People often ask me, Is this or that political leader going to be the Antichrist?

So I thought I’d post some of the Bible criteria which need to be fulfilled for that person to arise.

Reply

Many people point to a prominent world politician and ask what are the possibilities that they will become the Biblical figure known as the Antichrist?

Before we go into detail, one of the major features of the Antichrist is that they are foreshadowed by similar individuals many times beforehand. As John says, even of his own day, “There have been many antichrists” (1 John 2:18). Each one is a lesser picture or prefiguring (the theological word is ‘Type”) of the real one to come.

I will give two near-exhaustive lists of the information we can cull from Scripture about the nature and timing of the actual Antichrist.

(You can just read through these, but might I recommend highlighting them, then copying and pasting into a Word Document so you can have them on your own computer for future reference.)

As an example of someone who was thought by some at one time to be a possible candidate for the Antichrist, we could look at Tony Blair, who, when first appointed to his position as a mediator in the Middle East, for a while appeared to fulfil some of the characteristics which are associated with the person of the Antichrist in Scripture. We can also use the Biblical information to rule him out as a real possibility.

Please note, this is in no way intended as a slur on Tony Blair’s character, or passing an opinion of him as a politician, it is merely showing how specific details of a living person may match some characteristics from scripture.

So, for example,

He was put into this position, not by his own power, but by the power of others. – Daniel 8:24
He was in a position to negotiate an agreement which fulfilled prophecy. – Daniel 9:27
He has been very successful, and may continue to be so. – Daniel 8:24
He converted to Catholicism (December 07), centred on Rome. – Revelation 17:3,9,18 (Please note, this view of Rome is not explicit in the text. It is an interpretation, held by some with certain world views.)
He is a Gentile, from a European Nation. – Daniel 9:26

However, few of the other characteristics fitted. He would have had to do more signs and wonders to convince me!

So we need to look at what will be the Characteristics of the Antichrist.

Here’s the first of two lists:

Characteristics of the Antichrist – Categorised by type

His descent and background
He has connections with God’s people, but doesn’t really belong. 1 John 2:19
He will rise from the background of the people who destroy the city (in AD 70) – The Roman Empire or its descendant. Daniel 9:26
He will NOT be of royal blood, which implies that he masquerades as royal. Daniel 11:21
He will serve a god unknown to his “forebears”, implying he may be of Hebrew descent. Daniel 11:38
The beast (who is the antichrist) rises from the “sea” – which means the Gentile nations. Revelation 13:1
He will control Gentile forces. Revelation 11:2
His power is expressed in seven regions. Revelation 13:1
He will have background connections with Greece, Russia, and Britain. Leopard, Bear, Lion were/are animals representing these nations. Revelation 13:2
He will have associations with an evil system, ruling over the world, centred on a city which sits on seven hills. Revelation 17:3, 9, 18

His character
He will be boastful. Daniel 7:8
He will be wicked. Daniel 8:23
He will be a fierce and stern ruler. Daniel 8:23
But he will also be a master of intrigue, so that his true nature will not easily be seen. Daniel 8:23
He will be so deceitful, he could even deceive God’s people, if that were possible. Matthew 24:4
He will appear very successful. Daniel 8:24
He will think he is greater than all others. Daniel 8:25
He will be a contemptible person. Daniel 11:1
He will confidently lie to those who support him. Daniel 11:32
He will move quickly, but be immensely strong and will sound frightening. Revelation 13:2

His abilities
He will do all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders which will deceive the careless onlooker. 2 Thessalonians 2:9
Great signs and miracles are “normal” signs of Antichrist activity. Matthew 24:24
He will be empowered directly by satan. Revelation 13:2

