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Word Studies

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The Antichrist

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Part 1

The Antichrist

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By

R.A. Coombes

Author of "America The Babylon" Vols 1 &2

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The term "antichrist" is actually an anglicized form of the original Greek word - "antichristos."

The word "antichrist" in its singular form is used only four times in the Bible and in its plural form "antichrists," only once.

In all instances, the word is only found in the writings of the Apostle John and then only in his first two epistles.

The singular form - antichrist is found as follows:

First John 2: 18, 22 and in 4:3

Second John, verse 7

The plural form - antichrists is found in 1 John 2:18 along with the singular form.

First John 2:18

Chapter 2, verse 18 - "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."

Verse 22 - "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."

Chapter 4: 3 - "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.

2 John verse 7 - "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."

 

These are the only instances in which the term "antichrist" is ever found in the entire Bible.

No where else in the Greek language prior to the time of John has there been found the usage of the word. Many scholars believe that John invented or "coined" the word.

The closest form of the word ever found prior to John's era was the use of the word "antigod." This term was used by secular Greeks on rare occasion.

The term itself is a compound word or more plainly stated, two words combined to form a single word. The first word is "anti" and the second word is "christos" or "Christ." In adding anti to christos, the word anti becomes a prefix. Let's look at the basic root meanings of each world

 

Anti is found in Strong's Reference Code as #473.

In general usage it meant "opposite" or "instead of" or "against."

Greek grammarians note that the term carries the idea of "STRONG CONTRAST" when used as a prefix to the word it is attached to, which in this case is "christos."

Christos is found in Strong's Reference Code as #5547 which derives from #5548 - "chrioh" which meant to rub or smear with oil, to anoint as in a special ceremonial act of consecrating someone to an office or a religious service position. As #5547 - "christos" the term meant someone who has been anointed and was used for the Hebrew term "meshiach" which meant "The Annointed One of God" or "Messiah"

So that a Christos was someone who was anointed by God and in regards to Biblical understanding, the Christos was the Messiah, the one consecrated by God as the Saviour and Redeemer of Israel and the World.

When the term "anti" is connected to "christos" the term then implies strong contrast to the Christos.

In other words the Antichrist in one sense is measured in strong contrast to The Christ. But the term means so much more than just that.

The use of anti also means "instead of" or "opposite of" or "against."

We can look at Antichrist and realize that the Antichrist is someone who is:

#1. "instead of" or a substitute and in this case an illegitimate substitute.

#2. "opposite of" or "against" indicating "opposition to" the legitimate Christ.

#3. There is a sharp contrast between an Antichrist and The legitimate Christ.

 

The term indicates an opponent of the Christ or Messiah, who stands in sharp or opposite contrast to the legitimate Messiah, and who stands as a substitute or invalid Messiah/Christ.

So the Antichrist is an enemy of Christ who is opposed to Christ and who tries to be a substitute for Christ as part of the opposition to Christ.

John notes that there are many Antichrists but that there is one to come in particular who will be THE main opponent and substitute Christ. He will be THE most prolific of all of Christ's enemies.

John's idea that there is more than one Antichrist is not something John invented. The Lord Jesus Christ, Himself noted in His Olivet Discourse that there would be many "false" Christs to come after Him. See Matthew 24:5, 24.

John's invention and use of the term "Antichrist" then helps to give us a little better idea of who this mysterious character is that will in the future come forward claiming to be the Messiah, the Annointed One of God, the Saviour and Redeemer of the World, who in reality will instead be the very opposite of the Messiah. Whereas the Messiah is sinless, the Antichrist will be full of sin.

The Antichrist will NOT be the Saviour and Redeemer of the World. He will instead be the enemy, and the opponent of the Messiah, who is the Saviour and Redeemer of the World. In other words,

The Antichrist will be a Pretender and pretend to be the Messiah. Other prophecies indicate he will have great success in deceiving many, in fact, he will deceive virtually the whole world because he will be endowed with supernatural powers given to him by Satan.

Some theologians theorize that the Antichrist will be "Satan incarnate" (as in Satan taking human form) while others believe he will be a human (or hybrid) simply given special abilities by Satan with Satan standing behind him and guiding his every move.

 

This concludes part 1 of our series of Word Studies on The Antichrist.

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