Who is the antichrist?

The short answer: the antichrist (false messiah) is none other than satan himself, the only one that could possibly fulfill that role.

There seems to be a great deal of confusion as to who the anichrist (false messiah) is. The Bible speaks of this false messiah in many places, so it is not a question of if there will be an antichrist (or false messiah).

According to the Strong's Concordance, antichrist (G500) is defined as 'an apponent of the messiah.' The word antichrist is broken down as 'anti' and 'christ'. The word anti means instead of or because of. So, the term antichrist could better be said as 'instead of Christ'.

With this definition we can say that the false messiah is coming 'instead' of Christ.

The actual term 'antichrist' is only mentioned five times in the KJV Bible, four in 1 John and one in 2 John. In these verses it is referring to one who is agaist Christ and not specifically the one and only false messiah. The question I want to answer is, who is the false messiah that comes to deceive the world, i.e. the fake Christ. The one that pretends to be Christ coming back as He promised and deceives the whole world. He comes before the true Christ returns in order to deceive the world into believing that he is the messiah.

Revelation 12:9 clearly states that satan is the one that comes and deceives the whole world. It even provides four names for him in that one verse to be very clear as to who he is.

Rev 12:9 - And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

He will come in 'peacefully and prosperously (Daniel 11:21). (See the document 'Satan comes in peace'). He will look like what most people believe to be Christ himself and he will claim to the that one. Mark 13:14 and 13:22.

He will have supernatural powers that he will use to deceive people. He is never born in the flesh, but will come as a the supernatural angel that he is and use that power and position to it's fullest to deceive everyone he can. No man could accpomplish this, so if you hear that the antichrist has been born and walking the earth today then put it out of your mind because it is a lie.

Rev 12:12 - the devil is cast to the earth and knows he has but a short time.

Rev 13:14 says he had power to do miracles and deceived all who dwelled on earth.

'And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.'

Rev 19:20 says the flase prophet (satan) who deceived the world will be cast into the lake of fire.

'And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.'

Rev 20:1-3 says the the devil, known as the dragon and the old serpent will be cast into a bottomless pit  for 1000 years.

'1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.'

Rev 20:10 says the devil that deceived the world will be cast into the lake of fire for good. That will be it for him!

'And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.'