His beliefs
He denies the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22
He will speak against God. Daniel 7:25
He will set up the Temple to promote worship of himself. Daniel 11:31
Those who oppose him face death. Daniel 11:33
He will proclaim himself to be God. Daniel 11:36, 37
He will blaspheme against God. Daniel 11:36, 37
We will know him by what he says about himself – proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4
His god is called a god of “Fortresses”. This word is also used for the helmet of armour, so possibly an “armoured” god. Daniel 11:38
He will serve a foreign god. Daniel 11:39
The god he serves will have the capacity to help him to win battles. Daniel 11:39
His rule speaks of blasphemy. Revelation 13:1
He will speak boastfully about himself, and blasphemously against God. Revelation 13:5

The timing of his appearance
The Holy Spirit is holding him back at present. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7
The timing of his appearance will be with rebellion (against God) and at the start of the “Day of the Lord”. 2 Thessalonians 2:3
A time of deception and falling away from godliness will precede the Antichrist’s coming. Matthew 24:12
Despite this, Jesus advises us to watch for when the gospel is proclaimed to all the world (Internet?). Matthew 24:14
Jesus also tells us to watch for the sign of desecration of “the Temple”. Matthew 24:15
That will herald a time of great trouble brought by the Antichrist. Matthew 24:21
Seven consecutive rulers must pass away before the antichrist takes his place upon the throne. Revelation 17:10, 11
We must watch for a grouping of ten concurrent rulers. The antichrist becomes the eleventh. Daniel 7:7, 24
Ten rulers will rule at the same time as the Antichrist. Revelation 17:12
They will all serve the Antichrist. Revelation 17:13

His rise
He will rise to great power, not by his own strength, but by external force. Daniel 8:24
Only a small number of people will bring about his rise to power. Daniel 11:23
He will be a “Little” ruler at first. Daniel 7:8
He will become a large “beastly” force. Daniel 7:23
He will overthrow three of the ten nations. Daniel 7:8, 24
He will arrange a special agreement between “many”. Probably Middle East nations and Israel. Daniel 9:27
The agreement will be for a term of seven years. Daniel 9:27
He will break this agreement after three and a half years. Daniel 9:27
He will break it by taking over the Temple as a place to worship him. Daniel 9:27
He will control ten other rulers. Revelation 13:1
He will be attacked, apparently fatally. Revelation 13:3
But he will miraculously recover, which will astonish the whole world. Revelation 13:3
This will cause people to worship him. Revelation 13:3, 4
He will rise to rule the whole world. Revelation 13:7
Only God’s own faithful people will not worship him. Revelation 13:8

Other items which must be in place
The Temple in Jerusalem must be rebuilt. 2 Thessalonians 2:4
The seven-year agreement may involve permission to rebuild the Temple on the Temple Mount. Daniel 9:27

His Second-in-Command
A second-in-command to the Antichrist arises. Revelation 13:11
The second beast is also known as the “False Prophet” Revelation 19:20
The second beast exercises the same authority as the first. Revelation 13:12
He forces people to worship the Antichrist. Revelation 13:12
He controls trading restrictions, preventing any who oppose the beast from trading. This is only possible now, for the first time in history. Revelation 13:17

Though their power is satanic, these two beasts are really men, rather than evil spiritual beings. Revelation 13:18
The number 666 will be somehow associated with them, but the association will not be revealed by God until the correct time arrives. Revelation 13:18

The Antichrist’s war against God
He will attack God’s people. Daniel 7:21
He will, to some extent, succeed. Daniel 7:21
He will have success against God’s people for three and a half years. Daniel 7:23
He will be given power to control all of society. Daniel 7:25
He will be very destructive, and successfully so. Daniel 8:24
He will try to destroy God’s people – especially the Jews. Daniel 8:24
He will deceive God’s people (esp. the Jews) into trusting him, then betray them. Daniel 8:25
He will consider he is fighting God himself, in attacking the Messiah. Daniel 8:25
He will infiltrate Israel and seize power by intrigue and deceit. Daniel 11:21
He will win a large military victory. Daniel 11:22
He will make an agreement involving a Leader of the Jews. Daniel 11:22
He will break the agreement by deceit. Daniel 11:23
He will mount a military attack on the Temple Mount. Daniel 11:31
He will enjoy a significant degree of success. Daniel 11:36
Jerusalem will be “trampled’ by the Antichrist’s forces for three and a half years. Revelation 11:2
The worst of his excesses last for three and a half years. Revelation 13:5
He is allowed some success in attacking God’s people. Revelation 13:7

