Is antichrist an idea, a spirit of times or a real being?

Question

See apostole John declaration of antichrists (pl).

Answer 1

The antichrist is a real person, I don't know whether he exists yet or not. If he does not then at some point he will. There will come a point within his life where he will be indwelt by satan so at that time he will be both a real being and a spirit.

Answer 2

According to John, the anti-christ is just that:
Anyone against Christ.
1 John 2:22 " . . .the one that denies that Jesus is the Christ, this is the antichrist."
1 John 2:18 " . . .there have come to be many antichrists."

Answer 3

Why not all of the above? St. John wrote in his epistle that "You have heard the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come." (I Jn. 2.18). St. Paul wrote that the "mystery of lawlessness is already at work" 2. Thess. 2.7 while explaining that the Antichrist hasn't come.

The Antichrist, in these verses, is identified with individual people, a final deceiver, and a general spirit at work in men. In fact, the mystery mentioned in 2 Thess 2.7 is said to be "energizing," energia in Greek, within us. That is, it is activating hidden and inert capacities to realize its own goal (the word is not translated fully accurately). Add to this the fact that "antichrist" means not simply "against Christ" but "in place of Christ," or more colloquially, "counterfeit Christ."

If you look for it in other verses, you will see it identified with all these things. In some form or fashion, we have all partaken in the spirit of antichrist, and we should reproach ourselves for it.

Answer 4

Recently that question came up between friends.
Since one place in the Bible says the anti-Christ is "here" .....
(meaning some time ago)....
It is apparently coming in all forms.

It's getting harder and harder to tell the difference between the truth and a lie. Lucifer is also an angel of light. Deceit in the most fearful of forms.

As for me, I'm sticking close to Jesus. May you find your true answer.

Answer 5

Any one who denies Christ is against Him. Not those that are ignorant but those who have had sufficient evidence and still cling to their ropes of sand. As far as the antichrist power that is explained in Daniel and Revelation that wars against God's people and claims the perogatives that God alone can hold, that is a literal power that has manifested itself. Speaking of Christ's second coming, Paul states, "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, shewing himself that he is God." As well as that "the mystery of iniquity doth already work" 2 Th 2:3-4, 7. Who is the man of sin? Any one proficient in history will tell that the four world empires that have ruled the earth were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. Any one proficient in Bible prophecy will tell you that Daniel 2 and 7 are chapters that have that same lineage dealing with the statue and the four beasts. The Bible tells that the power that has eyes and a mouth as a man, that speaks blasphemies and wars against God's people will come out of the Roman Empire. So we know that it was a persecuting power that claims God's perogatives of forgiving sins (that is blasphemy according to God's word--Mark 2:7), claiming to be God and has a man representing it, and has come out of Rome. Further, she "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT MOTHER OF HARLOTS" is arrayed in rich robes of purple and the such (Rev 17) and has come out of many nations (vs 17:15). Lastly, this power was to rule for over a millenium for a prophetic day is a regular year (see Eze 4:6; Num 14:34) and was to persecute God's people for 1260 days (Rev 12:6)--which is 1260 years. There is only one power on earth that could ever or will ever meet all of the criteria for the antichrist power. Antichrist, can not only mean one who is against Christ, but one who is in place of Christ. The Roman Catholic Papal power is the only power that has all of these characteristics. She confesses that the pope is Christ on earth, and through the confessionals are able to forgive sins. She reigned from 538 A.D. (when she uprooted the three "rebellious" nations) unto 1798 A.D. (when Napolean took away her power); that is 1260 years. Of course, she has come out of Rome and for over a millenium has persecuted anyone would not bow to her dictates, martyring from 50 to 100 million "heretics" simply for obeying the dictates of the word of God, rather than Rome. Prophecy tells us that she will strike again, let the warnings of the Bible go unheeded, and we shall soon see and shall soon feel what the purpose of the Roman element truly is. She is biding her time, and all she needs is vantage ground, and this has already been greatly given to her. Only by obeying the word of God and giving our lives to Christ shall we find refuge. It is high time to awake.

Answer 6

There are more than one of us. ("Antichrists", I mean.)

Answer 7

There is a person anti-Christ.

Answer 8

a real being