Dictionary of Biblical Words:
occurs 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7, only. An antichrist is any person who sets himself to oppose Christ. The Antichrist is a person spoken of in prophecy and elsewhere, Dan. 9:26-7; John 5:43; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 13:11-18. He is called the false prophet, and forms one of the infernal trio (Rey. 16:13) that will appear after the rapture of the Church (2 Thess. 2:8) and before the appearing of Christ (Rev. 19:20), and present self to the Jews as their Messiah; who, having rejected Christ, will then receive the Anti-Christ. He will deceive at first, but in the midst of the week (seven years) will throw off the mask and seek to destroy all who oppose him.
Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(against Christ). In 1 John 2:18,22; 4:3; 2 John 7, applied to those who hold heretical opinions of the incarnation.
Concise Bible Dictionary:
The name ἀντἰχριστος signifies an opposer of Christ. It is used only by John in his first and second epistles, though those opposed to Christ are referred to by others under different names. It is important to distinguish between an antichrist and the antichrist. John says, “as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists”; whereas “he is the antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:18,22). He is the consummation of the many antichrists. To deny Jesus Christ come in the flesh is the spirit or power of the antichrist, but it eventuates in a departure from the special revelation of Christianity: “they went out from us” (1 John 2:19; 1 John 4:3; John 1:7). Now this clears the ground at once of much that has obscured the subject. For instance, many have concluded that Popery is the antichrist, and have searched no farther into the question, whereas the above passage refutes this conclusion, for Popery does not deny the Father and the Son; and, in Revelation 17-18, Popery is pointed out as quite distinct from “the false prophet,” which is another name for the antichrist. It is fully granted that Popery is antichristian, and a Christ dishonouring and soul-deceiving system; but where God has made a distinction we must also do so. Besides Popery there were and there are many antichrists, which, whatever their pretensions, are the enemies of Christ, opposers of the truth, and deceivers of man.
As to the Antichrist, it should be noticed that John makes another distinction between this one and the many. He speaks of the many as being already there, whereas the one was to come; and if we turn to 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 we read of something or someone that hinders that wicked or lawless one being revealed, although the mystery of iniquity was already at work. Now there has been no change of dispensation since this epistle was written, and John wrote much later, from which we learn that the revelation of the antichrist is still future, though doubtless the mystery of iniquity is getting ripe for his appearing; that which hindered and still hinders the manifestation of the antichrist is doubtless the presence of the Holy Spirit on earth. He will leave the earth at the rapture of the saints.
This passage in Thessalonians gives us further particulars as to this MAN OF SIN. His coming is after the working of Satan, that is, he will be a confederate of Satan, and be able to work signs and lying wonders with all deceit of unrighteousness in them that perish. Those that have refused the truth will then receive the lie of this wicked one. We get further particulars in Revelation 13:11-18, where the antichristian power or kingdom is described as a beast rising out of the earth, having two horns as a lamb, but speaking as a dragon. Here again we read that he will do great wonders, making fire come down from heaven, with other signs or miracles.
In the description in Thessalonians he opposeth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped, and sits down in the temple of God, and sets forth himself as God. The Jews will receive him as their Messiah, as we read in John 5:43. In the above passage in the Revelation this counterfeit of Christ’s kingdom is openly idolatrous. He directs the dwellers on the earth to make an image of the beast (named in Revelation 13:1, the future head of the resuscitated Roman empire) to which image he gives breath, that it should speak, and persecutes those who will not worship the image. He also causes all to receive a mark on their hand or their forehead that they may be known to be his followers; and that none else should be able to buy or sell. We thus see that in the Revelation the antichristian power called also “the false prophet” will work with the political head, and with Satan — a trinity of evil — not only in deceiving mankind, but also, in Revelation 16:13-16, gathering together by their influence the kings of the earth to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. The three are cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:10).