His fate
His eventual fate is to be overthrown by Jesus on his return. 2 Thessalonians 2:8
The “Ancient of Days” ends his rule. Daniel 7:22, 26
His destruction will come, though not through human effort. Daniel 8:25
The followers of the beasts will not find themselves capable of repentance. Revelation 16:11
We win! Revelation 19:11-20

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Here is the second list, this time in order of Scripture origin:
Characteristics of the Antichrist – Categorised by Scriptural origin

a. From 1 John 2
He has connections with God’s people, but doesn’t really belong. 1 John 2:19
He denies the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22

b. From 2 Thessalonians 2
The timing of his appearance will be with rebellion (against God) and at the start of the “Day of the Lord”. 2 Thessalonians 2:3
We will know him by what he says about himself – proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4
The Temple in Jerusalem must be rebuilt for this to take place. 2 Thessalonians 2:4
The Holy Spirit is holding him back at present. 2 Thessalonians 2:6, 7
He will do all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders which will deceive the careless onlooker. 2 Thessalonians 2:9
His eventual fate is to be overthrown by Jesus on his return. 2 Thessalonians 2:8

c. From Daniel 7
We must watch for a grouping of ten rulers. Daniel 7: 7, 24
A “Little” ruler will come on the scene. Daniel 7:8
He will become a large “beastly” force. Daniel 7:23
He will overthrow three of the nations. Daniel 7:8, 24
He will be a boastful character. Daniel 7:8
He will speak against God. Daniel 7:25
He will attack God’s people Daniel 7:21
He will, to some extent, succeed. Daniel 7:21
He will have success against God’s people for three and a half years. Daniel 7:23
He will be given power to control all of society. Daniel 7:25
The “Ancient of Days” ends his rule. Daniel 7:22, 26

d. From Daniel 8
He will be wicked. Daniel 8:23
He will be a fierce and stern ruler. Daniel 8:23
But he will also be a master of intrigue, so that his true nature will not easily be seen. Daniel 8:23
He will rise to great power, not by his own strength, but by external force. Daniel 8:24
He will appear very successful. Daniel 8:24
He will be very destructive, and successfully so. Daniel 8:24
He will try to destroy God’s people – especially the Jews. Daniel 8:24
He will think he is greater than all others. Daniel 8:25
He will deceive God’s people (esp. the Jews) into trusting him, then betray them. Daniel 8:25
He will consider he is fighting God himself, in attacking the Messiah. Daniel 8:25
Yet his destruction will come, though not through human effort. Daniel 8:25

e. From Daniel 9
He will rise from the background of the people who destroy the city (in AD 70) – The Roman Empire or its descendant. Daniel 9:26
He will arrange a special agreement between Middle East enemies. Daniel 9:27
The agreement will be for a term of seven years. Daniel 9:27
He will break this agreement after three and a half years. Daniel 9:27
He will break it by taking over the Temple as a place to worship him.Daniel 9:27
This may mean the agreement involved permission to rebuild the Temple on the Temple Mount. Daniel 9:27

f. From Daniel 11
He will be a contemptible person. Daniel 11:21
He will NOT be of royal blood, which implies that he masquerades as royal. Daniel 11:21
He will infiltrate Israel and seize power by intrigue and deceit. Daniel 11:21
He will win a large military victory. Daniel 11:22
He will make an agreement involving a Leader of the Jews. Daniel 11:22
He will break the agreement by deceit. Daniel 11:23
Only a small number of people will bring about his rise to power. Daniel 11:23
He will mount a military attack on the Temple Mount. Daniel 11:31
He will set up the Temple to promote worship of himself. Daniel 11:31
He will confidently lie to those who support him. Daniel 11:32
Those who oppose him face death. Daniel 11:33
He will proclaim himself to be God. Daniel 11 36-37
He will blaspheme against God. Daniel 11:36-37
He will enjoy a significant degree of success. Daniel 11:36
He will serve a god unknown to his forebears, implying he is of Hebrew descent. Daniel 11:38
This god is called a god of “Fortresses”. This word is also used for the helmet of armour, so possibly an “armoured” god. Daniel 11:38
He will serve a foreign god. Daniel 11:39
The god he serves will have the capacity to help him to win battles. Daniel 11:39

