The Antichrist – Who is He? What is He?
Dr. Allen M. Barber
September 7, 2007
Theories About the Antichrist
Much has been written about the Antichrist and all kinds of interpretations surround this mysterious personage. Some prophecy buffs believe he is not a real person, but world government. Theories abound that the Antichrist is more a system than a real human being. Others think he is a nation such as the United States. Still others believe he is both a person and the head of world government. Those who adhere to the Historicist position of eschatology believe the Antichrist is the Pope. One website has it all figured out that Pope Benedict XVI whose name equals to 666 is the Antichrist, and therefore he is alive waiting for his epiphany. Now all these diverse theories cannot be correct. However, I believe the Bible has the answer to whom and what is the Antichrist.
Conservative Theologians Interpretations of the Antichrist
A conservative theologian from the past, Arthur Pink in his book, The Antichrist, provides a list of names given to the Biblical Antichrist as follows:
The bloody and deceitful man (Ps. 5:6), the Wicked one (Ps. 10: 2-4), the Man of the earth (Ps. 10:18), the mighty man (Ps. 52:1), the enemy (Ps. 55:3), the Adversary (Ps. 74: 8-10), the head of many countries (Ps. 111:6), the Violent Man (Ps. 140:1), the Assyrian (Isa. 10: 5-12), the King of Babylon (Isa. 14:2), the Sun of the morning (Isa. 14:12), the spoiler (Isa. 16:4-5; Jer. 6:26), the Nail (Isa. 22:25), the Branch of the Terrible Ones (Isa. 25:5), the Profane Wicked Prince of Israel (Ezek. 21: 25-27), the little horn (Dan. 7:8), the Prince that shall come (Dan. 9:26), the Vile Person (Dan. 11:21), the Willful King (Dan. 11:36), the idol Shepherd (Zech. 11:16-17), the Man of Sin (2 Thess. 2:8), the Son of Perdition (2 Thess. 2:3), the Lawless One (2 Thess. 2:8), the Antichrist (I John 2:22), the Angel of the Bottomless Pit (Rev. 11:7), and the Beast (Rev. 11:7: 13:1).
Dr. Dwight Pentecost adds to that list, the One coming in his own name (John 5:43), the King of the fierce Countenance (Dan. 8:23), the Abomination of Desolation (Matt. 24:15), the Desolator (Dan. 9:27).
Problems With the Theologians
Aside from the problem of the modern translations using different terminology than the original KJV, which all of the above are based on, I must differ from these two notable scholars for they have mixed Scriptures for the Antichrist with those that clearly identify Satan. This is important because Satan and the Antichrist are two different personages the same as Jesus, the Son, is distinguished from the Father.
In Arthur Pink’s list, the Wicked One in the Scriptures is never a title for the Antichrist, but Satan. In Matthew 13:19, 38, Jesus calls Satan the Wicked One. Likewise, in I John 2:13-14; 3:12; 5:18, John refers to Satan as the Wicked One. Some believe 2 Thessalonians 2: 8 is a reference to the Antichrist. However, in my Chapter on the restrainer (my new book, The Day of the Lord, The Key to Understanding End-Time Prophecy ), I show how there are three revelations in 2 Thessalonians 2 – the Lord, the Antichrist, and Satan. This is not to intimate that the Antichrist is not a wicked person for he will be, but that is not one of his titles. I also disagree with Pink’s description of Ezekiel 21: 25-27. The Wicked Profane one is an end time leader of Israel, not the Antichrist. I addressed that in an article I wrote in June 2003 and showed how Ariel Sharon fulfilled that Scripture. There will never be another strong leader in Israel until Jesus returns, and then He will not be the leader of a Jewish kingdom, but His own kingdom.
In addition, Satan is called the Adversary, the Sun of the Morning, and the Angel of the bottomless pit in the Bible, not the Antichrist. Further, the Antichrist is never called the Abomination of Desolation, but the Desolator. He is the one who causes the abomination of desolation, but he is not that event. The abomination is what causes the desolation. We are not splitting hairs, but it is important not to commingle Scriptures that have basic and fundamental differences. This has caused an abundance of errors in doctrine and has led to confusion in the body of Christ. We must keep things separated that the Holy Spirit intended to be separate. This is called rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Careless handling of the Word of God is a tool Satan uses to deceive the sheep. I will not go that path.
Will the Antichrist be a person or a system of government, even a nation?
Well, let me ask a question. Was the Lord Jesus a real human being? The better Greek definition of Antichrist is “in place of” or a “substitute” Christ:
NT:473 anti (an-tee'); a primary particle; opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to):
KJV - for, in the room of. Often used in composition to denote contrast, requital, substitution, correspondence, etc. Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.).
When the Antichrist has his epiphany, Satan will attempt to make him look as close to Jesus as possible so as to deceive not only the worldlings, but also religious people including Christians. He will begin by appearing to be a promoter of peace, then when Satan possesses him at the mid-point of the tribulation, his vile nature will be known.
