The antichrist is an important eschatological figure that appears in various books of the Bible, most prominently in 1 and 2 John. Here are some key Bible verses about the antichrist:
1 John 2:18-22
“Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.”
This passage introduces the notion of the antichrist, indicating there are many antichrists but there will also be one final antichrist. It provides a key characteristic of antichrists – they deny that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God.
1 John 4:2-3
“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”
This verse emphasizes that the antichrist denies Christ has come in the flesh, in contrast to true believers empowered by God’s Spirit.
2 John 1:7
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.”
Again, the antichrist is associated with those who deny Christ came in the flesh.
1 John 2:22
“Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.”
This verse reiterates that denying Jesus as Messiah is a key characteristic of the antichrist.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 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 destruction, 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. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
This important end-times passage refers to the “man of lawlessness” who will be revealed before Christ’s return. He will exalt himself against God, even taking his seat in the temple. But Jesus will destroy him at His coming. The antichrist will deceive many through Satan’s power and false miracles.
Revelation 13:1-8
“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”
This vivid apocalyptic imagery depicts the beast, likely symbolic of the antichrist or his kingdom. He derives power from Satan, utters blasphemies, makes war on the saints, and rules over many people and nations.
Daniel 11:36-39
“And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.”
This prophecy refers to a boastful king who will magnify himself above all gods, echoing the self-exalting nature of the antichrist depicted in other passages.
Revelation 19:19-20
“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”
This passage describes the demise of the beast (antichrist) who with the false prophet is captured and thrown into the lake of fire at Christ’s return.
Revelation 20:10
“And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
The devil joins the antichrist and false prophet in eternal punishment in the lake of fire.
In summary, these verses depict the antichrist as an end times figure who gains power from Satan, blasphemes God, persecutes believers, and deceives many people with false signs and wonders. He self-exalts above all gods but will ultimately be overthrown by Jesus Christ upon His return.
Additional Verses
Here are some other Bible verses that provide additional information about the antichrist:
- Daniel 7:25 – He will speak against the Most High and oppress the saints.
- Daniel 8:23 – A king of bold face, skilled in intrigue will arise.
- Daniel 11:21 – A contemptible person will seize the kingdom by intrigue.
- 1 John 4:1-3 – Test the spirits to see if they are from God.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 – The man of lawlessness sets himself up in God’s temple.
- Revelation 13:5-6 – Given authority for 42 months and blasphemes God.
- Revelation 13:16-17 – Forces all people to receive a mark for buying and selling.
- Revelation 14:9-11 – Warns against worshiping the beast or receiving his mark.
- Revelation 16:13 – The dragon, beast and false prophet are signs of unclean spirits.
- Revelation 17:1-18 – Depicts the beast ridden by the prostitute Babylon.
- Revelation 19:20 – The beast was captured and thrown into the fiery lake.
- Revelation 20:4 – Those who did not worship the beast reigned with Christ for 1,000 years.
Though only alluded to vaguely or symbolically at times, these verses provide additional clues about the nature, rise, reign, and eventual destruction of the antichrist. He will be a cunning, boastful, blasphemous ruler who persecutes God’s people but meets his doom when Jesus returns.
Characteristics and Nature of the Antichrist
Based on all these scriptures, we can summarize the main characteristics and nature of the antichrist:
- Denies that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (1 John 2:22, 4:3; 2 John 1:7)
- Opposes and exalts himself above God (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
- Derives power from Satan (Revelation 13:2)
- Persecutes and makes war against Christians (Revelation 13:7; Daniel 7:25)
- Blasphemes God and slanders His name (Revelation 13:5-6)
- Performs false signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)
- Deceives and leads many people astray (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
- Rules over many nations and peoples (Revelation 13:7)
- Will take his seat and proclaim himself God in the temple (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
- Boastful and arrogant ruler (Daniel 11:36-37)
- Cunning deceiver (Daniel 8:23, 11:21)
- Will be overthrown by Jesus at His second coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:20)
These descriptors point to a prideful, blasphemous ruler who persecutes believers and performs false wonders to deceive the world into worshiping him and Satan. But he will meet his end when Christ returns and casts him into the lake of fire.
Identity of the Antichrist
The Bible does not specifically name who the antichrist will be. However, here are some of the theories on his identity:
- A world ruler – He will have authority over many nations and peoples (Revelation 13:7).
- From a revived Roman Empire – Some connect the 10 horns of the beast in Revelation to a revived Roman Empire (Revelation 13:1).
- Assyrian – Micah 5:5-6 may suggest an Assyrian background.
- The “little horn” in Daniel – This little horn rises up from the terrible beast in Daniel’s vision (Daniel 7:8).
- The “prince who is to come” in Daniel – He will confirm a 7-year covenant but break it after 3.5 years (Daniel 9:26-27).
- Not revealed – 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 indicates the antichrist is currently being restrained until the time of his revealing.
However, the theories about his exact identity continue to be debated by Bible scholars.
Events and Timeline Associated with the Antichrist
Though the timing is debated, here is a possible chronology of major events associated with the antichrist:
- The “rebellion” or “apostasy” comes first (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
- The antichrist is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
- He confirms a 7-year covenant with Israel and others (Daniel 9:27)
- In the middle of the “week” (after 3.5 years) he breaks the covenant (Daniel 9:27)
- He sets himself up in the temple, proclaiming to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
- The Jewish sacrifices are halted by his “abomination of desolation” (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15)
- He exercises authority for 42 months (Revelation 13:5)
- He persecutes saints for 3.5 years (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5-7)
- He implements the mark of the beast economic system (Revelation 13:16-17)
- Jesus Christ returns and defeats him at Armageddon (2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:19-20)
- He is thrown alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20)
This chronology attempts to synthesize the various prophetic time periods and markers associated with his rise and reign before Christ judges him at his second coming.
Responses and Resistance to the Antichrist
In light of Bible prophecies concerning the antichrist, here are some suggested responses:
- Have spiritual discernment to recognize false prophets (1 John 4:1-3)
- Test those claiming to represent God (1 John 4:1)
- Rely on Scripture, not signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
- Flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14)
- Reject the mark of the beast (Revelation 14:9-11)
- Refuse to worship the beast (Revelation 14:12, 20:4)
- Endure persecution and suffering (Daniel 11:33-35)
- Keep faith in Jesus Christ despite deception (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15)
- Take comfort that God limits the beast’s authority (Revelation 13:5, 11:2)
- Trust that those in Christ will not experience final judgment (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)
Believers should cling to Jesus Christ and biblical truth while resisting the antichrist’s lies and intimidation until he is defeated at Christ’s return.