When will the Antichrist be Revealed

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A DEBATABLE TOPIC:
WHEN WILL THE SON OF PERDITION (a.k.a. the Antichrist) BE REVEALED?

2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 (KJV) A 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? A

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 (NAS) A 1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for [it will not come] unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so‑called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? A

Introduction: First, we will have a quick word on the reason that he gives here for the coming discourse. If I took the first verse without looking too carefully at the second verse, I would conclude that the rapture would occur either at the middle of the tribulation when the Antichrist is revealed, or even at the end at Armageddon. But I need to look at this discourse together and take it in context to see what Paul is saying without adding my own viewpoint to it.

There are three major views of people who believe in a pre-millennial Second Coming of Christ on when the church will be caught up on "raptured".

These three views are as follows:

Pre-tribulation View: the church is caught up before 7 year period we call the Tribulation and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and are part of that number of redeemed elders out of every nation, kindred and tongue (an immeasurable number of people represented by 24 or 12 for the Old Covenant and 12 for the New Covenant).

Mid-tribulation View: this is called the pre -wrath as it is understood that the church is not ordained to go through the wrath of God, and they associate the 144,000 with the church normally.

The Post-tribulation View: that the catching away of the church and the Second Coming are the same event and the church must face the wrath of God along with the ungodly.

We shall look at all this discourse says and see what the Apostle Paul was actually teaching the chuch here to see what the Bible is actually saying.

Understanding what the DAY OF THE LORD is will be foundational in understanding this passage.

Mid-tribulation view holds that the Day of the Lord is the latter half of the 32 years of Agreater tribulation@. You can hold that view, but we will look more at the Day of the Lord and see that it is a more specific event that cataclysmically ends one age and ushers in another.

The DAY OF THE LORD is actually what we call "The Battle of Armageddon", and then the SECOND COMING of Christ when He sets up His throne on the Earth.

The Thessalonicans had been sent a bogus letter that had Paul=s signature on it saying that they had missed the rapture and the Day of the Lord was about to happen. It was a total fabricated false doctrine that someone had sent with Paul's name on it to give it some weight. Paul was settling their fears at this incorrect teaching by some imposter using his name.

A post-tribulation position would put the "gathering us together" with the coming of the Lord, In that view, the Day of the Lord (when Jesus comes back at Armageddon) would be that when the First Resurrection occurs. I understand the different views and why people believe what they believe. In fact, the very reason that I began this biblical journey into Last Days Studies back in 1989 was that I was challenged by another viewpoint that made sense to me. I wanted to know what the Bible actually said when it took it in context without some man's theories controlling which scriptures you look at and which you throw out. The truth takes it all in together and throws nothing out. I think confusion can be avoided if we don=t just concentrate on this one scripture and take it in context with others.

1. Paul is simply saying this: don=t be afraid that you=ve missed the rapture (the gathering together with Him) and that the Day of the Lord is about to come... (this doesn=t put them together or we really would have to suffer all of the tribulation). These are two last days events that are separated by the Apostle Paul as being two separate things.

But Paul is saying that we are to understand that the Day of the Lord won=t come until there FIRST comes an APOSTASY (and that is currently happening in our generation), and then the Antichrist be revealed.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-10 (KJV) "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."

Greek LIteral translation of 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10 A 6 And now the {thing} restraining ye know, for the him to be revealed in the time of him. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness already operates; only {there is} the {one} restraining just now until it comes out of {the} midst. 8 And then will be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy by the Spirit of the mouth of him and bring to nothing by the outshining of the presence of him,

9 Of whom the presence is according to {the} operation of Satan with all power and signs and wonders of a lie 10 And with all deceit of unrighteousness in the {one} perishing, because the love of the truth they received not for the them to be saved."

2. And now the {thing} or in the K.J.V., what is the 'what' that withholds the Antichrist.

Greek Word Study: The thing = Greek >to = the definite article, that, one, he, she, it are all valid translations. The word used here can be both a thing or a person or a group of people. In the use in this sentence, it is probably a group or a thing because it is used again in the phrase 'for the him to be revealed.' is used with the word 'autos' to show the difference that it is only one. So the same word is used twice in the same sentence. They are distinguished also as the second use in with a word to show there is only one, the first which is what restrains, does not have such a word with it to show which it is.

So this word is used with the word autos to show that it is a Ahim@ when talking about the Antichrist, but is lacks that word when speaking about the Athat@ which is holding back the Antichrist.

Evidence that this is a group pronoun is found in the latter verses here. The church a Thessalonika understood what it was that restrained the power of the Antichrist to take power. It was a clear teaching at that time. We have gotten so many of men=s ideas involved in the ensuing centuries that it is sometimes difficult to pick out the clear biblical doctrine, and the man-made traditions attached to them.

The son of perdition will be revealed in his time. Note that time here is Greek "kairos" = a due measure or a fixed period or season of time. A definite time that is "his". It will not come before God ordains it to happen.

The Devil can't bring it to pass before God is ready to have it happen. God will move the restraining influence when the time for him to rise comes.

