Antichrist: History, Characteristics, Symbols, and Facts
Antichrist is the polar opposite and ultimate enemy of Christ. According to Christian tradition, he will reign terribly in the period prior to the Last Judgment. As applied to various individuals and institutions for nearly two millennia, Antichrist and precursor of Antichrist have been, and remain, terms of the most intense opprobrium.
Meaning and Origins
To understand what "Antichrist" means we first have to know what "Christ" means. Christ is a title that Christians apply to Jesus, not the surname of Jesus. The literal meaning of Christ is “anointed.” This refers to the ritual of anointing with oil performed on those who held one of the three official offices of prophet, priest, or king. The term Antichrist first appeared in the Letters of John (1 John 2:18, 2:22, and 4:3; 2 John 1:7), and the fully developed story of Antichrist’s life and reign is found in medieval texts.
The Christian conception of Antichrist was derived from Jewish traditions, particularly The Book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible. Written about 167 bce, it foretold the coming of a final persecutor who would “speak great words against the most High and wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws” (7:25).
Biblical References and Eschatology
The four books of the New Testament that fueled Christian belief in Antichrist were the first two epistles of John, the Revelation to John, and the Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians. In the most sustained account of the Antichrist’s appearance, 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12, he is called “the man of sin” and “son of perdition.”
Regarding his role in the end times, the following characteristics are described in scripture:
- He will come at a time of a general apostasy.
- He will deceive people with signs and wonders.
- He will sit in the temple of God and claim to be God himself.
- Finally, he will be defeated by Jesus, who will destroy him by “the spirit of his mouth.”
Furthermore, the Revelation to John refers to this figure as “the Beast from the Abyss” (11:7) and “the Beast from the Sea” (13:1). The first epistle of John introduces an important distinction between “the” Antichrist who will come and the many antichrists who are already active in the world.
Historical Views and Interpretations
Scholars agree that the author of Daniel was alluding to the contemporary Hellenistic ruler of Palestine, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who attempted to extirpate Judaism. Later, early Christians applied these predictions to the Roman emperors who persecuted the church, in particular Nero (reigned 54–68 ce). Many interpret the number of the beast in Revelation 13:18—given as 666, or in some readings 616—to be a gematria reference to emperor Nero.
Comparison of Biblical Titles and Historical Figures
| Source | Title or Identification |
|---|---|
| The Book of Daniel | The final persecutor / Antiochus IV Epiphanes |
| 2 Thessalonians | The man of sin / Son of perdition |
| Revelation to John | The Beast from the Abyss / Emperor Nero (666) |
| Letters of John | Antichrist |
Cultural Depictions and Influence
The character known as the Antichrist has played a prominent role as the villain in many Hollywood classics of religious horror, from The Omen to Rosemary’s Baby. Thanks to these films, the Antichrist is commonly associated with Satanic cults, rising political power, and the idea that he is the son of the devil—a doctrine that the Bible itself doesn’t teach.
In literature and philosophy, depictions vary significantly:
- Vladimir Solovyov: His apocalyptic story The Tale of the Antichrist (1900) deals with a Sino-Japanese attack on Russia.
- Robert Benson: In Lord of the World (1907), the Antichrist is a humanist politician who targets Catholics.
- Friedrich Nietzsche: His 1896 book The Antichrist attacks the Christian virtue of pity and proposes the concept of the will to power.
In modern pop culture, all kinds of black, extreme, and thrash metal bands have produced albums with the name “Antichrist,” expressing anti-religious sentiment. This includes infamous rocker Marilyn Manson, who released the album Antichrist Superstar in 1996. Often, Antichrist figures in fiction are portrayed as accessible versions of Nietzsche’s ideal: the Übermensch or Overman, an individual who creates his own values and lives by his own code.