Pulse
2 Nov 2026
On 3 September 2026, BBC reported that US Vice President JD Vance said on a Christian podcast that he would ‘not [be] shocked if the Antichrist was walking among us.’ He also speculated that the end of the world was imminent.
In defence of Vance, the conservative writer Rod Dreher told the BBC that ‘Most Americans who are inclined to vote Republican already believe this stuff.’ He added: ‘This might sound bonkers to someone who is outside the Christian religion, but it is a very, very common belief within Christianity.’
Fascination with the Antichrist has indeed been consistently evident in the history of the Church, with each period identifying its best or most likely candidate. In an article published in February 2025 on the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) website, Jimmy Evans identified the four most recent contenders for the role: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Charles III and Emmanuel Macron.
Evans explains that four key indicators gleaned from the Bible about the Antichrist would explain the current line-up. The Antichrist is someone (1) with exceptional intelligence, (2) who will play the initial role of a peacemaker, (3) who has some connection with the Roman Empire, and (4) who has risen from obscurity to power.
What is interesting is the way in which these features are read into someone like Emmanuel Macron. Evans writes:
Take Emmanuel Macron, for instance. As France’s youngest-ever president, his rapid rise to power and charismatic leadership style check several boxes. His role in European politics, particularly his vision for a ten-nation European military coalition, has caught the attention of prophecy watchers. His background in economics and digital affairs might seem relevant to future global economic control. Some even point to his name – Emmanuel, meaning ‘God with us’ – as potentially significant, given that the Antichrist will ultimately demand worship as God.
However, Evans rightly points out that ‘[s]imilar connections could be drawn to other figures on our initial list.’ And indeed, others who did not make it to the top four, such as Mark Zuckerberg.
If we were to compile a list of candidates for this role that Christians and Church leaders alike have identified with almost unwavering certainty through the centuries, we would have a most impressive line-up.
In the first few centuries of Church history, we have figures such as Pompey the Great, Caligula, and, of course, Nero. Later Roman emperors include Diocletian, Julian the Apostate, and Constantine V.
In the medieval period, especially when the Western world witnessed the rise of Islam, the scope expanded to include not just Western monarchs but also Muslim rulers. The most prominent candidates during this period include Frederick II Hohenstaufen, Frederick I Barbarossa, and Muhammad (Islam is regarded as the Antichrist religion).
During the Reformation, various popes were identified as the antichrist by Reformers such as Martin Luther, Philip Melanchton, John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli and others. They include Pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand), Pope Innocent III, Pope Boniface VIII, and Pope Leo X.
Fast forward to the twentieth century, with the two World Wars and the prominence of totalitarianism, several political leaders were identified as the Antichrist. They include Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Francisco Franco, and many others.
This trend continues unabated into the twenty-first century, adding to an already long list the following: Mikhail Gorbachev, Saddam Hussein, Ayatollah Khomeini, Osama bin Laden, Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
In this short article, we will briefly examine what the Bible says (and does not say) about this mysterious figure. We will then turn to an early Church Father and reflect on his wise words regarding speculating about the identity of the man of lawlessness.
Antichrist in the Bible
We begin with a brief discussion of the Scriptural witness concerning the Antichrist.
The term itself is found only in the Johannine letters, where the figure of the Antichrist is presented as the arch-opponent of God and his Anointed One, the Messiah (1 John 4:1-6). John begins by warning the churches of the appearance of false prophets and the need to ‘test the spirits’, that is, to exercise careful discernment.
He then underscores that ‘every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God’ (4:3a). John was referring here more specifically to those who do not acknowledge the Incarnation (4:2). Such, he says, ‘is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already’ (4:3b).
A clearer picture of the Antichrist is presented by Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians (2:1-12). The Antichrist is here named or described as ‘the man of lawlessness’ (2:3) and ‘the lawless one’ (2:8), which point to his anarchist agenda and mission. This recalls Daniel’s prophecy of the ‘little horn’ who shall ‘speak against the Most High,’ and attempt to ‘change the times and the law’ (7:25).
The Antichrist will mimic God’s Messiah by performing many signs and wonders to deceive people, including Christians (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). The difference, of course, is that Jesus performed miracles by the power of God, but the Antichrist works by satanic powers (2 Thessalonians 2:9). The purpose is to deceive people into either worshipping him or Satan instead of the true God.
