Not just the antichrist. Jesus told us that persecution and suffering would be normal in the interadvental period. Matt 24 lists numerous things that will be normal, but increasing during this time; persecution for our faith is but one of them. But we are also told these things about suffering:
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. -Acts 5:41
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, -Romans 5:3–4
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. -Romans 8:17
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. -Romans 8:18
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, -Philippians 1:29
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ -Philippians 3:8
What should we make of all these verses? Well...I suppose one could decide Christians were seeking out suffering and then 'enjoying' it when it comes. And...I don't think that is the purpose or intent of these verses. We are being told that, just as the world rejected, hated and persecuted Christ, it will do the same to his people. Thus, we can expect suffering. And while it will never be fun, we can know we are receiving it because we are following in the footsteps of our Lord...and indeed, that brings joy, does it not?
And then, when in the suffering, in the midst, we are not masochistic, but when we have something so much greater to set our eyes upon, great strength, endurance and even joy can be achieved in even the hardest of times.
I think you miss my point. Persecution...the sort that is in the world now...even the sort that is coming and of Satan...will only ever be dolled out in portion and upon those whom God allows it. It is completely in his hands. So if some go through life, as indeed some have, and experience no persecution, while others live with nothing but, then that is God's sovereign hand and we praise him regardless.
However, I have heard many, many Dispensational teachers who joke...joke, mind you, about "flying away before the brown stuff hits the fan". In their mind, sitting in their comfortable churches with cushioned chairs and air conditioned comfort and speaking to the crowds that will go home and eat a full dinner and then play golf or spend the afternoon watching TV, they believe that God will take them away before their world comes crumbling down around them, safe in the knowledge that THEY can't be expected to suffer for the name of Christ. Not that way, anyway! Why? Because they've convinced themselves that that special timeframe they've called the last 7 years is "God's wrath" and therefore their outta here. Forget that their doctrine calls for the fact that most of the persecution in that time will come from unbelievers and that those "saints" who come to faith then will mostly be spared, miraculously, the horrible 'judgements' that God pours upon the earth.
Why do they say that? Because it is a truth that Christ has taken all our wrath and punishment. They can at least recognize that, so they must pass that promise along to those who come to faith in that time. The problem for them is: if God spares the Tribulation Saints from his plagues and such, why the need for the Rapture? If Christians are not spared now from persecution, and won't be 'then'....why the need for the Rapture?
It's just this nice little fantasy they've made up all because they don't want to suffer. But, here's the problem...as the body of Christ, we need to recognize that when one of us suffers, we all share in it:
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. -1 Corinthians 12:26
Which brings me back to my point: pretending on a fly-away fantasy to avoid a reality that so many of our brothers and sisters are already facing daily is not honoring Christ or the rest of his body.
