The Antichrist

The term Antichrist is used only by John (1 John 2:18; 22; 4:3; 2 John 7), although the idea is found in other Scriptural writers in both the Old and New Testaments. In general antichrist is hostile to the person and to the work of Christ and will appear at the height of the great apostasy that will precede the Second Coming of Christ. He is usually considered to be an individual person distinct from Satan but working for him. Antichrist will seek to overcome Christ and His Church. Paul refers to him as the man of lawlessness� the son of perdition, �Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God" (2 Thess. 2:3-4). "The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved" (2 Thess. 2:9-10). Paul explains that some obstacle (known to the Thessalonians, but unknown to us) now restrains the coming of antichrist (2 Thess. 2:6).

� Evangelization Station, 2010

webmaster www.evangelizationstation.com