Examine the list given by Arthur Pink and the descriptions by Dr. Pentecost and notice all references to the Antichrist as a man. It is obvious he will be a person, a look alike Jesus Christ. Jesus told us he would be a person in John 5:41-43:
41 "I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. NKJV
The Lord did not come to receive honor from men, but the Antichrist will. He will eventually demand that the whole world bow down and worship him as God. The Lord never makes anyone worship Him. It is always by invitation:
Revelation 22: 17 NKJV
And the Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
The Description, Son of Perdition, Proves the Antichrist is a Person
One of the names of Antichrist in the above list is “the son of perdition” – 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Only two persons in the Bible are referred to by that description. Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus, and the Antichrist:
John 17:12-13 NKJV
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition , that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
2 Thess 2:3-4 NKJV
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition , 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Now if Judas, who was called the son of perdition, was a real person, even one of the Lord’s disciples, then the other person who will bear that title, the Antichrist must be a person. Satan is not going to possess a system or a government, but a real human being. While Satan is the power behind wicked governments, he does not fill or possess them, as he will do the Antichrist. Today, many are demon possessed and is the reason we are seeing so many bizarre things happening in our world – mothers cutting off their babies arms; men rapping children; female school teachers having sex with adolescents; cold bloodied murder without motive; etc. However, only two people have been Satan possessed – Judas and the Antichrist:
Luke 22:3 NKJV
3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.
Rev 13:1-4 NKJV
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying,"Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
Even though the above passage from Revelation does not say Satan possesses the Antichrist – the beast rising from the sea (nations), the fact that his power and authority are derived from Satan means Satan controls him. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 calls the Antichrist, the son of perdition, and we know the only other person referred to by that description, Judas, was possessed by Satan. Therefore, Satan will also possess the end-time personage, the Antichrist. When Satan does possess the Antichrist at the mid-point of the tribulation, it will be he that is fomenting evil upon the earth and using the body of Antichrist to carry out his will. This is the meaning of Satan coming down to earth having great wrath:
Revelation 12:12 NKJV
12 “Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because that he has a short time.”
The Antichrist Rules Over an End-time World Kingdom
Now it is clear that the Antichrist will rule over an end-time kingdom that is already forming in the world for Revelation 12: 3 says that Satan is the king over seven heads and ten horns. Heads in Scripture has several meanings, but in the context of end-time, prophecy it means kingdom or nation rule –those nations that at one time ruled the whole known world. Horns imply power and authority. The ten horns are the final world government on the earth before the Lord returns. It is the government of the New World Order, which will give its authority to the Antichrist; actually, Satan for Satan possesses him.
Revelation 13: 1 says the Antichrist will have the same rule or authority over seven heads and ten horns, that is, it is given to him by Satan – his spiritual father. The seven heads is figurative language as are the ten horns. The Antichrist will have the same Satanic spirit that ruled the previous seven world empires when he takes over and rules the end-time world via the ten horns – the New World Order. Most Bible scholars believe the seven heads are – Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and revived Rome (ten horns). When the Antichrist takes over the ten horns – the New World Order, he will become an 8th king (from among the seven), but his government will be his own rule, that is, he will rule through the ten world regions according to his own power and authority. He will accept the rule from the ten horns and then implement his own authority making him an 8th world ruler. Revelation 17 makes this very clear:
Rev 17:9-18 NKJV
9 "Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. 12 "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." 15 Then he said to me,"The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."
Verse 11 says this beast is going to perdition, which proves this is the Antichrist. Notice also in Verse 13, the ten kings, the New World Order, give their authority to the Beast. When the NWO is completely formed, it gives its allegiance to the Antichrist. They will say, “Mr. Antichrist, please come and rule over us for we perceive that you are the real God of heaven and earth, which is the height of blasphemy.
The Scriptural Evidence is Overwhelming That the Antichrist is a Person
It cannot be any clearer from the abundance of Scriptural evidence that the Antichrist will be a person, even a man who will at first appear to look like all other men. He will appear to be a peacemaker, but it will be a false peace and by it deceive and conquer nations (Revelation 6: 2). He will have a literal kingdom and rule through ten nations or ten kings over all other nations of the world. His system is Mystery Babylon, which has both a religious and economic element. Religious and Economic Babylon are in the world today and are two parts of the same puzzle – the New World Order. The so-called Separation of Church and State is nothing more than a major deception to fool the worldlings, and even many Christians, for in the New World Order both will come together and for a while, Religious Babylon will rule over Economic Political Babylon. This means the Antichrist will not be a non-religious person. On the contrary, he will pretend at first to be very religious and will attract world religion to him. Many professing Christians are going to be deceived by his charismatic religious personality and think he is really the Messiah, even Jesus Christ.
While we could give much more information about the Antichrist, this will suffice to prove that he will be a real human being that will rule over the nations of the world via his government – the New World Order and Religious and Economic Babylon.
The United States is Not the Antichrist but Part of Mystery Babylon
While I believe the United States heads Mystery Economic Babylon, it is not either the Antichrist or the False Prophet, but part of his government. The great seal of the United States proves many of our founding fathers were Freemasons and of the Illuminati. Even our nation’s capital is carefully laid out according to the Masonic Pentagram and is therefore, the seat of Satan’s throne. Washington D.C. was planned by the occult spirit of Satan and one day will be destroyed. When the Muslims say that the U.S. is the Great Satan, they are not exactly Biblically incorrect. This does not mean that I agree with radical Islam or for that matter Islam for I do not. My point is that there is duplicity in the founding of the United States having both a Christian and an occult beginning. If you are inclined to study this in more detail, I recommend the three-volume set of books, Scarlet and the Beast by John Daniel at www.scarletandthebeast.com.
Note: After I wrote this article, I further understood how Satan will use the Antichrist, but not actually possess his body, that is, actually live in his body. See my article on "Does Satan Inhabit the Antichrist."
God bless you.