I.INTRODUCTION
People around the world have been sharing different conspiracies regarding different matters in our lives and many of them base on religious beliefs. One of the topic that has raised many debates and controversies among people around the world is the Antichrist conspiracy. That conspiracy is the heart of discussions in this written paper. The paper will discuss the origin of this conspiracy, its biblical perspective and its impacts to the society in general and to the Christians in particular. In the conclusion, the paper will provide the biblical advices to how people should behave and react towards this conspiracy.
II.PROBLEM STATEMENT
In my Country and all over the World, many believers do not have the same understanding of who the antichrist is really, to the extent that they confuse him with the Pope, Obama and many other high personalities. My paper will explore conspiracies around the antichrist, the root cause of considering the antichrist as a high personality and the impact that has to the community.
III.METHODOLOGY
By using different methods and sources like written documents, biblical verses, and online sources, we will discuss and analyze the antichrist conspiracies thoroughly.
IV.ANTICHRIST FROM BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
4.1. BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF ANTICHRIST
The term “Antichrist” is found four times in the New Testament, solely in the First and Second Epistle of John (Acts 11:26; 1 John 2:22, 1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7) . The Antichrist is announced as the one “who denies the father and the son. The similar term “false Christ” is also found in the Gospels. In Matthew (chapter 24) and Mark (chapter 13), Jesus alerts his disciples not to be deceived by the “false prophets”, who will claim themselves to be the Christ, performing “great signs and wonders” (Mark 13:14–22NIV).
Three other images often associated with the Antichrist are the “little horn” in Daniel’s final vision, (Daniel 36-45NIV) the “man of sin” in Paul the Apostle’s Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, and the Beast of the Sea in the Book of Revelation. On particular significance, when recalling the evidence from the bible we find that, the Apostle John is the only New Testament author to use the term “antichrist” or any derivative thereof. John uses the terms “antichrist”, “antichrists” and “the spirit of antichrist” for a total of 5 references in his epistles including (1 John 2:18 NIV), (1 John 2:22 NIV), (1 John 4:2–3 NIV) and (2 John 1:7NIV).
Similarly, you will find the biblical knowledge about antichrist in books of Matthew, Thessalonians, Revelation though the word “Antichrist is never or rarely used. Many scholars believe that the person referred to by the Apostle Paul as “the man of lawlessness” in 2 Thessalonians 2 is the same person or phenomenon referred to by John as “the antichrist.” Both figures fulfill a pattern that originates in the Book of Daniel and that reappears in John’s vision of the Beast in Revelation 13, giving us a number of passages to consider in this attempt to produce a composite sketch of who is really the antichrist. Taking into consideration, can the pressing word “Antichrist” be reserved for those who are lawless for the Bible states in 1 John 3:4 that “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. However, you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. In addition, in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.
4.2. BIBLICAL CHARACTERS OF ANTICHRIST
People reserve many characters to the Antichrist. Starting with, “he claims to be the Ruler” who will arise from the Revised Roman Empire (Daniel 9:26 NIV) . This is perhaps the clearest verse as to the area of the world where the Antichrist will arise. This verse is from the powerful prophetic insight that Daniel had as God revealed to him Israel’s future. God showed him that there would be seventy weeks of years. Moreover, Daniel 9:26 NIV reveals to us that the Anointed one will be put to death. The Anointed One is Jesus! When he died on the cross, He fulfilled this prophecy. The ruler who will come refers to the Antichrist and reveals his identity. He will come from what used to be the Roman Empire.
Secondly, “he is a Deceiver” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NIV). This verse tells us that he will be able to tell “the lie” that will be used by God to allow a powerful delusion over the people who are not believing the truth and delighting in wickedness. The lie could also be that the Antichrist is God and we must be worship him. Besides, He will also deceive the nation of Israel. The following scripture declares that the Antichrist will make a covenant of seven years with Israel. In the middle of that time the Antichrist will break that covenant, put an end to sacrifice and declare himself to be God, setting up an abomination that causes desolation. (Daniel 9:27 NIV).
