The Antichrist
His rise and fall
John Hoole – September 9 & 16
Last week’s we began our lesson by reading the entire chapter of Revelation 13.
Revelation 13:1 (NIV) says,
1 And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.
WHO DID WE DETERMINE IS THE BEAST MENTIONED IN THIS VERSE?
The beast “coming up out of the sea” is the Antichrist.
In Verse 11 (NIV), we see these words.
11 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.
Here we have an introduction of another beast different from the one mentioned in verse 1.
In our last lesson, we began to look at the first beast in this chapter, the second person in this unholy trinity, the Antichrist. Many of the Bible writer mention this person who is Satan’s human masterpiece.
WHAT DOES THE WORD “ANTICHRIST” MEAN?
On the basis of the original Greek text, there are two possible interpretations of the word “antichrist.” The prefix anti means “against.” This emphasizes Satan’s program to oppose Christ. It can also means “in place of” or “instead of.” -- this speaks of one who comes as a substitute for Christ.
Both of these definitions apply in the case of the Antichrist. Satan and his unholy conspirators are both opposed to God and are trying to bring a substitute for Christ.
1 John 4:3 speaks of a “spirit of antichrist” which is even “now already in the world.” Again, in 2 John 7, John speaks of those who do not believe Jesus, as God, has come in the flesh, and refers to such people as “antichrist.”
But while a “spirit of antichrist” is already at work in the world, a day will come when a single person will embody all that the word “antichrist” means. The Antichrist will not only be the Man of Sin, but also “The Son of Perdition,” “The Seed of the Serpent.”
The phrase “man of sin” is used in the same sense that Isaiah 53:3 uses the phrase, “the man of sorrows.” We know that the “man of sorrows” is the man Christ. Similarly, the “man of sin” is an individual human being.
Then too, the use of the personal pronouns “himself” and “he” indicates a person (2 Thess. 2:3, 4, 8). Paul gives this “man of sins” names, or descriptors, which could only be given to an individual human being. Also, Daniel speaks of him as a person, when he refers to him as the “king” who raises his voice against the Most High. Daniel also pictures him opposing real people called “saints” (Daniel 7:24-26).
This person is described as doing whatever he desires, and will declare war on all who oppose him. The Bible also speaks of his ultimate defeat. None of this would make sense if the Antichrist was anything other than a human being.
And one last Scripture. Christ said in John 5:43 NIV
43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.
I have no doubt the Antichrist is more than a symbol of evil or an impersonal force. He will definitely be a real live individual person who will manipulate and destroy many real people. To reiterate, personal names and titles are consistently ascribed to him in the Bible. He engages in personal relationships with other persons. He performs personal actions, talks like a person, is consistently addressed with personal nouns and pronouns.
During the future Tribulation, this evil person will stand against Jesus Christ and all that is holy. He will force the entire world to submit to him. His defeat will come only at the hands of the Messiah Himself, Jesus Christ. Christ will then cast this diabolical person into the lake of fire, where he will spend all eternity.
Even though the antichrist will attempt to mimic the real Christ, there are also many significant dissimilarities between Christ and the antichrist.
• One is called the Christ (Matthew 16:16); the other, the antichrist (1 John 4:3).
• One is called the man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3); the other, the man of lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:3).
• One is called the Son of God (John 1:34); the other, the son of destruction (2 Thess. 2:3).
• One is called the Lamb (Isaiah 53:7); the other, the beast (Rev. 11:7).
• One is called the Holy One (Mark 1:24); the other, the lawless one (2 Thess. 2:8).
• Christ came to do the Father’s will (John 6:38); the antichrist will do his own will (Dan. 11:36).
• Christ was energized by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14); the antichrist will be energized by Satan, the Unholy spirit (Rev. 13:4).
• Christ submitted Himself to God (John5:30); the antichrist defies God (2 Thess. 2:4).
• Christ humbled Himself (Philippians 2:8); the antichrist exalts himself (Daniel 11:37).
• Christ honored the God of His fathers (Luke 4:16); the antichrist refuses to (Daniel 11:37).
• Christ cleansed the temple (John 2:14, 16); the antichrist defiles the temple (Matthew 24:15).
• Christ was rejected by men (Isaiah 53:3); the antichrist will force people to accept him (Revelation 13:4).
• Christ was slain for the people (John11:51); the antichrist slays the people (Isaiah 14:20).
