PART 3
Is this warning about the coming of a specific SUPERNATURAL "
antichrist" for the end of this world, and his
"many antichrists" workers covered in other Bible Scripture witness? Yes, by Apostle Paul:
2 Thess 2:1-12
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Apostle Paul was having to remind the brethren there about events that must happen first prior to Christ's coming and gathering of the Church on that
"day of Christ" (means
"day of the Lord" per Greek
kurios in some Greek NT manuscripts). Paul even warned against those who had been passing false letters as if... from him and the Apostles. That is not something to be surprised about, for God's Word warns us about the "
tares" sowed by the enemy, and those of Satan's servants who creep in to destroy.
3 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;
4 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.
Two events MUST happen first, before Jesus' future return. That
"man of sin" must be revealed exalted as... God, sitting in a traditional stone
"temple of God", which is about a stone temple in JERUSALEM, and exalt himself there as... God, and over all that is even called... God, or that is worshipped. And along with that future event will be that great
"falling away" (apostasy in the Greek).
Some men today try to twist the above to fit their false religious philosophy, wrongly claiming the above
"man of sin" is either about a pope, or that it is not... even about a specific "
antichrist" that is to come, but only the "
spirit of antichrist" idea of 1 John 4.
But Apostle Paul makes this easy to know who that
"man of sin" will be at the end of this world, because he was pointing to the very same '
spurious Messiah' that Lord Jesus was warning about in Matthew 24 and Mark 13.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Like I had said, Paul was having to remind the brethren here on this matter of events leading up to Christ's coming and gathering of the Church. Obviously, someone among them was trying to twist it, even as those still do to this day. (I will cover Paul's teaching on those also, eventually.)
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
We are shown the one who is doing that withholding today per the Daniel 10 chapter. It is Archangel Michael. Turn with me to the Daniel 10 chapter...
Dan 10:20-21
20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
KJV
The Daniel 10 chapter is about shadow events taking place in the heavenly. They parallel events that happen on earth. That
"prince of Persia" is symbolic for Satan himself. That is most likely Archangel Gabriel that says Archangel Michael only is withholding that
"prince of Persia" with him.
The Revelation 12:7 war in heaven between Michael and his angels vs. Satan and his angels, which is still future and for the end, is when Archangel Michael will no longer be withholding Satan in heaven. Satan and his angels will then be cast down to this earth as written there. That means out of the heavenly dimension, and into our earthly dimension, in plain sight on earth. And sad to say, the majority are not prepared for that coming supernatural event at the end of this world.
That... is the subject Apostle Paul is actually covering with that "
withholdeth" idea along with that
"mystery of iniquity", which is about John's
"many antichrists" idea. And that is about the "
many" which Jesus said in
Matthew 24:4-5 that come claiming... they are Christ, yet there is no mention there of their working great signs and wonders to try and prove it. Those are simply flesh servants of the devil, and represent John's "
many antichrists" and Paul's
"mystery of iniquity" which they said are already at work.
2 Thess.2:8-12
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:
Why do you think the KJV translators put that "
Wicked" in capitals? It's like they pretty well knew just who Apostle Paul meant with that label, but didn't want to shock the Church that read that. Well, it is now time. That "
Wicked" is about the devil himself. That is who Paul pointed to with Michael withholding the devil in the heavenly until it is time for Michael to
"stand up" by that
Rev.12:7 war in Heaven (see also
Daniel 12:1).
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
There Apostle Paul repeats Christ's warning about the coming
'spurious Messiah' who will work those great "
signs and lying wonders", that if it were possible, would deceive even Christ's very elect. (See
Matthew 24:23-26).
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
KJV
How is your mind in Christ brethren? Do you heed the many interpretations by Satan's "
tares" that creep in so that what God's Word actually says 'as written' becomes totally unrecognizable? Are you in confusion by men's doctrines instead of recognizing the simplicity of God's written Word and staying in it?
Do you realize those deceived servants of the
"synagogue of Satan" also come to Christian forums to push those many false interpretations, and try to confuse the simplicity of Bible Scripture? (See
Rev.2:9 and
3:9 where Jesus warned about those who 'claim'... to be Jews, but are not, but are that
"synagogue of Satan", which means they secretly work for the devil against Christ and His Church).
With that 2 Thessalonians 2 chapter, we easily see how Apostle Paul was giving the SAME warning that Lord Jesus was giving about the coming
'spurious Messiah' that He warned about in
Matthew 24:23-26. Paul simply gives us a bit more detail about that coming 'spurious Messiah' as that
"man of sin" that will work those SUPERNATURAL great signs and wonders connected with a JEWISH 3rd STONE temple to be built in JERUSALEM for the end of this world prior to Christ's 2nd coming.