How does the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ understanding of the antichrist compare to yours? https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/antichrist/ (This is a link to the JW’s Q&A page. YRM is in no way affiliated with the JWs)
We agree with many of the concepts as taught by the Jehovah Witnesses, including that the term “antichrist” or “antimessiah” refers to a spirit of rejection and rebellion. As pointed out within the link you provided, the spirit of the antimessiah:
- Will deceive the world into believe a lie (Mathew 24:5, 23-24)
- Denies Yahshua as the Son of Yahweh and Savior of mankind (1John 2:22).
- Masquerades as the Messiah, perhaps under a different name (John 4:43).
- Will persecute and oppose the saints of almighty Yahweh and the Jewish people (Zechariah 12:1, Matthew 24:16).
One other point wherein we agree with the Jehovah’s Witnesses is on their understanding of the paganism of the Trinity. The Bible teaches that only the Father has immortality (1Timothy 6:16), i.e., has always existed, that the Son was the first of the Father’s creation (Colossians 1:15; Revelation 3:14), that the Father is greater than the Son (John 10:29; 14:28; 1Corinthians 11:3), and that the Holy Spirit represents the power of the Father and not the third person of the Trinity (Luke 4:14; Romans 15:19; and Galatians 4:29).
The Trinity concept is not scriptural, but comes from paganism. For example, the Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics states, “Although the notion of a divine triad or Trinity is characteristic of the Christian religion, it is by no means peculiar to it. In Indian religion we meet with the trinitarian group of Brahma, Siva, and Vishnu; and in Egyptian religion with the trinitarian group of Osiris, Isis, and Horus, constituting a divine family, like the Father, Mother and Son in mediaeval Christian pictures” (Trinity, p. 458).
For additional information on the Trinity, along with other ancient heresies, read our booklet: Identifying Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
It’s important to also realize that the antichrist or antimessiah is an actual figure or person that will come to power in the latter days. Revelation 13:1-10 verifies that he will receive his power and might from Satan the devil, will persecute the saints of the Most High, will blaspheme Yahweh, and will make war with those who oppose him. He will also establish a global dictatorship during the three-and-a-half years of the Great Tribulation and change laws and times (Daniel 8:23-25). He will also rebuild a third temple and sit within it as elohim (2Thess 2:3-13).
Based on prophecy, we believe that this man will likely be of the Islamic faith, which will reestablish an Islamic caliphate, similar to the Ottoman Empire that was defeated in WWI. This is likely the deadly wound that was healed, as described in Revelation 13:3. For additional information on the antimessiah and his kingdom, please see our booklet: The Prophecy of the Beast and the Ten Toes.
For more information on the antimessiah, watch our video: The Prophecy of the Final Empire and the End of the World:
