What does the Antichrist is coming mean in 1 John 2:18?

The term antichrist appears exclusively in the epistles of 1 and 2 John (1 John 2:18–22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7). The word appears in both the singular (“the antichrist”) and plural form (“many antichrists”). First John 2:18 declares, “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” Many antichrists have appeared in the broad sense of those representing a false religious system. The term Antichrist may be applied both to an individual and to the religious system that person represents.

Since the first prophecy of the Messiah, the spirit of Antichrist has been in the world to oppose the work of Christ Jesus. John wrote his epistles knowing that the spiritual conflict between Christ and Antichrist had already begun. Biblical prophecies predict the coming of the Antichrist in the end times, which is, generally speaking, the period between the first and second comings of Christ. From the beginning of the church age, the great majority of believers have been certain that a final world ruler would arise who will be the very embodiment of Satan. In Revelation 13:1, the Antichrist is the “beast out of the sea” and has “ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names” (NASB 1995). Throughout the history of the church, the term Antichrist has been used synonymously with the title beast.

Until the church was granted freedom of religion by Roman Emperor Constantine, many Caesars were regarded as candidates for the Antichrist. Throughout the Middle Ages, biblical prophecies regarding the Antichrist were typically interpreted symbolically as opposed to literally. Even when the symbolic interpretation was prevalent, many Roman Catholic popes were labeled as the Antichrist. During the time of the Protestant Reformation, it was the Roman Catholic papacy, corporately, that was considered to be the Antichrist.

Premillennialism, the doctrine that Christ will return at the end of the age to establish an earthly kingdom, teaches the coming Antichrist is the final world ruler to oppose God and His Anointed (“the Christ”). Additionally, the Antichrist will persecute God’s elect relentlessly, particularly the Jewish people. The Antichrist will rule during the tribulation (known as Daniel’s seventieth week—see Daniel 9:24–27) and will have unquestioned authority for three-and-one-half years. Antichrist is an appropriate title for this future ruler because it accurately depicts the essence of his character and his opposition of God.

The Antichrist is known by many names throughout Scripture, such as the “little horn” (Daniel 7:8, KJV); “a fierce-looking king” and “a master of intrigue” (Daniel 8:23); “the prince who is to come” (Daniel 9:26, NASB 1995); “a vile person” (Daniel 11:21, NKJV); “the king [who] will do whatever he wants” (Daniel 11:36, CSB); “the worthless shepherd” (Zechariah 11:17); the “beast” (Revelation 13:1); “the man of lawlessness” and “the son of destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, ESV); and “the abomination that causes desolation” (Matthew 24:15). He will achieve a false peace that ends in sudden destruction (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

The coming Antichrist is diabolically wicked in his deeds and nature. He will be against Christ, against God’s people, and against His law. The Antichrist is the great imposter who tries to take the place of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Antichrist is said to exalt himself as God and erect an image of himself to be worshiped (Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Revelation 13:8). Through “power, signs, and lying wonders” and “unrighteous deception,” he will deceive an evil and unrepentant world (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10, NKJV).

Many kings, from Nebuchadnezzar to Antiochus to Nero, have exalted themselves as a god. But none of them have been the Antichrist to fulfill all the biblical prophecies. The final Antichrist is coming, and the grapes of God’s wrath are ripening (Revelation 14:14–20).