Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 10

Paul Explains the Great Apostasy Part 2

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 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. KJV

Throughout the time of human history there has been much speculation, supposition, and surmising about who is the 'Anti-Christ', I have read that some declared Hitler to be him and others have even thought that he might be one of the ancient Pope's of the Roman Catholic Church, and even today some believe he is alive right now as a child or teenager about to be revealed, but these are all predictions that appear to be untrue, however, there will come this man into the earth and he will be born of a woman just as every other human being is born physically, but unlike every other human being born into the earth, this man will be the devil incarnate. With this little brief analysis, assessment, or analytical thinking that belongs to me personally, I will now defer to the Apostle Pauls description to these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica of this occurance that must take place before the rapture of the Church and before Christ 2nd Coming to the earth to judge sin. First, Paul declares that the Apostasy must take place before Christ 2nd Coming, "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;" (2 Thessalonians 2:3) (KJV).

Again Paul emphasizes to these believers and to we believers today the necessity that they/we be spiritually awake and spiritually mature so that they/we will not be 'deceived' and this English word is translated by the Greek word exapatao meaning to seduce wholly: - beguile, deceive. In other words, it is not the plot and scheme of human beings to deceive believers concerning Christ 2nd Coming, but it is the devil himself who wants true believers to down play, dilute, or disregard totally this fact and reality and turn away from the truth of the Gospel as the only way for sinners to have their sin forgiven and become a part of the Family of God the Father. It has been the enemies mission every since our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ died and shed His Blood for the sins of the world and then rose from the dead in mighty power as King of King and Lord of Lords to dilute the Gospel by making sinful humanity believe that there are other roads to heaven or that eternal punishment in hell and the lake of fire are not real, example the Jehovah Witnesses (who have the same Bible + their Watch Tower) teach and believe that their is no literal 'hell' after death, but that this life is humanities hell when the Word of God specifically says this, "Then death and Hell (the state of death or disembodied existence) were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's [name] was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:14-15) (Amplified Bible).

Why is this happening? Because the devil and his demons are powerful and seductive and without God the Holy Spirit they have made millions and even billions of people believe a 'lie', another example is right now in our world there are somewhere around 2 billion Muslims (the fastest growing religion) and they all are being seduced by demons to believe a 'lie' and stay away from the one and only truth the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't apologize for declaring the truth, if you are angry that I wrote this and believe this, then that's OK, but if you die 'in your sins' and go to the place of hell and the lake of fire, you will know then (even though it will be too late) that I am speaking from love and compassion not wanting to see you there. Sadly, these teachings and beliefs come from 'seducing spirits' just as this same Apostle Paul wrote to Brother Timothy warning him this would come with these words, "But the [Holy] Spirit distinctly {and} expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding {and} seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach" (1 Timothy 4:1) (Amplified Bible).

The little English phrase 'a falling away' is translated by one Greek word apostasia which is where we get our English word Apostasy from and it means defection from truth (properly the state), (apostasy): - falling away, forsake. The truth is the truth. There can never be more than one truth. Mathematics (which I used to be very good at and love) is something that can serve as a firm, fixed, and forceful example of there always being only one truth. I never had a Mathematics Instructor from elementary to college ever declare more than one answer for any Math problem. Two(2) plus two(2) equals four(4) it does not almost equal four(4), it always equals four(4) and it never ever will equal five(5), in like manner spiritually there is but One God who has decided, determined, and declared the one and only way to reach Him and that is through the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ as He said with these words (I have declared them many times in my writings and I can never declare them enough or too much), "Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me." (John 14:6) (Amplified Bible). You either believe Him or you don't, there is no in between or middle ground, not deciding is deciding, for you have decided not to decide.

