What passages speak of the Antichrist?

Read 2 Thess. 2:1-12

One way to learn about the Antichrist, as well as to discover the passages that speak of him, is to identify him by his various names and titles.  Here is a listing with brief explanations as we understand it.

·        In Rev. 13:1-2 he is the “beast rising up out of the sea.”  He is said to have seven heads and ten horns, identical to the depiction of Satan in Rev. 12:3, thus making clear the connection between the two.  In Rev. 16:13 the dragon (Satan), the beast (Antichrist) and the false prophet (the second beast of Rev. 13) are identified as a trinity of evil.  The difference between Satan and the Antichrist is that Satan has crowns on his seven heads, indicating he is the head of it all; the Antichrist has crowns on his ten horns indicating political authority and might by which he carries out Satan’s plan.  In Rev. 13:2 there is a reference to a leopard, bear and lion.  This is a clear reference to Daniel 7 so let us move on to see another title of the Antichrist.

·        In Dan. 7:7-8 he is the little horn.  Daniel was given a prophecy about the world kingdoms that would rule Israel (7:4-6).  The three are Babylon (the lion), Medo-Persia (the bear) and Greece (the leopard).  A fourth, dreadful and terrible kingdom arises (Rome) that is said to have ten horns (thus identifying the Antichrist who has ten horns with the Roman Empire).  The reference to the three animals in Rev. 13:2 indicates the Antichrist has the strengths of the first three empires while Daniel 7 indicates he arises from the fourth.  Daniel 7:8 indicates that one of the horns on that fourth beast (Rome), a little horn (i.e. the leader of one of the ten nations of the empire, apparently one of the smaller nations) arises to prominence (this is the Antichrist).  

·        In Daniel 9:26 he is again connected with the Roman Empire as the prince who is to come.  In the days of Daniel’s 70^th Week (the tribulation period) he will destroy the city (Jerusalem) and the sanctuary (temple).

·        In the New Testament, in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, he has two titles: the man of lawlessness and the son of perdition.  The former recognizes his wickedness and total rebellion against God.  The latter recognizes he is doomed to destruction (perdition).  It is a title also applied to Judas (John 17:12). 

·        And then, of course, as noted in last week’s article, he is the Antichrist in 1 John 2:28.  This name simply means he is against or opposite of Christ.  

So we would say that primary passages describing this evil being are Rev. 13; 2 Thess. 2 and Daniel 8.  But there are other places to look as we will discover next week.  What we have so far is not enough information to identify this individual in advance; it is rather sufficient to enable people to see him when he arises.  There is much more that the Bible affirms about this beast!  Next week.