THE GREAT TRIBULATION

 

CONT., page 6

 

THE ANTICHRIST AND

THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS

 

Now let us consider another fact.  It is evident that if the abomination of desolation and the great tribulation were major events that were yet to come in the church, surely writers after Yahshua would have warned about this.  If something so important as this great climactic event was to take place, then it would have been the subject of New Testament writers.  Of course, before the establishment of the church, Daniel addressed these things.  Likewise, Yahshua spoke of them; but He too was before the church per se.  In fact, we see that what He warned of took place a fitting seven days after He left.  Seven days into the darkness, already the apostles stumbled and stood in a place that did not belong to them, in the place of Yahshua – the abomination of desolation!

 

The book of Revelation spoke of the tribulation, even the great tribulation, but all that was said was that John was himself a “fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom,” associating the kingdom at that time with the tribulation (Revelation 1:9).  Likewise, Revelation 2:9-10, as well as 2:22, each affirm that the tribulation was in their time – “I know your tribulation.”  Revelation 7:14 does indeed indicate that a people will come out of the great tribulation.  But as we noted, John himself said he was a fellow partaker of the tribulation.  And also noted, throughout the New Testament it is stated that they were already partakers of the tribulation.  The closest thing to addressing something yet to come is this in Revelation 7:14; but as we have seen, its specificity is relative to the Elijah second Remnant who come out of Christianity.

 

The only two things in the New Testament cited by those who want to say that the abomination of desolation and great tribulation are yet before us, are from 2 Thessalonians 2 and first and second John.  But as you will see, even both of these clearly state that those matters were already taking place when they wrote those letters. 

 

In Proverbs 14:6 we read:

 

A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.

 

This latter statement is profoundly true.  But it too has a flipside, and it goes like this – false knowledge is easy to one who has false understanding.  When one has a false understanding, especially relative to the Scriptures, if they have a false mindset or scenario that they want to support, then they will go into the Scriptures and make them say what they believe.  This we have seen already regarding the translator’s desolation of Daniel 9:24-27, and recently in the writing, The New Millennial Calendar, where the translators violate the Scriptures to make them say that Yahshua resurrected on a Sunday.  They prove once again that false understanding leads to or produces false knowledge.

 

This is certainly true when it comes to these sets of scriptures where Christians have made passages say what they want them to say about their false antichrist, or they ignore what is being said and simply harvest select words or phrases.  Let us begin with the easiest accounts to address in first and second John.  Here are the subject passages:

 

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour [1 John 2:18].

 

Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son [1 John 2:22].

 

… and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world [1 John 4:3].

 

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist [2 John 1:7].

 

First, the word “antichrist” is entirely misleading.  When we think of “anti,” we think of being against something – against Christ.  But that is not the meaning of this word at all in the Greek.  This word, as you would suspect, is a combination of two Greek words – anti and Christos.  To give you an idea what “anti” actually means in the Greek, this same Greek word is used in Mathew 2:22, where  we read:

 

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.

 

Can you find in this verse where the Greek word “anti” is used?  It is the statement “in place of.”  “Anti” in Greek actually means “in place of,” and not “against.”  So that which is being spoken of here is someone in place of Christ, in place of Yahshua.

 

Second, Christian teachers use this word “antichrist,” found only here in these passages, as THE phrase to identify their fictional antichrist man.  But what did John clearly say about the “anti”christ?  In three out of four of these verses, he said that the antichrist had already come.  In 1 John 2:18, he said that “even now many antichrists have appeared.”  In 1 John 4:3, he said that “this is the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.”  The phrase “the spirit of,” referring to the antichrist in 4:3 in many Bible translations, was added by the translators and does not exist in the Greek.  This passage actually states – “this is the antichrist, of which ….”  This is yet another example of how Scriptures are altered to try to make them say what some falsely believe.  And in 2 John 1:7, John said that “many deceivers have gone out into the world ….  This is the deceiver and the antichrist.”

 

Therefore, how can men take something that was repeatedly stated to be present in the time of John, and credibly assign it to a future event?  Clearly, there have been antichrists ever since John to this very day.  If one wanted to identify any one being as the antichrist, the one in place of Christ, that would be Satan. 

