Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The word '''Antichrist''' comes from the [[Greek]] αντί-χριστος (''anti''-''khristos''), meaning ''opposite of Christ''. The Greek word ''anti'' can also mean 'instead of' or "equal to, like" so that the phrase can also be interpreted as meaning ''in place of, or like,  Christ''. The term has a number of distinct uses in modern English. It can mean an extreme form of evil or evil incarnate. Some Christians believe that the use in John refers to a single being that will appear in the [[End Times]]. This view is most commonly found among [[Premillennialism|premillennialist Christians]].  

The word '''Antichrist''' comes from the [[Greek]] αντί-χριστος (''anti''-''khristos''), meaning ''opposite of Christ''. The Greek word ''anti'' can also mean 'instead of' or "equal to, like" so that the phrase can also be interpreted as meaning ''in place of, or like,  Christ'' so while opposing Christ the antichrist will try to appear to be like Christ. Some Christians believe that the use in John refers to a single being that will appear in the [[End Times]]. This view is most commonly found among [[Premillennialism|premillennialist Christians]].  In modern useage, the term is usually used to refer to one who is pure evil.  

== The Antichrist in the Bible ==

== The Antichrist in the Bible ==

The following verses are the only verses which mention the Antichrist (KJV)

The following verses are the only verses which directly use the word Antichrist ([[KJV]])

:I John 2:18 'as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists'

:I John 2:18 'as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists'

:I John 4:3 'And every spirit that confesseth not that [[Jesus]] Christ is come in the flesh is not of [[God]]: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

:I John 4:3 'And every spirit that confesseth not that [[Jesus]] Christ is come in the flesh is not of [[God]]: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

:2 John 7: 'For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.'

:2 John 7: 'For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.'  

There are no other references to the term in the Bible. Neither the book of [[Daniel]] nor St John's [[Revelation]] mention the concept at all. 

Based on the lack of direct references, some Christians argue that the Bible refers only to a ''generalized concept'' of Antichrist, applicable to anybody who is 'against Christ', not to a particular person. Moreover,  such 'antichrists' were already present in the world nearly two thousand years ago. Other Christian, such as the [[Catholic Church]] and many [[Protestant]] denominations, have argued that these verses mainly prefigure the actual Antichrist and that one can see a single unifying Antichrist figure with the proper exegetical methods if one looks at the books of [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] and [[Book of Revelation|Revelations]].<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01559a.htm</ref>  So while there is a spirit of antiChrist, there is also one AntiChrist who is to come.

 

Based on this, many Christians argue that the Bible refers only to a ''generalized concept'' of Antichrist, applicable to anybody who is 'against Christ', not to a particular person. Moreover,  such 'antichrists' were already present in the world nearly two thousand years ago. Many major Christian denominations, such as the Catholic Church, have classically argued that these verses mainly prefigure the actual Antichrist and that one can see a single unifying Antichrist figure with the proper exegetical methods if one looks at Daniel and Revelations.[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01559a.htm]

The Antichrist is often associated with, and in some intrepretations considered equivilent to, the Beast of Revelation or the Man of Sin referenced in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

The Antichrist is often associated with, and in some intrepretations considered equivilent to, the Beast of Revelation or the Man of Sin referenced in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

==Sources==

==References==

 

* Cruden, A., ''Complete Concordance to the Old and New Testaments'' (Lutterworth, 1930)

* Cruden, A., ''Complete Concordance to the Old and New Testaments'' (Lutterworth, 1930)

* ''The Holy Bible'' (King James Version)

* ''The Holy Bible'' (King James Version)