Who is the Antichrist? This is not only a question that literally thousands of websites and blogs try to answer, but it is a question that has puzzled Christians for almost two thousand years. Throughout history there have been many people who have truly believed that they have had the answer, but it did not take long for the foolishness of most of those people to be exposed. So are we going to tell you the identity of the Antichrist? No, we are not. But what we are going to do is to break down the characteristics that the Scriptures tell us that the Antichrist will possess, so that when he does finally come on the scene you will be able to clearly identify him.
First of all, it is important to note that the Bible itself does not give us the name of the Antichirst. In fact, the term "antichrist" is only used a handful of times. More commonly, the incredibly wicked world ruler who will arise just before the return of Jesus Christ is called "the Beast" in the Scriptures. Other names for him in the Bible include "the man of sin", "the little horn", "the man of lawlessness", "the lawless one" and "the beast that comes up from the Abyss".
The Scriptures actually tell us quite a bit about this future world ruler. Posted below are 32 characteristics of the real Antichrist. After studying this list, you will quickly see how foolish many of the people are who think that they have figured out the identity of the Antichrist. The truth is that the Antichrist is not just another common politician who pops onto the scene. Rather, the Antichrist is going to be such an extraordinary figure that all of the nations on earth will follow him and worship him. After reading this list of the 32 characteristics of the Antichrist you should have a better grasp for just how spectacularly evil this man truly is going to be.....
#1) The Antichrist is a man. (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
#2) The Antichrist is someone who has been around before. Revelation 17:8 describes this reality, along with the fact that the inhabitants of the earth will be amazed to see this man who "once was, now is not, and yet will come".....
The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come.
This is one reason why many teachers of Bible prophecy speak of "the return of the Antichrist".
#3) The Antichrist is an "eighth king" in a series of kings as it says in Revelation 17:10-11.....
They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
#4) Daniel 9:26 says this about the people that the Antichrist will be from: "The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary."
Jerusalem and the Temple were indeed destroyed by the Roman Empire in 70 A.D. in fulfillment of this prophecy. Some Bible prophecy scholars believe therefore that the Antichrist will come from a revived Roman Empire, while others believe that the Antichrist will be Syrian, since the troops that the Roman Empire used to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple were Syrians.
#5) Daniel 9:27 says that the Antichrist will establish a covenant with "many": "He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' "
Now, you will hear many Bible prophecy teach that the Antichrist will establish a treaty with the nation of Israel for seven years, but it does not say that. It only says that his covenant will be made with "many".
#6) The coming of the Antichrist will be accompanied by Satanic miracles, signs and wonders as it says in 2 Thessalonians: "The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders." (2 Thessalonians 2:9)
#7) The Antichrist will deny that Jesus is the Messiah. (1 John 2:22)
#8) All of the nations in the world will follow and worship the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:3-4, 8 )
#9) The Antichrist will kill the Two Witnesses once they have finished their prophesying. (Revelation 11:7)
#10) In the middle of the seven year Tribulation, the Antichrist will put an end to Temple sacrifices and will set up the "abomination the causes desolation" in the Temple as Daniel 9:27 says:
In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
#11) The Antichrist will arise to power after the "ten horns" come to power. These ten horns are ten "kings" who will gain great power for a short time but who will ultimately give their power to the Antichrist. Three of the ten horns will be "uprooted" by the Antichrist. (Daniel 7:8, 24; Revelation 17:12-13, 17)
#12) The Antichrist will speak boastfully. (Daniel 7:8, 20)
#13) The Antichrist will exalt himself above all other gods and will speak blasphemy against the true God. (Daniel 7:25, 11:36-37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:5-6)
#14) The Scriptures say that the Antichrist will be one who "was wounded by the sword and yet lived". (Revelation 13:14)
#15) The Antichrist will proclaim that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
#16) The Antichrist will rule every tribe, people, language and nation. (Revelation 13:7)
#17) The Antichrist will be accompanied by "the false prophet" who will be able to do amazing miracles including causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. (Revelation 13:13)
#18) This false prophet will order the entire world to worship the image of the Antichrist and whoever refuses to worship it will be killed. (Revelation 13:14-15)
#19) The Antichrist will exercise his full authority for 42 months. (Revelation 13:5)
#20) The number of the Beast is 666. (Revelation 13:18)
#21) All inhabitants of the earth will be forced to receive the "Mark of the Beast" which will be taken either on the right hand or the forehead. Nobody will be able to buy or sell unless they have the Mark of the Beast, "which is the name of the beast or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:17)
#22) The Antichrist will "distribute the land at a price". (Daniel 11:39)
#23) The Antichrist will try to change the set times and laws. (Daniel 7:25)
#24) The Antichrist will invade many countries and will invade the nation of Israel at one point. (Daniel 11:40-41)
#25) Edom, Moab and the "leaders of Ammon" will be delivered from his hand. (Daniel 11:41)
#26) The Antichrist will wage war against the saints and will defeat them for a while. (Daniel 7:21, 25; Revelation 13:7)
#27) The Antichrist will ultimately hate and destroy the whore of Babylon. (Revelation 17:16)
#28) The Antichrist will be successful until the time of wrath is completed. (Daniel 11:36)
#29) The rule of the Antichrist will be during "a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then." (Daniel 12:1)
#30) The Antichrist will gather "the kings of the earth and their armies" together to make war against Jesus Christ as he returns and his army. (Revelation 19:19)
#31) When the Antichrist is finally destroyed, nobody will help him. (Daniel 11:45)
#32) The Antichrist will be defeated by Jesus Christ when He returns to earth and the Antichrist will be thrown alive into the lake of fire. (Daniel 7:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:20)