Thirdly, “he is a Man.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 clearly states that he is a man. This is not a super being, or a demon, this is going to be a man. Just like so this man will also reach for world domination. Sighting from (2 Thessalonians 2:3 ESV) , this also tells us his gender, he will be “male” not female. He is called “the man of lawlessness. The son of destruction” not a woman or a daughter. Jumping on forth character, we see that the antichrist will be a homosexual. “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women” (Daniel 11:37 NIV).
Fifth, “he may be from a religious family”. He could very well be from a leading Jewish or even Christian family. However, the antichrist has rejected God completely. According to Rebecca Vob , Since Antiquity, Christian theologians have seen in the Antichrist, who would establish his reign of terror before Christ’s Second Coming, the savior the Jews awaited as their Messiah. This notion turned Jewish messianism into a nightmare of ultimate Jewish revenge from a Christian perspective.
Sixth, Antichrist has “a number 666”. He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666” is seen in Revelation 13: 16-18 NIV. This number 666 will forever be linked to the Antichrist.
There are many other characters including that: 1) He will perform miracles by the power of Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 NIV). 2) He will desecrate the temple (2 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV). This will occur in the middle of the Tribulation and is also known as the abomination that causes desolation; He will appear to rise from the dead. Revelation 13:3 (NIV). 3) He will be in power for seven years, but the great devastation will last three and one-half years (Revelation 13:5 NIV)). 4) He will be the head of the saints of God. 6) He will have influence in the entire world (Revelation 13:7b NIV). 7) He will become so arrogant that he will dare to fight against God (Revelation 19:19 NIV). 8) He Claims to be God & Will Seek to be Worshipped (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
V. ANTICHRIST FROM POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE
5.1 ANTICHRIST AND PRESIDENT OBAMA
One in four Americans believe that president Obama might be antichrist. Conspiracism and apocalypticism in the United States do not begin with President Barack Obama, and they will not end with his administration. The first reason to consider Baraka Obama as antichrist was his identity. Being a President from unknown American family. The second reason was that he was supporting homosexuality; the third reason was that we was first black president.
5.2. ANTICHRIST AND THE POPE
There are many speculations about the identity of the Antichrist—the uniquely evil, end-times world leader. One of the most frequent “victims” of this speculation is the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. In the days of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther and some of the other Reformers were convinced that the Pope of that time was the Antichrist. Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI were commonly identified as the Antichrist. The current Pope, Francis I, will likely be an equally popular target. The speculation about the Pope possibly being the Antichrist revolves primarily around (Revelation 17:9). However, many Bible commentators say the woman cannot be the Catholic Church and the seven hills cannot refer to Rome. They cite the fact that Revelation 17-18 clearly identifies the woman riding the beast as the city of Babylon. In addition, verse 10 plainly states that the seven hills symbolize seven kings, five of which “have fallen, one is and one is to come.” Clearly, this cannot refer to the seven hills of Rome.
George Tyrrell’s identified the Pope as the Antichrist even though it was not particularly original but it was important. For Tyrrell was the leader of a movement which, in the opinion of René Marlé, created the most serious disturbance in the Catholic Church since the time of the Reformation. Moreover, the reformers and iconoclasts who had made this charge previously had usually done so from a position outside of Catholic tradition. Tyrrell, however, attacked the Pope from within, as a member of his flock. The Jesuit philosopher even went so far as to claim that his radical posture was the inevitable consequence of his Catholic convictions. Thus, he explained: I believe in the Roman Church so far as it is Christian and Catholic; I disbelieve in it so far as it is papal. I see two spirits in it, as in myself, struggling for supremacy — Light and Darkness, Christ and Anti-Christ; God and the Devil.
Therefore, it’s hard to believe that Pope Francis I is the Antichrist. While we believe it is possible for a Pope to be the Antichrist, the Bible does not give specific enough information to be dogmatic. A future Pope very well may be the Antichrist, or perhaps the Antichrist’s false prophet (Revelation 13:11-17). If so, this future Pope will be clearly identified by a denial of Jesus as coming in the flesh. George Tyrrell’s identification of the Pope as the Antichrist was not particularly original but it was important.
