Should We Pray Against the Emergence of the Antichrist 

I saw an article in the January 2, 2025 online edition of Charisma magazine that popped up that question on my mind. According to James Lasher, the author of the article, "Before Trump’s historic victory, millions of Christians gathered in prayer, seeking God’s intervention for the nation. Massive prayer movements and calls for national repentance were seen across the country. Many believe their intercession played a role in his unexpected win. If history and Scripture teach us anything, it’s that prayer can shift the course of nations." Lasher went on to write, "—when God’s people pray and seek His face, judgment can be postponed. Could it be that the fervent prayers of believers across the United States before the 2024 election resulted in a God-ordained delay of end-time events? "Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God postponing judgment in response to prayer, intercession and repentance. Could this be a modern parallel of such an event?" Is God really postponing the emergence of the antichrist? From a biblical perspective, the emergence of the Antichrist is portrayed as an event that is both inevitable and divinely permitted within God's sovereign plan. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 suggests that the Antichrist will only be revealed at the appointed time, and his rise is restrained until that moment. 2Thess.2.3 - Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 2Thess.2.4 - who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 2Thess.2.5 - Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 2Thess.2.6 - And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 2Thess.2.7 - 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. 2Thess.2.8 - 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. 2Thess.2.9 - The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, Given this, the American fundamental Christian practice of praying against the emergence of the Antichrist raises an interesting theological tension. Here are a few perspectives on the matter: 1. The Inevitability of Prophecy The passage clearly states that "the Antichrist will be revealed only in his appointed time" (v.6) and that his coming is linked to a broader divine timeline, including the "great apostasy" (falling away). Praying against his emergence might reflect a desire to delay events, but if these events are part of God’s prophetic plan, can they truly be prevented? 2. Role of 'He Who Restrains' Verse 7 states that the "mystery of lawlessness" is already at work but is being restrained until "he who restrains" is taken out of the way. Many theologians interpret this restraining force as either the Holy Spirit, the church, or angelic intervention. Some fundamentalist Christians believe that their prayers contribute to this restraining force, delaying the rise of evil. If true, their prayers may align with God's current will—until the time comes for the restraint to be removed. 3. Spiritual Vigilance vs. Fear-Driven Resistance The Bible encourages believers to be watchful and prepared rather than fearful (Matthew 24:42-44). Some fundamentalist prayers against the Antichrist may stem from fear rather than faith. A more biblical approach might be to pray for endurance, discernment, and the spread of the gospel in preparation for Christ’s return rather than trying to stop prophetic fulfillment. 4. God’s Sovereignty vs. Human Resistance If the rise of the Antichrist is ordained within God's timeline, then attempting to pray against it might be akin to Peter resisting Jesus' prophecy of His crucifixion (Matthew 16:21-23). Instead of stopping divine prophecy, the focus should be on standing firm in faith and ensuring people are spiritually prepared. 5. Engagement with the World Some fundamentalist Christians may use the Antichrist as a symbol for opposing societal changes they believe are evil (e.g., secularism, globalization, moral decline). While resisting evil is biblically sound, labeling every political or cultural shift as part of the Antichrist's emergence may lead to misplaced efforts rather than focusing on spreading the gospel and living righteously. Conclusion While praying against evil is always valid, trying to prevent the emergence of the Antichrist contradicts the biblical teaching that his rise is inevitable before Christ’s return. A more biblically aligned approach would be to pray for wisdom, strength, and faithfulness in navigating the end times rather than resisting what God has already foretold. We should constantly declare, "Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!"