Antichrist — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

According to 1 John, anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ, that he is the unique Son of God, or that he has come in the flesh. The biblical term, however, principally refers to a particular person in whom that denial reaches its consummate expression and who will play a key role in the final stage of history.

The word “antichrist” occurs only four times, all in John’s epistles (1 Jn 2:18, 22 OET JN1 2:18 · OET JN1 2:22; 4:3; 2 Jn 1:7). First John 2:18 refers also to “many antichrists.” John assumed that his Christian readers knew about the Antichrist and had been taught to expect his coming (1 Jn 2:18-27). The presence of many antichrists, in fact, indicated that the end times had arrived. But John warned that a final Antichrist who, like the others, would deny that Jesus is the Christ, would yet make an appearance.

Other Names for the Antichrist

The concept of antichrist undoubtedly comes from the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels. A lengthy passage (Mk 13, paralleled in Mt 24–25, OET MAT 24:1–51 · OET MAT 25:1–46 and Lk 21) records the instruction Jesus gave his disciples about the tragic events and persecution that they could expect before his return as the glorious Son of Man. His coming would be preceded by the appearance of many “deceivers” and “false Christs.” The term “false Christs” is used only twice (Mt 24:24; Mk 13:22). Although it has obvious similarities to John’s “antichrist,” the Gospel passages do not refer to “a deceiver” or “false Christ” in the singular as do John’s and Paul’s writings.

Show passage in OET: MAT 24:24

OET-RV MAT 24:24

24 because false messiahs and false prophets will emerge, and they’ll do amazing miracles that would, if possible, mislead even the chosen people.

OET-LV MAT 24:24

24 For/Because false _messiahs will _be _being _raised and false _prophets, and they _will _be _giving great signs and wonders, so _as to _mislead even the chosen if possible.

Show passage in OET: MRK 13:22

OET-RV MRK 13:22

22 Plenty of fake messiahs and deceiving prophets will certainly come and even do things that humans can’t normally do, so much so that even the chosen ones would defect if that were possible.

OET-LV MRK 13:22

22 For/Because false _messiahs and false _prophets will _be _being _raised, and they _will _be _giving signs and wonders, because/for that the chosen ones if possible to _be _wandering _away.

Jump to OET MAT 24:24 section.

Jump to OET MRK 13:22 section.

In the book of Revelation, John’s symbol for the Antichrist is probably “the beast” (Rv 13:1-18; 17:3, 7-17 OET REV 17:3 · OET REV 17:7–17). The Beast is described, not only as an opposer of Christ, but more specifically as a satanically inspired Christ-counterfeit. Although the Beast (Antichrist) is clearly distinguishable from the Lamb (Christ), he receives worship from everyone except God’s elect.

Show passage in OET: REV 17:3; REV 17:7–17

OET-RV REV 17:3

3 Then in the spirit I was carried away to a wilderness and I saw a woman sitting on a wild animal that was scarlet and had anti-God names written all over it. It had seven heads and ten horns.

OET-RV REV 17:7

7 but the messenger asked me, “Why are you astounded? I’ll tell you the mystery of the woman and of the wild animal with the seven heads and the ten horns that’s carrying her.

OET-RV REV 17:8

8 The wild animal that you saw used to be here and isn’t anymore but is about to come up from the abyss. Then it’s going to destruction, and the ones living on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will wonder, seeing the creature that used to be here and isn’t anymore but will come back.

OET-RV REV 17:9

9 Here’s the mind understanding wisdom: The seven heads are seven hills that the woman is sitting on, and they’re seven rulers.

OET-RV REV 17:10

10 Five of the rulers have fallen and one is still there, but the other one hasn’t come yet, and when he does, it’ll be necessary for him to remain a while.

OET-RV REV 17:11

11 The wild animal that used to be here and isn’t anymore is itself also an eighth, but it’s from the seven and is heading towards destruction.

OET-RV REV 17:12

12 The ten horns that you saw are ten rulers who haven’t received a domain yet to rule, but they are receiving authority as rulers with the wild animal for one hour.

