The
Vile Person: That Man of Sin 
The name "Antichrist" has been the subject of speculation, gossip, creative writing adventures, and legitimate research for centuries. However, the increased popularity in this figure during the past couple of decades is undeniable. Simply listing the number of motion pictures that take a page from "Antichrist lore" as part of their plot would be an enormous task. Attempting this for the printed word in books and magazines is next to impossible. One would think that with this increased interest in this evil being that the general public would have a reasonable understanding of who the Antichrist is. Nothing could be further from the truth, and this is exactly as it was planned. Satan is quite happy, thank you, with the way the Antichrist image is portrayed and made light of in society today. Very often the centerpiece of a movie or book to entertain the masses, the Antichrist is anything but entertaining to those with a knowledge and understanding of prophecy. To those with ears to hear and eyes to see, this deception being carried out today is both horrifying and much anticipated. Horrifying because, of the depth of the deception being carried out, very often to family and loved ones. Much anticipated, because prophecy has assured us that this has been predicted and with each passing day we draw closer to the fulfillment of all prophecy and meeting the Lord in the air.
Why Do We Look For Antichrist?
Many Christians do not believe that spending time considering the Antichrist, or studying prophecy for that matter, is a fruitful thing to do. We should be looking for the return of Jesus, our Savior. No argument here with looking for Jesus' return, but it only serves to urge us on concerning the study of prophecy. We believe that the rapture could occur at any second, even now. We believe that it will come before the seven year tribulation begins, when the Antichrist appears on the scene for all the world to see. We do not intend to be present during the great tribulation when dealing with the Antichrist and his kingdom will be a matter of life or death.
Looking for the Antichrist is not really the point. Gaining an understanding of the vile person that he is, learning about his spirit and behavior, serves the end times Christian by issuing a warning about the Antichrist spirit. Antichrist the man will be the embodiment and personification of a spirit that is already alive and well in the world today. It has infiltrated and become an integral part of today's politics, religions, governments, philosophies, societies and cultures. We study prophecy and the Antichrist's role in the end times so that we will not be seduced or overwhelmed with the Antichrist spirit, and miss the rapture.
It is important to dispel rumors about the Antichrist so that we can see the signs that God has already told us about in His word.
The Real Truth
In order to make this deception as slick as it is, Satan has used the only source of the true story about the Antichrist, the Holy Scriptures. By lacing today's entertainment with documented accounts of the Antichrist and his mission in scripture, Satan helps man make a mockery of prophecy, keeping as many people as possible resistant to hearing the truth about his true plans. You see, the Antichrist is not man's invention. His origins are from the Bible and the entire story of the Antichrist, its system, its kingdom, and the man can only be found within its pages. Commentaries on scripture, particularly on Daniel and Revelation, can be helpful and revealing. That is why I'm sitting here right now. But the Bible is the one place that believers must turn to for their knowledge and understanding of what the book of Revelation calls "the Beast".
In this short paper we want to talk mainly about the Antichrist as a man; who he is; what he is; where he will come from; what is his purpose. An in-depth study of the Antichrist reveals that we are not just dealing with a man here, but the system, kingdom, and spirit of the Antichrist. Daniel chapters 2, 7, 8, 9, 11 and Revelation 13, 17, and 18 present a clear picture of the kingdom and the man; or the beast and the man. He will be the leader of nations, and often when referred to as the beast, he is a group of nations. The Antichrist kingdom. The reader is urged to seek these truths out. The references contained at the end of this writing are an excellent start to beginning to understand how real the Antichrist spirit is in the world today.
Beholden to the Vile Person
In contemporary treatments, the Antichrist often appears as a violent, beast‑like creature, red eyes, deep gravelly voice, sinister scowl, the whole bit. He overcomes his enemies with great strength, power and intimidation. This is not how the Bible portrays his rise to power:
Daniel 11:21 ‑ "And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall give the honor of the kingdom; but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries."
This verse, along with 23‑24, teaches us about the character and method of operation of the Antichrist, as well as the Antichrist spirit. He gains a small piece of power not by physical or military dominance, or even through an election or replacement of a government. It is done by subtle craftiness and a behind the scenes operation. To the world he will appear to be all things good. Those without knowledge or understanding of prophecy will find no reason to not follow him and praise him for the peace that he will seem to bring to a troubled world. His position and accomplishments will be so great, that even Christians schooled in prophecy and the end times will be at risk of falling for his story:
Mark 13:21‑22: "And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect."
