INTRODUCTION
This article looks at some of the lesser-taught yet nonetheless interesting things about the antichrist, including his names and titles, attributes, and geographic location.
NAMES AND TITLES
Just as God has many names and titles that describe his power, strength, and majesty, so does the antichrist have names and titles that describe his personality.
He is called “a vile person” (Daniel 11:21). This word vile means “morally impure; wicked”.
The Scripture calls him “that Wicked” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). The word wicked means “given to vice; not good; morally bad; pernicious”.
He is called “the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). The word perdition means “destruction; ruin; death; eternal death”. Notice that he is the “son” of perdition, denoting that he came from perdition, that is, perdition brought him forth, perdition is his father, metaphorically speaking. Thus the antichrist shall reflect his father perdition, even as Jesus said unto certain people, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do” (John 8:44).
The Scripture calls him “antichrist” (1 John 2:18). The word antichrist is compounded of anti and Christ, and signifies contrary to Christ or against Christ. Antichrist is an enemy of Christ, an opposer of Christ, an adversary to Christ.
He is also called “little horn” (Daniel 7:8; 8:9), “a king” (Daniel 8:23), “the king” (Daniel 11:36), “that man of sin” (2 Thessalonians 2:3), and “the beast” (e.g., Revelation 15:2).
CHARACTERISTICS
What are his personality traits? What is he like as a person?
The antichrist is deceitful, for he acts peaceably toward others, and he comes to people in peace to beguile them and achieve his personal goals (see, Daniel 11:21). He is so good at this that he destroys many by peace (see, Daniel 8:25).
He manipulates and corrupts people through flattery (see, Daniel 11:21,32). The verb flatter means “to praise falsely”; “to speak pleasing or false words, with a mind only to please and beguile, for our own profit”.
He lies to people, as seen in Daniel 11:27. This verse also says that his heart shall be to do mischief; the verb mischief means “to hurt; to harm; to injure”.
Daniel speaks of him forecasting his devices against others (see, Daniel 11:24). The verb forecast means to think, to meditate, to think out; (in a bad sense) to devise, to plot. Hence he shall think to devise evil stratagems against others.
He is a narcissist, for he shall magnify himself above all, even above every god; and he shall exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped; and he as God shall sit in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (see, Daniel 11:36,37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4).
He speaks boldly and powerfully (see, Daniel 7:8,11,20; Revelation 13:5). He also speaks openly against God without hesitation (see, Daniel 7:25; 11:36; Revelation 13:6).
He is a man of war. The Scriptures speak of him having armies, going forth with great fury to destroy, entering into countries militarily, stretching forth his hand upon countries, overthrowing countries, attacking and being attacked, and going forth to battle, even to battle the Lord himself (see, Daniel 11:21–45; Revelation 16:13,14).
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
The Scripture shows that the antichrist, his kingdom, and his seat are close to Middle Eastern countries. Here is the evidence, which is summed up at the end.
After the abomination of desolation is placed in the Jews’ temple, located in Jerusalem, the man of sin shall sit in the temple and declare that he is God (see, Daniel 11:31–39; 2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Daniel chapter eleven says that the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps, that is, in his footsteps, i.e., in his company. The Libyans are in North Africa, and the Ethiopians are in northeastern Africa. The same chapter says that the king of the south shall push at him, that is, wage war with him, fight against him, strive against him. The king of the south is the king of Egypt, which shall be attacked by the antichrist.
The antichrist shall enter into the glorious land (i.e., Judaea), and many countries shall be overthrown, but these shall escape out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon (see, Daniel 11:41).
At the end of the tribulation, the wicked king, his armies, and those that follow him shall gather together at a place called Armageddon to battle the Lord (see, Revelation 16:16).
Here is the sum and substance of the matter. The Scriptures show that the antichrist is relatively close to Israel, located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea; Egypt, located in northeastern Africa; Libya, located in North Africa; Ethiopia, located in northeastern Africa; Edom, located in the southern part of modern Jordan, between the Dead and Red Seas; Moab, located east of the Dead Sea in what is now west-central Jordan; and Armageddon, a mountain or hill of Megiddo.
Those places are in the Middle East, meaning the antichrist’s kingdom is not far from them, for he shall attack many of them, particularly Israel, Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia.
POWER OVER THE NATIONS
Daniel prophesied that there would be ten kings ruling in the last days, and then another king, namely the antichrist, will arise and subdue three of the first kings. Sometime thereafter, he shall be given power over all kindreds, tongues, and nations, as prophesied by John. (References: Daniel 7:23,24; Revelation 13:7.)
Though he has power of some sort over all kindreds, languages, and nations, he is not the head of the world as a king of kings, for there will be other kings during this time, some of whom he will attack. One king will push at him, another will come against him like a whirlwind, and countries will fight against him because his hostile forces will seek to overwhelm and overthrow them. (References: Daniel 11:21–44; Revelation 13:7.)
WHO IS HE?
For centuries, people have tried to figure out who the antichrist is, while others have simply assumed they knew who he is. Here are some examples.
Throughout the 16th century, Puritans and others believed that the pope was antichrist.
In the mid-2000s, some people thought that President George W. Bush was the antichrist. For example, one person wrote during the years of his presidency, “This man, this administration, is frightening. I fear the Muslim world may be right: Bush believes he is fighting a religious war. I was merely suspicious before, but now am certain: George Bush is the antichrist.” Another person wrote, “I submit to you that George Walker Bush is the ANTI-CHRIST. The violence and destruction that began when Bush first entered office, is now certain to culminate in the apocalypse, as predicted in the Bible over 2,000 years ago.”
In the late 2,000s and early 2010s, many believed that President Barack Obama was the antichrist. Here are a few examples:
In 2009, a survey was conducted that asked people in New Jersey if they thought Obama was the antichrist: 8% said yes, and 13% were not sure. A 2010 article reported that 14% of Americans believed that Obama “may be the Antichrist”. In 2011, a heckler shouted at Obama, “Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. You are the Antichrist.” A 2013 article reported that “About one in four Americans suspect that President Barack Obama might be the antichrist”.
More recently, some have said with confidence and certainty that King Charles III of England is the antichrist. Others, like the Puritans of old, point the finger at the Catholic papacy.
While there is nothing wrong with wondering who the antichrist might be, it is unwise to broadcast our opinions on this particular topic, lest we be counted among those who had pointed the finger at the wrong person. The man of sin shall be revealed in his time, and not a moment sooner (see, 2 Thessalonians 2: 6–8).
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the son of perdition is a liar. But the Son of God speaks truth. The man of sin’s look is more stout than his fellows. But the Son of man’s eyes are as a flame of fire. The beast has an earthly army. The LORD of hosts has a heavenly army. The Wicked flatters people to beguile them. The Lord shall destroy the antichrist with the spirit of his mouth. The little horn shall come to his end, and none shall help him. The LORD shall reign for ever and ever, and none shall overthrow him. Amen.
To learn about the abomination of desolation, click here: What is the Abomination of Desolation?
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