When to look for the rapture of the church

[stunnedbygrace]

The rapture can occur at any time. Thus we look for it today. Today could be the day.

Could the Second coming of Christ occur today? How so if the temple is not yet built? So, no need to watch....cause He can't come till the temple is built. Correct?

Stranger

It depends on how you read it. On the one hand, He is coming suddenly, like lightning, and that day will not surprise and overtake some people. They will be ready. So pray you will be found worthy to escape that day of testing coming on the whole world to test its people.

On the other hand, the sign of His coming will be seen in the sky and men will mourn, and will cry to the rocks to cover them from Him, which sounds much different than suddenly.

It may sound different because two different timeframes/events are spoken of in different vss.

Will He come from Bozrah with His robes stained red, as one vs says, or will He descend with a shout and gather His elect?

And what of the two reapings spoken of in Rev? Could it have to do with them? Could the first one be suddenly and the second one be for the elect who required more testing to be purified?

It's all very fascinating.

 

[Naomi25]

1. The necessity of a pre-tribulation rapture is shown in 2 Thess 2. The Antichrist cannot take control unless the divine Restrainer (the Holy Spirit) is taken out of the way. And that can only happen when the Church and the Holy Spirit are taken up to Heaven. The Tribulation and the reign of the Antichrist are simultaneous, corresponding to the first half (3 1/2 years) of Daniel's 70th week.

2. Paul makes it crystal clear in Romans 11 that when the fulness of the Gentiles (within the church) has been accomplished, Christ will resume His direct dealings with Israel after His second coming.

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer [Christ], and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:[Israel] (Rom 11:25,26)

And of course, there are tons of OT prophecies which show us the redeemed and restored kingdom of Israel on earth under Christ.

So those teachings by Dispensationalists were not created out of thin air. They are embedded in Scripture.

And 2 Thess 2 specifies the Holy Spirit where exactly?

 

[Enoch111]

And 2 Thess 2 specifies the Holy Spirit where exactly?

King James Bible (2 Thess 2:7)
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

New American Standard Bible (2 Thess 2:7)
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

Who -- other than God Himself -- can restrain Satan and the Antichrist? Even Michael could not do so, as powerful as he is.

God the Holy Spirit is on earth for several ministries, one of them being to restrain the evil deeds of Satan. Things would be a lot worse if that there were not the case. When the Restrainer is taken out of the way, the world will become totally evil for 3 1/2 years and all will be under the power of the Antichrist. And since the Holy Spirit indwells the children of God (the true Church) BOTH will be taken to Heaven (out of the way) BEFORE the Tribulation.

 

[Naomi25]

King James Bible (2 Thess 2:7)
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

New American Standard Bible (2 Thess 2:7)
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

Who -- other than God Himself -- can restrain Satan and the Antichrist? Even Michael could not do so, as powerful as he is.

God the Holy Spirit is on earth for several ministries, one of them being to restrain the evil deeds of Satan. Things would be a lot worse if that there were not the case. When the Restrainer is taken out of the way, the world will become totally evil for 3 1/2 years and all will be under the power of the Antichrist. And since the Holy Spirit indwells the children of God (the true Church) BOTH will be taken to Heaven (out of the way) BEFORE the Tribulation.

It could very well be God. But it doesn’t say it. It could be an angel. Revelation has angelic being restraining other demonic beings and even Satan, apparently, in Rev 20. So the assumption that 2 Thess 2 MUST be speaking of the HS when it does not say that, is making an exegetical leap you don’t really have permission or biblical backing to make.

 

[Enoch111]

It could very well be God. But it doesn’t say it.

Scripture does not have to always say things explicitly. This is where a lot of Christians stumble, expecting the Bible to be a textbook.

There are a host of things which are implied. But since Michael the Archangel could not restrain Satan (see Jude), and he is the most powerful angel, it should be evident that only God can restrain Satan (as seen in Job and Zechariah).

 

[Naomi25]

Scripture does not have to always say things explicitly. This is where a lot of Christians stumble, expecting the Bible to be a textbook.

There are a host of things which are implied. But since Michael the Archangel could not restrain Satan (see Jude), and he is the most powerful angel, it should be evident that only God can restrain Satan (as seen in Job and Zechariah).

