2 Thessalonians and the Return of Christ
By Kato
Mivule
February
12th 2008
We once again humble ourselves to study the second letter of
Paul to the Thessalonica Saints concerning the Second Coming of
Jesus Christ. We have been taught many doctrines in Christendom
which totally disagree with the word of God and as such we must
judge those views in light of God’s Word and reject what is evil
– the deception and lies and hold on to Truth, allowing the
Bible to interpret itself on this crucial subject.
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is a very important subject
that one’s view of this topic will certainly affect their walk
with The Lord. The Lord desires that we correctly and biblically
know about His Second Coming and not be caught up like the
Pharisees who failed to discern the signs of the times that
pointed to the First Coming of the Messiah.
Counted worthy for God’s kingdom, for which you suffer…
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5
(3)
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is
meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the
charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
(4)
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for
your patience and faith in all your persecutions and
tribulations that ye endure:
(5)
Which is
a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may
be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also
suffer:
Paul gives thanks to God once again as he did in his first
letter to the Thessalonians that their faith had grown
exceedingly with love despite the persecution and tribulations
that they were going through. Tribulations and Persecutions are
not words that the Church today desires to hear.
Yet for God to have mercy on many in the Church and count them
worthy of the kingdom of God, The Lord Himself will allow the
saints to go through persecutions and sufferings for the Name of
Christ Jesus. It is when the saints go through persecutions and
tribulations that their faith becomes sound and grows
exceedingly. This is a very hard saying but that is what the
global Christian church is going to face in the very near
future.
Church Denominations will fall, Church buildings will mean
nothing, pompous Christian leaders will fail and all saints will
fix their eyes on Jesus Christ as all nations hate those who
love Jesus Christ. Our only consolation will be Jesus Christ and
hope in His return…
It is manifest token of God’s Righteous Judgment that we be
counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which we suffer…
Suffering for Christ Jesus is part and parcel of the Christian
life experience…
The Lord Jesus Christ will come to Judge – Vengeance belongs to
Him…
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
(6)
Seeing it
is
a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them
that trouble you;
(7)
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
(8)
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(9)
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
(10)
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be
admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among
you was believed) in that day.
Paul encourages the saints that The Lord Jesus Christ will
return and take vengeance on…
-
Those
who have troubled the saints…
This involves all who engage in persecuting, causing
suffering, and killing of the saints. The Lord Himself will
judge them and repay their evil deeds. However, this calls
for patience of the saints for vengeance belongs to The Lord
alone. We are not to take up arms and fight against our
captors and those who cause suffering to us. We are to
endure the suffering and await the return of The Lord when
He Himself will avenge our persecutors. We are to follow the
example of our Lord Jesus Christ as He endured the cross and
did not fight back…for His Kingdom is not of this world…
John 18:36
Jesus answered, My
kingdom
is not
of this
world:
if my
kingdom
were of
this
world, then
would
my servants
fight,
that I
should
not be
delivered
to the
Jews:
but now
is my
kingdom
not from hence.
Romans 12:17-21
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the
sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with
all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not
yourselves, but
rather
give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance
is
mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give
him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his
head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally,
be
ye
all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as
brethren,
be pitiful,
be
courteous:
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but
contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called,
that ye should inherit a blessing.
-
All
who don’t know God…
This involves all those who have not known The Lord Jesus
Christ as Savior and Redeemer. They might have heard about
Him but rejected Him.
-
Those
who don’t obey the gospel…
This involves those who knew the truth of the gospel but
refused to obey it. It involves those who have decided to
turn their backs of The Teachings of Jesus Christ and His
commandments to the Church. Most of Christendom today falls
under this category as people simply refuse the Teachings of
Jesus Christ but obey Man and Traditions of Man…
Hebrews 10:26-31
(26)
For if we sin willfully after that we have received the
knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for
sins,
(27)
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
(28)
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or
three witnesses:
(29)
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath
counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified,
an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
(30)
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance
belongeth
unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord
shall judge his people.
(31)
It is
a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Be Counted Worthy of THIS Calling…
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Wherefore also we pray always
for you, that our God would count you worthy of
this
calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of
his
goodness, and the work of faith with power:
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you,
and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
So, what is ‘THIS’ worthy calling that Paul is speaking about
here? Is it not the very calling he speaks about in the verses
above this very one?
