Characteristics of the Man of Perdition
There seems to be have been an resurgence of an interest in the Antichrist figure, especially over the last few years.
There are prophecies, opinions, and a rise in activity about this elusive figure. I thought it good to provide some scriptural characteristics of this figure, so that whenever something new comes out, then we can look back to see what scripture says, so that we have some foundational truths about him.
Having said these things now, my purpose is not to say that he is this person or that one, but only in drawing out the characteristics that the scriptures point to. So my purpose is not in getting into a debate about “who” this one may be. For we must draw from them if we are to ever conclude that now we can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is the one.
Below then, are several of the characteristics that the Book of Daniel and others, point to when addressing the Antichrist figure. This isn’t an exhaustive listing of those characteristics, but one will at least see most of them and then you will be able to know him.
So, don’t become unsettled in reading something that portents to prophesy or speak specifically about someone, unless you first examine these criteria.
Problem Solver
We know that when the world’s chaos and confusion reaches a pinnacle, that he will come promising many things to solve the problems that will arise.
Most if not all of these problems will be dealt with through diplomacy, or through an insistence that only he can solve them.
The world longs for someone who would take care of the many evils that we face, but only One can do that, and He is the King who is to come.
Involved in Middle East Issues
One of the top problems that I expect the Antichrist to address is the everlasting conflict in the Middle East.
We can expect the Antichrist to be a leader who will be involved in the affairs of the Middle East, especially with Israel and its closest neighbors. We see this mainly in that he will be able to confirm a covenant with many for “one week” (seven years.)
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate, (Daniel 9:27)
The “covenant with many” will involve Israel & its neighbors and relate to Mideast peace in some way. We see in Daniel 9:27 that temple sacrifice will be taking place during the first portion of the seventieth week of Daniel.
The covenant with many will most likely be an all-inclusive Middle East peace agreement that would include the acceptance of temple sacrifice.
A Successful Military Leader
We see that the antichrist figure will be most likely a military leader who has been successful.
“But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god , whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain,” Daniel 11:38-39.
Most likely he would use his intellect and persuasion in working with various world leaders, and thus, besides possibly being a military leader, a politician is also key in understanding him.
He would want to pretend that he was giving them a false sense of security and safety, telling them that all would be well, especially if he was in charge. However, Daniel 8:25 says that the Antichrist will “by peace shall destroy many.”
And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand, (Daniel 8:25).
Extremely Arrogant
It becomes quite obvious that this figure is a person of high arrogance and a huge ego.
For he claims that he is God and will thus even, demand that the world will worship him, (Daniel 11:36; Daniel 8:25). We see from these verses that he is probably the most arrogant person of all time.
“And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done,” Daniel 11:36.
“And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, , and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand,” Daniel 8:25.
Opposes God
Just as the Antichrist figure is extremely arrogant, he also opposes everything about God, which is quite significant. And yet as he opposes everything there is to do about God, he makes himself out to be “God,” (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
The very word “anti” means “against” or “instead of.” He may well be an enemy who has come out from inside the church, rather than outside of it.
The Antichrist will be high and exalted in his own eyes. This “king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god,” Daniel 11:36.
Change Times and the Law
“He shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law,” Daniel 7:25.
He is a Deceiver
His coming will be “according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved,” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10.
Just as Judas was deceived and was the only other person called “the son of perdition.” Because of course he pretended to be a friend of Christ and yet betrayed Him in the end.
Accumulate Great Wealth
He shall cause his accomplices, “to rule over many, and divide the land for gain… He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things” Daniel 11:39, 43.
Ruthless
This figure will not show compassion or kindness, towards others, especially behind the scenes.
We see in Daniel 8:23 that he will be a “king of fierce countenance.” This seems to indicate that he would be ruler who would govern very harshly.
Not a Womanizer
Daniel mentions that he will not have the desire for women. Perhaps he is married so that the public sees him in this way, but he won’t be seen as someone who is chasing after women or is talked about in scandalous affairs.
Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all, (Daniel 11:37).
Religion/ Spirituality
The Antichrist will probably not be a follower of any of the major religions, but rather he is probably a follower of New Age beliefs and perhaps even the occult.
It is interesting that Daniel 8:23 mentions that the Antichrist will understand “dark sentences.” Some believe “dark sentences” could imply that the Antichrist is into some sort of magic or the occult.
“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up,” Daniel 8:23.
Man of Violence
“But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many,” Daniel 11:44.
Ethnicity Unsure
There is not a definite assurance about what the ethnicity of the Antichrist would be. There are several scriptures in Isaiah 10, 30, and Micah 5 that mention the “Assyrian” as someone who might fit his role.
“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian, he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt,” Isaiah 10:24.
“And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod,” Isaiah 30:30-31.
“And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men,” Micah 5:5.
Others consider that he could be a Syrian, because Antiochus Epiphanes IV was, and his life and career will parallel the Antichrist figure, (Daniel 8 and Daniel 11).
While it is certainly true that there are many “anti-Christs” who have gone out into the world, there is yet a person, a single figure who will be seen as this one embodiment of the Antichrist.
“Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son,” 1 John 2:22.
“Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour,” 1 John 2:18.
There is A Single Antichrist Person
“Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers…..” Daniel 11:37a.
“And through his policy also he……” Daniel 8:25.
“And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that is determined shall be done,” Daniel 11:36.
“That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 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.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” 2 Thessalonians 2:2-5.
Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson
Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?
This description definitely fits Barack Obama.
Saints should know that WW3 will happen first before the Coming of the Antichrist.
Antichrist means against or instead of Christ.
No true believer has to worry about what is ‘outside’ the body of Christ only what moves inside it!
This is exactly why there are many (and not only one) antichrists as A SIGN of the last hour and they are in the midst of ‘the body of Christ’ and not outside in the ‘world’.
These antichrists are those whom to the Lord say things as:
“Many (false christs, not ‘atheists and the people of the world’) will say to Me in that day, Lord, lord, have we not in thy name prophesied? and in thy name cast out demons? and in thy name done many mighty things? Matt. 7:25
“he rebuked them (his own disciples who walked with Him but did not obey Him!) and said, Ye have not known of WHAT SPIRIT ye are Luke 9:55
“even now many antichrists have appeared; FROM THIS we know that it is the last hour,”
Who is the liar (the false confessor of Christ) but the one who (by disobedience to the spiritual laws) denies that Jesus is the Christ?
This is the Antichrist, the one who (by disobedience) denies the Father and the Son,”
The ‘world’ can never be obedient to the Father therefore can not the ‘antichrist’ be found in the world.
The confession with the mouth will expose which spirit who is lord of the person because the spirit of Christ shall only speak what the Father reveals! Any other word , no matter how godly it may sound is of the antichrist.
The true Christ does not (as the antichrist does) speak religious doctrines but what they hear the Spirit of the Father say:
“thou shall (by hearing the voice of the Father and then only speak his words) confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus. Rom 10:9
The only antichrist the believer need to watch out for is the one inside oneself which will – if one is not totally devoted to the Lord – lead one astray from the true Christ!
That man, who will not guard his heart but instead will allow himself to be led astray, that man will go to perdition!
“and no wonder, for even Satan himself doth (if we not guard ourself) transform himself (inside us) into a messenger of light. 2Cor.11:14