Who is the Antichrist?

By: Brandon T. Ward

Why has this topic confused so many people? The answers are so very easy to find if we only ask our Father for help and read His Word. Unfortunately, many of today’s churches don’t spend much time reading the Bible. This allows false teaching to enter into the church and leads many astray.

There are many different theories out there as to who the antichrist is. Some think it’s the new President of the European Union, while others think it’s the Pope and some even think it’s Barack Obama, the President of the United States. Unfortunately, all of these theories are incorrect. How can we be sure? By reading the Bible with understanding.

First, let’s take the word “antichrist.” “Anti” is defined in the Strong’s Concordance of the Bible as “opposite” or “instead” (word #473). Instead of what? Instead of “Christ” (5547: anointed, the Messiah)! So first we need to be looking for someone who claims to be Jesus Christ… (Understand the Bible was not written in English. The Strong’s Concordance is a tool used to find the original meaning of the Hebrew or Greek word.)

The antichrist will not be born in the flesh. The antichrist is a supernatural being who will be kicked out of heaven and onto the earth by Michael the archangel. The antichrist will claim to be Jesus Christ. The antichrist is Satan himself!

Revelation 12:7
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

The dragon mentioned here is Satan himself which we will document shortly. This is when Satan is kicked out and will physically appear here on earth claiming to be Jesus Christ. Pay close attention here! Satan doesn’t arrive alone. He is kicked out with his angels.

Revelation 12:8
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

Satan and his angels are officially booted from heaven onto earth.

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

This should be very clear who we are talking about at this point. God gives us several of his names so we are not confused. Again, note Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven. So not only will we have Satan, a supernatural being, but we will have his fallen angels with him who are supernatural as well.

Revelation 13:1
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Now understand in the book of Revelation there are a couple of different beasts described. Stick to God’s Word and it will make complete sense. This beast spoken of here is the one world system which is still future to us now. As a side note the waters in the book of Revelation are people (Revelation 17:15).

Revelation 13:11
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Notice we now have a second beast who is Satan, he is given many different names for the different roles he plays. We are told he has two horns just like a lamb but speaks as a dragon! Why does he look like a lamb? Because Jesus Christ is the Lamb that was slain on the cross for our sins. Satan is acting as Jesus to deceive the whole world as we learned in Revelation 12:9.

Revelation 13:13
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

Not only will Satan act like Jesus, but he will exercise supernatural powers which are sure to make men bow before him. He does these miracles IN THE SIGHT OF MEN. Not in secret, we all will witness this event. If you think Satan is some grotesque being you better wake up! As Ezekiel 28:12-15 points out, Satan is perfect in beauty.

To further our study let us turn to II Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 1…

II Thessalonians 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Our topic here is the return of Jesus Christ and how we will gather back unto Him.

II Thessalonians 2:2
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Paul is explaining here, don’t be confused by our previous letter to you (I Thessalonians) concerning the return of the Lord.

II Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

What day shall not come? The day of the Lord, His return, shall not happen until there is a falling away and the man of sin, the son of perdition is revealed. Let’s analyze this.

What is this falling away? “Falling away” is Strong’s word 646 and it means to “fall away from truth.” Now who is this son of perdition? It’s none other than Satan himself! He is the only person by name who has been condemned to death, Ezekiel 28:18-19, Revelation 17:8 and Revelation 20:10.

So Jesus will not return until there is a falling away from truth and Satan arrives. Why would there be a falling away from truth? When Satan comes to play Jesus, many will buy into his tricks and think he really is Christ! It’s easy to see why with what is commonly taught as Biblical fact today.

Let us continue…

II Thessalonians 2:4
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

This truly should nail it for you! Who are we talking about here? The son of perdition who is none other than Satan. He is acting as Jesus Christ, he claims to be God himself!

II Thessalonians 2:5
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Paul is saying I told you all of this already, remember?

II Thessalonians 2:6
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

Who might be revealed? Satan.

II Thessalonians 2:7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Don’t loose track of the subject here. The subject is still Satan. As we learned from Revelation 12:7 Michael holds Satan in heaven and he will be the one who kicks him out. That is what we are talking about here.

II Thessalonians 2:8
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

That Wicked, Satan, will be revealed when he is booted from heaven by Michael. Notice, Jesus doesn’t appear until AFTER Satan has come here to deceive with signs and lying wonders.

II Thessalonians 2:9
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

Satan comes with a bag full of tricks just like we saw in Revelation 13:13.

In closing, if we read from God’s Word with understanding we can come to understand all things. When we are told of a Biblical “truth,” we need to take it and see if it holds true in God’s Word before we tuck it into our minds as fact.

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