 

When Yahshua left this earth, He left the church in the charge of the one government that He Himself set up – the twelve apostles.  They were in every regard the ones left here “in place of Christ” while He was away.  But, Yahshua delayed, they died, and there was only one apostle remaining to function in place of Christ: the apostle selected by Yahshua to replace Judas – Satan!  Satan has been the one remaining governmental figure who has prevailed over the last 2,000 years, serving in the governmental function in place of Christ.  Satan is the antichrist.

 

Men have tried to make popes into an antichrist.  They tried to make Henry Kissinger into an antichrist.  They tried to make Gorbachev an antichrist.  And the list is endless.  But none of these have ever been true.  The fact is that there never has been the antichrist figure that Christians falsely teach, and there never will be.  They think that the antichrist will bring some great deception, when in fact they themselves bring that great deception.  They themselves listen to the true antichrist and spread his false and deceiving lies, becoming his instruments, his false prophets.

 

This now brings us to the second of these two accounts in the New Testament cited by those who want to say that the abomination of desolation and great tribulation are yet before us – 2 Thessalonians 2.  But just a few words about this passage before you read it.  First, this is another case where false understanding leads to false knowledge.  Here, Paul uses some phrases that accommodate the false idea that there will be a beast antichrist man; therefore, teachers of this idea select parts of this passage to reinforce what they believe, without considering the whole of what Paul is saying or how he uses these words and phrases elsewhere.  In reality, these false teachers become the very fulfillment of these passages that they relegate to figures and events that will never take place.

 

Following is 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, but translated here in a more literal rendering so as to preserve what Paul was actually saying.  Some portions are made bold because of their significance and will be addressed more specifically.  But a warning in advance though – if you read this with the old mindset of this being an account about a fallacious man-beast antichrist, you will completely miss the true message here, as you will see.

 

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 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/forsaking comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

 

4. who opposes and exalts himself above everything being called God or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God.

 

5. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?

 

6. And you know what the restraining is, so that in his time he will be revealed.

 

7. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only the restraining one will do so until it comes out of the midst.

 

8. Then that lawless will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;

 

9. that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,

 

10. and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

 

11. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe the lie,

 

12. in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

 

First, what is the subject of these verses?  Essentially, there are three things:

 

1. They address those who will be caught up to be with Yahshua, entering into “the day of the Lord,” His Millennial reign.

 

2. They address the issue of the apostasy, or forsaking, and the man of lawlessness being revealed.

 

3. They address the “restraining one” that will come out of the midst, bringing about Yahshua’s coming.

 

Regarding item 1, the timing and significance of this is essentially without dispute.  These verses address the days leading up to and even effecting Yahshua’s return, which is where we have been particularly since 1948. 

 

Before addressing item 2 regarding the man of lawlessness, in order to understand more about him, as well as the events of this time, it would be helpful to first address item 3 – who the restraining one is who comes out of the midst and thereby brings Yahshua’s return.  In verses 6-7 we read:

 

6. And you know what the restraining is, so that in his time he will be revealed.

 

7. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only the restraining one will do so until it comes out of the midst.

 

If we want to know what this "restraining one" is, then we can get some idea if we find a pattern for it within the Scriptures.  Many people say the restraining one is the Holy Spirit or even the body of Christ.  But let us see what the pattern reveals.

 

If one wishes to know what the restraining one is, it would be valuable to examine the testimony of anyone in the Scriptures whose name bears evidence to this authority; and this is exactly what we find in the name – Darius.  As you will see, Darius bears perfect testimony to this matter, as this name specifically bears the Grecian meaning – "restraining one."  So if we want to see what the restraining one is, let us look at Darius, the restraining one.

 

Who was Darius?  Actually, this name is borne by two different men in the Scriptures, two kings.  First, there was Darius the Mede, who reigned as king in Babylon immediately following the Medo-Persian overthrow of the Babylonian empire.  He reigned for about three years, and was the king who was forced to throw Daniel into the lion’s den.  This is the same king who was reigning when Daniel prayed his prayer of repentance for himself and the people (Daniel 9), having read Jeremiah’s prophecy that the desolation of Jerusalem would occur for seventy years.  Following Daniel’s prayer, Gabriel came to him and declared – "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you ...."

 

Darius the Mede was followed by the Persian king, Cyrus, who reigned for nine years.  This was Cyrus of whom in his first year of reigning issued a proclamation that he would rebuild the temple that was destroyed in Jerusalem: "He [Yahweh] has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah" (Ezra 1:2).  Following seventy years of captivity, Zerubbabel, under Cyrus, left Babylon with an assembly of 42,360 people and returned to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding the temple.  Cyrus’ son, Cambyses, reigned for two years with his father; then following his father’s death, reigned for another six years.  The total reign of this father and son was fifteen years.

