"THE MAN OF SIN", Part 1

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In this study it is our goal to determine the person or nature of the “Man of Sin”, where he comes from, and how it is that he sits in the temple of God.

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.”

In our previous study on the ANTICHRIST the "Man of sin" (“The Antichrist Reveled”) as mentioned in 2 Thess 2:3, we asserted that the mysterious power there foretold is none other than the Papacy, springing up and holding sway in the Christian Church (the professing church), alleging that this was the view strongly held by the Reformers, and by the best expositors from their time onward.

However there are those who are strongly wedded to another viewviz., that the words here refer to a future infidel, Antichrist, an actual individual or person, sitting in the actual rebuilt temple at Jerusalem.

"The Greek forthe temple of Godin 2 Thessalonians never, in a single instance elsewhere, means the literal Temple, but is always applied to the Church of God, which temple believers are. We use precisely these words, and are most glad to be called upon to substantiate them.

Let us say at the outset, that in interpreting difficult passages of Scripture, we know of no sure method of finding their meaning except to give attention to the exact words and phrases employed, and then to collate these with the same expressions in other parts of Scripture; and so, by "comparing spiritual things with spiritual," to find out the teaching of God.

Those who hold loose views of inspiration, say that the thought is the main thing; and that this phrase is equivalent to that phrase, provided it contains the same general idea. We do not submit to this line of reasoning. We believe that the Bible is written "not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches;" and that the Spirit is infinitely accurate in the use of language. Holding this in view, the interpreter can move forward with confidence; to him the words of Holy Scripture are "nails fastened by the master of assemblies," and he can hang his expositions upon them without fear of their giving away.

Now, in seeking to determine the character and seat of this mysterious "man of sin" predicted in Thessalonians, we use just this method, comparing the words here employed to describe him with the same words used in other parts of Scripture. (“For precept must be upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a littleIsa 28:10), and we have the uttermost confidence that this will give us the true solution of the secret.

We will seek to determine them in our next post.

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