Due to current world events like the death of Queen Elizabeth and the Ukrainian war, there has been a lot of discussion lately about the possible identity of the “antichrist.” Current popular candidates include newly crowned King Charles the III, Ukrainian President Zelinisky, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, whoever the Pope is at the time, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.
Antichrist is used 5 times in the New Testament, and each time by the apostle John. The word "anti"can be translated as "against, in opposition to" or as "in the place of, instead of." So, "antichrist" literally means something that is "against Christ" or "instead of Christ". However, it is used to refer to a certain person in common usage, namely the rider of the white horse introduced in Revelation chapter six verse two.
Here are some other references to that same person:
The king of fierce countenance: (Daniel 8:23).
The prince who is to come: (Daniel 9.26).
The beast: (Revelation 19:19-20).
The son of perdition: (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
The lawless one: (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
The man of sin: (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
The foolish shepherd (Zechariah 11:17).
Seed of the Serpent (Gen 3:15)
Little Horn (Dan. 7:8-11, 21-26; 8:9-12, 23-25)
Willful King (Dan. 11:36)
One come in his own name (John 5:43)
Here are some clues the Bible gives us regarding this person known as the "antichrist", and how he can be identified:
Jesus says in Matthew 24 “So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place, then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.” This is a reference to an act of desecration by the "antichrist" in the holy place of the Jewish Temple first described in Daniel 9:27. This desecration occurs in the Jewish temple operating during the tribulation period. Those alive and present during the tribulation period who witness this desecration of the Jewish temple will, and who are aware of this prophecy by Jesus, will immediately recognize this leader as the "antichrist."
Antiochus Epiphanes IV committed a similar “abomination of desolation” in the Jewish temple during the time of the Maccabean rebellions. Antiochus Epiphanes IV is a type of the "antichrist", and due to this, it is possible I believe that the "antichrist" will be associated with the area of Seleucid empire rule at the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, which included the areas of modern day Iraq and Syria.
Revelation and Daniel both describe the "antichrist" as rising out of the sea, which is most likely a reference to the "antichrist" being a gentile. Some feel that the "antichrist" will be a Jew, but I disagree with the reasoning behind this assumption.
Nimrod was a leader who built the tower of Babel and led a rebellion against God, and is a type of the "antichrist". It is possible the "antichrist" will be associated with the city of Babel (Babylon) due to this.
Daniel's prophecy in Daniel chapter 9 also refers to the “people of the Prince to come” who destroyed Jerusalem in 70 a.d. This of course was the Roman empire, so it appears to me that the "antichrist" will also come from, or be associated with, the eastern empire of Rome, the Byzantine Empire, during the time of the destruction of the Jewish temple in 70 a.d.
Another apparent clue is Micah 5:5 which refers to the "antichrist" as “the Assyrian”, referencing the region of Iraq and Syria once again.
It is revealed in Revelation 6:2 that upon opening the first seal, a rider on a white horse (the "antichrist") came forth. "I looked, and there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow; a crown was given to him, and he went out as a conqueror in order to conquer." Holding a bow symbolizes a warrior (military), but no mention is made of arrows so perhaps he is no longer a warrior (ex-military). Also, the rider is given a crown (a stephanos, indicating rank in military or a garland given to winners of games, not a king's crown) and goes out as a conqueror.
In Revelation 13:11-18, it is revealed to John that the Beast had been wounded by a sword. A verse from Zechariah implies that perhaps the "antichrist" has a sword wound on his arm and right eye. “Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.” Zechariah 11:1. It has been suggested that this is perhaps why the mark of the beast is to be taken on the forehead or the hand.
Due to these clues, I would expect the "antichrist" to be a man, a gentile, from the middle east region, someone who is a cunning political leader, who comes from a military background or position of power gained from military might, but who brings peace (if only for a short time). He is most likely from the region of Iraq and more specifically Babylon. He may have wounds on his right hand and right eye, or receive them shortly after he makes his appearance on the world stage.
