The Antichrist: An Underworld Spirit

Hang around Christians long enough, listen to sermons long enough, or pick up just about any prophecy book sitting on the bookstore shelves, and you’re gonna hear about this dude called The Antichrist- an end-times world ruler who takes control in the last days.

And he’s referenced all throughout the Bible. The Old Testament has 33 names for him; the New Testament has at least 13. Daniel calls him the little horn. Revelation calls him the Beast. And I and II John call him the Antichrist. This guy carries more ID cards than Jason Bourne.

I John 2:18 tells us (NKJV)

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming…

In the end times, in the apocalypse, this man will appear and dominate the world. But wait, there’s more to that verse. It continues:

…even now many antichrists have come…

Well what is that talking about? It gets even more confusing when you throw in

I John 4:3

every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

OK, so wait: is the Antichrist a man or a spirit? Is he coming, or is he already here? And if he is here- what do we do about him?

I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible.

Turn to I John 2, and let’s get weird.