OET-RV REV 17:13

13 They’re all unified, and they give their power and authority to the wild animal.

OET-RV REV 17:14

14 They’ll go to battle against the lamb, but the lamb will conquer them because he is master of masters and king of kings and the ones with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

OET-RV REV 17:15

15 Then the messenger said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.

OET-RV REV 17:16

16 The ten horns that you saw and the wild animal, they’ll hate the prostitute and will make her desolated and naked and they’ll eat her flesh and will burn her completely with fire,

OET-RV REV 17:17

17 because God has put it into their hearts to do his purpose and to do one purpose and to give their kingdom to the wild animal until God’s words turn into reality.

OET-LV REV 17:3

3 And he _carried _away me into a_wilderness in the_spirit.
And I _saw a_woman sitting on a_wild _animal scarlet, being _full with _names of _slander, having seven heads and ten horns.

OET-LV REV 17:7

7 And said to _me the messenger:
For/Because _reason why you _marvelled?
I you will _be _telling the mystery of _the woman, and of _the wild _animal which bearing her, which having the seven heads and the ten horns.

OET-LV REV 17:8

8 The wild _animal that you _saw was, and not is, and is _going to _be _going _up out _of the abyss, and into destruction to _be _going.
And will _be _marvelling the ones dwelling on the earth, whose not has _been _written the names in the scroll of_ the _life from the_foundation of_the_earth, seeing the wild _animal, that it _was and not is and _yet will _be _being _present.

OET-LV REV 17:9

9 Here is the mind which having seven:
wisdom the seven heads mountains are, where the woman is _sitting on them.
And seven kings are:

OET-LV REV 17:10

10 the five fell, the one is, the other not _yet came, and whenever he _may _come, a_little time him it _is _fitting to _remain

OET-LV REV 17:11

11 and the wild _animal which was, and not is, also himself an_eighth is, and of the seven it _is, and into destruction it _is _going.

OET-LV REV 17:12

12 And the ten horns which you _saw, ten kings are, who a_kingdom thus received, but authority as for _one kings hour they _are _receiving with the wild _animal.

OET-LV REV 17:13

13 These one opinion are _having, and the power and the authority of _them to _the wild _animal they _are _giving.

OET-LV REV 17:14

14 These with the lamb will _be _warring, and the lamb will _be _overcoming them, because master of _masters he _is and king of _kings, and the ones with him, called, and chosen, and faithful.

OET-LV REV 17:15

15 And he _is _saying to _me:
The waters that you _saw, where the prostitute is _sitting, peoples and crowds are, and nations and tongues.

OET-LV REV 17:16

16 And the ten horns that you _saw and the wild _animal, these will _be _hating the prostitute, and having _been _desolated they _will _be _making her and naked, and the fleshes of _her they _will _be _eating, and her they _will _be _burning _up with with _fire.

OET-LV REV 17:17

17 For/Because the god gave into the hearts of _them to _do the opinion of _him, and to _do one opinion, and to _give the kingdom of _them to _the wild _animal, until will _be _being _accomplished the messages of_ the _god.

Jump to OET REV 17:3 section. · OET REV 17:7–17 section.

Another probable reference to the Antichrist is “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thes 2:3). The passage is difficult to interpret, but the person described seems to be the same person later designated by John as the Beast. Both the apostles Paul and John saw present events as leading up to the events of the future. Instructing the church at Thessalonica about the second coming of Christ (2 Thes 2:1-12), Paul stressed that the appearance and rebellion of the man of lawlessness must occur beforehand. That man would oppose the worship of any gods or God and even proclaim himself to be God (2 Thes 2:4). He would subsequently be destroyed by Christ at his return (2 Thes 2:8)—an indication that those events are set in the final days of history.

Show passage in OET: TH2 2:3

OET-RV TH2 2:3

3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, because before that happens many people will turn away from the good message, and the lawless man will be revealed—the conveyor of destruction

OET-LV TH2 2:3

3 Not someone you _all may _deceive in not _one manner, because if not may _come the apostasy first, and may _be _revealed the man of_ the _lawlessness, the son of_ the _destruction,

Show passage in OET: TH2 2:1–12

OET-RV TH2 2:1

2 ⇔Now concerning the return of our master Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) Messiah and our being gathered together with him, we are asking you all, brothers and sisters,

OET-RV TH2 2:2

2 to not be alarmed or have your thinking jolted back-and-forth by any ‘spirit’ or message or letter that seems to come from us that tries to say that the master has already returned.