2 Thessalonians 1:5
Which is
a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may
be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also
suffer:
It is this calling that Paul alludes to here, the calling to be
counted worthy for the kingdom of God for which we suffer… Yes,
being counted worthy for the kingdom of God also means suffering
for the Name of Jesus Christ.
Today most of the ‘Westernized’ Church scorns and scoffs at
those who suffer for the Name of Jesus Christ and pays little
attention to our fellow brothers and sisters who are suffering
and enduring persecution for the name of Jesus Christ. Is it
because that the ‘Westernized’ Church might not be worthy of the
kingdom of God? Have they compromised with the world to such an
extent that they are best friends with the world and therefore
enemies of Jesus Christ?
The early church did not view Christians who endured suffering
for Jesus Christ with scorn and scoff; they applauded them,
encouraged them, and saw such Christians as counted worthy for
the kingdom of God. It sounds out of place that one would tell
Christians today that suffering for Christ is part of our
Christian faith. Most of the ‘comfortable’ Church would totally
laugh at such yet the early apostles did not…
Acts 5:40-42
And to him they agreed: and
when they had called the apostles, and beaten
them,
they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus,
and let them go.
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing
that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to
teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Brethren, sufferings for Christ Jesus are not to be taken
lightly. Let’s pray that we be counted worthy for that same
calling that the apostles rejoiced for – counted worthy to
suffer shame for His Name… In the coming days, the Antichrist
will arise and heavily persecute the saints and all those who
reject the Number of the Beast…will you be among those counted
worthy to suffer shame and reproach for the Name of Jesus Christ
even unto death?
Revelation 13:4-10
And they worshiped the dragon
which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast,
saying, Who
is
like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
And there was given unto him a
mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given
unto him to continue forty
and
two months.
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme
his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
And it was
given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:
and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and
nations.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names
are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world.
If any man have an ear, let him hear.
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that
killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is
the patience and the faith of the saints.
Revelation 12:9-11
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the
Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast
out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come
salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the
power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast
down, which accused them before our God day and night.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word
of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the
death.
The
Coming of Jesus Christ and Our Gathering To Meet Him…
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
(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 worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of
God, showing himself that he is God.
Paul reiterates to the saints in Thessalonica what he had taught
them earlier in his first letter to the Thessalonians about the
Coming of Jesus Christ. Paul clearly was speaking about the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ in this passage. It is also clear
that he speaks about one event…
-
The Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ…
-
Our Gathering to Meet Him…
All these are one and the same event. When Then Lord returns, we
as saints gather to meet Him. This is also very consistent with
what Jesus Christ taught in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21…
Jesus Christ is very clear that when He returns – after the
tribulation of those days…during which the angels gather his
elect… So it is very clear that when Jesus Christ returns the
saints shall be gathered to meet Him. But wait a minute, there
is going to be an order of things even as we are gathered to
meet The Lord…
Can the Rapture happen at any time?
Paul warned the Thessalonica saints not to be shaken in mind or
troubled in spirit by word or letter as if from the apostles
claiming that ‘the day of ‘Christ is at hand’… Interestingly
King James Version uses this phrase ‘the day of Christ is at
hand’… Other translations state ‘that the day of the Lord has
already come’…
However, the King James Versions brings this verse out
correctly, which is that there are those who went around
churches telling the saints that the day of Christ is ‘at hand’…
When we look into the Strong’s Dictionary for this meaning in
Greek of the phrase ‘at hand’, we find something astonishing…
G1764
enistēmi
en-is'-tay-mee
From G1722 and G2476; to place on hand, that is, (reflexively)
impend, (participle) be instant: - come, be at hand, present.
The Greek word for the phrase ‘at hand’ is ‘enistemi’
with meanings…
To place on hand…
-
Impend… be imminent, loom, be about to happen…
-
Be Instant… immediate, instantaneous, moment….
-
Present…
-
Imminent…
We find out that there were folks who erroneously taught that
the day of Christ is ‘at hand’…that the day of Christ is
IMMINENT… they caused trouble in the churches in Thessalonica
that Paul the apostle had to write a letter to correct this
doctrinal error.
Today we do have the same spirit of error around that has
engulfed the large part of the Church to day. There are those
who teach that the day of Christ is at hand…they teach that
Jesus Christ’s return is IMMINENT. The Imminent doctrine teaches
that Jesus Christ can return any moment and that the rapture can
happen any time.