• Christ was received up into heaven (Luke 24:51); the antichrist goes down into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
This Satan-inspired individual will rise to prominence in the Tribulation period, initially making a peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27). But then he will dominate the world, double-cross the Jews and attempt to destroy them, persecute believers, and set up his own kingdom (Revelation 13).
WHEN THE ANTICHRIST COMES INTO PROMINENCE, WHAT KIND OF PERSON WILL THE WORLD THINK HE IS?
In our previous lesson, we listed some of the names or titles given to this person, and we said they are indicators of his true character. We must not think, however, that just because these names are used of the Antichrist that when he comes upon the world scene, he will appear to be very repulsive. Rather, he will talk about justice and love and peace and prosperity. He will be both brilliant and eloquent. Daniel 8:7 tells us he has a “mouth speaking great things.” In short, like Satan himself, this man will appear as an angel of light. He will be hailed by millions as a superman who will save mankind.
Even though he will be a human being, he will truly be unlike any human being who ever lived. In fact, he will be so different that people living during the tribulation period will say, “Who is like the beast?” (Revelation 13:4). The implied answer is, no one is like the beast.
If you do any amount of reading on various end time topics, you will undoubtedly run across opinions of people who think they know who the Antichrist is.
During the late 1930s and early 1940s a flurry of pamphlets identified Adolf Hitler as the Antichrist. Others declared that Mussolini was the Antichrist, because of his relationship to Rome. Other thought it might be Stalin, Kennedy, Kissinger, Gorbachev, King Juan Carlos, etc. Throughout church history, zealous prophets have presumptuously identified certain characters as the “Antichrist” only to suffer theological and personal disrepute.
But when the Antichrist comes to prominence, he won’t appear as a Hitler, Mussolini or a Stalin. Nor will he appear as a Charles Manson, or Ayatollah Khomeini or Idi Amin, or Saddam Hussein. He won’t appear to be a warmonger or a devil. Most evil leaders did not appear as such when the began their rise in power. They appear as a savior and benefactor hailed by the populace.
This beast – the Antichrist – will rise to power so legitimately and peacefully, that the world will never suspect the evil power behind him. If ever a person met the distinctions required to be “Time Magazine’s Man of the Year,” this one will. If ever a leader was destined for greatness – he will fit the part. Who knows, because of his ability to bring a semblance of order out of chaos, including the Arab/Israeli conflict, he just may receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The Antichrist will be a man who makes his debut with nearly irresistible charm. He is vested with an overpowering charisma.
At some point during the 7-year Tribulation, the true colors of the Antichrist will come forward. He will show that he is a diabolical fanatic who will brazenly crush and destroy those who oppose him. Eventually, he will become a foul-mouthed egomaniac a self-promoter, who will be as much a con man as a legitimate conqueror.
He will appear as an “angel” of peace, but will become the most cruel and ruthless warmonger of all times. He will appear as a political savior, but underneath, he is a spiritual devil. Once the reins of power are in his grasp, he will exploit his combination of military genius and hypnotic influence to bring a bewildered world under his heal.
Over the years, I have often been asked a number of question about the Antichrist.
1. When will the Antichrist rise to power?
2. Is he a religious or a political figure?
3. From where does the Antichrist receive his power?
4. What will be the fate of the Antichrist?
Let’s take a look at the answer to each of these questions.
1. When will the Antichrist rise to power?
I believe the Rapture of the Church will be the event that will allow for the launching of the career of the Antichrist. I believe we find this mentioned by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
Notice that the Antichrist (that Wicked one) is currently being restrained by someone. Until that restraint is removed, the Antichrist cannot come to power. He cannot yet be revealed.
But this verse says that there is coming a day when Divine restraint will be removed. The light of God will be withdrawn – and then, and only then, will “darkness cover the earth and gross darkness cover the people” (Isaiah 60:2).
The big question is, “Who is the restrainer of this man of lawlessness that now holds in check the desires of Satan?” The restrainer seems to be a person, because of the use of the word, “HE”. I think that most Bible expositors agree that the only person who can restrain the evil one is the Holy Spirit.
One Bible expositor, Dr. Thomas Constable, is probably representative when he said:
“The Holy Spirit of God is the only Person with sufficient [supernatural] power to do this restraining … The removal of the Restrainer at the time of the Rapture must obviously precede the day of the Lord.
If we dig a little deeper, we can discover some additional information.
HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT RESTRAIN THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST TODAY?
Remember that shortly after Jesus left his disciples and returned to heaven, the Holy Spirit was sent, as promised, to indwell believers. This day – called the Day of Pentecost – is the birthday of the Church. The Church is the body through whom the Holy Spirit works.
Does this mean that before the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was not on planet earth? Of course not! One of the characteristics of the Holy Spirit, as is also true of the Father and Son, is that He is omnipresent. This means He is present everywhere at the same moment.
Psalm 139:7-10 NIV
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
The Holy Spirit is everywhere. And David, the writer of this Psalm, says the Spirit was active in his lifetime, and David lived about 1000 years before Pentecost.
We have just established that the Holy Spirit was on planet earth, both before and after the Day of Pentecost. It is also true that the Holy Spirit will be on planet earth, both before and after the Rapture of the Church.
Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5, that the church is “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” Through those two illustrations, the people of God are seen as that which keeps the world from becoming totally polluted….and totally without light to show the way. I believe the verse in 2 Thessalonian 2:7 is speaking of the Holy Spirit’s ministry through the Church. It is during the Church Age that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is unique. The apostle John relates one way in which the ministry of the Holy Spirit is different during the Church Age compared with His work in the Old Testament.
John 14:16-17 NKJV
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever —
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
The Lord tells us here that when the Holy Spirit comes, he will not only be with us, as he was often in the Old Testament, but will now be IN US, taking up residence inside us to be our Guide.
In keeping with this, 1 John 4:4 tells us:
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
It is the Holy Spirit in you that is more powerful than the devil that is in this world.
The English word “restrain” is taken from the Greek word, Katecho. This Greek word carries the idea, “to hold back from action, to keep under control, to deprive of physical liberty, as by shackling.” This is what the Holy Spirit does in our day to prevent the antichrist from coming.
The Spirit presently abides in the world in a special way in this age through the church. It is when this restraining force is taken away, that Satan will launch his masterpiece of deception. The Holy Spirit will remain in the world, as seen in the fact that many will be saved, but the agency through which the Holy Spirit currently works to restrain evil, the Church, will be removed.
With the restrainer removed – that is, the Holy Spirit at work on the earth through the Church – gone, Satan feels he has the best shot he has ever had in taking God’s place. The Antichrist’s ability to resolve the chaos resulting from the disappearance of millions of Christians will, very likely, be the event that will catapult him into prominence in world politics. e will seem to have all the answers to the world’s problems, which will be many at that time.
The 7-year time period of the Tribulation will actually begin when the Antichrist negotiates a 7-year treaty with Israel. But, the wording of 2 Thess. 2:3, seems to indicate that the “man of sin, the son of perdition.” which is the subject of the verses immediately preceding it will have the Godly restraint of Satan’s plans for the antichrist removed.
If you think sin has the upper hand in the world today, you haven’t seen anything yet. There is a lot Satan can’t do today because the church is still here resisting sin, and because saints are on their knees praying. Satan is restrained in carrying out his evil plans by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells the Church.
No one who lives from the time of Pentecost until the Rapture of the church will know for certain who the Antichrist is. This is because he will not make his appearance on the world stage until the church is gone. With that restraint gone, he will then move quickly to establish his place in the world.
So we now know from the Bible that the Antichrist will not be revealed as the Antichrist until that which restrains him is removed at the rapture of the Church. But as the Antichrist begins his rise in the world, the Bible does tell us some facts about his arrival on the world’s stage.
Daniel 8:23-25 NKJV
23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes.
24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.
25 Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means.
These verses tell us that in the “latter times,” a king will arise. We are told several of his traits or abilities. He will have a fierce features – the NIV translates it, he will have a “stern face.” We also are told the Antichrist will understand sinister schemes. The NIV renders it, he will be the “master of intrigue.” What is meant by that statement. We get some idea of what that means where the same root Hebrew is used in Daniel 5:12, when speaking of the prophet Daniel.
Daniel 5:12 NIV
12 This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."
The phrase “explain riddles,” is the same root word used of the Antichrist. The difference is that Daniel received his wisdom from God while the Antichrist’s wisdom comes through the occult – from Satan.
The Antichrist will use any means to propel himself to the top ruler in the world. But when that means is used and no longer needed, he will discard it and destroy it. One such thing he will use to his advantage is religion. After the rapture of the church, religion does not die. An apostate world religion will rise, as is pictured by Ecclesiastical Babylon which is depicted in Revelation 17.
