Who is The Antichrist? Part 1, Daniel Chapter 7

Published: 22 July, 2024

In Daniel chapter 7, Daniel returns to the topic of the Kingdom of the Beast, also known as the One World Order. He first visited this topic in chapter 2, when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had a dream of a magnificent statue made of layers of different materials. We learned each layer of the statue represents a gentile nation that would rule the known world. The final layers, the legs of iron and the feet or mixed iron and clay, we learned, represented a fourth kingdom, which would be different from all the other kingdoms. This fourth kingdom is known as the One World Order, or the Kingdom of the Beast.

In chapter 7, it is Daniel, and not Nebuchadnezzar who now has a vision. Instead of a statue, Daniel has a vision of four beasts arising from the sea. The fourth beast correlates to the fourth kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. We learn the ruler of this final kingdom will be a king known as the Antichrist.

“After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different than all the animals that were before it; and it had ten horns.

Daniel 7: 7

Later in the chapter, We are told the ten horns represent ten kings of the Kingdom of the Beast. After the ten kings are established, another horn, or ruler, arises. This ruler is the Antichrist.

“I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Daniel 7: 8

The Antichrist usurps three of the ten kings, probably in a violent manner, and seizes control of the Kingdom of the Beast. The language of verse 8 describing the Antichrist is ambiguous, but it probably means he will be extremely intelligent and he will speak out against God.

We then learn that in the end, the Antichrist and his kingdom will be judged and destroyed by God.

“I watched at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke. I watched even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.

Daneil 7: 11

Daniel next turns to a bystander and asks for an explanation of the fourth beast and the little horns.

“Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different than all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows. I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them, until the ancient of days came, and the judgement was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Daneil 7: 19-22

In Daniel’s question, we learn that not only will the Antichrist speak out against God, but he will oppress the believing followers of God (believing Jews and Christians).

“Thus he said, ‘The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will be different than all the kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and will tread it down, and break it in pieces. As for the ten horns, ten kings will arise after them; and he will be different than the former, and he will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.

Daniel 7: 23-26

The bystander begins by emphasizing the violence and destructive nature of the fourth kingdom and the Antichrist. We are told they “will devour the whole earth.” We are then again told the Antichrist will blaspheme against God and persecute God’s followers.

Finally we are told he will “change the times and the law.” The meaning of this verse is unclear, but can be taken to generally imply the Antichrist will seek to reshape society to his benefit. Finally we are told the Antichrist will be allowed to persecute God’s followers for 3 1/2 years (time, times and half a time).

Here is a summary of what chapter 7 has to say about the antichrist

1. He will arise after the establishment of the final, fourth kingdom, the Kingdom of the Beast.
2. He will depose three of the ten initial rulers of the Kingdom of the Beast and seize power.
3. He will be extraordinarily intelligent and clever.
4. He will be the most violent and destructive dictator in the history of the world.
5. He will oppose and speak out against God.
6. He will oppress Christians and Jews for 3 1/2 years.

The next time the Bible addresses the topic of the Antichrist is in chapter 8 of Daniel, where we also learn about a picture type, or precursor to the Antichrist, Antiochus IV Epiphanes.