The term “antichrist” appears only in 1–2 John and refers both to a spirit already at work and to many individuals; the singular end-time figure is never called “the Antichrist” in Revelation but is generally identified with the first Beast and the “man of lawlessness.”

John never calls the Antichrist the beast, however, traits John ascribes to “the Antichrist” (ὁ ἀντίχριστος) is fulfilled in the person of the first Beast (the beast of the sea) of Revelation 13.

• Singular - "The Antichrist"
  • Future; 1 John 2:18 "…that the Antichrist is coming”
  • Present, Future; 1 John 2:22 “This is the Antichrist”
  • Present, Future; 1 John 4:3 “This is the (spirit) of the Antichrist”
  • Present, Future; 1 John 4:3 “…which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world”
  • Future; 2 John 7 “This is the deceiver and the Antichrist”
• Plural - “spirit of the Antichrist”
  • Present; 1 John 2:18 “…even now many antichrists have come”

Paul never calls the man of lawlessness the Antichrist or beast, however, the descriptive detail Paul gives in 2 Thessalonians 2:3–10 aligns with the first beast of Revelation 13.

• Singular - "the lawless one"
  • Future; 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “the man of sin … the son of destruction,” “unless the apostasy comes first and the man of sin is revealed”
  • Future; 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “the one who opposes … so that he sits in the temple of God”
  • Preset, Future; 2 Thessalonians 2:6 “and now you know what is restraining … until he is taken out of the way”
  • Future; 2 Thessalonians 2:7 “and then the lawless one will be revealed”
  • Future; 2 Thessalonians 2:8 “whom the Lord will consume … at the brightness of His coming”
  • Future; 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “whose coming is according to the working of The Adversary/Accuser” See: Satan, Dragon
• Plural - "spirit of the lawlessness"
  • Present; 2 Thessalonians 2 “for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work”

Medical and Death

• the beast/Antichrist figure is cast alive into the lake of fire at Christ’s return – Rev 19:20)

Righteousness and Unrighteousness

Righteousness

• every description is wholly opposed to God

Unrighteousness

• Denies that Jesus is the Christ and denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22)
• Does not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh (1 John 4:3; 2 John 7)
• Is the “man of lawlessness / son of destruction” who exalts himself above every so-called god, proclaiming himself to be God, and sits in the temple of God (2 Thess 2:3–4, 8–9)
• Performs great signs and wonders to deceive (2 Thess 2:9; Rev 13:13–14)
• Is empowered by Satan (2 Thess 2:9; Rev 13:2–4)
• Makes war against the saints and overcomes them (Rev 13:7)
• Is worshiped by the world (Rev 13:4, 8)
• Is the beast who is eventually defeated by the returning Christ (Rev 19:20)

Define

• Hebrew: No direct Hebrew word appears in Scripture. The closest conceptual equivalents in Hebrew translations of the New Testament are:
  • mashiach sheker (מָשִׁיחַ שֶׁקֶר) = “false messiah/anointed one”)
  • sometimes ben-beliyya‘al (בֶּן־בְּלִיַּעַל) = “son of Belial/worthlessness,” used for the “man of lawlessness” in 2 Thess 2:3).
• Greek: antichristos (ἀντίχριστος) - Literal meaning: “one who is against the Anointed One” or “one who opposes/substitutes for the Anointed One”
  • anti (ἀντί) = “against” and/or “in place of/substitute”
  • christos (χριστός0) = “anointed one / Christ”

Related words

• “the lawless one” (2 Thess 2:8)
• “the son of destruction/perdition” (2 Thess 2:3)
• “Beast” (Revelation 13 and 19)
• “the man of sin/lawlessness” (2 Thess 2:3)

Additional Info

• The actual word ἀντίχριστος (antichrist) appears only five times in the entire Bible, all in the writings of John (1 John 2:18 [twice], 2:22, 4:3; 2 John 7).
• John uses it both for a singular coming figure (“the antichrist” – 1 John 2:18) and for many who already exist (“many antichrists have come” – 1 John 2:18; 4:3; 2 John 7).
• The singular end-time figure elsewhere called the beast or the man of lawlessness is never explicitly called “the Antichrist” in Revelation or Paul’s letters; the identification is by theological connection, not by the use of the exact term.

Connections

• The spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:3)
• The Beast from the sea (Rev 13:1–10)
• The man of lawlessness / son of destruction (2 Thess 2:3–10)
• The little horn (Dan 7:8, 20–21, 24–25)
• The coming prince / willful king (Dan 8:23–25; 9:26–27; 11:36–45)
• The Abomination of the Desolation spoken of by Daniel (Matt 24:15; 2 Thess 2:4)