The Antichrist is a figure in Christian eschatology who is prophesied by the Bible to oppose Jesus Christ and substitute themselves in Christs place before the Second Coming. The term "Antichrist" is found four times in the New Testament, solely in the First and Second Epistle of John. The Antichrist is announced as the one "who denies the Father and the Son". The Christian conception of Antichrist was derived from Jewish traditions, particularly The Book of Daniel in the Hebrew Bible. Written about 167 BCE, it foretold the coming of a final persecutor who would "speak great words against the most High and wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws". Scholars agree that the author of Daniel was alluding to the contemporary Hellenistic ruler of Palestine, Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
Here are some key characteristics of the Antichrist:
- The Antichrist is the polar opposite and ultimate enemy of Christ.
- According to Christian tradition, the Antichrist will reign terribly in the period prior to the Last Judgment.
- The fully developed story of Antichrist's life and reign is found in medieval texts.
- The Antichrist will forge a one-world government through promises of peace, but when Jesus returns, he will expose the Antichrist as an impostor, defeat him in the battle of Armageddon, and reign with the Christian martyrs for a thousand years on earth.
- The general belief of most people is that the Antichrist will pretend to be Christ, performing signs and wonders while taking over the world at the time of the apocalypse.
It is important to note that the concept of the Antichrist is specific to Christian eschatology and is not recognized in other religions or belief systems.
