Antichrist
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" (
Dan. 7:24,
25;
8:23-25). (
2.) It has been applied also to the "false Christs" spoken of by our Lord (
Matt. 24:5,
23,
24). (
3.) To the "man of sin" described by Paul (
2 Thess. 2:3,
4,
8-10). (
4.) And to the "beast from the sea" (
Rev. 13:1;
17:1-18)
