One great obstacle too many, in considering this subject, is the contracted idea generally entertained of the meaning of the word GOD. They fail to note that the Greek “Theos” (god) does not invariably refer to Jehovah. It signifies a mighty one, a ruler, and especially a religious or sacerdotal ruler. In the New Testament, “Theos” is seldom used except in referring to Jehovah, because, in their discourses, the apostles spoke rarely and little of the false systems of religion, and hence seldom noticed their sacred rulers or gods; yet in the following texts the word god (Theos) is used to refer to others than the one supreme being, Jehovah–viz.: (John 10:34,35; Acts 7:40,43; 17:23; 1 Cor. 8:5).
Recognizing the breadth of the Greek word “Theos”, it will be seen at once that the Apostle’s statement concerning Antichrist –that he will seat himself in the temple of God, showing himself to be a god–does not of necessity mean that Antichrist will attempt to exalt himself above Jehovah, nor even that he will attempt to take Jehovah’s place. It simply implies that this one will exhibit himself as a religious ruler, claiming and exercising authority over and above all other religious rulers, even to the extent of exalting himself in the Church, which is the true temple of god, and there claiming and exercising lordly authority as its chief or authorized ruler.
Wherever in the Greek the word “Theos” is used in any sentence where its meaning would be ambiguous, it then is preceded by the Greek article, if it refers to Jehovah; as if in English we were to say THE God. In the texts above, which refer to other gods, and in this text (2 Thess. 2:4), which refers to Antichrist, there is no such emphasis.
With this seen clearly, a great stumbling-block is removed, and the mind is prepared to look for the right things as fulfillment's of this prediction: not for an Antichrist claiming to be Jehovah and demanding worship as such, but for one claiming to be the chief, supreme religious teacher in the church; who thus attempts the usurpation of the authority of Christ, the divinely appointed Head, Lord and Teacher.
Strangely enough, too, they who take this literal view of the Man of Sin are generally those who are believers in the Lord’s pre-millennial (or imminent) coming, who are looking for and expecting the Lord to come “at any moment now.”
Why cannot all see the Apostle’s meaning, when he positively declares that the Day of the Lord (the Day of his presence) CANNOT COME and should not be expected until AFTER the Man of Sin has been revealed?
It required over forty years to build the former Jewish temple, and it would surely require at least ten to twenty years to build, with more than former magnificence, the new temple at Jerusalem, where they expect a literal Man of Sin to be installed and worshiped as God. Why then should those who believe thus expect the Lord to come at any moment now? Such a view is out of harmony with reason as well as with the Apostle’s prophecy. Consistency demands that they should either give up looking for the Lord at any moment, or else give up their expectation of a future Man of Sin; for the Day of the Lord’s presence cannot come until (1) AFTER the falling away (the apostasy) has taken place, AND (2) until AFTER the Man of Sin has been developed and revealed out of that apostasy.”
So has the great falling away occurred? Has the Antichrist been revealed?
We shall see in our next post.
Recognizing the breadth of the Greek word “Theos”, it will be seen at once that the Apostle’s statement concerning Antichrist –that he will seat himself in the temple of God, showing himself to be a god–does not of necessity mean that Antichrist will attempt to exalt himself above Jehovah, nor even that he will attempt to take Jehovah’s place. It simply implies that this one will exhibit himself as a religious ruler, claiming and exercising authority over and above all other religious rulers, even to the extent of exalting himself in the Church, which is the true temple of god, and there claiming and exercising lordly authority as its chief or authorized ruler.
Wherever in the Greek the word “Theos” is used in any sentence where its meaning would be ambiguous, it then is preceded by the Greek article, if it refers to Jehovah; as if in English we were to say THE God. In the texts above, which refer to other gods, and in this text (2 Thess. 2:4), which refers to Antichrist, there is no such emphasis.
With this seen clearly, a great stumbling-block is removed, and the mind is prepared to look for the right things as fulfillment's of this prediction: not for an Antichrist claiming to be Jehovah and demanding worship as such, but for one claiming to be the chief, supreme religious teacher in the church; who thus attempts the usurpation of the authority of Christ, the divinely appointed Head, Lord and Teacher.
Strangely enough, too, they who take this literal view of the Man of Sin are generally those who are believers in the Lord’s pre-millennial (or imminent) coming, who are looking for and expecting the Lord to come “at any moment now.”
Why cannot all see the Apostle’s meaning, when he positively declares that the Day of the Lord (the Day of his presence) CANNOT COME and should not be expected until AFTER the Man of Sin has been revealed?
It required over forty years to build the former Jewish temple, and it would surely require at least ten to twenty years to build, with more than former magnificence, the new temple at Jerusalem, where they expect a literal Man of Sin to be installed and worshiped as God. Why then should those who believe thus expect the Lord to come at any moment now? Such a view is out of harmony with reason as well as with the Apostle’s prophecy. Consistency demands that they should either give up looking for the Lord at any moment, or else give up their expectation of a future Man of Sin; for the Day of the Lord’s presence cannot come until (1) AFTER the falling away (the apostasy) has taken place, AND (2) until AFTER the Man of Sin has been developed and revealed out of that apostasy.”
So has the great falling away occurred? Has the Antichrist been revealed?
We shall see in our next post.