The biggest pushers of this imminent rapture doctrine are Tim
LaHaye of ‘Left Behind Series’ among others who have sold
millions of books worth millions of dollars… This doctrine is
also known as the Pre Tribulation Rapture… Brethren, lets see
what Paul had to say concerning the Second Coming of Jesus
Christ…
That day will NOT come UNLESS…
Paul explains to the Thessalonians that that day will NOT come
UNLESS the following happen…
-
The falling away comes first…
-
The Man of sin is revealed…
These two events have to occur before The Day of the Christ
comes… Paul goes on ahead to warn the Thessalonians that they
should NOT let any one DECIEVE them by ANY means as that day
will NOT come unless those events take place…
Paul’s teachings agree very well with the Prophet Daniel, Jesus
Christ and John the apostle…there is no contradiction at all in
what they write…they all strongly agree with each other.
The
prophet Daniels
states that in the latter days the Antichrist will fight against
the saints and will be destroyed at the coming of The Lord Jesus
Christ…
Daniel 7:20-28
(20)
And of the ten horns that
were
in his head, and
of
the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even
of
that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great
things, whose look
was
more stout than his fellows.
(21)
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and
prevailed against them;
(22)
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the
saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints
possessed the kingdom.
(23)
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon
earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall
devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in
pieces.
(24)
And the ten horns out of this kingdom
are
ten kings
that shall arise: and
another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the
first, and he shall subdue three kings.
(25)
And he shall speak
great
words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of
the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they
shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the
dividing of time.
(26)
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his
dominion, to consume and to destroy
it
unto the end.
(27)
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom
under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the
saints of the most High, whose kingdom
is
an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey
him.
(28)
Hitherto is
the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much
troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the
matter in my heart.
Jesus
Christ
clearly speaks of the Abomination of Desolation being set up of
course by the Antichrist, thereafter which will be such great
tribulation in which the saints will heavily be persecuted…and
Jesus Christ returning after the tribulation of those days…
Matthew 24:15
(15)
When ye
therefore
shall
see the
abomination
of
desolation, spoken
of by
Daniel
the prophet,
stand
in the
holy
place, (whoso readeth,
let him
understand:)
Matthew 24:21-22
(21)
For
then shall
be
great tribulation,
such as
was not
since
the beginning
of the
world
to this time,
no, nor
ever shall
be.
(22)
And
except those
days
should be
shortened,
there
should no
flesh
be saved:
but for
the elect's sake those
days
shall be
shortened.
Matthew 24:29
(29)
Immediately
after
the tribulation
of
those days
shall
the sun
be
darkened, and
the
moon shall
not
give her
light,
and the
stars
shall fall
from
heaven, and
the
powers of
the
heavens shall
be
shaken:
John in
the Book of Revelation
narrates how he saw the Antichrist fight against the saints and
is destroyed when Jesus Christ returns…
Revelation 13:1-10
(1)
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up
out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his
horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
(2)
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet
were as the
feet
of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon
gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
(3)
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his
deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the
beast.
(4)
And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast:
and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who
is
like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
(5)
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty
and
two months.
(6)
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme
his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
(7)
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to
overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and
tongues, and nations.
(8)
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names
are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world.
(9)
If any man have an ear, let him hear.
(10)
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that
killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is
the patience and the faith of the saints.
It is a coincidence that the writers in the Bible all agree
concerning the return of Jesus Christ or is it proponents of the
Pre Tribulation rapture and IMMINENT Return teachers that are
contradicting scripture?
So, for the day of The Christ – the day of The Lord to come, we
must first see the Falling away and the revealing of the Man of
Sin…
The Falling Away…
Concerning the Falling Away… Paul the apostle is speaking about
those who will fall way from the Truth and follow after
deceptive spirits and doctrines of demons… The Greek word for
the phrase ‘the falling away’ is…
G646
apostasia
ap-os-tas-ee'-ah
Feminine of the same as G647; defection from truth (properly the
state), (“apostasy”): - falling away, forsake.
