TODO:
- Write introduction
- Find references for interpretation of non-explicit antichrist references i.e. Man of Sin, Revelation, Daniel.
Description edit
Bible references (explicit) edit
The following bible verses refer to antichrist explicitly. All quotations taken from the New International Version.
Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. (1 John 18)
Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:21-23)
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.(1 John 4:2-3)
Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.(2 John 1:7-8)
Bible references (other) edit
While, as noted above, there are relatively few explicit references to antichrist, a number of other Bible verses are commonly taken as referring to the same concept, person or group. These include:
The Man of Sin edit
In the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul refers to a "Man of Sin" who seeks to lead the church astray. This is often - for example, by the Catholic Encyclopedia - taken as an antichrist reference.
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
Revelation edit
While the term antichrist is not used in the Book of Revelation, many theologians identify one or more figures within the book with the antichrist, as an individual or in spirit.
Daniel edit
The Book of Daniel contains a reference to a terrifying beast similar to those found in the book of Revelation. One of those beasts is described as follows:
"After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.
"While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.
- "As I looked,
- "thrones were set in place,
- and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
- His clothing was as white as snow;
- the hair of his head was white like wool.
- His throne was flaming with fire,
- and its wheels were all ablaze.
- A river of fire was flowing,
- coming out from before him.
- Thousands upon thousands attended him;
- ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
- The court was seated,
- and the books were opened.
"Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:7-14)
Several commentators have identified this "little horn" figure with the Antichrist.
Non-biblical sources and traditions edit
Views edit
Early church edit
Later views edit
Official stances edit
Other perspectives edit
Identification edit
E.g. protestants identifying it with the Pope