FOR THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY (LAWLESSNESS) ALREADY OPERATES:

Mystery = Greek musterion = A spiritual truth which cannot be understood by unassisted natural apprehension. It must be revealed by Divine revelation. It must be revealed.

It already operates.... already... today.... now in the church age.

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."

1 John 4:3 " And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."

2 John 1:7 " For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist."

Acts 20:29 " For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."

It is operating already : operates = Greek energeo = to be active or working. The Antichrist has not come into full power and been revealed, but the spirit of Antichrist has been in operation through anyone it could work through since the time of the early church. It operated through the Gnostics of John's time, and that group has been alive and well seen in many of today's "Mystic Societies" and liberal religion. It espouses "another Christ" or the spirit of Antichrist. Sometimes it uses the name of Jesus Christ, but remodels Him into something that He is not.

Many heresies were born in the early days inspired by this hellish spirit that is setting the stage for the Antichrist to take power in his time. All of the Empires that persecuted Israel and the people of God were under that influence... [1] Egypt [2] Assyria [3] Babylonia [4] Persia [5] Greece [6] Roman Empire... and more modern versions such as Nazi Germany, and China, and the former Soviet Union, and the coming ANew World Order@ that will usher in the Antichrist.

Iniquity / Lawlessness = Greek anomia = iniquity {spiritual sin}; the condition of having contempt for and living in violation of the law of God. It is the spirit that says "I will do it my way".

The spirit of Antichrist says, "I don't care what God says, I want to do what I think is right and I don't need a bunch of rules from God or anyone else". These are the people that Paul said used grace as a license to commit sin. It opposes the very nature of holiness of God.

TEXT: "....[Only there is] [the one] restraining just now until [it comes] out of the midst."

1. There is only ...the only thing... only one.

2. The one = Greek o or ho = who, which, or group one.

3. This one is holding back just now {PRESENT} = UNTIL....

4. It comes = to come to be = or to be taken in conjunction with the following out of = Greek ek = from forth, or... up from, or.... from among.

5. The midst [the way] = Greek mesos = the midst or between others

SO... "THERE IS ONLY THE ONE [THEY, WHO, THAT] HOLDING BACK JUST NOW UNTIL IT COMES UP FROM THE MIDST OF OTHERS LIKE ITSELF".

2 POSSIBILITIES AND 2 CAMPS ON WHO IT IS THAT IS THE RESTRAINING FORCE...

Continued on page two...

