DOCTRINES OF ESCHATOLOGY
Doctrie 18 / 36: Basic Information Concerning the Antichrist
The Antichrist is the second most written about personality in the Bible, whether it be direct statements about him or types and anti-types. The time of his public life, as far as the Bible is concerned, is during Daniel's 70th week, also known as the Great Tribulation (Daniel 9:27). In this time he sets up a covenant, and mid-way through the seven year time, breaks that covenant with the "abomination of desolation" (Daniel 9:27; 12:11; Matthew 24:15).
2 Thessalonians 2 gives a summary of this Antichrist. In the passage, he is given the titles: "man of sin," "the son of perdition," and "that Wicked." He is said to receive his power from Satan himself so that he can do "all power and signs and lying wonders." With these powers, he will deceive the people of the world into believing that he, in fact, is the "Messiah." The Antichrist exalts himself above all gods, and presents himself as being God. He even sits in God's temple.
Revelation 13 also sheds some light on this figure. He is the beast that has seven heads and ten horns. The dragon, Satan, is he who gives power unto this beast, as was seen in 2 Thessalonians 2:9. The Antichrist receives an apparently mortal head wound, yet this wound is healed, and it causes many more to believe in him. Verse 7 of Revelation 13 says that he makes war with the saints (these are those that convert during the Tribulation, as the church is raptured out before). He blasphemes against God and his tabernacle.
In summary, it appears that the Antichrist is a man that rises to great political power at the beginning of a seven year period of Tribulation. This rise of political power is marked with a peace agreement that for 3 1/2 years brings a certain level of peace in the earth. His power increases so much that people begin to look at him as God Himself, and they worship him as such. He sits in God's temple, and begins to profane the temple in the mid-way point of the seven years. It appears that this breaks the time of peace, and he begins a war against God's people, and at the same time, the time of Great Tribulation begins.
"Then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume."
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