The apostle Paul also called the Antichrist ‘the son of perdition’ (2 Thessalonians 2:3) thereby pointing to his ultimate and eternal damnation and ruin. For even as he tries to oppose God and deceive people, ‘the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the appearing of his coming’ (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
When the risen and ascended Lord Jesus returns at the close of the age to bring God’s kingdom to full consummation, Satan and his minions – including the Antichrist – will be judged and punished (Revelation 19:15, 20).
John states that many antichrists have appeared to oppose the work of God and deceive the masses (1 John 4:1-6). This is corroborated by the apostle Paul, who in his letter to the Thessalonians clearly underscores the fact that ‘the mystery of lawlessness is already at work’ (2: 7).
However, both John and Paul teach that the anti-God forces that are already at work in the world will come to a head with the appearance of the Antichrist. In the Book of Revelation, John describes the ‘Beast’ (Revelation 13), a singular political and religious figure which the Christian tradition has regarded as the singular Antichrist. And, as we have already seen, Paul speaks of a specific figure – ‘the man of lawlessness.’
The fact that Scripture points to a singular figure of the Antichrist has sparked endless speculation about his identity – as we have seen. These conjectures are only futile, as they have been proved mistaken time and again.
How, then, should Christians respond to the Scriptural teaching about the Antichrist? We turn to an ancient Church theologian for an answer to this vital question.
Wisdom from a Church Father
Irenaeus of Lyon was a Greek bishop of the second century. He was noted for his treatises against arguably the most insidious heresies that invaded the church during that period – Gnosticism. In Against Heresies (Adversus Haereses), Irenaeus not only refuted the teachings of this movement but in the process instructed his readers how Scripture should be read in harmony with the faith of the church.
In Book V of Against Heresies, Irenaeus dealt at some length with prophecies about the Antichrist and speculations concerning his identity. I think the church in the twenty-first century must listen attentively to what this second century Christian theologian has to say.
Irenaeus warns against those who attempt to establish the identity of the Antichrist through some numerical calculations. This will inevitably lead into error with serious pastoral consequences.
But as for those who, for the sake of vainglory, lay it down for certain that names containing the spurious number are to be accepted, and affirm that this name, hit upon by themselves, is that of him who is to come; such persons shall not come forth without loss, because they have led into error both themselves and those who confided in them.
For some Christians, the identification of the Antichrist is important because it helps the Church prepare for his eventual appearance. Irenaeus addresses this approach and argues convincingly that it could in fact have the opposite outcome. If Christians make an erroneous identification, they might fail to recognise the actual Antichrist when he appears.
Moreover, another danger, by no means trifling, shall overtake those who falsely presume that they know the name of the Antichrist. For if these men assume one [number], when this [Antichrist] shall come having another, they will be easily led away by him, as supposing him not to be the expected one, who must be guarded against.
Now, Irenaeus himself did consider some possible names of the Antichrist – including Evanthas, Lateinos, and Teitan. But he immediately warns against treating these speculations of probable candidates as certainty.
Inasmuch, then, as this name Titan has so much to recommend it, there is a strong degree of probability, that from among the many [names suggested], we infer, that perchance he who is to come shall be called Titan. We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist … (emphasis mine).
Irenaeus perceptively points out that the fact that God did not reveal the name of the Antichrist is itself significant. He writes:
… for it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision.
He adds that the name is suppressed ‘because it is not worthy of being proclaimed by the Holy Spirit.’
Instead of anxious speculation, Christians should be vigilant and wait for the prophecy to be fulfilled.
It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfilment of the prophecy, than to be making surmises, and casting about for any names that may present themselves.
Conclusion
Because the Antichrist is such a controversial and mysterious figure and because his appearance is predicted in the Bible, speculation about his identity is rife. Whenever a powerful political leader emerges, an international conflict occurs or a nation in the Middle East or elsewhere gains prominence, there will be attempts to speculate whether the Antichrist is rearing his ugly head.
Both the history of interpretation (more precisely, speculation) and Irenaeus counsel greater caution.
What must be scrupulously resisted is what I have called elsewhere ‘Newspaper exegesis’ – a way of reading and interpreting the Bible which allows current events to determine the meaning of biblical prophecy.
Newspaper exegesis does not only result in the misunderstanding and misapplication of Scripture. It also engenders a baseless alarmism that distracts Christians and the Church from being faithful to God’s Word and from discharging the responsibilities they have been entrusted with.
Put another way, by encouraging obsessive speculation, newspaper exegesis can easily become spiritually disordered: it can direct the focus of the Christian to the Antichrist instead of Christ!
Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor at Trinity Theological College (Singapore).