 

Next to reign was another king from Persia, who bore the identical name as the Median king.  This next king was Darius I, who reigned for 36 years. 

 

Thus we see that the rebuilding of the temple was prayed for by Daniel under Darius the Mede, then construction began under Cyrus.  But like King David who was not allowed to build the original temple, neither did Cyrus build a house for Yahweh in Jerusalem as he had proclaimed.  After building the temple foundation, for fourteen years construction ceased.  Then finally, construction resumed under King Darius I, who issued a decree that no one was to interfere with the construction of Yahweh’s house.  Thus, though the work initially began under Cyrus, the temple was actually built under Darius I.

 

Let us lay out these three kings and their works.

 

Darius ---> Cyrus ---> Darius I

 

or

 

Daniel’s prayer --->

Foundation laid but --->
construction halted

 Temple finally built

Now let us get to the point of why we laid out all of this information.  You will recall that Darius’ name means "restraining one."  Cyrus’ name means "sun."  Thus we have this prophetic testimony:

 

Restraining one ---> Sun ---> Restraining one

 

This is exactly the pattern we find in Zechariah 4 regarding the church:

 

Olive tree ---> Lampstand ---> Olive tree

 

Very importantly, the unique identifying testimony we find in these three kings is that the restraining one is the two-part former and latter rain works of the first and second Remnant.  These are the two works that are evidenced here to be separated by the ones who gather on their Sunday sabbath – Christianity.  As a Cyrus, they were called to build the temple, but could not do so.  Like David, who preceded King Solomon, they were not allowed to build the temple.  That right specifically belongs to Yahshua and the restraining one, evidenced by the temple being built under Darius I.  Thus we see that the former and latter works of the Holy Spirit that precede and complete the church period, are in fact that which restrains the lawless and effects Yahshua’s coming. 

 

In 2 Thessalonians 2:1, we read that that which Paul is addressing here is relative “to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.”  Then in verse 7 we read thatthe restraining one will do so until it comes out of the midst.”  The restraining one coming out of the midst, is precisely what Paul was speaking of when he spoke of our gathering together to Yahshua.  The restraining one is the Remnant, and more specifically noted here the second Remnant, who come out of the midst of mankind and ascend alive to Yahshua. 

 

This, of course, is the Elijah company who prepare the way for Yahshua’s return, which is noted in verse 8 – “the appearance of His coming.”  Thus, verse 1 begins with Yahshua’s coming and our gathering to Him, and 7 and 8 essentially conclude with the restraining one coming out of the midst and Yahshua’s return.  When a last-days restraining Remnant is taken out of the midst of mankind, and even out of Christianity (as a bride is taken out of the midst of the body), then and only then will the Son of Man come to restore His kingdom, and "the lawless will be revealed."  Thus we conclusively see  that the former and latter rain Remnants are the two "Darius," the two-part restraining one.

 

Now that we see the true identity regarding the restraining one, and how the second Remnant effects not only the identification of the man of lawlessness, but also as the Elijah prepares the way for Yahshua’s return, let us examine item 2 regarding the issue of the apostasy, or forsaking, and the man of lawlessness.  We will quote once again verses 3 and 4:

 

3. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it [the day of the Lord] will not come unless the apostasy/forsaking comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

 

4. who opposes and exalts himself above everything being called God or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God.

 

Who is this man of lawlessness who takes his seat in the temple of God?  End time false teachers want us to believe that it is a charismatic beast-man who takes his seat in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.  But first, is this indeed the temple Paul was speaking of here?  These false teachers want to make this a literal temple so as to fit their false understanding.  But did Paul ever use this phrase to identify a literal temple?  Very significantly, no, he never did!  In fact, he consistently, and even exclusively, used this phrase for something more relevant to his own message and focus – our earthly body.  Following is every place where Paul used this identical phrase – “temple of God” – along with the like phrase – “temple of the Holy Spirit.”

 

From 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 we read:

 

16. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

 

17. If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

 

From 1 Corinthians 6:19 we read:

 

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

 

From 2 Corinthians 6:16 we read:

 

Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?  For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

 

Is there any question as to what Paul’s focus and application is here regarding this oft used phrase?  We then find a like phrase in Ephesians 2:21.  Though this does not say specifically “temple of God,” a phrase we see reserved solely for our body which God dwells in, the like context of God in His people is the message.

