How will the Antichrist come to power?

Most Christians believe the Antichrist is a powerful political and military genius that will appear at the end of time. He will establish a one world government with its headquarters in Jerusalem and he will demand worship and obedience from all people. 

However, is this what the Bible teaches about how the Antichrist will come to power? Some believe he is some shadowy figure from the past such as one the Roman emperors who persecuted the early Christians.  Or even Napoleon, whose general Berthier took the pope prisoner in 1798, and deprived the papacy of its political power and influence. Or more recently, could he have been Hitler, or even a future Obama returned to the world stage?? The world is afloat with conspiracy theories relating to the Antichrist, but what does the Bible say about the Antichrist and how he will come to power? 

Firstly, we must note that the term ‘antichrist’ literally means ‘instead of Christ’ or ‘in place of Christ’. Secondly, the Bible reveals that the Antichrist is already a powerful entity in the world today. The term does not refer to just one person, but to an alliance of evil powers with a religious head as its mentor and guide.

The Antichrist system has been around for a long time and is now waiting for the right moment to reveal itself. It will most likely take control of world affairs in response to some great cataclysmic event that will come upon the world as an overwhelming surprise.    This powerful entity will never “let a good crisis go to waste”. 

What does the Bible say about how the Antichrist will come to power? It is an ancient power that arose after the time of Christ and from within the Christian church.  Even in his day, the apostle Paul warns about the rise of the Antichrist, whom he calls ‘the man of sin’, ‘the lawless one,’ or ‘that wicked’. He warns:

“Let no man deceive  you by any means; for that day (the coming of the Lord Jesus), will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin (the Antichrist) is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple (church) of God, showing himself that he is God. . . 

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (NKJV – 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). 

Jesus also warns about the coming of the Antichrist to power.  He says:

“Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation (the abomination that causes desolation), spoken by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. . . for then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt 24:15-21).

You will notice that the Antichrist system is referred to by several different names. In Daniel 7:19-25 and 8:9-11, it is referred to as the “Little Horn” power, and in Revelation 13:1-8 as the “beast rising out of the sea” with a “blasphemous name” upon its head. A beast in Bible prophecy refers to a nation or kingdom.  In Revelation 17:1-6, the Antichrist power is called “the great harlot” and “Babylon the Great”. 

In Revelation 17:12-14, we read that the kings, or government of the earth, will give their power and authority to the Antichrist, to make war with the Lamb, who is Lord of lords, and King of kings. Of course, King Jesus easily wins this war and His faithful people will enjoy the fruits of victory with Him.  This will be the last war ever fought on planet earth.