By Robin Sam
A very familiar passage in the Bible that talks about the anti-Christ is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. Writing to the believers in Thessalonica, Apostle Paul wrote thus about the anti-Christ: ‘Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.’
There are four things that are told about the anti-Christ in these two verses: That he is the man of sin, the son of perdition, he exalts himself above God and shows himself to be God.
He is the man of sin
The anti-Christ is called the man of sin because he will be the personification of evilness and lawlessness. That’s a satanic trait. In verses 8 and 9, he is called the lawless one.
He is the man of perdition
The Cambridge dictionary amplifies the meaning of perdition as ‘a state of punishment that goes on for ever…to be suffered by evil people after death.’ Matthew 25:41 tells us that ‘hell is everlasting fire and it is ‘prepared for the devil and his angels.’ Not only Satan and his angels, anyone who rebels against God and sells his soul to the devil will be called a man of perdition. Anyone who does not receive the love of the truth and believes in it will perish, says the Bible (verses 9-12 in 2 Thessalonians).
He is a man
The anti-Christ is a man because the Bible says he will be killed. He will be killed in the battle of Armageddon by Christ. Daniel 7:11 talks about the beast that will be slain and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.
He will be a deceiver
Daniel 8:25 says: ‘Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.’ He is a deceiver because he will go back on his word given to the Jews. ‘Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering’ (Daniel 9:27). Also read Matthew 24:5, 24.
