself as an angel of light and his ministers and ambassadors do the same (2 Corinthians 11:14-20 15). The Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; 24:4-5.11.23-25), the apostle Paul (2 Timothy 2:9-12; Acts 20:29-30) and the apostle John (1 John 4 :1-3; Revelation 13:3-4.11-15) warn us against these deceptions. There have always been false prophets and false messiahs (false Christs) who deceived men with flattering words and often even with miracles. But beautiful words and miracles are no guarantee of divine origin. The devil and his ministers can also perform powerful miracles. This is why Jesus said that by their fruits we will know them (Matthew 7:20), and Paul exhorts us to examine all things (1 Timothy 5:21).

WHERE WILL THE ANTICHRIST COME FROM?

Many commentators have thought that the Antichrist of the end times will be a Jew. Already Irenaeus, in 180 AD. B.C., thought he would be from the tribe of Dan because of Gen 49:16-17, since this tribe is omitted in the listing of the 12 tribes in Revelation 7:4-8. Jerome (350-420 AD) says that the Antichrist will be the only Jew who will rule over all the earth. Some say it will be a Jew otherwise the Jews will not agree to make an alliance with him (Daniel 9:27). But the example of Antiochus Epiphanes shows the weakness of this assertion.

Many of the Jews had entered into a covenant with him even though he was a pagan (cf. Daniel 11:30-33). Wycliffe, Luther, Calvin and many others were convinced that the Antichrist is the Pope. We do not think so. Still others had thought of Nero, Hitler or other figures in history who turned out to be particularly anti-Jewish or anti-Christian. For us, these ungodly people were only precursors of the end-time Antichrist, just like Antiochus Epiphanes.

On the other hand, what seems to us to be confirmed by the biblical texts is that the Antichrist will emerge from the midst of the kingdom of the fourth beast: Daniel 7:7-8.19-25. The passage from Daniel 7:13.25-27 ( together with the parallels of Daniel 12:7-13 and Revelation 13:1) leaves no doubt that this is the Antichrist of the end times. The fourth beast in Daniel 7 undoubtedly represents the Roman kingdom. The fact that the 10 horns of Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 and 17 reign together for a short time, that is, for 3 ½ years, proves that this is not Rome in the time of Jesus Christ, but that Rome should reappear at the end of time.

This is suggested (if not proven) by the following texts: Daniel 7:13.25-26: this emperor will not be destroyed until the Son of man will come on the clouds, therefore: during the return of Christ. This is confirmed by: 2 Timothy 2:8 and Revelation 19:11-21.

Daniel 2: the fourth phase of the statue (iron = Rome, like the fourth beast in Dan 7 with iron teeth = Rome) is followed by a fifth phase: the feet with toes made of iron and clay. The 10 toes refer to the end times (just like the 10 horns of Daniel 7, Revelation 13 and 17) since this last world kingdom will only meet its end when the stone loosened from a mountain destroys the image and fills all the earth (cf. Christ’s kingdom on earth in Revelation 5:10; Daniel 2:35 and Zechariah 14:9).

That this destructive king is yet to come is confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 24:15 which is a quote from Daniel 9:27. Revelation 13:3-4 also suggests that this beast, the Antichrist, comes from a kingdom that once existed (cf. the head wounded to death, but which was healed again).

Revelation 17:7-11 also suggests that the beast will come out of a kingdom that was, which is no more but which is to appear again.
And, last but not least: Daniel 11:40-45 could make one think that this wicked king, the Antichrist of the end times, will come from the west: in this text (where it is about the last war where the Antichrist will find his end) we read of armies coming from the south, the north and the east. But the Antichrist is yet another. In fact, all that remains for him is the West.

For our part, these texts make us think that the Antichrist will arise in the Roman kingdom which will reappear at the end of time, because the little horn comes out of the fourth beast which we can only identify with Rome. Some believe that Revelation 17:8-11 could suggest that the Antichrist is not an ordinary man since the beast (i.e. the Antichrist) ascends from the abyss. Some then go so far as to think that the Antichrist (the son of perdition) could be a satanic incarnation (like the incarnation of Jesus Christ).

The fact that the Antichrist will be thrown with the False Prophet into hell before the 1000 years, that is to say before the judgment of the white throne (where all unbelieving men will be judged: cf. Revelation 20:11-15 ), could also suggest that he will not be an ordinary man.
Moreover, in Revelation 9:1, it is indeed demons (fallen angels) who are released from the abyss to be able to harm unbelieving men for a certain time. The fact that in verse 11 it is said that their king is the angel Apollyon (= the destroyer: therefore the devil) proves that these wicked beings are angelic powers, evil spirits. Will the Antichrist perhaps also be an angelic being? On the other hand, one wonders whether Satan’s power goes so far (and whether God will really permit such counterfeiting?) that he can imitate even the mystery of the incarnation? Let me be clear: these thoughts are speculative and therefore not normative at all. We leave the question open.

