“A Ukrainian archbishop and spokesman for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin as the "anti-Christ of our current time" as Russia invades Ukraine.
While Putin appears to be portraying himself as a kind of messianic figure, seeking to reunite the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches (which formally split in 2019), Yevstratiy Zoria put him on the other side of the Christian spectrum.” https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukrainian-bishop-putin-is-the-anti-christ-of-our-current-time
Over history there have been many antichrists. While the archbishop states that he is the “anti-Christ of our current time” I would like to point out that over time and even today there have been numerous antichrists.” 1 John 2:18 New American Standard Bible 1995 “18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.”
How does God define antichrists? 1 John 2:21-24 New American Standard Bible 1995 “21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.”
New American Standard Bible 1995 2 John 1:7 “7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.”
1 John 4:3 New American Standard Bible 1995 “3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.”
Putin if he does not confess Jesus, is an antichrist. Matthew 7:21 New American Standard Bible 1995 “21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”
So how is the will of the Father expressed by believers? Matthew 22:35-39 New American Standard Bible 1995 “35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
So, the next question is why has it been so long for Christ to return to earth? He will! 2 Peter 3:8-9 New American Standard Bible 1995 “8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
God will allow the Antichrist prophesied in Revelation to manifest himself. It will be at an hour of Gods choosing. So, while there are many antichrists the one most frequently referenced has yet to appear.
As God allowed Judas to betray Christ so God will allow the Antichrist to rule. During the time of the Antichrist’s rule people can still be saved. But it will cost them the death of their bodies. Our earthly bodies are not eternal our spirit is and at some future time our spirit will be joined to a new body.
I do believe that God is setting the stage for the appearance of the Antichrist. Believers see the signs of the times and the birth pangs that have been prophesied.
I hope the eyes of non-believers will be opened and see that Jesus is the Messiah. That he died for their sins and that he offers them eternal life.
How much longer do we have before the rapture of the church and the Great Tribulation will take place? Only the Father knows. But the birth pangs are evident.