Who is the Antichrist? | ETA News

THE ANTICHRIST

With all of the tension and uncertainty in the world today, there is a growing interest in endtime prophecy. In particular, curiosity is mounting about the identity of a coming world leader sent and empowered by Satan himself that will deceive the nations. Even though the Old and New Testaments give this ruler many names and titles, he is most commonly referred to as “The Antichrist.”

 

Is the Antichrist alive today? Does he know he is the Antichrist? Is he in power already and working behind the scenes? If so, who is he?

 

Although the Bible does not identify the Antichrist, the scriptures provide many clues and characteristics to describe him.

 

Biblical Names for the Antichrist

» King of Assyria (Isaiah 10:12) Assyria is an area near Syria and Iraq.

» King of Babylon (Isaiah 14:4) Ancient Babylon was located in Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq.

» The Wicked (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

» Man of sin, the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

» The Beast (Revelation 13:5-8)

The Book of Daniel provides many characteristics of the Antichrist

» He comes from ten kings (rulers) in the restored Holy Roman Empire. (Daniel 7:7, 24)

» He will subdue three of these kings. (Daniel 7:8, 24)

» He is diverse or different from the other 10 rulers. (Daniel 7:7, 19)

» His appearance is more imposing than his fellows. (Daniel 7:20)

» He will make war with the saints for 3 ½ years and overcome them. (Daniel 7:21, 25)

» He will speak great words against and blaspheme God. (Daniel 7:25)

» He will try to change the times and laws. (Daniel 7:25)

» He is a king of fierce countenance. (Daniel 8:23)

» By peace he shall destroy many. (Daniel 8:25)

» He shall come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. (Daniel 11:21)

» He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods… (Daniel 11:36)

» He shall not regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.(Daniel 11:37)

» He shall have power over the treasures and precious things of Egypt. (Daniel 11:43)

Other biblical characteristics are

» He will claim to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

» He will possess great power (2 Thessalonians 2:8-9)

» He will receive his power from Satan (Revelation 13:1-2)

» He will rule for 3 ½ years (Revelation 13:5)

» He will persecute Christians and dominate world governments (Revelation 13:7)

» He will blaspheme God (Revelation 13:6)

» He will partner with the false Prophet (Revelation 13:11-12)

» He will gather the world to the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:13-14)

» He will be defeated by Jesus and His armies (Revelation 19:11)

At first the Antichrist will appear to be a well-intentioned world leader promoting peace and safety. In reality, the Antichrist will bring chaos and destruction as he exerts his power to persecute Christians and unify world leaders against Israel.

 

As the scriptures foretell, for a while it appears that the Antichrist will prevail. The armies of the world will descend on Jerusalem. “…and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.” (Zechariah 14:2) So, in this final showdown between good and evil, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and Satan will form an unholy trinity.

 

Thankfully, the story has a good ending for Jerusalem and all of those the Antichrist persecuted. Full of pride and delusions, the Antichrist, the son of perdition, will meet and fall to the true Christ, Jesus, at his Second Coming.

 

“Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east…And the Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one” (Zechariah 14:3-4, 9).

 

When will we know who he is?

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 tells us that he is revealed at the Abomination of Desolation, when he will stand in a re-built Jewish Temple and proclaim to be God.

 

Thankfully, the Bible tells us how to recognize him and what his end will be.

 

If you would like to ask a question and have it answered on a future segment of ETA News, please email your questions to [email protected].

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