No, scripture doesn’t always need to state outright something. But in those cases we take great care in building the idea or doctrine from multiple scriptures, pulling together the biblical authority to support the idea. Dispensationalists have not done this. They have proclaimed that this “means HS, so has to be HS”. Not good enough, I’m sorry.

Also, Michael can do whatever God gives him authority to do. Just as Satan can only do whatever God allows him.

 

[Enoch111]

You have #1 wrong

Not at all. That passage simply has to be interpreted properly.

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. 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. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 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. 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: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 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.

What do we learn from this passage?

1. "The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" is connected to "the Day of Christ", and both are connected to the Resurrection/Rapture which is "our gathering together unto Him".

2. The Thessalonian Christians had been falsely told by some false teachers that the Day of Christ has already come and gone, and this was creating a great deal of agitation. It would imply that Christ has left these Christians behind.

3. Therefore Paul gives them the correct sequence of events:

A. The "falling away" or the Great Apostasy must come first (and we are presently seeing it all through Christendom).

B. The Antichrist must then be "revealed". Which is not the same as him taking total control, but simply that his presence is manifested. The reason he is not being revealed is that the divine Restrainer, the Holy Spirit, is presently holding him back until the Rapture.

C. After that the Resurrection/Rapture will take place.

D. Following that the Antichrist will take control "after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders". See Revelation 13.

E. Because of that the unbelieving world will believe his lies, and be damned (through taking the Mark of the Beast). Simultaneously God will send strong delusion upon the unbelieving world, because they "believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness".

It should be clear from this passage that the Pretribulation Rapture is A DIVINE NECESSITY.

 

[Enoch111]

Not good enough, I’m sorry.

Well that is unbelief, and that is your problem.

 

[SovereignGrace]

It could very well be God. But it doesn’t say it. It could be an angel. Revelation has angelic being restraining other demonic beings and even Satan, apparently, in Rev 20. So the assumption that 2 Thess 2 MUST be speaking of the HS when it does not say that, is making an exegetical leap you don’t really have permission or biblical backing to make.

This is an interesting thought. Daniel came into the presence of what I believe is an angel in Daniel 10. It is not Michael, as Michael was said to have came and helped him. He knew Gabriel per Daniel 9:21. So, it must have been an unnamed angel. I got this from another site as I was perusing the web to glean more from your post here. Who is the man in Daniel's vision in Daniel 10?

Then, as you said, in Revelation 20, an angel, unnamed again, was able to bind Satan. Then Michael was able to rebuke Satan when contending for Moses' body in Jude 1:9.

So there is much merit in your post. I am not entirely convinced, as I need to flesh this out some more, but a thought provoking post, indeed.

 

[n2thelight]

Not at all. That passage simply has to be interpreted properly.

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. 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. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 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. 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: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 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.

What do we learn from this passage?

1. "The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" is connected to "the Day of Christ", and both are connected to the Resurrection/Rapture which is "our gathering together unto Him".

2. The Thessalonian Christians had been falsely told by some false teachers that the Day of Christ has already come and gone, and this was creating a great deal of agitation. It would imply that Christ has left these Christians behind.

3. Therefore Paul gives them the correct sequence of events:

A. The "falling away" or the Great Apostasy must come first (and we are presently seeing it all through Christendom).

B. The Antichrist must then be "revealed". Which is not the same as him taking total control, but simply that his presence is manifested. The reason he is not being revealed is that the divine Restrainer, the Holy Spirit, is presently holding him back until the Rapture.

C. After that the Resurrection/Rapture will take place.

D. Following that the Antichrist will take control "after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders". See Revelation 13.

E. Because of that the unbelieving world will believe his lies, and be damned (through taking the Mark of the Beast). Simultaneously God will send strong delusion upon the unbelieving world, because they "believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness".

It should be clear from this passage that the Pretribulation Rapture is A DIVINE NECESSITY.

And that's what you're not doing.

II Thessalonians 2:6 "And now ye know what withholdeth [that which restraineth to the end] that he might be revealed in his time [own season]."

"And now", is Paul's reminder to them that they did talk about this when he was with them in person. Who then is this one that would "be revealed in his time?"

The subject here is "the son of perdition", Satan, the Antichrist, or what ever name you desire to use for him. He is Satan, and Satan will commit the "abomination of desolation" of Daniel 9:27; and the church will be here to see it, because the "gathering", or Christ's return follows this.

II Thessalonians 2:7 "For the mystery of iniquity [lawlessness] doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."

