Holy Bible - Obsidian Study Guide

The Antichrists

4 min read

The Antichrists

Satan’s agents in their present, many-membered form. In John’s letters the “antichrists” are Christ-denying false teachers animated by “the spirit of antichrist.” For the singular end-time figures, see The Man of Sin and The Beast; for the power behind them, Satan (the Accuser).

Overview

The antichrists in 1 John and 2 John are secessionist false teachers who deny the truth about Jesus Christ. The Greek antichristos carries both senses — “against Christ” and “in place of Christ” — opposition and counterfeit at once. John writes that although his readers have heard “that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 John 2:18).

Many Antichrists, One Spirit

John makes a striking move: the expected future Antichrist is already present in pattern. The single coming opponent is anticipated by “many antichrists” — and behind them all is “that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:3). The last hour is marked not only by a final figure but by the spread of Christ-denying teaching now.

The Doctrinal Test

John gives a clear test for identifying them:

  • They deny the Christ: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). To reject the Son is to lose the Father also (2:23).
  • They deny the incarnation: “every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist” (1 John 4:3). “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” (2 John 1:7).

They Went Out From Us

The antichrists are apostates from within the community: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us” (1 John 2:19). Their departure exposes that they never truly belonged. See The False Teachers.

Relationship to the End-Time Figures

John’s “antichrists” are the present, plural manifestation of the same rebellion that comes to a head in the singular eschatological opponents — Paul’s The Man of Sin and Revelation’s The Beast — all empowered by Satan (the Accuser). The spirit at work in first-century false teachers is the same spirit that will be embodied at the end.

How the Church Discerns and Stands

Believers are guarded not by special knowledge but by the truth they already hold: the apostolic confession of the Son, the anointing of the Spirit (“ye have an unction from the Holy One,” 1 John 2:20, 27), and abiding in what they “heard from the beginning.” The remedy for antichrist teaching is to abide in Christ and the apostolic word. See Faith, The Word, Repentance.

Important Verses

“Even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” — 1 John 2:18 “He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” — 1 John 2:22 “Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist.” — 1 John 4:3

Notes

“Antichrist” is a term unique to John’s letters (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7) and never appears in Revelation, though the figures there match its sense. In 1 John, “antichrist” is not only a final opponent but a present pattern of Christ-denying teaching — which is why John can speak of both “antichrist” (singular, yet to come) and “many antichrists” (already here).

Graph View

Backlinks