False Teaching About The Antichrist

We give a note of warning about a false idea that is being taught by a number of churches, that there will be “the antichrist” revealed in the last days who will come and lead people into abysmal suffering in a period of great tribulation. This idea is a fiction and is not taught in the Bible. The word “antichrist” does occur in the Bible in the writings of John in his epistles. The word means “against Christ”.

Let us look at the places where it is found:

• 1 John 2:18–19 “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

• 1 John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."

• 1 John 4:2–3 “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

We can see from these comments that there were those who opposed the true teaching about Christ in the days of the apostles and these false teachers were called by John “antichrist”. John said: “Even now are there many antichrists”.

The appearance of these false teachers confirmed the warnings that both Paul and Peter gave to the believers when they wrote to them:

• “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29–30)

• “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3–4)

• “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.” (2 Peter 2:1–3)

These prophecies clearly foretold that there would be many false Christian religions or churches set up by those whom John terms “antichrists”. These churches have existed throughout the past 2000 years since the Gospel was first taught by the apostles after the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven. The fact that there are many churches today, all with differing teachings, should not disturb the genuine seeker of Bible truth. It should rather assure them that what they see is but another fulfilment of Bible prophecy. We need to turn to the word of God and carefully search out the true Gospel message and hold to that.

Adapted from “The Exploring the Bible Course” by David Evans