The Antichrist

by
William Arnold III
WmArnold@gmail.com

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Introduction · Who He is · What He Does (Religious) / (Military) / (Persecution) / (Other) · His End · And Apparently · Related Articles

Names: the antichrist (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7), the little horn (Dan. 7:8, 11, 20-21; 8:9), the despicable person (Dan. 11:21), the man of lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:3, see also Matt. 24:12), the son of destruction (2 Thess. 2:3), the beast (Rev. 11:7; 13:1-4, 12, 14-15, 17-18; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2, 10, 13; 17:3, 7-8, 11-13, 16-17; 19:19-20; 20:4, 10)

Applicable passages: Dan. 2:33-35, 41-45; 7:7-8, 11, 17-26; 8:9-14, 23-25; 9:26-27; 11:21-45; 12:7; Matt. 24:9, 15; 2 Thess.2:3-10; 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7; Rev. 12:13, 17; 13; 14:9, 11; 16:2; 17-18; 19:19-20; 20:4

* - Dan. 8:9-14, 23-25; 11:21-35, some scholars apply these passages only to Antiochus Epiphanes

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to collect all of the information that the Bible gives us about the antichrist and to organize it by topic. This could one day serve as a checklist when a leader arises who looks as though he may be the man. I have attempted to answer the simple question, "What does the Bible tell us about this person?" I have endeavored to simply collect and present the Biblical data and to refrain from extrapolating too far from what the Bible actually says. However, I do give clarification, alternate translations and sometimes even my own opinion in the parenthesis. When I have given something which is very questionable, it is followed with a question mark.

I have also attempted to be exhaustive in this list. If anyone knows of anything the Bible actually says or even implies about the antichrist which I have not included, please feel free to email me (with the scripture references) at WmArnold@apostolic.net.

I am aware that there is some overlap in the "What He Does" categories (and possibly some others). For instance, making war against Jesus Christ (Rev. 17:14 and 19:19) would qualify as both religious and military. In these instances, I have simply put things where I thought they fit best. The categories are simply there to help give some organization to this information and are by no means inspired. For a list which follows more of the order which this information is found in the Bible (which is much better for teaching), click here. Within the various topics, the data is usually organized by where it appears in scripture. When the same thing is mentioned in more than one passage, I usually went by the first passage in which it is found, but sometimes by the one which I thought to be more relevant.

I have also listed the passages which some scholars apply only to Antiochus Epiphanes and not to the end time antichrist, although I do not believe their case is very convincing. I merely want to be up front that there are many scholars who hold this position.

Who He Is

• Will be terrifying (causing fear) and dreadful (terrible), Dan. 7:7, also 7:19
• Will have "eyes like the eyes of a man" (?), Dan. 7:8, also 7:20
• Will "arise from the earth" (be a genuine human being?), Dan. 7:17
• Appeared "larger in appearance than his associates" (physical stature?, strength?, power?) to Daniel, Dan. 7:20
• Will be different from the other kings and his kingdom will be different from the other kingdoms, Dan. 7:23-24 also 7:7, 7:19
• Will be "strong of face" (fierce countenance, insolent - NASB), Dan. 8:23
• Will understand chiydah (dark sentences, biblical prophecy? - see Num. 12:6-8), Dan. 8:23
• Will be very strong (powerful), but from someone else, Dan. 8:24, see also 7:7; 2 Thess. 2:9; Rev. 13:2, 13:4
• Will be prudent (shrewd, wise, understanding), Dan. 8:25
• Will be a despicable (contemptible) person, Dan. 11:21
• Will not have the honor of royalty (not be of a royal family?), Dan. 11:21
• Will have his heart bent on evil, Dan. 11:27
• Will not regard the "desire of women" (will be homosexual, will not care about what women want) or possibly will not regard the "god desired by women" (so NLT, NIV, NRSV, NAB, NJB), Dan. 11:37
• Will be a "man of lawlessness," 2 Thess. 2:3, 2:8, see also Matt. 24:12; 2 Thess. 2:7
• Is presently being restrained until the proper time, 2 Thess. 2:6-8
• "Was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss" (resurrection, reincarnation?), Rev. 17:8, see also 11:7
• Will be an eighth king, yet one of the seven, Rev. 17:11

