LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Research Project: Final Submission Assignment
The Antichrist and Christian Apocalyptic Eschatology
Submitted to Dr. Michael Vlach
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO 360 – B01
Eschatology
By
Kion D. Bolden
March 2, 2023
Contents
I. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………..………...2
II. What is the Antichrist?
a. The Description
III. The Concept of the Antichrist
a. Jewish Perspective
b. Islamic Connotation
c. Christianity and Antichrist
IV. The Antichrist’s Arrival
V. Eschatology and the Antichrist
VI. The Identity of the Antichrist
a. The Son of Satan
b. Muhammad the Antichrist
c. The Jewish Antichrist
d. The Catholic Pope
e. Ascribed to the Politician
VII. Conclusion
VIII. Bibliography
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Introduction
In the New Testament, the concept of the Antichrist was first introduced in the
apocalyptic first epistle of John, and repeated in his second epistle. Most scholars believe that the
Antichrist is an end-time world leader who opposes Christ but resembles him in a deceptive way.
Despite appearing to provide for the needs of the people, he will deny ultimate salvation. In 1
John, the Antichrist is mentioned three times, and in 2 John, it is mentioned once. Throughout
history, the legend of the Antichrist has evolved from Jewish writings to modern western church
philosophy. Religions such as Judaism and Islam have their own versions of an Antichrist that
are similar, however differ in some ways. From the early church's earliest writings, western
Christian views of the Antichrist have undergone much revision. According to world history, the
concept of the Antichrist is an apocalyptic legend embedded in Christian theology.
Christians have been enthralled by the idea of the Antichrist since the inception of the
church. Knowing who and what the Antichrist is crucial given its apocalyptic connotation. The
Antichrist stands in for the greatest foe of Christ who will make an appearance in the final act of
history to lead Satan's army in one last desperate struggle against God's army.1 The term
Antichrist appears in John's apocalyptic works in Daniel and Revelation. The faithful will be
subjected to torment before Christ vanquishes the beast at the start of the long-awaited new age,
according to these writings. Understanding what the Antichrist will be will need setting him or
her in the perspective of the end of the world. The Antichrist would initially trick the masses into
believing in him by meeting their materialistic needs. The ultimate salvation that only comes
from following Jesus Christ is ultimately denied to the Antichrist's entire following. The idea of
the Antichrist has changed over time in religious doctrine. The idea that possibly the Antichrist
1 Robert C. Fuller. Naming the Antichrist the History of an American Obsession. New York: Oxford
University Press. 1996, 3.
isn't just one individual but rather everyone who rejects Christ has been one significant
development, nevertheless. This idea is not in conflict with the Bible; rather, it depends on how
one reads the translation of the pertinent verses to establish whether the Antichrist is solitary or
plural.
Apocalyptic and eschatological arguments surround the concept of the Antichrist and its
relation to eschatology. Theological and scholarly readers of the Bible have disputed the idea of
the antichrist’s origin, appearance, religion, and purpose, because identifying threats to
Christianity is one of Christianity's greatest endeavors. Accordingly, this paper will argue that
the Christian eschatological definition of the antichrist is someone who will act as Satan's chief
agent on earth during a period of forging a one-world government through promises of peace by
opposing Jesus Christ and standing in for him before the return of Jesus Christ. There will be an
end to the antichrist when Christ exposes him as an impostor, and he will be defeated and
Christians will be able to rule on earth for a thousand years with martyrs at their side.
What is the Antichrist?
Although many schools of thought view the concept of the antichrist as an evil and
malicious force that will rule the earth one day and refute Christ's ideology, A.W. Pink claims,
“The Antichrist is not a system of evil, nor an anti-Christian organization, but instead, a single
individual being, a person yet to appear.”2 This premise he supports employing the declaration
Jesus made to the masses, “I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another
shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (John 5:43 KJV).
2 Arthur Pink. The Antichrist. Wilder Publications, 2009, 18.
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