 

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit [19-22].

 

Thus we see that Paul never uses this phrase – “temple of God” – for a literal temple, but consistently, even in different letters, and even exclusively, uses it to describe our bodies.  In fact, in further confirmation, the one time he refers to the literal temple in 1 Corinthians 9:13, he calls it simply “the temple,” never adding the phrase “of God.”  Paul most certainly knew that God did not dwell in any building, and would never, and did never, call any building the temple of God.  He served in the temple all of his adult life and never met God there.  Rather, he met Him on the Damascus road.  And likewise, Yahshua declared the same thing regarding the true temple.  In John 2:19-21 we read:

 

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”  But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

 

Today, Christians make the identical mistake.  Paul warns that the man of lawlessness “takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God,” and Christians grab that statement and try to make it a literal temple, claiming they are speaking for God.  These false teachers have the same natural mentality that the Jews had, making them equally incapable of seeing truth, and once again crucify Yahshua because of their lies and error.  They will learn that the natural temple they await will never be built, and there will never be the fictional natural beast-man antichrist they teach for great profit.  As it is spoken by Paul, they, with their false teachings and lawlessness, “will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming” (vs. 8).

 

In 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, we then read regarding the lawless:

 

9. … that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,

 

10. and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

 

Once again we will let the Scriptures speak regarding who these lawless ones are who perform these signs.  In Matthew 7:21-23, we read:

 

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

 

Is this then a man-beast spoken of here in 2 Thessalonians 2, this “man of lawlessness” who “takes his seat in the temple of God”?  Not in the least!  There is no evidence to this.  But to the contrary, the testimony of the Scriptures is that the lawlessness is in those who teach error to the people of God.  1 John 3:4 tells us that, “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”  When Paul in other places spoke of lawlessness, he spoke of it in relation to the sin of man.  In fact, Romans 6:19 echoes this very message and association of lawlessness and giving it place in our bodies.

 

I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.  For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

 

We noted in 2 Corinthians 6:16 one of several messages wherein Paul consistently identified the temple of God as the body.  Once again, the subject in this verse is relative to the man of lawlessness taking his place in the temple of God.  As even further evidence that this relationship between lawlessness and the body is what is being spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, we read Paul’s like correlation in 2 Corinthians 6:14-16:

 

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness …?   Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?  For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

 

And as we have noted, and seen testified regarding the antichrist as well, this man of lawlessness that Paul said would be revealed, was nothing new in his time.  In verse 7 of 2 Thessalonians 2, he clearly stated that ”the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.”  Paul was simply saying that lawlessness would take a place in man to the extent so as to effect the apostasy, the forsaking, that comes before Yahshua’s coming. 

 

Peter likewise declared in 2 Peter 2:1-3:

 

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.  Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

 

As we consistently see, the message is not some beast antichrist man who will never materialize, standing in some temple that will never be built, but the very thing those teachers bring.  This is the same message echoed in Jude 1:4; and the denying of Yahshua spoken of here is the denying of His truth and His ways, which many Christian teachers and leaders have done:

 

For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

 

Who can look at the church today and say that what Paul and Peter and Jude saw and forewarned is not at hand?  This is particularly the case since 1948, or even since the Curse of 1920.  This is the apostasy, the lawlessness, that Yahshua will expose – and it is in the church!  2 Thessalonians 2 continues:

 

9. that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,

 

10. and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

 

11. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe the lie,

 

12. in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

 

Thus we find that these events regarding the antichrist and the man of lawlessness have been taking place the entire period of the church, and seem to be never so present than now.  These are the pastors and false teachers who are so prevalent today, whom, as it is written – “the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.”

 

Therefore, we can conclude from examining both of these subject passages that New Testament writers did not write of some climactic beast-man, the modern “antichrist,” and a literal rebuilt temple, as presented by Christian teachers.  In fact, these teachers themselves are the very fulfillment of the passages from which they falsely teach.  And their fate is prophesied as well.  Therefore, we can add yet another evidence regarding the abomination of desolation and the great tribulation:

 

11. The Scriptures following Yahshua do not support a climactic event as popularly taught, but that the antichrist and man of lawlessness have been in the church from the beginning, will increase all the more in the end, and will be exposed at Yahshua’s appearance.

 

 

Continue to page 7 of The Great Tribulation for MORE GOSPEL COMPARISONS

 

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