There is no mystery around when this will take place, for we will know his methods of operation [withholdeth], and the signs, the seasons, and the times of Satan's arrival to earth. If you are in the Word of God and not following these "one verse preachers", you will know when to expect the Antichrist. You will also know within hours of when to expect our Lord Jesus Christ's return. Satan's reign on earth is not seven years because God reduced that time to five months for the "elect's" sake, as Jesus told us in Matthew 24:22. Jesus also revealed that the time is shortened to five months, to John in Revelation 9:5, and 10.

The "mystery of lawlessness" is the mystery of iniquity. "He who now letteth will let"; in the Greek should be translated; "He who holds fast [ketcho] will stand." The ellipsis, or "omission from an expression of a word clearly implied"; "There is one who hold's fast", instead of by repeating the verb, "will let". However, "katecho" is a transitive verb, and an object must be supplied also. So if the subject in verse six is Satan, then the object must be his position in the heavenlies [see Ephesians 6:12], from which he will be ejected from heaven by Michael [Revelation 12:7-9].

"Out of the way", in the Greek is "out of ek", or "the midst". It is the same expression used in Acts 17:33, and I Corinthians 5:2.

Many "rapture theorists" claim this one who "letteth" is the Holy Spirit, and they claim that when He is "taken away", then the Antichrist will come. By reversing the role of the characters in the verses here, and attributing what is Satan's to the Holy Spirit, you have a whole new doctrine called the "Any moment doctrine". This false doctrine is better known as the "rapture theory". It is dangerous to play around with a foreign language; and when the flock relies upon their shepherd for the truth, and the shepherd is assumed to be correct; in ignorance it is accepted just because he said it.

It is Michael who "holds fast" on to Lucifer [the Antichrist], and Michael will continue to keep Lucifer held until the appointed time, spoken of above. That time is appointed by God. Then at the appointed time God will give Satan the keys [authority] to release his fallen angels and they will be cast to the earth [see Revelation 9:1-10]. Let's take a look at the one [Michael] who holds on to Satan now.

Revelation 12:7; "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels," Michael [that is who the "he" is in II Thessalonians 2:7 and his [Michael's] angels fought against the dragon [another name for Satan] and his [Satan's] fallen angels.

Revelation 12:8; "And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven." This war took place in heaven, and that is where Satan and his angels are now; though Satan's spirit, and demonic spirits are all over the earth today. Now we will see what Michael does with Satan, in fulfilling II Thessalonians 2:7.

Revelation 12:9; "And the great dragon [Satan] was cast out [that is the transitive verb of verse seven], that old serpent [this is the role Satan played in the Garden of Eden], called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world [except for God's elect]: he was cast out onto the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

This is when Satan will physically appear on earth as a man with his angels. This is the time of the Antichrist's coming, and we must know when this time is by when these events takes place, for Satan comes at the sixth trumpet.

 

[Naomi25]

Well that is unbelief, and that is your problem.

Is it “my” problem that I point out that Dispensationalists are hanging a major doctrinal point on a passage that doesn’t state outright that it’s the HS, and don’t produce ANY other passages to support the idea? I think it’s actually your problem. And it’s a BIG problem.

 

[Helen]

An argument could be made that those who expect Him at any moment are more prepared, if anything.

Interesting....so those who are expecting some rapture , stay prepared and keep their nose clean- “so that they are ready to go”....but those of us who expect nothing , walk close to God NOT to get taken out, but BEACUSE Of their LOVE for The FATHER...’just because ‘....

 

[Naomi25]

This is an interesting thought. Daniel came into the presence of what I believe is an angel in Daniel 10. It is not Michael, as Michael was said to have came and helped him. He knew Gabriel per Daniel 9:21. So, it must have been an unnamed angel. I got this from another site as I was perusing the web to glean more from your post here. Who is the man in Daniel's vision in Daniel 10?

Then, as you said, in Revelation 20, an angel, unnamed again, was able to bind Satan. Then Michael was able to rebuke Satan when contending for Moses' body in Jude 1:9.

So there is much merit in your post. I am not entirely convinced, as I need to flesh this out some more, but a thought provoking post, indeed.

I’m not even insisting it must be an angel. My only point is that the text itself is vague; it doesn’t give us the information to make a “positive identification” on the restrainer. So trying to insist it has to be “this” or “that” is forcing something into the text that simply isn’t there. The intent of the text is to tell us what will happen, not the specifics of the who.