g. From Matthew 24
We must be careful not to be deceived. Matthew 24:4
A time of deception and falling away from godliness will precede the Antichrist’s coming. Matthew 24:12
Despite this, Jesus advises us to watch for when the gospel is proclaimed to all the world (Internet?). Matthew 24:14
Jesus advises us to watch for the sign of desecration of the Temple. Matthew 24:15
That will herald a time of great trouble brought by the Antichrist. Matthew 24:21
Great signs and miracles are “normal” signs of Antichrist activity. Matthew 24:24

h. From Revelation 11
Jerusalem will be “trampled’ by the Antichrist’s forces for three and a half years. Revelation 11:2
These forces will be Gentile. Revelation 11:2

i. From Revelation 13
The beast (who is the antichrist) rises from the “sea” – the Gentile nations. Revelation 13:1
He controls ten other rulers. Revelation 13:1
His power is expressed in seven regions. Revelation 13:1
His rule speaks of blasphemy. Revelation 13:1
He will move quickly, but be immensely strong and will sound frightening. Revelation 13:2
OR, possibly, he will have background connections with Greece, Russia, and Britain. Revelation 13:2
He will be empowered directly by satan. Rev 13 2
He will be attacked, apparently fatally. Revelation 13:3
But he will miraculously recover, which will astonish the whole world. Revelation 13:3
This will cause people to worship him. Revelation 13:3-4
He will speak boastfully about himself, and blasphemously against God. Revelation 13:5
The worst of his excesses last for three and a half years. Revelation 13:5
He is allowed some success in attacking God’s people. Revelation 13:7
He will rise to rule the whole world. Revelation 13:7
Only God’s own faithful people will not worship him. Revelation 13:8
A second-in-command to the Antichrist arises. Revelation 13:11
(The second beast is also known as the “False Prophet” Revelation 19:20)
The second beast exercises the same authority as the first. Revelation 13:12
He forces people to worship the Antichrist. Revelation 13:12
He controls trading restrictions, preventing any who oppose the beast from trading. This is only possible now, for the first time in history. Revelation 13:17
Though their power is satanic, these beasts are really men, rather than evil spiritual beings. Revelation 13:18
The number 666 will be somehow associated with them, but the association will not be revealed by God until the correct time arrives. Revelation 13:18

j. From Revelation 16
The followers of the beasts will not find themselves capable of repentance. Revelation 16:11

k. From Revelation 17 The Antichrist has associations with an evil system, ruling over the world, centred on a city which sits on seven hills. Revelation 17:3, 9, 18
NB 1 the following cities are known for sitting on seven hills:
Rome, Istanbul, Amman, Prague, Lisbon, Kampala, Kiev, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Bergen, Talahassee FL (Some say Jerusalem)]ALSO Lynchburg VA, Cincinnati, OH, Seven Hills OH, Seven Hills Brisbane, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala, Plovdiv Bulgaria, Libreville Gabon, Ibadan Nigeria, Veszprém Hungary, Siirt Turkey, Nijmegen Holland, Dunedin New Zealand.
NB 2. Thiruvananthapuram, the city of the snake god , is the capital of Kerala State and is situated at south India. The city is named after the fabled Serpent God ‘Anantha’ on whom Sri Anantha Padmanabhan (Lord Vishnu) reclines, and is built on seven hills.]

Seven rulers must pass away before the antichrist takes his place upon the throne. Revelation 17:10-11
Ten rulers will also rule at the same time as the Antichrist. Revelation 17:12
They will all serve the Antichrist. Revelation 17:13

l. From Revelation 19
We win! Revelation 19: 11-20