Biblical explanation
John writes: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist” (). John also says: “even now are there many antichrists” (). This is important. Biblically, “antichrist” is not necessarily limited to one individual appearing at the very end of history. John describes a spirit of antichrist that denies Christ (). Paul describes another end-time figure as “the man of sin” who exalts himself against God (). Daniel and Revelation describe powers that oppose God and persecute His people (; ). The Bible does not explicitly say, “The Antichrist is [insert a modern person's name].” Identifying the larger prophetic powers requires comparing Daniel, Revelation, Paul's writings, and John's letters. The essential biblical characteristics are opposition to Christ, deception, self-exaltation, rejection of truth, and persecution of God's people.
In brief
John writes: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?
Bible references
Go deeper into this topic Bible Prophecy: A Roadmap to the Future Start the studyThis answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.