 

[Stranger]

Of actual stones...or spiritual stones? 1 Peter 2:5

Actual stones.

Stranger

 

[SovereignGrace]

Interesting....so those who are expecting some rapture , stay prepared and keep their nose clean- “so that they are ready to go”....but those of us who expect nothing , walk close to God NOT to get taken out, but BEACUSE Of their LOVE for The FATHER...’just because ‘....

The thing that gets me about this pre-trib rapture is that it is all an inference. Just because the word 'church' may not be found in the OT and betwixt Revelation 4------------>Revelation 19, the church must not be there. Then when they say the Jews rejected the Christ, He then decided to start the church since He was already here. This reeks of open theism. Its like they think the Christ was surprised the Jews would reject Him and His kingdom, and then "Well, since I am already here, I'd just as well do something! So I will now go to the Gentiles!"

He was prophesied even as far back as Genesis 3:15 of being a Savior of both ppls, the Jews and Gentiles. Even Moses knew the Christ would save Gentiles. Even Isaiah 42:6-7 says “I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the *nations, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

*nations is also translated 'Gentiles' in other versions.

All you have to do is read John Hagee. He is the one promulgating this notion that since the Jews rejected the Christ, He decided to start the church. It first took hold by John Nelson Darby, and then C.I. Scofield took it and ran with it.

 

[Stranger]

It depends on how you read it. On the one hand, He is coming suddenly, like lightning, and that day will not surprise and overtake some people. They will be ready. So pray you will be found worthy to escape that day of testing coming on the whole world to test its people.

On the other hand, the sign of His coming will be seen in the sky and men will mourn, and will cry to the rocks to cover them from Him, which sounds much different than suddenly.

It may sound different because two different timeframes/events are spoken of in different vss.

Will He come from Bozrah with His robes stained red, as one vs says, or will He descend with a shout and gather His elect?

And what of the two reapings spoken of in Rev? Could it have to do with them? Could the first one be suddenly and the second one be for the elect who required more testing to be purified?

It's all very fascinating.

Indeed, ones understanding depends on their method of interpretation. I do hold to what is called the literal method of interpretation which sees both a rapture of the Church out of the earth to meet Christ in the air. And, I hold to the Second coming of Christ when He comes back to the earth to set things up for the 1000 year kingdom reign.

It is fascinating, especially in the times we live in. The U.S is being removed as the power in the earth. A very anti-Israelite and socialist government is being prepared for us. We will be destroyed, probably due to civil war. As a result, power will shift back to Europe from where comes the future anti-christ. Israel will be forced to be on it's own without the U.S. God is ready to again work with Israel on the earth. So the time would be ripe for the rapture of the Church, setting the stage for the 7 year Tribulation.

Stranger

 

[Taken]

This event....

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Will happen at this time....

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. 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 2:2-3

1. Falling Away - Which is now occurring

Agree.

2. Son of Perdition - The revealing of the Anti-Christ

I believe when the Anti-Christ makes his scene (which is not that far away) it is time for the rapture prophecy to come true.

Somewhat disagree.

I believe....a council of men will come into World dominance Power....with One man; a type of President, Chairman, over the council.

We have been watching men for decades plotting a world government...UN /EU...and men scrambling to wiggle in on the A list, of who will be the "council" / "leader".

While "the man" may very well be known to us ... once that occurs......AND do not forget, the Mortal Wound he shall suffer.

THAT is the turning Point.
THAT man will mortally die, but shall not be buried, Because...

He shall "come back to life"....(by all appearences)....

Yet it is not "really" him....but the spirit of the Anti-Christ having taken over his body.

It is the same time, the Lord begins Opening of the SEALS in Revelation, which gives POWER to satan.

It is satan, entering a powerful political arena that "men" have prepared, (One World Govt), and satan given power to take over that position...appearing AS a man (mimicking Jesus). Head of a world govt (mimicking Jesus).

He enters with a "soft" platform...
Peace & Safety...

Why? Why will peace & safety (will being put in the headlines as "now"), be so prevelant THEN? CHAOS...utter CHAOS...

And what is the catalyst that makes "that" times so different?

The Rapture. Millions of living men, lifted up ABOVE the Earth, and what? ALL over the world, (not an isolated area of wars and conflict), but all over the world; planes, trains, cars, wrecking...Elect, technical, plummers, fuel carriers, emergency workers, etc. instantly gone...