What He Does

Religious

• Will speak against (blaspheme) God, his name and his tabernacle (those who dwell in heaven), Dan. 7:25; 11:36; Rev. 13:5-6, also Rev. 13:1
• Will gabar berith (confirm a covenant, KJV, NIV, NKJV or make a firm covenant, NASB, NLT, NRSV) with many for seven years, Dan. 9:27
• Will put and end to sacrifice and offering 3 ½ years into this covenant, Dan. 9:27 also 11:31; 12:11
• Will be against the holy covenant, Dan. 11:28, 11:30
• Will flatter and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant, Dan. 11:30, 11:32
• Will defile (desecrate, pollute) the sanctuary fortress (temple of God?), Dan. 11:31
• Will exalt himself above every god, Dan. 11:36-37; 2 Thess. 2:4
• Will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or any other god, Dan. 11:37
• Will honor a god of fortresses (strongholds) whom his fathers did not know, Dan. 11:38
• Will "take his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God," 2 Thess. 2:4
• Will come "in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders," 2 Thess. 2:9
• Will deny that Jesus is the Christ, thus denying the Father also, 1 John 2:22, also 4:3
• Will deny that Jesus came in the flesh, 2 John 7
• Will derive get his power, throne and great authority from the Devil, Rev. 13:2
• Will appear to die and come back to life (a resurrection), Rev. 13:3, 13:12, 13:14 and possibly 11:7; 17:8
• Will cause the whole earth to marvel and follow him, whose names are not in the book of life, Rev. 13:3; 17:8
• Will be worshipped by all who dwell on the earth, whose names are not in the book of life, Rev. 13:4, 13:8, 13:12, also 14:9, 14:11; 20:4
• Will set up an idol of himself (abomination of desolation) in the "holy place" (temple of God), which will also be worshipped, Rev. 13:14-15; Matt. 24:15, also Dan. 11:31; 12:11; Rev. 14:9, 14:11; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4
• Will cause the world to buy and sell with a mark on their right hands or their foreheads, Rev. 13:16-18, also 16:2; 19:20; 20:4
• Will apparently have a very close association with Jerusalem, Rev. 17:3 (see my article on the identity of Babylon)

Military

• His kingdom will be partly strong and partly weak, Dan. 2:42-43
• Will destroy exceedingly, Dan. 8:24, also 7:7, 7:19, 7:23; 11:44 and possibly 9:26-27
• Will destroy mighty men (powerful leaders?), Dan. 8:24
• Will come in and destroy many while they are at ease (unexpectedly), Dan. 8:25, 11:21, 11:24
• Will stand against (oppose) the Prince of Princes, Dan. 8:25; will wage war against the lamb, Rev. 17:14, also 19:19
• Will shamam (make desolate, or possibly, cause horror, so NAB), Dan. 9:27
• Will obtain the kingdom by intrigue (flattery), Dan. 11:21
• Will have great armies swept away and broken before him, Dan. 11:22
• Will act deceitfully (treacherously) after making an alliance, Dan. 11:23
• Will become strong with a "small people" (small number of people?), Dan. 11:23
• Will take over the richest areas of the province, Dan. 11:24
• Will share the booty with his followers, which his fathers never did, Dan. 11:24
• Will devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time, Dan. 11:24
• Will lie to the king of the south, Dan. 11:27
• Will devour (conquer, take over) the whole earth, Dan. 7:23, also 7:7, 7:19
• Will destroy 3 of 10 kings, Dan. 7:8, 7:20, 7:24
• Will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of foreign god, Dan. 11:39
• Will give honor to those who acknowledge him and will make them rulers, Dan. 11:39
• Will distribute the land "at a price" or possibly "for a reward" (so NLT, NAB), Dan. 11:39
• Will be attacked by the king of the south and the king of the north at the time of the end, Dan. 11:40
• Will invade the "glorious land" (Israel), Dan. 11:41
• Will not be able to conquer Edom, Moab and "the foremost of the sons" (leaders, prominent people) of Ammon (these countries would appear to be present day Jordan), Dan. 11:41
• Will conquer Egypt and other countries, Dan. 11:42
• Will have the Lybians and Ethiopians "at his steps" (following his steps or possibly under his feet-in submission) after conquering Egypt, Dan. 11:43
• Will place the "tents of his palace" "between the seas and the beautiful holy mountain" (NASB, NLT, NRSV, NKJV, NAB, NJB) or possibly "between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain" (KJV & NIV), Dan. 11:45, see also Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4, Rev. 17:3
• Will appear undefeatable, Rev. 13:4
• Will be given authority over every tribe, people, tongue and nation, Rev. 13:7
• Will be given the power and authority of the ten kings, Rev. 17:13, 17:17