7. What will be the power of the Antichrist?

a.) The power of the Antichrist will be of supernatural and diabolical origin Revelation 13:2; 17:8; 2 Timothy 2:9-10 (katV evne,rgeian tou/ Satana/ = by the energy of Satan). John H. Alexander, Revelation Verse by Verse, 4th ed. (Geneva: La Maison de la Bible, 1986), pp. 261-263.

24 The satanic triad: a 6 for the dragon, the devil, who seeks to be worshiped as God: cf. Matthew 4:9; a 6 for the beast, the Antichrist, who opposes Christ and presents himself as a false messiah, and a third 6 for the False prophet who makes propaganda for the Antichrist, and will glorify him before men so that they love it.

b.) God himself will allow the Antichrist to establish his Empire
Revelation 13:5-7; 2 Timothy 2:9-11; cf. Revelation 12:12; 17:17 (cp. Isaiah 10:5-7.12: Assyria serves as God’s rod to punish his unfaithful people).

c.) He will first base his power on the countries of the fourth kingdom of Daniel.

As we said above, it will be the Roman kingdom that will reappear at the end of time: Daniel 7:7-8.23-25; cf. Revelation 13:1-3; 17:7. Whether this kingdom of the ten horns will be related to the European Union or to the Atlantic Pact (NATO/NATO), as some have suggested, we do not know. But what we are convinced of

10 (based on the texts indicated), is that it will be an alliance of ten kingdoms (or ten kings: Daniel 7:7.24; Revelation 17:12) which will arise from the old kingdom Roman.

d.) He will extend his power by conquest and by brute force Daniel 7:7; 11:36-45; Revelation 13:4.

e.) He will achieve universal domination: political, economic and religious Daniel 7:23; 2 Timothy 2:4; Revelation 13:3-8.15-17.

8. What will be the attitude of the Antichrist towards God?

Arrogance: Daniel 7:25; 11:36-37; 2 Timothy 2:4; Revelation 13:5-6.

9. What will be the attitude of the Antichrist towards the saints?

He will persecute Christians and Jews who live in the time of the great tribulation: Daniel 7:21.25; 9:27 (Israel); Revelation 12:13-15 (the woman = Israel); Revelation 12:17 (those who have the testimony of Jesus = Christians). Christians, martyrs of the great tribulation, see also: Revelation 7:13-14; 13:7-10, Revelation 20:4.

10. What will be the attitude of the Antichrist towards Babylon, the prostitute?

Revelation 17 seems to suggest this: 17:1-3: The harlot first sits on the beast. Later the beast will destroy the prostitute (Revelation 17:16-17). René Pache25 believes that this chapter suggests that the beast will initially use the prostitute Babylon to achieve power. But once it had become the authority over all the earth, and after having already pursued the Jews and the We believe that verses 16 to 18 of Revelation 17 favor this interpretation.

11. How long will the Antichrist’s regime last?
    There are four expressions (or numbers) in eight passages that talk about it:

a.) “A time, times, and half a time” Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 12:14. The other expressions prove that it means three and a half years, that is to say that it is a question of: one time, two times 27 and half a time.

b.) Half the week

Daniel 9:24-27: in this text it is a question of 70 weeks (in Hebrew: chābou‛īm = 10 weeks. But it is a question of weeks of years, therefore of 70 x 7 years. In Daniel 9:24- 27, the 70 weeks (of years) are divided into three groups: 7 + 62 + 1 = 70. The 70th week, i.e. the last, is divided into two parts. Half therefore represents 3 years and a half!28

c.) 42 months

Revelation 11:2 and 13:5: The month in the Jewish calendar has 30 days. 42 months therefore corresponds exactly to 3 and a half years!

d.)1260 days

Revelation 11:3 and 12:6: counting years of 360 days like the Jews, that’s exactly three and a half years! We wonder why God specifies the duration of the reign of the Antichrist. In any case it is good to know that God will limit the time of the Antichrist’s reign. This is probably why Jesus said that if these days were not shortened, no one would be saved… (Matthew 24:22). These texts will serve as encouragement to those who will go through this terrible period and who nevertheless expect God’s intervention.

This text is an extract from the book “Why This Tumult Among the Nations?” written by Jérémie TCHINDEBE.

We invite you to read the following article “What Does the Bible Say About War?“