Voice of the Watchman Ministries


Click here to open up the Last Days Forum at Warriors of God to discuss this topic! Go to Top of Page			Voice of the watchman WEBSITE NAVIGATIONAL BUTTONS
			A DEBATABLE TOPIC: WHEN WILL THE SON OF PERDITION (a.k.a. the Antichrist) BE REVEALED? 2 Thessalonians 2 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 (KJV) A 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? A 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 (NAS) A 1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for [it will not come] unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so‑called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? A Introduction: First, we will have a quick word on the reason that he gives here for the coming discourse. If I took the first verse without looking too carefully at the second verse, I would conclude that the rapture would occur either at the middle of the tribulation when the Antichrist is revealed, or even at the end at Armageddon. But I need to look at this discourse together and take it in context to see what Paul is saying without adding my own viewpoint to it. There are three major views of people who believe in a pre-millennial Second Coming of Christ on when the church will be caught up on "raptured". These three views are as follows: Pre-tribulation View: the church is caught up before 7 year period we call the Tribulation and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and are part of that number of redeemed elders out of every nation, kindred and tongue (an immeasurable number of people represented by 24 or 12 for the Old Covenant and 12 for the New Covenant). Mid-tribulation View: this is called the pre -wrath as it is understood that the church is not ordained to go through the wrath of God, and they associate the 144,000 with the church normally. The Post-tribulation View: that the catching away of the church and the Second Coming are the same event and the church must face the wrath of God along with the ungodly. We shall look at all this discourse says and see what the Apostle Paul was actually teaching the chuch here to see what the Bible is actually saying. Understanding what the DAY OF THE LORD is will be foundational in understanding this passage. Mid-tribulation view holds that the Day of the Lord is the latter half of the 32 years of Agreater tribulation@. You can hold that view, but we will look more at the Day of the Lord and see that it is a more specific event that cataclysmically ends one age and ushers in another. The DAY OF THE LORD is actually what we call "The Battle of Armageddon", and then the SECOND COMING of Christ when He sets up His throne on the Earth. The Thessalonicans had been sent a bogus letter that had Paul=s signature on it saying that they had missed the rapture and the Day of the Lord was about to happen. It was a total fabricated false doctrine that someone had sent with Paul's name on it to give it some weight. Paul was settling their fears at this incorrect teaching by some imposter using his name. A post-tribulation position would put the "gathering us together" with the coming of the Lord, In that view, the Day of the Lord (when Jesus comes back at Armageddon) would be that when the First Resurrection occurs. I understand the different views and why people believe what they believe. In fact, the very reason that I began this biblical journey into Last Days Studies back in 1989 was that I was challenged by another viewpoint that made sense to me. I wanted to know what the Bible actually said when it took it in context without some man's theories controlling which scriptures you look at and which you throw out. The truth takes it all in together and throws nothing out. I think confusion can be avoided if we don=t just concentrate on this one scripture and take it in context with others. 1. Paul is simply saying this: don=t be afraid that you=ve missed the rapture (the gathering together with Him) and that the Day of the Lord is about to come... (this doesn=t put them together or we really would have to suffer all of the tribulation). These are two last days events that are separated by the Apostle Paul as being two separate things. But Paul is saying that we are to understand that the Day of the Lord won=t come until there FIRST comes an APOSTASY (and that is currently happening in our generation), and then the Antichrist be revealed. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10 (KJV) "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." Greek LIteral translation of 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10 A 6 And now the {thing} restraining ye know, for the him to be revealed in the time of him. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness already operates; only {there is} the {one} restraining just now until it comes out of {the} midst. 8 And then will be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy by the Spirit of the mouth of him and bring to nothing by the outshining of the presence of him, 9 Of whom the presence is according to {the} operation of Satan with all power and signs and wonders of a lie 10 And with all deceit of unrighteousness in the {one} perishing, because the love of the truth they received not for the them to be saved." 2. And now the {thing} or in the K.J.V., what is the 'what' that withholds the Antichrist. Greek Word Study: The thing = Greek >to = the definite article, that, one, he, she, it are all valid translations. The word used here can be both a thing or a person or a group of people. In the use in this sentence, it is probably a group or a thing because it is used again in the phrase 'for the him to be revealed.' is used with the word 'autos' to show the difference that it is only one. So the same word is used twice in the same sentence. They are distinguished also as the second use in with a word to show there is only one, the first which is what restrains, does not have such a word with it to show which it is. So this word is used with the word autos to show that it is a Ahim@ when talking about the Antichrist, but is lacks that word when speaking about the Athat@ which is holding back the Antichrist. Evidence that this is a group pronoun is found in the latter verses here. The church a Thessalonika understood what it was that restrained the power of the Antichrist to take power. It was a clear teaching at that time. We have gotten so many of men=s ideas involved in the ensuing centuries that it is sometimes difficult to pick out the clear biblical doctrine, and the man-made traditions attached to them. The son of perdition will be revealed in his time. Note that time here is Greek "kairos" = a due measure or a fixed period or season of time. A definite time that is "his". It will not come before God ordains it to happen. The Devil can't bring it to pass before God is ready to have it happen. God will move the restraining influence when the time for him to rise comes. FOR THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY (LAWLESSNESS) ALREADY OPERATES: Mystery = Greek musterion = A spiritual truth which cannot be understood by unassisted natural apprehension. It must be revealed by Divine revelation. It must be revealed. It already operates.... already... today.... now in the church age. 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." 1 John 4:3 " And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." 2 John 1:7 " For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist." Acts 20:29 " For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." It is operating already : operates = Greek energeo = to be active or working. The Antichrist has not come into full power and been revealed, but the spirit of Antichrist has been in operation through anyone it could work through since the time of the early church. It operated through the Gnostics of John's time, and that group has been alive and well seen in many of today's "Mystic Societies" and liberal religion. It espouses "another Christ" or the spirit of Antichrist. Sometimes it uses the name of Jesus Christ, but remodels Him into something that He is not. Many heresies were born in the early days inspired by this hellish spirit that is setting the stage for the Antichrist to take power in his time. All of the Empires that persecuted Israel and the people of God were under that influence... [1] Egypt [2] Assyria [3] Babylonia [4] Persia [5] Greece [6] Roman Empire... and more modern versions such as Nazi Germany, and China, and the former Soviet Union, and the coming ANew World Order@ that will usher in the Antichrist. Iniquity / Lawlessness = Greek anomia = iniquity {spiritual sin}; the condition of having contempt for and living in violation of the law of God. It is the spirit that says "I will do it my way". The spirit of Antichrist says, "I don't care what God says, I want to do what I think is right and I don't need a bunch of rules from God or anyone else". These are the people that Paul said used grace as a license to commit sin. It opposes the very nature of holiness of God. TEXT: "....[Only there is] [the one] restraining just now until [it comes] out of the midst." 1. There is only ...the only thing... only one. 2. The one = Greek o or ho = who, which, or group one. 3. This one is holding back just now {PRESENT} = UNTIL.... 4. It comes = to come to be = or to be taken in conjunction with the following out of = Greek ek = from forth, or... up from, or.... from among. 5. The midst [the way] = Greek mesos = the midst or between others SO... "THERE IS ONLY THE ONE [THEY, WHO, THAT] HOLDING BACK JUST NOW UNTIL IT COMES UP FROM THE MIDST OF OTHERS LIKE ITSELF". 2 POSSIBILITIES AND 2 CAMPS ON WHO IT IS THAT IS THE RESTRAINING FORCE... Continued on page two... Copyrighted © 2010 by James Dale Coldiron Voice of the Watchman Ministries

			Copyrighted © 2010 by James Dale Coldiron Voice of the Watchman Ministries