antichrist

Antichrist is a term in Christian theology used to describe an opponent of Christ or a deceiver who denies core Christian beliefs. The word comes from the Greek antichristos, literally meaning “opponent of the Messiah” or “instead of Christ.” In the New Testament, the term appears in the Epistles of John. 1 John 2:18 warns that many antichrists have appeared, and 1 John 4:3 and 2 John 7 describe figures who deny Jesus' incarnation, labeling such persons as deceivers and the Antichrist. These passages generally present anti-Christ as a category of false teachers rather than a single, identifiable person.

Over time, Christian tradition developed competing interpretations. Some readings view Antichrist as a future individual who will oppose God and deceive many during the end times, often associated with the Beast and the False Prophet described in Revelation. Other traditions understand the term more broadly as a symbol for anti-Christian doctrines, false prophets, or hostile social forces that oppose Christ’s teachings.

Different denominations disagree on whether the Antichrist is a future figure, a symbolic concept, or a continued presence of opposition within history. Non-Christian faiths sometimes offer parallel ideas, such as figures of deception or evil, but do not apply the term in the same way. In popular culture, the Antichrist is frequently depicted as a world ruler or ultimate antagonist, a usage that reflects more contemporary literary and media interpretations than strict theological consensus.