OET-RV TH2 2:3

3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, because before that happens many people will turn away from the good message, and the lawless man will be revealed—the conveyor of destruction

OET-RV TH2 2:4

4 who opposes every god or object of worship and puts himself above them all—seating himself in God’s temple and (supposedly) demonstrating that he is God.

OET-RV TH2 2:5

5 Don’t you remember how I told you people this when I was still with you?

OET-RV TH2 2:6

6 Now you know what’s restraining him so that he’ll be revealed at the proper time,

OET-RV TH2 2:7

7 because the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, except that it’s being restrained until he’s taken out of the middle,

OET-RV TH2 2:8

8 and then the lawless man will be revealed. The master Yeshua will kill him with his breath and neutralise him with the appearance of his coming.

OET-RV TH2 2:9

9 The lawless man was coming and working under Satan with his power and signs and false miracles

OET-RV TH2 2:10

10 and with every unrighteous seduction. These deceive those who are perishing, because they never had the love for the truth that could have saved them.

OET-RV TH2 2:11

11 That’s why God is sending deceptive practices to them, so that they can continue to believe in the falsehood,

OET-RV TH2 2:12

12 so that all of those who didn’t believe in the truth, but took pleasure in wicked actions, will be judged and sentenced.

OET-LV TH2 2:1

2 And we _are _asking you _all, brothers, concerning the coming of _the master of _us, Yaʸsous chosen _one /messiah, and of _us gathering _together to him,

OET-LV TH2 2:2

2 in _order that not quickly to _be _shaken you _all in the mind, nor to _be _being _alarmed, neither by spirit, nor by message, nor by letter, as _though by us, as that has _presented the day of _the master.

OET-LV TH2 2:3

3 Not someone you _all may _deceive in not _one manner, because if not may _come the apostasy first, and may _be _revealed the man of_ the _lawlessness, the son of_ the _destruction,

OET-LV TH2 2:4

4 the one opposing and exalting himself over every being _called a_god or object _of _worship, so _as him in the temple of_ the _god to _sit _down, demonstrating himself that he _is god.

OET-LV TH2 2:5

5 Not you _all _are _remembering that still being with you _all, these things I _was _saying to _you _all?

OET-LV TH2 2:6

6 And now the thing restraining you _all _have _known, in _order that to _be _revealed him in the of _him time.

OET-LV TH2 2:7

7 For/Because the mystery already is _working of_ the _lawlessness, only the one restraining it now there _is, until out _of the_midst it _may _become.

OET-LV TH2 2:8

8 And then will _be _being _revealed the lawless one, whom the master Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) will _be _killing with _the breath/spirit of _the mouth of _him, and will _be _nullifying by _the appearing of _the coming of _him,

OET-LV TH2 2:9

9 of _whom is the coming, according _to the_working of_ the _Satan/(Sāţān) in every power, and signs, and wonders of _falsehood,

OET-LV TH2 2:10

10 and in every seduction of _unrighteousness, in _the ones perishing, because/for which the love of _the truth not they _received, in _order that to _be _saved them.

OET-LV TH2 2:11

11 And because _of this, is _sending to _them the god a_working of _deception, in _order that to _believe them in _the falsehood,

OET-LV TH2 2:12

12 in _order _that may _be _judged all the ones not having _believed in _the truth, but having _taken _pleasure the in _unrighteousness.

Show passage in OET: TH2 2:4

OET-RV TH2 2:4

4 who opposes every god or object of worship and puts himself above them all—seating himself in God’s temple and (supposedly) demonstrating that he is God.

OET-LV TH2 2:4

4 the one opposing and exalting himself over every being _called a_god or object _of _worship, so _as him in the temple of_ the _god to _sit _down, demonstrating himself that he _is god.

Show passage in OET: TH2 2:8

OET-RV TH2 2:8

8 and then the lawless man will be revealed. The master Yeshua will kill him with his breath and neutralise him with the appearance of his coming.

OET-LV TH2 2:8

Jump to OET TH2 2:3 section.

Jump to OET TH2 2:1–12 section.

Jump to OET TH2 2:4 section.

Jump to OET TH2 2:8 section.

John further described any person or message that did not “confess Jesus” as being of the spirit of the antichrist (1 Jn 4:3). In his brief Second Epistle, John referred to “many deceivers” who would not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (2 Jn 1:7). Such a person, he wrote, was “the deceiver and the antichrist.”