Once he has used religion for his purposes, and has no more need of it, he will quickly discard it. In fact, he will quickly remove all religious systems of his day.
The apostate religious system after the church is gone is pictured as a harlot in Revelation 17. She has prostrated herself with the Antichrist. When the Antichrist is finished with her, we are told, in Revelation 17, what he will do to her.
Revelation 17:16 NIV
16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
After the Antichrist gains political power, he will have no use for her. His purpose is that she needs to be destroyed so he can set up himself as god.
2. Is the Antichrist a religious or a political figure?
I believe he will emerge into prominence as a political leader. But he will also gradually acquire religious connotations. Eventually he will require that his subjects worship him when an image of him is set up in Israel’s temple. The deification of emperors, kings, and other political leaders has occurred throughout history. Ultimately, in the case of the Antichrist, it stems from Satan’s desire to be like God. But it will not occur until the midpoint of the tribulation at which time he will display his true nature and demand to be worshiped.
Most of the religious controls will be exercised through the False Prophet, who will head up a pagan or apostate religious system (Revelation 13:11-15). He – the False Prophet – will force all of humanity to worship the Antichrist. He will be a deceiver who will astound people with “great signs” that appear miraculous.
In Revelation 12, we find Satan and his demons cast out of heaven. At that time, I believe Satan himself will possess the Antichrist and the Antichrist will become obsessed with two things:
a. Himself
b. The Jews
At that moment, he will suddenly march into the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, stop the sacrifices, blaspheme God, and declare himself to be the one and only true God. And when the Jews reject this horrible blasphemy in their temple, the Antichrist turns on them and seeks to annihilate them. This will be his all-consuming passion for the last half of the Tribulation.
During the second half of the Tribulation, he will almost succeed in accomplishing his goal. We are told in Zechariah 13:8-9 that two thirds of the Jewish people will die during this holocaust.
3. From where does the Antichrist receive his power?
In Daniel 8, we are told of a diabolical historical person who is a type of the Antichrist. His historical name, though not mentioned in Daniel’s prophecy, is Antiochus Epiphanes. In Daniel 8:24, we are told of a person who is a type of the Antichrist: “His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power.” Because Antiochus is a type of the Antichrist, what is applied to him can most likely be applied to the Antichrist.
Many Bible scholars believe Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 provide insights regarding how Lucifer fell and became Satan. Ezekiel 28 tells us that he was created in a state of perfection, and he remained perfect in his ways until iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:15). What was this iniquity? Two verses later (verse 17), we are told, “your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.”
Lucifer apparently became so impressed with his own beauty, intelligence, power, and position, that he began to desire for himself the honor and glory that belongs to God alone. The sin that corrupted Lucifer was self-generated pride.
God rightfully judged this mighty angelic being: “I cast you to the ground.” (Ezekiel 28:17). As a result of his heinous sin, Lucifer was banished from having a home in Heaven (Isaiah 14:12). He became corrupt, and his name changed from Lucifer (“morning star”) to Satan (“adversary”).
Like Satan, the Antichrist will be prideful. He will engage in gross self-exaltation. He also will try to take the place of God. 1 Timothy 3:6 tells us Satan can “puff up” a human being with conceit in his heart, and to think of himself higher than he ought. Satan will accomplish this in the Antichrist to a measureless degree. The Antichrist will become the epitome of conceit.
Revelation 13:2 NIV
2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
While we are not told the source of Antiochus’ power, we are told the source of the Antichrist’s power. Satan gives him his power and authority.
Whatever power he acquires from military or political alliances, or from “natural” talents and abilities, they are secondary to his real source of strength and cunning. His power is given him by Satan himself.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 adds:
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
All of these verses make it clear that Satan will empower and energize the Antichrist.
4. What will be the fate of the Antichrist?
Unlike Jesus Christ, whose throne will know no end, the Antichrist’s days will be numbered. While God readies the armies of heaven, no nations of the earth will rise against the Antichrist. Daniel tells us the Antichrist will often be at war with nations who want to shed his reign and control over them. These skirmishes with lead to the beginning of the Battle of Armageddon, which should not be thought of as a single short battle, but a series of confrontations that will reach its climax when Jesus comes.
