The Antichrist Signs You Need to Know

Most people have heard that an evil world dictator called the Antichrist will rise in the last days. As the apostle John said, “You have heard that the Antichrist is coming” (1 Jn. 2:18). Yes, we have. And we have also heard that he will force everyone on earth to receive his number, 666, in their right hand or forehead—and kill those who refuse it. But does the Bible mention the antichrist signs during his rise to power so that we can recognize him before he takes total control? It does. The prophet Daniel wrote:

    “A fierce-looking king, one understanding dark plots, shall rise. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy in an astonishing manner … and by peace shall he destroy many” (Dan. 8:23–25).

While this passage is helpful together with other information, by itself it’s vague enough to be misapplied to scores of U.S. Presidents and other world leaders—and has been. The first really clear sign that some world statesman is the Antichrist is when he confirms (strengthens) a seven-year peace treaty between Israel and key Muslim nations, which is precisely what Dan. 9:27 says he will do.

But this still doesn’t totally nail down who the Antichrist is: the Bible doesn’t say that he drafts the peace treaty. He’s not even necessarily the only head of state confirming an existing treaty. But this we know: shortly after he backs this peace accord, a very significant event happens—after 2,000 years without a temple the Jews rebuild it in Jerusalem and recommence sacrifices and offerings to God. The building of the temple is a major portent of the End Time and is a sign that the Antichrist is rising.

Then after 3 ½ years, right in the middle of the seven-year period, the Antichrist breaks the peace accord, enters the temple and stops all religious services: “In the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease” (Dan. 9:27). The Bible declares what else he does at this time:

    “And forces shall be gathered on his part, and they shall pollute the temple stronghold, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes it desolate” (Dan. 11:31).

When he places an “abomination” in the newly-rebuilt temple, desecrating it, this marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation, a time of unprecedented trouble and worldwide persecution of believers in God. Jesus said:

    “When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place …. then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time” (Mat. 24:15, 21).

It is commonly believed that the “abomination of desolation” that is placed in the temple is another name for the “Image of the Beast”—a large idol of the Antichrist or a supercomputer bearing his image, and that it has something to do with the new world economic system. This is probably true, since the Antichrist’s propaganda minister tells the world—

    “… that they should make an image to the beast … And he had power to give life to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He forces all … to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no one might buy or sell, except for those who have the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name…. and his number is 666” (Rev. 13:14–18).

The Antichrist makes a law at the beginning of the Tribulation that everyone must receive his Mark, but clearly, for such a sweeping change to the global economic system to be implemented at that time would require many years of previous planning and discussions. So that’s another sign of the Antichrist: when you hear of world leaders pushing for a one-world economic system in which everyone must receive a mark in his right hand or forehead, know that the hour is late and the Antichrist is already at work in the world.

Not only will people be required to receive the Mark and worship the Image of the Antichrist, but worship the Antichrist himself. His true egomaniacal nature will be fully revealed at this point:

    “And that 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 as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thes. 2:3–4)

When you hear of this final sign, you will know that the Antichrist’s worldwide reign of madness has begun.