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Showing posts with the label Lawless-One

The Beast is Rising!

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The subject of the “Antichrist” raises many questions. Who is he? When will he appear? How will we recognize him? What is his “mark”? In popular culture and preaching, he is a global political leader who uses military and economic might to subjugate other nations and attack Israel in the Middle East. But if Satan is truly clever and cunning, why would he do the very things that so many unsuspecting believers and even nonbelievers expect?

Seated in the Sanctuary

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Jesus will not “ arrive ” to gather his “ elect ” until two events occur: The “ Apostasy ” and the “ revelation of the Man of Lawlessness ,” and the two are inextricably linked. It is not just the presence of this dark figure but his unveiling in the Assembly that will signal the imminence of the “ Day of the Lord .” Not only will he cause many to abandon their allegiance to Jesus, but also his “ revealing ” will take place when he “ sits down ” in the “ Sanctuary of God .”

The Apostasy

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The Apostle Paul responded to false reports about the “ Day of the Lord ” by pointing to the expected apostasy and the “ Man of Lawlessness .” Jesus would not “ arrive ” to gather his saints until the “ Apostasy ” occurred and the “ Lawless One ” was revealed “ in the Sanctuary of God .” In doing so, he reiterated warnings found elsewhere in Scripture about the “ falling away ” and “ deceivers ” in the “ Last Days ,” including those made by Jesus in his ‘Olivet Discourse’.

The Coming Storm

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Repeatedly, the New Testament warns believers that before Jesus returns his Church will find itself under assault from within by deceivers, “ false anointed ones ,” and “ false prophets .” Moreover, before the “ Day of the Lord ” begins, his disciples will be confronted by the “ Man of Lawlessness ,” a malevolent figure linked directly to the “ Apostasy ,” the final great “ falling away ” from the true faith.

The Son of Destruction

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Many saints will apostatize when the Lawless One, the Son of Destruction, seats himself in the Sanctuary of God . As the Apostle Paul explained to the Thessalonians, the “ Day of the Lord ” would not arrive until the “ Apostasy ” occurred and the “ Man of Lawlessness ” was unveiled, the one who would seat himself “ in the Sanctuary of God .” Paul also labeled him the “ Son of Destruction ,” but is there any additional significance to this second designation?

Lawless One Destroyed

Jesus will deal with the “ Lawless One ” at his “ arrival ” or  Parousia . In describing this, Paul employs language from Daniel’s vision of the “ little horn speaking great things ,” originally, an image representing the Seleucid ruler who attempted to destroy the Jewish faith and nation through deceit and persecution.

Lying Signs and Wonders

The “ day of the Lord ” will not commence until the “ Lawless One ” is “ revealed in the sanctuary of God .” His arrival coincides with the “ apostasy ,” and he will be characterized by his ability to deceive, especially with “ lying signs and wonders .” Satan himself will equip him to destroy as many saints as possible.

Mystery of Lawlessness

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The “ Mystery of Lawlessness ” is active in the world, and especially so in the Body of Christ as it prepares hearts and minds for the “ arrival ” of the “ Man of Lawlessness ” and the “ Apostasy .” It will continue to do so until the appointed time when this “ Lawless One ” will “ come out of the midst ” and be unveiled in the “ Sanctuary of God .” Moreover, he then will employ “ lying signs and wonders ” to cause those who refuse the “ love of the truth ” to betray the Apostolic faith.

Until Revealed

Paul has explained why the “ day of the Lord ” has not commenced. Neither the “ apostasy ” nor the “ revelation of the man of lawlessness ” has occurred. Next, he describes the “ mystery of lawlessness ” that is setting the stage for the “ arrival ” of the “ Lawless One .” He will be unveiled when this “ mystery of lawlessness ” completes its preparatory task.

Two Missing Events

Two events must occur before the Day of the Lord comes, the Apostasy and the unveiling of the Man of Lawlessness . The men who were spreading false rumors in Thessalonica about the immediate future were deceiving believers by raising false expectations about the imminence of the “ Day of the Lord ” and the “ arrival ” of Jesus when he will gather his saints. Paul warned the church not to be alarmed or deceived by such rumors, especially such reports that claimed (falsely) to be from him or his coworkers.