Who is the antichrist?
The "antichrist" — anyone or anything that opposes Christ — appears throughout John’s letters as both a spirit at work in the church and a coming figure. Many Christians expect a climactic personal Antichrist before Christ’s return; others see him symbolically as the world’s opposition to God.
"Many antichrists have come" (1 John 2:18) — the spirit is present whenever Christ is denied.
2 Thessalonians 2 describes a coming "man of lawlessness" exalting himself as God; Revelation pictures a "beast" demanding worship.
Whether one final figure or a long line of antichristian movements, the call is the same: don’t fear; stay rooted in Christ; the Lord will defeat him with the breath of his mouth.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.