First we must recognize that the term “Anti-Christ” does not appear in the Revelation. Along these lines, the period of seven years never is mentioned. There are 3½ years, 42 months and 1,260 days, but no seven years.

The person often assumed to be the “Anti-Christ” appears in chapter 13 of the Revelation where he ascends out of the sea, symbolically the sea of humanity, but there he is named the Beast. The Apostle Paul calls him the “man of perdition” (Second Thessalonians 2:3-4) who performs the act of the Abomination of Desolation as described by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:15. Paul calls this person a man, while the Lord Jesus does not specify.

To add to my confusion, the Beast of the Revelation 13 is given characteristics of the first three beasts of Daniel 7. He is like a leopard (7:6), has feet like a bear (7:5) and the mouth of a lion (7:4). The four “beasts” of Daniel 7 represent political entities, and are thought to represent Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece and Rome. They also parallel the four parts of the image seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream (Daniel 2). Possibly these beasts represent the first leaders of these nations; Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Alexander the Great and Caesar Augustus.

At the conclusion of the great battle won by Jesus in Revelation 19, the Beast, and his cohort the False Prophet, are “cast alive” into the lake of fire. (Revelation 19:20) In chapter 20 of the Revelation all people not included in the First Resurrection (20:5) later stand before the Lord to be judged according to their works (20:12). If their name is not found in the Book of Life, they are cast into the lake of fire.

If the Beast and False Prophet are men, why are they not judged like all other men?

In Revelation 13:2 John says that the Beast (a man according to Paul) received power and authority from the Dragon (Satan). By allowing himself to become controlled by Satan, did he then join the ranks of fallen angels and demons?

We know that these beings will be judged (Second Peter 2:4, Jude 6), but the act of that judgment is not described (to my knowledge) in the Bible. When Jesus met the demon-possessed men in Matthew, the demons asked, “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29) This indicates that they already know the result of their judgment.

What is the Anti-Christ? Is he a man or a spiritual being? Paul says he is a man. Is it possible that this person crossed some line and his judgment is already known? Therefore, will he be cast into the lake of fire without going through the judgment like the rest of mankind? You notice that I have more questions than answers.

What I do know is that as a failed and sinful man, my sins are covered by the Blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus. My works will be judged, not for salvation as those in Revelation 20, but for rewards, or the lack thereof. I will be part of that wonderful First Resurrection. Praise the Lord!