In the Old Testament we get still another character of this wicked one. In Daniel 11:36-39 he is called “king.” Here he exalts himself and speaks marvelous things against the God of gods. He will not regard the God of his fathers (pointing out that he will be a descendant of Israel, probably from the tribe of Dan, compare Gen. 49:17), nor “the desire of women” (That is the Messiah, of whom every Jewess hoped to be the mother): he exalts himself above all. Here again he is an idolater, honoring a god that his fathers knew not. In Zechariah 11:15-17 he is referred to as the foolish and idol shepherd, who cares not for the flock, in opposition to the Lord Jesus the good Shepherd.
This man of sin will “do according to his own will” — just what the natural man ever seeks to do. In contrast to this the blessed Lord was obedient, and came not to do His own will. May His saints be ever on the watch against the many false prophets in the world, 1 John 4:1, and be loyal to their absent Lord, behold His beauty in the sanctuary, and reproduce Him more down here in their earthen vessels.
Bible Handbook:
Scripture tells us that though even in the apostles’ days there were many antichrists, yet there was one still to come, called the Antichrist (1 John 2:18) distinguished from all the rest.
That he will be a descendant from some Jewish family seems clear, for it is said that he will not “regard the God of his fathers” (Dan. 11:37), who but a Jew could be thus described? He will arise out of the earth (as the land of Israel is often spoken of), that is, out of some already formed organization; but the Roman power, with which he will work, arises out of the sea, that is, from the mass of the peoples (Gentiles), (Rev. 13:1-11).
As the name Antichrist implies, he will profess to be some great anointed one. He is described as having two horns like a lamb (in imitation of Christ the Lamb of God), though he speaks as a dragon (Satan), (Rev. 13:11).
He will be able to work miracles, by means of which he will deceive those that dwell upon the earth (Rev. 13:14). Yet his coming is “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9). The same three words are used of Antichrist in 2 Thess. 2:9 as are used of our Lord in Acts 2:22, “miracles and wonders and signs.”
He will deceive the Jews. Our Lord foretold that while they refused Him who came in the name of His Father, they would receive another who would come in his own name (John 5:43). Revelation 13 shows how the Roman Empire and Satan are combined with Antichrist to carry on their opposition to God and to His saints. Their union and action are so complete that it is not always easy to distinguish the actors.
Antichrist will deceive the professing church. We are instructed that there is at present that which hinders the development of the Antichrist, but when He is removed, then the man of sin, that wicked one, with his signs and wonders and deceivableness of unrighteousness, will delude those that received not the love of the truth (2 Thess. 2:7-10).
Antichrist will lead into idolatry. He will honour the god of forces, and a god whom his fathers knew not will he honour with gold and silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things (Dan. 11:38). He causeth the dwellers on earth to worship the first beast (head of the Roman empire), and also to worship an image of this beast, to which he will give life (Rev. 13:12-15).
The Antichrist is distinct from Papal Rome and the Pope, for doctrinally the Antichrist is described as denying the Father and the Son, and denying Jesus Christ come in the flesh (1 John 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 7. In the three passages it should read the Antichrist.), which Rome does not deny. Besides, we find Papal Rome delineated in the Revelation as a woman, a harlot, and not as a beast. The seven mountains on which she sits clearly point to Rome (see Rev. 17, 18).
All this goes to show how direful will be the delusion that Satan with the head of the Roman empire and Antichrist, will bring upon both the Jewish nation and professing Christendom. The profession of Christianity in every form will be abolished, and they will then introduce idolatry, and put to death those that will not submit, and cause their followers to receive a mark of identification.
Of Antichrist we read that the Lord shall consume him with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming (2 Thess. 2:8). “The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet [anti-Christ]. ... These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Rev. 19:20). Satan will be finally cast into the same place, where the beast and the false prophet will then have been for more than a thousand years.
Alas, we see how many are getting ready to receive such an one. May God preserve His saints in the love of the truth, not yielding in any way to the spirit of Antichrist which is working and rapidly undermining the authority of Scripture.
Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:
Transliteration:
antichristos
Phonic:
an-tee’-khris-tos
Meaning:
from 473 and 5547; an opponent of the Messiah