Will the Antichrist be a real man?
Yes, Scripture describes the Antichrist as a real, individual man, called the Man of Perdition, a king who will rise in the last days and be indwelt by the spirit of antichrist, just as that same spirit once worked through Judas.
The Antichrist is shown as an actual person, not merely an idea or influence. He is called the Man of Perdition and the son of perdition, and Scripture teaches that this same spirit of antichrist, which once caused the rulers of Jesus' day to crucify Him and inspired Judas to betray Him, will be manifested again in the last days as a man. Paul warns that this man of sin must be revealed before the day of the Lord comes, showing he is a specific individual who appears at a set time in history, not a vague evil force.
Daniel describes him as "a king of fierce countenance," one who understands dark sentences, who will destroy wonderfully, prosper through craft and policy, and even stand up against the Prince of princes before being broken without human hand. He is also pictured as one who exalts and magnifies himself above every god, honoring a strange god with gold, silver, and precious stones, and dividing the land for gain, all of which describe the deliberate choices and ambitions of a real ruler.
He is further identified in Revelation as the Beast that rises out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns, receiving his power, his seat, and great authority directly from the dragon, Satan. He speaks great blasphemies, makes war with the saints and overcomes them, and is given authority to continue for forty two months, a specific reign with a beginning and an end, exactly what would be expected of an actual person holding actual political and military power rather than a mere symbol.
Because he confirms a covenant with many for one week, causes the daily sacrifice to cease in the midst of that week, and sets up an abomination in the temple that people can literally see and flee from, he is treated throughout as a genuine man acting in real time and space, whose actions believers are told to watch for and respond to by fleeing into the mountains.
The scriptures
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
From the books
This answer is drawn from these passages in the Mary Banks Faith Library.