The kingdoms that embrace him are fooled and greatly underestimate his thirst for power. This charismatic leader will gain great acceptance throughout the world and the leaders of a league of 10 nations will believe that they can manipulate him. But they will be greatly mistaken. His charm and swashbuckling image will capture the imagination of the world. He will be a hero to the poor and needy; a champion to the working class. He will offer hope for those yearning for the new world order and to those waiting for the goodness of mankind to rid the world of its problems. He will redistribute the wealth of the nations and create an entirely new class of wealthy and influential followers to complement those who have conspired with him. In a very short time he will make much of the modern world beholden to him.
Daniel 8: 23‑25 ‑ "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."
These verses expose the heart of the man that is Antichrist. He gains power and control and then exercises his underlings with unbridled ambition. He will have a fierce countenance, understand dark sentences, and be ruthless and wise in the occult and in Satan's ways. This is more like the Antichrist depicted at movie theaters for a night of entertainment. But when the world finally discovers what a formidable man he presents, it will be too late. His inventions to destroy and conquer will be captivating and awesome, piling up victory after victory. He will even be able to overcome God's anointed people and will seem unstoppable, even by God.
Under his reign, deceit of a high spiritual nature will take place and lies and half truths will rule by his slick ways and velvet tongue. His own heart will tell him that he is the true God. He will be so persuasive and believable that people will put all of their faith in him. He will, however, be thoroughly deceitful and wicked in all of his intentions. He will believe that he can stand up to the Prince of princes, Jesus Himself. These accounts are recorded in Daniel to warn the faithful, who have put their lives in God's hands, to not be deceived by this man and his spirit. Remember, Jesus Himself said that the deception at the end would be great.
They Worshipped the Beast
As the Antichrist's dominance of world governments and men mounts, Satan sets the stage for the final act; the actual worship of the Antichrist as God:
Revelation 13:3‑4 ‑ "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?"
Most Christians, even with the warnings found in the scriptures, will be caught off guard by this man. He will be like an angel of light and will have what appear to be religious remedies for every spiritual question or problem. Religion will be a big ally and tool used by him, as his real goal is total worship by the world as the one true God. Such will be his exploits, and they will reach new heights during the tribulation. As described in Revelation 13, the beast (Antichrist) is mortally wounded in the head and is healed and brought back to life by Satan. This false resurrection is the ultimate act played out by Satan, and it will result in much of the world believing that he is the one true God. The world will willingly, not ignorantly, worship the beast as such. This is the moment that Satan has waited for, and he will become one with the Antichrist.
This is the moment that the Antichrist will seize the throne of God.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 - "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
Now Satan and the Antichrist embark on the most vicious campaign ever devised against God:
Revelation 13: 7‑9 ‑ "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear."
Changing laws and times has religious implications here. He will make that which was holy profane, and that which was profane holy. He will set up his own religious days, rituals, and standards, and will challenge God to a final showdown. His hatred and anger at God will have no bounds, and the world will gladly follow him. Anyone who continues to try to follow Jesus will be hunted down and executed.
Those who were unable to follow Jesus before the Tribulation, but who now see the truth for what it is, will have to die for Him or live with the prospect of eternal damnation. Many will choose the latter. In fact most will. They will not have their names written in the book of life. They will reject Jesus. And so we see here again, as we did in each letter to the seven churches at the start of Revelation, the spirit of God calling out to any who will hear:
Revelation 13:9 ‑ "If any man have an ear, let him hear."
666 - the number of a man
And what of this popular number, one often bantered about by so many, with no understanding about its true meaning?
Revelation 13:18 – “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
Probably no other aspect of end time prophecy has been maligned and used to satisfy the public's thirst for supernatural hocus-pocus or farfetched horror stories than this number. This fits in with the world's many misconceptions about the end times in general and the Antichrist in particular. There have been countless solutions to this puzzle: men with birthmarks on their foreheads; men whose name adds up to 666; men whose birth date adds up to 666; computer codes that depict 666. This goes on and on. The fact is that we do not know how this "number of a man" fits into the prophecy. There will be many more signs to look for to signify the end times, the tribulation, and the Antichrist's rise to world prominence. Many we have already seen such as the formation of the nation of Israel. We wait in anticipation for a false peace to be forged with Israel and for the formation of the ten nation confederacy.
The Bottom Line
God has assured us in His word, that the Antichrist and Satan will go down in defeat at the hands of Jesus and his army at Armageddon:
Revelation 19:19‑20 – “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
We need to read the signs of the times and wait on the Lord:
Luke 21: 8‑9 ‑ "And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by."
References:
The Christian Spirit ‑ February 1995 ‑ The Antichrist ‑ Man and Beast The Christian Spirit ‑ August 1995 ‑ The AntichristThe Christian Spirit ‑ November 1996 ‑ The Beast and the False Prophet How To Recognize the Antichrist ‑ Arthur E. Bloomfield ‑ 1975 Bethany Fellowship Inc.