6. IMPACT OF ANTICHRIST CONSPIRACY
6.1. DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM
Politicians and religious people created the antichrist conspiracy theories that helped them to control the World especially those dealing with the white Supremacy. Protestants revolutionists used that theory to justify their revolts against Catholic Church. The reason why around the world people associate the Pope to antichrist. White Supremacists use the conspiracies to justify wars the initiate to attack non-Christian communities (Muslims, Russians, etc).
6.2. WARS AROUND THE WORLD
The antichrist conspiracy has led to numerous effects around the world. These effects arose from the controversy or disagreement among people resulting from the belief in antichrist or belief that antichrist is a scam.
WAR BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA
Many conservatives and religious fundamentalists believe that the human agents have not orchestrated the plot against Russia, but the Antichrist did it. The antichrist is committed to be Russophobe, who despises Russia because of its political, military, and – above all – moral power. We cannot believe that conspiracy due to different reasons. First, conspiracy theories in Russia and beyond have become a frequent subject of scientific research. Even though, they became very popular and has grown so fast, their mode of thinking and interpreting the world characteristic of some parts of society seem to be absurd and odd.
It is important to note that Russia is not alone in its fascination with conspiracy theories. However, these conspiracies have impact on the Russian population and the neighbors Countries. The Russian aggression against Ukraine, first in 2014, and a full scale invasion in 2022, is attributed to the conspiracies about antichrist as writers assume that NATO inspire the processes of Westernization where Ukraine become the anti-Russian “centres of the Khazar’s revenge”. Khazars, loyal servants of the Antichrist, who are planning their attack on Russia, currently occupy it.
WAR IN ENGLAND
When the Puritan apocalyptic tradition was mingled with some of the key political themes of the period, the result was what Nathan Hatch has called “civil millennialism.” This new twist in eschatology meant that, once the war started, a new antichrist imagery began to surface in sermons of the Protestant clergy.
CONCLUSION
The paper discussed biblical and political perspective about antichrist conspiracy, the origin of this conspiracy and how the bible explains antichrist especially from the prophesy of Jesus Christ as the founder of Christianity and who that antichrist will come to oppose. We have seen also the effects this conspiracy has brought to the world especially discriminations and wars that led to the loss of many lives and destruction of properties around the world. As result, this conspiracy created hatred among different religions around the world.
To conclude, I may say conspiracies do not only have religious impact but also political impact. I may alert people (Christians or not) that they should not use the antichrist conspiracy to propagate hatred ideologies in the society. The antichrist is not the influential people they see like the pope or United States or Russian Presidents. The antichrist will be like a spiritual personality.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Antichrist Consipiracy Theories – Google Search.” Google. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://www.google.com/search?
“Bible Gateway Passage: Daniel 9:26 – New International Version.” Bible Gateway. Accessed July 24, 2023. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+9%3A26&version=NIV.
“The Jewish Messiah As Antichrist: Christian Apocalypticism and Jewish Responses in Reformation Germany.” Central European University. Accessed July 24, 2023. https://events.ceu.edu/2022-03-15/jewish-messiah-antichrist-christian-apocalypticism-and-jewish-responses-reformation.
“One in Four Americans Think Obama May Be the Antichrist, Survey Says.” The Guardian. Last modified April 2, 2013. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/02/americans-obama-anti-christ-conspiracy-theories.
“The Pope As Antichrist: the Substance of George Tyrrell’s Polemic.” Cambridge Core. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/harvard-theological-review/article/abs/pope-as-antichrist-the-substance-of-george-tyrrells-polemic/C4554D93282F66BAECC64EF49D58C9B5.
Savchuk, Vladimir. “Shocking Facts About the Antichrist.” Vladimir Savchuk Ministries. Last modified August 28, 2022. https://pastorvlad.org/antichrist/.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 ESV – Let No One Deceive You… | Biblia.” Biblia. Accessed July 24, 2023. https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2-thessalonians/2/3.