Apocalypse Now: The Antichrist Unraveled

Unexplained Mysteries

In all of Christianity no figure (except perhaps God or Satan) evokes as much fear and apprehension as the Antichrist. According to some teachings as the end of the world looms this terrible being will be born, wreaking havoc on those who refuse to follow him.

But who is the Antichrist and where does the idea of him come from? Surprisingly, he’s barely in the Bible, and much of what we know about him is a later invention.

To understand the Antichrist is to unravel the threads of mythology, theology, and political intrigue. As it becomes increasingly common for people to declare he walks among us it’s more important than ever to understand the history behind Christ’s supposed opposite.

Meet the Beast

Put simply, in Christianity the Antichrist is the polar opposite of Jesus. According to some readings of the Bible, he’s prophesied to come as a false Messiah, opposing Jesus before the Second Coming (when Jesus returns to Earth).

In Catholicism particularly the Antichrist’s arrival is seen as a test on Christians. He will arrive as a false prophet and offer to fix all the world’s problems, glorifying himself over God. Those who fall for his ruse will be punished at the end of times.