What is the Antichrist?
The name "antichrist" belongs to a coming person, but the letter that names him says the mark of his spirit was already at work while the apostle wrote. That raises two questions at once: who is this figure Scripture says will come, and how do the "many antichrists" of every age connect to him?
The Meaning of the Name
The title itself carries a double sense, and the writers hold both together — opposition to Christ and imitation of Him.
Arend RemmersThe meaning of the word "Antichrist" is "against Christ" or "instead of Christ" (1 John 2:22). Antichrist is the name of that man who will appear between the rapture of the believers and Christ's appearing to set up His kingdom of peace (the millennium) and will draw off the people from awaiting Messiah. He will show himself that he is God and will demand worship (2 Thess. 2:4). Being an instrument of Satan he will imitate Messiah as well as be hostile to him.
Because he sets himself against Christ where Christ is supposed to be honoured, the search for antichrists is not a search among the openly godless.
W. W. Fereday"Antichrist" means one who sets himself in opposition to Christ, and this manifestly where Christ should be exalted. This is enough to let us know where to look for antichrists in our own day — not in the atheist lecture hall, but in the Christian university and pulpit.
A Person, Not a Principle
Commentators are firm that this is a man, and they read the Old Testament clues as pointing to his background.
Edward DennettNow it must be clearly understood that antichrist is not a figurative term for some evil principle or system, but that it indicates an actual person. Whoever will take the trouble to read the various scriptures in which he is mentioned will see this at once. There is reason, moreover, to conclude that he will be not a Gentile, but a Jew. So our Lord, doubtless referring to this embodiment of evil, says, "If another comes in his own name, you will receive him" (John 5:43); and this is unthinkable unless he were of their own nation.
The Double Denial
The name appears only in John's letters, and there the evil is religious rather than political. What he denies is precise: he strikes at the hope of Israel and at the heart of Christian revelation together.
J. N. DarbyThe Antichrist is not spoken of by name, except in the Epistles of John, where his character is religious, not secular — apostate and heretical activity against the Person and glory of Christ and the essential doctrines of Christianity. He denies the Father and the Son. He does not confess Jesus Christ come in flesh. He denies that Jesus is the Christ, which seems rather Jewish in its connection and evil, more than the denial of the revelation which constitutes Christianity.
Denying the Son is not a partial error that leaves God the Father untouched.
F. B. HoleThe "many antichrists" who have gone before him all run on similar lines. Their denials relate more particularly to the Son who has been revealed on earth, and they may claim they have nothing to say about the Father or against Him. Such a claim is worthless. To deny the Son is to deny the Father. To confess the Son is to have the Father also.
Other Names, Other Passages
Writers link this figure to several prophetic portraits, though they differ on the details of how he relates to the Roman head. One helpful distinction is between religious and political power.
An Outline of Sound WordsThe Antichrist is not to be confused with the blasphemous head of the revived Roman Empire, described under the figure of the first beast in Revelation 13:1-10. The Antichrist will be the vessel of religious energy and opposition to Christ. The revived head of the Roman Empire will be the leader in evil public government. One will wield evil religious power; the other evil secular power. Both powers will be energised by Satan, and both will come to the same fearful end.
The imitation is exposed by what he says, not by how he looks.
F. B. HoleHe impersonates a lamb, but his true character is revealed by his speech. Jesus came as THE LAMB of God, as John 1 shows, and John 10 shows that as the true Shepherd of the sheep He was recognised by His voice. Here the false "lamb" proves himself to be no true shepherd but a slave-driver, speaking with the voice of the dragon.
The Spirit Already at Work
The letter gives a test that applies now, long before the final man appears.
C CrainIt is not that the Antichrist himself has come, but that many have come who are characterized by his spirit — the spirit of insubjection to the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ. We are justified, therefore, in rejecting as not of God, every system of teaching in which Jesus Christ come in flesh is disowned or dishonored.
The Believer's Safeguard
Against this, the youngest believer is not left defenceless.
J. N. DarbyOur security against these deceptions is the anointing from the Holy One — the Holy Spirit, but especially in connection with the holiness of God, which enables us to see clearly into the truth; and, secondly, that what we have heard from the beginning should abide in us. This is clearly what we have in the written word.
Summary
- Name. "Antichrist" means both against Christ and instead of Christ — he opposes by counterfeiting, imitating the Messiah while hostile to Him.
- Person. He is not a symbol for an evil system but a real man still to appear, of Jewish descent, who will come in his own name and be received.
- Denial. His mark is a double denial — that Jesus is the Christ, and of the Father and the Son; and denying the Son leaves no claim on the Father.
- Counterfeit. Religious power, not political — lamb's horns with a dragon's voice, distinguished by what he says, not how he appears.
- Defence. The anointing of the Holy Spirit plus what was heard from the beginning; today the test is whether a teaching confesses Jesus Christ come in flesh.