Definition: Antichrist means against or instead of Christ. It occurs a total of five times, singular and plural, all of them in two of John’s epistles. The term applies to all who deny what the Bible says about Jesus Christ, all who oppose his Kingdom, and all who mistreat his followers. It also includes individuals, organizations, and nations that falsely claim to represent Christ or that improperly ascribe to themselves the role of Messiah.Does the Bible refer to only one antichrist?
1 John 2:18 states: “Young children, it is the last hour, and, just as you have heard that antichrist [Gr., an·ti´khri·stos] is coming, even now there have come to be many antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour.” John’s statement shows that there are many individual antichrists, though all together they may form a composite person designated “the antichrist.” (2 John 7)
Is the coming of the antichrist reserved for some future time?
The use of the expression “hour” at 1 John 2:18 as referring to a period of time, either relatively brief or of undetermined length, is exemplified in other writings of John. (See John 2:4; 4:21-23; 5:25, 28; 7:30; 8:20; 12:23, 27.) He thus did not restrict the appearance, existence, and activity of such antichrist to some future time only but showed that the antichrist was then present and would continue on. 1 John 4:3 says: "Every inspired expression that does not confess Jesus does not originate with God. Furthermore, this is the antichrist's inspired expression which you have heard was coming, and now it is already in the world." (That was written near the end of the first century C.E.)
Who have been identified as antichrist?
1 John 2:22: "Who is the liar if it is not the one that denies that Jesus is the Christ [or, Messiah, anointed one]? This is the antichrist."
John’s inspired statements show the term to be broad in its application, embracing all those who deny that “Jesus is the Christ,” and who deny that Jesus is the Son of God who came “in the flesh.” (Also see 1 John 4:2, 3; 2 John 7, NE, NIV; compare John 8:42, 48, 49; 9:22.)
2 John 7 shows that such ones might act as deceivers, and therefore the “antichrist” would include those who are “false Christs” and “false prophets,” as well as those who perform powerful works in Jesus’ name and yet are classed by him as “workers of lawlessness.”—Mt 24:24; 7:15, 22, 23.
John specifically mentions apostates as among those of the antichrist by referring to those who “went out from us,” abandoning the Christian congregation. (1 John 2:18, 19) It therefore includes “the man of lawlessness” or “son of destruction” described by Paul, as well as the “false teachers” Peter denounces for forming destructive sects and who “disown even the owner that bought them.” - 2 Thess. 2:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:1
Also see:
ANTICHRIST - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)
ANTICHRIST (Insight-1 pp. 115-116; Watchtower Online Library)
Antichrist (rs p. 32-p. 33; Watchtower Online Library)
Why Identify the Antichrist? (w06 12/1 p. 3; Watchtower Online Library)
When will he come? What will he do when he does come?
The Antichrist Exposed (w06 12/1 pp. 4-7; Watchtower Online Library)
The Bible sheds considerable light on the subject of the antichrist.
Antichrist (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)
Who is the Antichrist? (Search For Bible Truths)
Does the Bible refer to only one antichrist? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)
Is the coming of the antichrist reserved for some future time? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)
Who have been identified as antichrist? (Jehovah's Witnesses Questions and Answers)
Antichrist (Pastor Russell)
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