What are the signs of the antichrist? What are we to look for? How will we recognise him when he comes? Only the Bible can answer these questions because the term ‘antichrist’ comes only from the Bible, a book dedicated to the revealing of the one and only true Christ. The antichrist refers to someone, or some church system, which tries to substitute itself in the place of Christ before His Second Coming. The word ‘antichrist’ is translated from the combination of two ancient Greek words ἀντί + Χριστός (anti + Christos). ‘Anti’ means not just ‘against’ or ’opposed to’ but also ‘in place of’. (Wikipedia article ‘Antichrist’.)
A similar term pseudokhristos, or “false Christ“, is used in the gospels to refer to the antichrist. In Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22 Jesus warns His disciples not to be deceived by false prophets who claim to be Christ, performing “great signs and wonders“.
Three other images are often associated with the Antichrist. These are:
- The “Little Horn” religious power in Daniel chapters 7 and 8.
- The “Man of Sin” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
- The Beast from the Sea in Revelation13:1-10.
According to the Bible, the antichrist has been around ever since the entry of sin, with Satan himself being the first antichrist to oppose Christ and His followers. In the Dark Ages he used a church-state system to oppose Him and persecute His followers for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, he is still with us, and will once again use political power to oppose and persecute true believers in Jesus Christ just before He comes again.
To look for the signs which will identify this ‘end-time’ antichrist we need to study Revelation chapters 13 and 17.
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (the 2nd coming of Christ), will not come unless the falling away (apostasy) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple (church) of God, showing himself that he is God . . . The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive a love of the truth, that they might be saved,” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-10)
Characteristics of the Beast that Rises up out of the Sea – Revelation 13
1) The antichrist system is here identified as a beast (or political power, Daniel 7:21) which arises from the sea (that is from amongst many ‘peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues’, Revelation 17:15). This ‘sea beast’ is an ancient power that rises once again to world-wide supremacy after a period of political inactivity.
2) The dragon gives him his power, throne, and great authority (Revelation 13:2). The dragon is clearly revealed to be Satan himself working through kings and nations to destroy God’s people. (See Revelation 12:7-12).
3) The world will worship the dragon which gives his authority to the beast (Revelation 13:3-4). The beast represents a power or political-religious system that pretends to usurp God’s authority. He will attempt to change God’s laws and apply economic sanctions, including capital punishment, against those who oppose him. (See Revelation 13:15-17).
4) One of its head suffered a ‘deadly’ or ‘mortal’ wound (Revelation 13:3). This occurred on February 10, 1798, when the beast lost its political power to enforce religious laws. But “his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marvelled and followed the beast”. This wound is rapidly being healed right now.
5) He was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, (Revelation 13:1, 5-6). Blasphemy is committed when a mere human being declares himself to be God and claims the right to exercise the prerogatives and functions of God. (See John 10:30-33; Mark 2:7). The antichrist will claim to be the ultimate religious and civil authority in the world, a power which has jurisdiction over all the kings (governments) of the earth.
6) He makes war with the saints and overcomes them (Revelation 13:7). As it has been, so it will be again. This was the ‘modus operandi’ of the first phase of this beast power, and the second and last phase is just a duplicate. Revelation 17:6 – ‘And I saw the woman (symbol for a church) drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.’
It is an undeniable fact of history that during the Dark Ages wars, crusades, massacres, inquisitions, and persecutions of all kinds, were the methods adopted to compel all to submit to the dictates of the “Little Horn” – the first phase of the beast of Revelation 13. Persecution separates true believers in Jesus Christ from the false and cleanses the church. The wheat is separated from the tares.
7) He was given authority to continue for 42 months (Revelation 13:5). This time period refers us back to the Medieval antichrist who was in power for 42 prophetic months, or 1260 years. (See Revelation 12:14, 6; Revelation 11:2-3 and Daniel 7:25, where parallel prophetic times are mentioned).
For more information on these time periods, when they started and ended and how they are related, please refer to https://www.amazingfacts.com.au/ and check out the Free Offers. There you will find a fact-filled booklet entitled ‘Who is the Antichrist?’ It will help you to understand and identify the antichrist and answer any questions you may have.
8) The antichrist power enforces the mark of the beast, the sign of its authority, upon the whole world (Revelation 13:16).
This mark is not a physical mark on the hand or on the forehead which can be seen, just as the seal of God (Revelation 7:2-3) is not a physical mark that can be seen. It is a sign of an inward decision as to whose authority we choose to submit to – Christ’s or the Antichrist’s. In Revelation 14:9-12 God gives a trumpet-like warning against accepting the mark of the beast, as such will “drink of the wine of the wrath of God . . . full strength.” This is God’s last warning to a world in rebellion against His authority.
For a greater understanding of this topic refer to the website mentioned above, and ask for Free Offer number 14 – Satan’s Mark or God’s Seal?
9) The number of the antichrist is the number of a man (Revelation 13:18). This number is the mysterious 666.
While the number 7 is a Bible symbol of perfection, and of completeness of God’s work such as the seven days of creation (see also Revelation 1:20; 5:1; 8:2; 16:17), the number 6 is a symbol of incompleteness and partial truth. Partial truth, or truth mixed with error, is more dangerous than a full-blown lie.
The number 6 repeated three times refers to the devil’s trinity of powers which comprise the end-time antichrist. These are the dragon, the beast and the false prophet (Revelation 16:13). They will work together to deceive the whole world by performing demon-empowered miracles, such as “bringing fire down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men” (Revelation 13:13). They will have their day in the sun, but will ultimately be destroyed by the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16, 19-20). At the head of these three powers and directing affairs is a man, who also bears the number 666.
In summing up, what are the signs of the antichrist? Especially look for the following three markers:
1) The number of the antichrist is the number of a man (Revelation 13:18). This number is the mysterious 666.
2) When religion rules the state, you can only look for persecution to follow. Man’s rules and laws change with the wind. What is legal one day is illegal the next. God’s law is written in stone and never changes (Exodus 31:18, 32:16; 34:1). Religious laws and persecution of minorities are a sure sign of the antichrist.
3) The ruling head of this union of Christian churches will demand worship by enforcing his mark, his sign of authority, upon the world. This mark will involve a forced compliance to the changes he has blasphemously made to God’s law, with the Sabbath being the central issue. Jesus warned His followers, that just before He comes the second time, “they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9). But we need not fear. Christ’s last words to His faithful followers were, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28: 20). The faithful are never left alone without the support, strength, and comfort of heaven.
4) “And they (the nations of the world who have been deceived by the antichrist), will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for His is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14). The battle belongs to the Lord, and the Lord will be victorious. We need to be on the winning side.
