Eschatology is notorious for divergent views. Much of this is due to the different methods of interpreting prophecy employed by opposing positions. The basic debate is between what are commonly known as the literal and allegorical schools of interpretation though the issue is more complicated because both sides lay claim to the literal historical-grammatical method (of interpretation).
I'm not going to relive all that at this time. What I will add is that the biblical picture is evil spread out in the final days of human history in which "the lawless one," "the son of perdition," also called "the antichristos" by John appears on the world stage after a great falling away from genuine orthodox Christianity occurs whose activities are "according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders" that "opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship.”
The biblical picture that emerges is one of a sweeping collapse of moral standards as society preys upon itself and creates a totally secular/apostate entity strongly opposed to the true creator God claiming to even be god.
To use Warfield, the Antichrist will be the supreme persecutor of Christ's church and will exercise his reign of terror through state-sponsored heresy, taking a form similar to the emperor worship John describes in Revelation. John depicts this as a counterfeit Trinity of sorts which is an unholy collaboration between the dragon (Satan), the beast (the state), and the false prophet (the state's leader). Since this figure is a false christ who mimics our Lord's redemptive work, he will manifest his own death, resurrection, and second advent.
The Christian confession that "Jesus is Lord" is the supreme offense to the beast, who craves the worship of his subjects. Whenever Christians refuse to pay this individual and his government the homage they demand, believers will pay the price. There will be economic consequences, and the faithful, at times, will be prevented from conducting ordinary commerce (buying and selling). Some will pay with their lives because the beast will ruthlessly kill those who will not worship him or his image.
As the very reformed Kim Riddlebarger states:
"Paul calls this evil end-times figure the "man of lawlessness" (or the man of sin) in 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-12. Paul tells us that this individual arises within the church (the temple of God), proclaims himself to be God's equal, demands to be worshiped, and is empowered by Satan to perform deceptive signs and wonders. The Man of Sin is likely connected to the end-times beast John sees, who arises from the Abyss at the time of the end to do the bidding of the dragon (d. Rev. 17:11; 20:7-10).
Like Paul's Man of Lawlessness, the beast also craves the worship of the world's inhabitants and is empowered by his master to perform signs and wonders designed to deceive those who worship him. The language used of him, Man of Sin, coupled with the fact that he is cast into the lake of fire, seems to support the idea that what is in view is a particular individual who is said to rise from the Abyss when empowered by the dragon at the time of the end.
The beast's power is economic and military, but it is ultimately given him by the dragon. He will be a persecutor on the order of Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Domitian and will commit acts of b1asphemy that make the desecrations of Antiochus IV, Titus, and Nero pale by comparison. Therefore, these figures from redemptive history should serve to prepare us to face the future. For God not only destroyed them all, he delivered his people from their clutches, just as he will destroy the Antichrist and deliver his church when conditions become most desperate.
This final manifestation of Antichrist, then, is state-enforced heresy-the worship of the state and its leader-and is connected to a time of great apostasy (2 Thess. 2:3; Rev. 20:7-10).
Antichrist's final destruction is brought about by the second advent of Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 17:14; 19:19-21; 20:7-10). As Tregelles puts it, 'Just as the Lord triumphed over Satan in His resurrection, so will He manifest His power in destroying the dominion of Satan, even though it may seem at the very time to be especially triumphing in opposition to God.' Just when the hour is darkest, Christ will appear in all his glory to judge the world, raise the dead, and make all things new."
Note that both the internal and external evidence supports a late date (post AD 70) for the writing of the Book of Revelation.
In my opinion, we are at the point of witnessing the great "falling away" occur.