After the 'falling away/apostasy occurs then the 'man of sin', that is, the Anti-Christ or devil incarnate will 'be revealed', and this little English phrase 'be revealed' is translated by one Greek word apokalupto meaning to take off the cover, that is, disclose: - reveal. In other words, all of the speculation as to who he is will finally be put to rest because he will be disclosed or brought out into the open or the cover removed from his persona and his true nature and character revealed. The Apostle John wrote and warned the believers not long after our Lord Jesus Christ had Ascended back up to heaven (where He now sits at the Right Hand of God the Father) that even then were the last days, here is what he said, "Little children, it is the last time (hour, the end of this age). And as you have heard that the antichrist [he who will oppose Christ in the guise of Christ] is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen, which confirms our belief that it is the final (the end) time." (1 John 2:18) (Amplified Bible) and now Paul is doing the same thing with these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica as he says here continuing to speak of the 'man of sin' he writes, "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." (2 Thessalonians 2:4) (KJV).

The little English phrase 'who opposeth' that begins this verse is translated by one Greek word antikeimai meaning  to lie opposite, that is, be adverse (figuratively repugnant) to: - adversary, be contrary, oppose. The little English phrase 'exalteth himself' is translated by one Greek word huperairomai meaning to raise oneself over, that is, (figuratively) to become haughty: - exalt self, be exalted above measure. In other words, the little beast 'the Anti-Christ of man of sin' when he is revealed will make himself appealing to the entire world and the world's system and claim that he has the answers to what mankind has always been searching for and that is peace on earth, a utopia right now on the earth, even while sin is active in all humanity (without Jesus Christ). So he will shrewdly and cunningly make apparent peace in the middle east between Israel and all her enemies and an agreement with Israel that their Holy Temple will be rebuilt, but after 3 1/2 years he will break all his promises and stand in the Jewish Temple claiming to be the Creator God (worship is always what the devil has wanted, this is why he has formed the occult and all that it entails witchcraft, wizardry, sorcery, voodoo, and all else) as Daniel the Prophet Prophesied with these words, "And he shall enter into a strong {and} firm covenant with the many for one week [seven years]. And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and offering to cease [for the remaining three and one-half years]; and upon the wing {or} pinnacle of abominations [shall come] one who makes desolate, until the full determined end is poured out on the desolator." (Daniel 9:27) (Amplified Bible). Even as our Lord Jesus Christ affirmed with these words, "But when you see the abomination of desolation {mentioned by Daniel the prophet} standing where it ought not to be--[and] let the one who reads take notice {and} consider {and} understand {and} heed [this]--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." (Mark 13:14) (Amplified Bible).

"But certain events must take place first. There must be a great apostasy and the unveiling of  'the mystery of lawlessness,' which even at that time was already at work. First, the man of sin; then, the Son of man. First, He that set Himself forth as God; then, God manifest in the flesh. First, the revelation of sin; then, the revelation of perfect salvation. Daniel 11:36 seems to have suggested Paul’s words, which have been applied to Nero or Caligula, to Judaism or the Papal Church, and to some future manifestation of Satanic hatred toward the Church of God. But whatever form it may assume, the coming of Jesus will absolutely destroy this power of Antichrist. Let us be warned by the doom of those that are involved in this great apostasy, and ever cherish the love of the truth of Christ, that we may be saved." F. B. Meyer

"But the man of sin, the son of perdition - Eminently so called, is not come yet. However, in many respects, the Pope has an indisputable claim to those titles. He is, in an emphatical sense, the man of sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled, the son of perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers, destroyed innumerable souls, and will himself perish everlastingly. He it is that opposeth himself to the emperor, once his rightful sovereign; and that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped - Commanding angels, and putting kings under his feet, both of whom are called gods in scripture; claiming the highest power, the highest honour; suffering himself, not once only, to be styled God or vice - god. Indeed no less is implied in his ordinary title, 'Most Holy Lord,' or, 'Most Holy Father.' So that he sitteth - Enthroned. In the temple of God - Mentioned Revelation 11:1. Declaring himself that he is God - Claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone." John Wesley

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…