What do people historically do when "A"
Catastrophe Hits an isolated area? Plead, beg, demand the "government" do something, save them.

We have not yet experienced a WORLD wide catastrophe....but it will happen with the Rapture occurs......AND the "world govt" will be Primed to "answer the call of the people of the world" to do "something"....

And "satan" will be there, "ready" when the Lamb of God, begins OPENING the SEALS.

When John was being shown these things ...
Revealed in Revelations;
Where was John? No, In the spirit, he was called up above the earth to observe, what shall come to pass.

And why would a Converted man EXPECT to be ON the earth, when the Lamb of God is "OPENING" the "SeALS" and unleashing ...
"HIS WRATH" upon the World....

WHEN, Scripture clearly tells us, the Converted IN Christ...ARE NOT SUBJECT...
TO WRATH...correct?

Every SEAL opened in succession, also introduces...Weather disasters...and Death, Death, Death.

And what do "governments" use as their "pawns" to effect their "rulership".....Armies.
And it is the Armies of the anti-Christ who will search out people and demand their allegience to the "world leader/world govt", or face death.

Two witnesses will Preach Christ, 3 1/2 years IN Jerusalem...prominate place of the Jews...
It is the Jews (believers in God, but not Chirst) who are told to run for the hills and hide....hide from what? The armies of the Anti-Christ. Why? What is in the hills? The 144,000 Jews, sent to teach Jews about Christ Jesus, so they may believe and submit to him, BEFORE they are killed, so that they also may be SAVED and QUICKENED.

THEY suffer the WRATH OF THE LAMB of God (because they DID NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS the Christ) ...through the opening of the SEALS, of the LAMB of God.

Why would that apply to a Converted man?
It doesn't, and BeCAUSE they are already SAVED....they are lifted up above the earth...
Not subject to the great Wrath, that will BE on earth.

Same as in Noah's day, when he was Saved and Lifted up above the earth, so shall it be for the Converted man.

Gen 7
[17] And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

Luke 17
[26] And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

As you point out......the Lord shall descend from heaven TO THE CLOUDS above the earth, and Call "UP" to Him, His Chruch. Every Converted man...caugh up to the Lord in the air...

Because:

1 Thes 5:
[9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Because a Converted man HAS obtained salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

:)


God Bless,
Taken

 

[Taken]

I think our time of looking should be exactly when the scripture says in Lk. 21:28 which are the signs of the sixth seal.

That applies to the Jews coming into belief.

Taken

 

[Taken]

Since the events of the 6th seal are immediately AFTER the Great Tribulation, which itself is totally unique, and the result of the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation, you have missed the boat. Until and unless the Rapture occurs, the Antichrist cannot take total control and then set up the Abomination of Desolation.

SEALS....are the Wrath of the Lamb...
(Particularly toward the Jews, who believe in God, but not Christ Jesus)

We begin to see, them coming into belief, about the 5th seal opening.

The majority, still adhering to God, (but not Christ Jesus) will have Jews teaching preaching Christ for 3 1/2 years in Jerusalem.
(The two witnesses), many Jews becoming saved...and Killed.
There after many Jews head for the hills.
144,000 then minister to them, and they convert, become saved, become killed.
Their soul goes to God...

Their bodies not yet resurrected.

Then the WOES, ie the Trumpets, sounded by 7 angels....more disaster.

Then the Great tribulation ie the WRATH of God...when mainly unbelievers are on earth...suffer His wrath 7 VIALS poured out and His cup of indignation, poured out on those who persecuted the faithful to God.

God Bless,
Taken

 

[Taken]

Neither the church nor the HS are the ones preventing him from setting up the a of d. In fact, Paul explicitly states in 1 Thess. 2:3, that the day of Christ's return will NOT happen until the man of sin is revealed and I believe that revelation won't occur until he demands worship per Rev. 13:4.

Being revealed, and him given power are two different things.

The man revealed, is a World Leader over a World government. He shall suffer a MORTAL wound. THAT IS DEATH....but shall be "revived"...with satan having taken over his body.

The world government, will Appoint/elect a MAN, but will get, the spirit of satan, in the "likeness as that man".

His power is given, when the Lamb of God opens the first SEAL. The Lords church is already lifted up to air with the Lord.

God Bless,
Taken