Afraid of Antichrists
I grew up terrified of the Antichrist. My family went to a dispensational church where we were taught that there is an evil Antichrist coming who will control the world and kill all the Christians he can, and he will cut off your head if you say you’re a Christian. However, if you deny Christ so that you don’t get your head cut off, you go to Hell. It felt like a no-win situation. We were terrified of the Antichrist, and because we were so scared of him, we found him everywhere. We thought every president with whom we disagreed was the Antichrist. Every famous musician and every military leader we didn’t like was the Antichrist…until we realized they weren’t.
What does all this fear lead to? Bunkering. It tempts us to separate ourselves from the world and hide our comfortable lives from the terrifying world. If this is what our theology leads us to, and it is a true theology, we should learn how to live on mission in a dangerous world without separating from it. But I do not believe that interpretation of Scripture is accurate.
In Matthew 24, Jesus prophesies terrifying events that can easily incite fear: the abomination of desolation and a great tribulation. This passage does come with a warning about these terrifying events that directs readers to run and hide when these events happen. Some Christians believe these events will happen in the future, and every generation that believed that, believed those events would happen in their lifetime. I believe that the abomination of desolation and the great tribulation that Jesus talked about have already happened. They happened in the first century when the Roman army destroyed the temple. The events of the first century fulfill every detail of Jesus’ prophecy, but the focus of Jesus’ statements was on the endurance of God’s family.
The one who endures to the end will be saved.
When we talk about the Antichrist, three New Testament passages usually come up: 2 Thessalonians 2 (The Man of Lawlessness), 1 John 2 (The Antichrist), and Revelation 13 (The Beast). We have a habit of assuming these three people are the same person, but the Bible doesn’t say they are. Let’s go quickly through each, starting with the last one.
Revelation 13 introduces the idea of kingdoms referred to as beasts. When it comes to the beast in Revelation, no one fulfilled the beast prophecies more than Rome and Emperor Nero. Nero mocked God’s creation, killed his mom, kicked his wife in the stomach killing her and her unborn baby, and dressed a male slave up like his wife then married him. He crucified Peter upside down and beheaded Paul. Rome destroyed the Jerusalem temple. When you add up the Hebrew numbers in the name Nero, you get 666.
But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been more beasts since Nero. We’ve witnessed the evils of Diocletian, Stalin, and Pol Pot. The good news is all these beasts were all defeated. Don’t fear them. In fact, the persecution of the beasts has always sparked Christian church growth.
The passage in Revelation 13 is also the passage that predicts the mark of the beast. Many believe that the mark of the beast will be a forced tattoo or microchip, but I find that hard to believe. Revelation also tells us we are to get God’s mark on our forehead. We get this vision of Jesus’ return in Revelation 9:4.
They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
Does this passage instruct us to get 777 tattooed on our forehead or to insert a microchip under our skin? No. Being marked is swearing allegiance. It’s choosing to follow. The instruction of Revelation 13 is to choose not to follow the beast.
Now let’s look at the second passage. In 1 John 2, John said there will be many antichrists, not just one. They are what Jesus called wolves in sheep’s clothing. Unlike the beasts, they claim to be one of us. However, in the last hour, they will harm the Christian mission. So, when is the last hour?
The last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared.
John did not say the last hour is coming someday. He’s prophesying events that are already beginning to happen in his lifetime. He then talks about the antichrists’ presence in his world.
When he says antichrists have already come, Paul is talking about people like Caligula. Caligula was a Roman emperor who tried to put a statue of himself in the Jerusalem temple to be worshiped. This passage claims that antichrists will try to lead Christians astray by claiming that Jesus is not God, but we shouldn’t be deceived by their lies.
And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.
The third passage is found in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian church. 2 Thessalonians 2 describes the man of lawlessness. Many Christians assume this is the same person as the beast in Revelation. I am almost entirely convinced it’s not. The beast was someone in the past. The man of lawlessness seems to be someone in the future.
For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
The man of lawlessness will sit in the temple. What is the temple? We are. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians that the Christian church is the temple, not the Jerusalem temple. In other words, this man will claim to be a Christian. Paul continues,
For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed.
The Holy Spirit is today advancing the gospel all over the world, but someday, right before Jesus returns, the Holy Spirit will step out of the way and let him loose. But the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of His coming. So it seems to me that the man of lawlessness is either the antichrist or he is an antichrist. What does this passage tell us about him? God is restraining the man of lawlessness by the preaching of the gospel. As long as Christianity is growing, and it does relentlessly, the antichrist is bound. But even when he’s unbound, what will save us from him? The return of Christ will rescue the world from the attacks of antichrists.
The way we defeat antichrists is by following the true Christ. God is looking for loyal soldiers to play their part. Could a politician be an antichrist? Yes. Could that preacher be an antichrist? Yes. But we defeat them by preaching the true Christ. As we live out our faith openly and fearlessly, we align ourselves with the victorious King. By staying true to his teachings and spreading his message, we actively counter the deception and influence of the man of lawlessness. The fear of terrifying end-time predictions should not drive us to isolation. Scripture calls us to engage with the world, to be a light, and to trust in God’s sovereign plan.
This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
Our identity in Christ calls us to rise above fear and to trust in his plan. We are to be active participants in his mission, not passive spectators cowering in fear. The challenges we face, including the presence of antichrists, are opportunities for us to demonstrate our faith and commitment to Christ.
When we encounter fear, whether it is provoked by politicians, preachers, or world events, we should remember that our strength lies in our unity with Christ and his ultimate victory. Our focus should be on spreading the gospel, engaging with our communities, and living out the values that Jesus taught. This proactive approach not only fortifies our faith but also serves as a beacon of hope and truth in a world often overshadowed by fear and uncertainty.
Let’s commit to being lights in the world, confidently proclaiming the gospel and living in a manner that reflects our true identity in Christ. As we live courageously and faithfully, we not only overcome our fears but also inspire others to do the same. Our ultimate hope and security are found in Jesus Christ, who has overcome the world. By following him, we play our part in his grand plan, shining brightly in a world that desperately needs the light of Christ.