Who is Paul discussing in 2 Thessalonians 2?

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Earburner

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Argument from silence fallacy. If the concept is there, using "the" is valid. John does isolate a singular, future AC so in English that AC can be called "the AC" as in "that specific AC".

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come , even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Correction, the scripture means to say:
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that [spirit of] antichrist shall come , even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
 

Truth7t7

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Well, you just loss a lot of credibility in your assignation attempt of a Godly man....just because he disagrees with you.

The funny thing is Thomas Ice....whether he is a false teacher of not..through the article I presented QUOTED early christians...that is, didn't make it up. It's ACTUALLY what they wrote.
BUT...you label him as false for presenting material THAT PROVED A PRE-DARBY BELIEF IN A RAPTURE? What do you have to say for yourself???

Personally I would remove Truth7t7 from your name.
"Thomas Ice" presently teaches that the words (Falling Away/Departure) in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is a future secret rapture of the church to heaven, "Thomas Ice" is a false teacher

The scripture teaches that the word Apostasia (Falling Away/Departure) is from the faith once held, a defection from truth

Jesus Is The Lord
 
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CTK

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You are getting warmer. I have been teaching that the horn in Scripture symbolizes power. The little horn represents a short period of a greater apostate power — a continuation of the same opposition against Christ and His Church that has been working throughout history, but intensified immediately before the Second Coming - especially after God has finished sealed all of His Elect first.

It is a short season when the mystery of iniquity or lawlessness is brought into greater revelation, allowing many of the Elect to recognize that the appointed season has arrived and that Christ’s return is near. This is what the symbolism of the little horn points to.

And yes, this has nothing to do with the premillennial interpretation that teaches the little horn is a single individual man they believe will be Antichrist figure with supernatural power. That interpretation overlooks the broader biblical pattern of horns representing kingdoms, powers, and authorities that oppose God’s people.
Well, we are clearly miles apart on this topic. And it all begins within the interpretations of the Book of Daniel. And once Daniel is understood, then Revelation will seem like a piece of cake - especially concerning the "short period at the time of the end" that you mentioned. But the little horn does not arrive at the end of time and he is not symbolic figure - God has given us just too much information on this fellow in Daniel 7, 8, 9 and 11, 2 Thessalonians 2, and of course in Revelation. He, the little horn will continue until he is destroyed without human hands.... Daniel 7 gives us his time of arrival and identity....

However, should you like to offer your interpretations of Daniel 2, 7 and 8 only (slowly of course), you might find realized who God has been discussing all along.
 

CTK

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Sorry, there is no "little horn" to come now or in any future. The prophecy about the "little horn" was fulfilled and fleshed out in the man named Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
You can read the historic account about the 2300 days in the book of 1&2 Maccabees.

Today, the Jews still celebrate Hanukkah about Judas Maccabeus. He and his army restored the temple, in which Antiochus committed "the abomination that maketh desolate".
Do you know of anyone that did something in likeness to Judas Maccabeus, about the Restoration of a temple also? One that isn't made of stone.
Through the book of Daniel, such a person pointed to that historic time of Jewish history.
Does anyone here understand how to apply "type and anti-type" in the bible?
With all due respect, God has indeed made this fellow known - the timing of his arrival, his characteristics, where he comes from, why he comes out, and simply so many more detailed pieces of information found in Daniel 7and 8. These are indeed not a type and shadow of an evil one that will come at the end of time, nor does it have anything to do with AE who was a mere minor Syrian general that held power for only 13 years BETWEEN the 3rd and 4th kingdoms identified in the metal man image. Just because he defiled the temple, murdered some 10,000 Jews does not make him a person that meets any of the criteria in Daniel. He is not really an important figure in our history books. The little horn comes out of the 4th kingdom of pagan Rome.

Now, if you would like to discuss this little horn and the prophecies in Daniel, that would be great. Maybe you might want to take another look at post #857?
 

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ewq1938

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Correction, the scripture means to say:
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that [spirit of] antichrist shall come , even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.


Yet it does not say that because the AC he is speaking of will come in the future. This does not say the spirit of the AC, nor does the bible ever use "men of sin" but "man of sin". All changes made to the texts to make them say something different. These things are known as Antichrist denial.
 

CrowCross

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Understanding 2 Thes.2:3 in biblical context, is in two parts. Both parts must be interpreted correctly in order to understand the true prophetic fulfilment.
The KJV interprets the first part correctly with the words "a falling away".

As for the second part, one must discern by the Holy Spirit, (and not decipher by grammar) whether that man of sin is to be understood in the singular or in the plural.

2 Thes. 2:4
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;
We can safely conclude that "a falling away" is in reference to "and that man of sin", as being the subject that shall fall away.

So then, the words: "a falling away" implies that there are MANY people that shall fall away. But, if it be only ONE person that shall fall away, then the context doesn't support that conclusion, simply because the words "that man of sin" can be understood in the plural just as equally as it is understood in the singular.

By the Holy Spirit within me, I understand the words: "and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" to be in the plural.
Why?? There are more than one person who is "the son of perdition [destruction]".
In fact, there are MANY who are the son of perdition that SHALL "fall away".

Yes, that is correct, there are MANY antichrists, NOT just only one! The reason for the many is because it is "that spirit of antichrist" that infects many. 1 John 4:3.
Did you know that in the KJV Bible, one will NOT find the words written: "THE Antichrist".
Sounds like you have to imply a meaning to a term that is there.

The departure or the gathering mentioned 2 verses before is the same thing as the Restrainer being removed.

When the Christian restrainers are removed...no more prayers holding back the antichrist...it's game on.
 

CrowCross

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"Thomas Ice" presently teaches that the words (Falling Away/Departure) in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is a future secret rapture of the church to heaven, "Thomas Ice" is a false teacher

The scripture teaches that the word Apostasia (Falling Away/Departure) is from the faith once held, a defection from truth

Jesus Is The Lord
2 Thes 2:3...doesn't mention faith. It's not there. It's been added.

The departure is speaking about what is brought up 2 verses prior...the gathering.
The departure also speaks of the following verse...the Restrainer is gone.
The church is the restrainer working along with the Holy Spirit.