With his obsession to eliminate the Jews, the Antichrist seems to lose interest in his entire kingdom. With his focus on the Middle East and the Jews, some parts of the world begin to revolt. The antichrist seems to spend a good portion of the second half of the Tribulation fighting off one challenge after another to his rule. Satan seeks a worldwide compliance to his laws, but the best the Antichrist can do is to rush around attempting to squash one rebellion after another. And he never fully succeeds.
A large sector of the revolt is centered in the Asian nations who raise an army of 200 million. You will also see revolt coming from northern Africa – namely Egypt.
Daniel 11:40-44 NIV
40 At the time of the end the king of the South [most likely = Egypt] will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.
41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand.
42 He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape.
43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission.
44 But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many.
While the Antichrist and his armies are rampaging around the Middle East, he suddenly hears “rumors” that disturb him. Something about armies approaching from the east and north toward him.
Now notice what Revelation 16:12 (NIV) adds concerning this 200,000,000 (Rev. 9:16) man army from the east.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.
Back in Daniel 11, we were told, in verse 44, that the Antichrist is actually subduing Egypt and other northern African countries when he receives the “rumors” about the kings of the east.
After defeating the uprising to the south, he returns north to the Holy Land. To confront these invading armies, the Antichrist had earlier set his home base in Jerusalem. We learn that when we continue reading in Daniel 11, which we were reading a moment ago. His specific headquarters is in the rebuilt Jewish Temple, where he had earlier proclaimed himself to be god.
THE ANTICHRIST’S DAYS ARE NUMBERED
The Antichrist will arise and will dominate international events for a specific time, but his fall and demise is predicted. His final judgment is discussed in Daniel, 2 Thessalonians and Revelation. His reign will be brief.
From the instant he appears his days are numbered. He emerges and increases until he has universal power and total rule over all the nations. He will control commerce and even require worship of himself. But in a sense all of this is empty and false, because even as he ascends to prominence his demise is already determined.
His reign will end suddenly
Just as quickly as his star rises, just that quickly it sets. His domination is brief and his end is swift. Daniel 9:27 tells us his fall is already determined by God, and his destruction has already been measured.
Daniel 11:36 informs us that his demise will surely come, and it will be quick. The Message Bible translates it thus:
“He will even dare to brag and boast in defiance of the God of gods. And he will get by with it for a while – until the time of wrathful judgment is completed, for what is decreed must be done.”
His reign will end supernaturally
2 Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
It is God who will bring the Antichrist to his end. For one who becomes so dominant and powerful in the world, his end will reveal the true nature and extent of his power when compared to God’s. He defies and blasphemes the God of gods, but he will be consumed by the “breath” and “brightness” of Christ. In the end, the Antichrist will be shown to actually have NO power. And his authority is revealed to be, at best, fragile and weak.
The one who impressed the multitudes so that they exclaimed: “Who is like the beast?” will be without defense against the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Daniel 11:45 NIV
45 He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain [Mt. Moriah – where the Dome of the Rock currently sits]. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
As the fight ensues, other nations will join in this Battle. This is quickly leading to the height of the Battle of Armageddon.
The Antichrist’s reign, as Satan’s world ruler, will come to an abrupt end, but not because the armies from the east or north, or any other earthly army, defeats him. Defeat for the Antichrist will come swiftly and totally when Jesus Christ rides out of heaven with His armies.
This is the 2nd Coming of Christ.
Zechariah 14:4 tells us that when Jesus comes, He will set his feet on the Mount of Olives. When this happens, all the armies that have been battling each other will now turn their combined attention to this invader from the sky.
Revelation 19:19-20 NIV
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.
20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Earlier in Revelation 19 we are told that Jesus speaks a supernatural word that causes all the armies to drop dead in their tracks.
Paul says the Antichrist will be slain by the “breath of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Zechariah 14:12 adds: “Their eyes rot in their sockets and their tongues rot in their mouths.”
Daniel also foretold the outcome of the Antichrist’s encounter with Jesus:
“He [the antichrist] shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.” (Daniel 8:25b).
Not by human means – His destruction will not be of his own doing. It will be the doing of God.
His demise will be eternal
According to Revelation 19:20, the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be the first occupants to take up residence in the Lake of Fire.
Revelation 20:10 NKJV
10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The Antichrist will indeed be against Christ, but it will be Christ who will have the final victory. When Jesus comes back, that will be it for the Antichrist. His beastly days come to an end, because number 6 has run into number 7.