Persecution

• Will "wear out" the saints, Dan. 7:25; will "shatter the hand" (power, strength, will?) of the saints, Dan. 12:7
• Will be permitted to persecute the saints, "make war" with them and overcome them for 3 ½ years, Dan. 7:21, 7:25; Rev. 13:5, 13:7, also Dan. 12:7
• Will destroy (kill) the saints, Dan. 8:24 also Matt. 24:9
• Will conduct the worst persecution the world has ever known, Matt. 24:21; Mark 13:19, also Dan. 12:1
• Will make war with the two witnesses, overcome them and kill them, Rev. 11:7
• Will persecute Israel, Rev. 12:13
• Will make war with the Christians and kill them, Rev. 12:17; 20:4, see also 7:14; 12:11; 14:12-13; 17:6

Other

• Will "prosper and do" (will be successful & perform his will), Dan. 8:24, also 11:36
• Will cause deceit (a lie, treachery) to prosper, Dan. 8:25, also 2 Thess. 2:10
• Will magnify himself in his heart, Dan. 8:25 and possibly 8:11
• Will speak "great things" (boasting), Dan. 7:8, 7:20; Rev. 13:5
• Will intend to make changes "in times and in law," Dan. 7:25
• Will do as he pleases, Dan. 11:36, also 8:24

His End

• Will have his dominion "taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever," Dan. 7:26
• Will be broken (destroyed) "without hand" (human agency), Dan. 8:25, also 2:34, 2:45
• Will be destroyed by those who eat his food, Dan. 11:26 (perhaps this refers to destroying his reign or authority, so NLT - "bring his downfall," see also, NIV - "try to destroy him," NAB - "seek to destroy him," NJB - "ruin him")
• Will be helped by no one when he comes to his end, Dan. 11:45
• Is destined for destruction, Rev. 17:8, 17:11, and possibly 2 Thess. 2:3
• Will be destroyed by the Lord with "the breath of his mouth," 2 Thess. 2:8
• Will apparently be the first occupant of the lake of fire, Rev. 19:20, also Dan. 7:11

And Apparently

• Will be Roman, Dan. 9:26, also 2:33-34, 2:40-43; 7:7-8
• Will purport to be Israel's messiah (may also imply that he is Jewish), Matt. 24:24; Mark 13:22; 1 John 2:18, 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 7
• Will be very persuasive, Dan. 7:8, 7:20; 8:25; Rev. 13:3, 13:5; 17:8
• Appears to reign from Jerusalem, 2 Thess. 2:4, Rev. 17:3, and see Matt. 24:15; Dan. 11:45 (KJV & NIV)
• Will have a "false Elijah" to pave his way (thus implying that he is the Christ), Rev. 13:11-15; 16:13; 19:20; 20:10, see also Matt. 24:11, 24:24; Mark 13:22 (for the expectation of Elijah with the coming of the Messiah, see Mal. 4:5; Matt. 11:14; 17:10-13; Mark 9:11-13; Luke 1:17; Rev. 11:3-6)

Related Articles:

• Will the Antichrist Be A Jew?
• The Abomination of Desolation
• An Overview of Daniel's First Vision (Daniel 7)

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