King James Bible Dictionary

Against Christ, or an opposition Christ, a rival Christ. The word is used only by the apostle John. Referring to false teachers, he says (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7), "Even now are there many antichrists."

1. This name has been applied to the "little horn" of the "king of fierce countenance" (Daniel 7:24, 25; 8:23-25).

2. It has been applied also to the "false Christs" spoken of by our Lord (Matthew 24:5, 23, 24).

3. To the "man of sin" described by Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 8-10).

4. And to the "beast from the sea" (Revelation 13:1; 17:1-18).

an adversary to Christ

General references
Matthew 24:5; Matthew 24:23-24; Matthew 24:26; Mark 13:6; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 21:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; 1 John 2:18; 1 John 2:22; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7

To be destroyed
Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 20:15

This term is employed by the apostle John alone, and is defined by him in a manner which leaves no doubt as to its intrinsic meaning. With regard to its application there is less certainty. In the first passage

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in which it occurs, the apostle makes direct reference to the false Christs whose coming, it had been fore-told, should mark the last days. In v. 22 we find, "he is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son;" and still more positively, "every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of antichrist." Comp. (2 43001007) From these emphatic and repeated definitions it has been supposed that the object of the apostle in his first epistle was to combat the errors of Cerinthus, the Docet' and the Gnostics on the subject of the Incarnation. (They denied the union of the divine and human in Christ.) The coming of Antichrist was (believed to be foretold in the "vile person" of Daniel's prophecy, (Daniel 11:21) which received its first accomplishment in Antiochus Epiphanes but of which the complete fulfillment was reserved for the last times. He is identified with "the man of sin, the son of perdition." (2 Thessalonians 2:3) This interpretation brings Antichrist into close connection with the gigantic power of evil, symbolized by the "beast," (Revelation 13:1) ... who received his power from the dragon (i.e. the devil, the serpent of Genesis), continued for forty and two months, and was invested with the kingdom of the ten kings who destroyed the harlot Babylon, (Revelation 17:12,17) the city of seven hills. The destruction of Babylon is to be followed by the rule of Antichrist for a short period, (Revelation 17:10) to be in his turn overthrown in "the battle of that great day of God Almighty," (Revelation 16:14) with the false prophet and all his followers. Rev. 19. The personality of Antichrist is to be inferred as well from the personality of his historical precursor as from that of him to whom he stands opposed. Such an interpretation is to be preferred to that which regards Antichrist as the embodiment and personification of all powers and agencies inimical to Christ, or of the Antichristian might of the world.

ANTICHRIS'TIAN, adjective Pertaining to antichrist; opposite to or opposing the christian religion.

ANTICHRIS'TIAN, noun A follower of antichrist; one opposed to the christian religion.

ANTICHRIS'TIANISM, noun Opposition or contrariety to the christian religion.

ANTICHRISTIAN'ITY, noun Opposition or contrariety to christianity.