The Greek meaning for ‘Falling Away’ is ‘Apostasia’
commonly known as Apostasy with meaning of …
-
Defection from truth…
-
Falling away…
-
Forsake…that forsaking truth…
Paul, the apostle is speaking of a time that will come when some
of those who know the truth will decide to forsake the truth and
defect or depart from truth and follow after doctrines of devils
and demons.
Paul repeats this in his other letters to the churches, Peter,
Jude and John point to this ‘defection’ from truth in the last
days. When we see this event take place in which Christians
defect from truth and give heed to doctrines of man and demons,
we should know that we are in the last days and that the next
event that will transpire is the revealing or unveiling of the
Antichrist….
Matthew 24:23-25
(23)
Then if
any man
shall say
unto
you, Lo,
here
is
Christ,
or there;
believe
it
not.
(24)
For
there shall
arise
false Christs, and
false prophets,
and
shall show
great
signs and
wonders;
insomuch that,
if
it
were
possible,
they
shall deceive
the
very elect.
(25)
Behold,
I have
told you before.
1 Timothy 4:1-2
(1)
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits,
and doctrines of devils;
(2)
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with
a hot iron;
2 Timothy 3:1-5
(1)
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
(2)
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
(3)
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
(4)
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than
lovers of God;
(5)
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away.
2 Timothy 4:1-4
(1)
I charge
thee therefore before
God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and
the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
(2)
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(3)
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears;
(4)
And they shall turn away
their
ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Peter 2:1-3
(1)
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as
there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring
in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them,
and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
(2)
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom
the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
(3)
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make
merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth
not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
1 John 2:18-23
(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.
(19)
They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had
been of us, they would
no
doubt
have continued with us: but
they
went
out,
that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
(20)
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all
things.
(21)
I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but
because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
(22)
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He
is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
(23)
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he
that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
Jude 1:3-4
(3)
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the
common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and
exhort you
that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints.
(4)
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of
old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the
grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord
God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is no doubt that today, many Christians have defected from
truth and given heed to doctrines of demons. Many have followed
false Christs (false anointed ones) and gone after miracles
while forsaking Truth. This is the Falling Away happening before
our very eyes. Christians are forsaking the Doctrine of Jesus
Christ and the Teaching in the New Testament to follow after
doctrines of denominations and of Man. The next event is the
revealing of the Man of Sin…
The Man of Sin being revealed…
Paul speaks of the second event that happens after the Falling
Away – the Apostasy…and that is the Man of Sin being revealed…
The Working of the Antichrist is already taking place but THE
Antichrist is yet to be revealed. He will be revealed when he
stands in the Temple in Jerusalem and declares himself to be
God. His true character will be unveiled.
It is interesting that the King James Version uses the phrase
‘that man of sin be revealed’… When we check out the Strong’s
Concordance on the term ‘revealed’ used in this passage we find
out the following…
G601
apokaluptō
ap-ok-al-oop'-to
From G575 and G2572; to take off the cover, that is, disclose: -
reveal.
Revealed here in Greek is ‘apokalupto’ which means…
-
Take off the cover…
-
Disclose…make known, unveil, expose…
-
Reveal…expose, make public, divulge, disclose…
It is very clear that the Man of Sin – the Antichrist will come
under some sort of cover and most folks will not know that this
is the Antichrist until he is exposed when he sets himself up in
the Temple to proclaim that he is God.
For most people this Antichrist – the Man of Sin will come under
the cover of a world peace maker and one who can solve world
problems. Even the Jews in Israel will not know that this man is
the Antichrist – the Man of Sin because perhaps he will grant
them peace to rebuild the Temple and peace with Israel’s enemies
especially the Palestinians and Arabs…
The Antichrist bringing in false peace…
Many people including Christians will be taken away by this
man’s Charisma and wisdom that they not know that He is the Man
of Sin until it is too late… Remember that when they say peace
and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them.
1 Thessalonians 5:3
(3)
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden
destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with
child; and they shall not escape.
At some point in time, folks allover the world will be saying
‘Peace and Safety’ and then sudden destruction begins which I
believe will be the Seal and Trumpet Judgments in the Book of
Revelation being released on the earth as the Antichrist sets up
the Abomination that causes desolation in the Temple…
Where does the ‘Peace and Safety’ Fit, before or after the Great
Tribulation?
Now it is important to note that the folks in the world cannot
say ‘Peace and Safety’ as Jesus Christ is about to return after
the tribulation of those days…this scripture has to fit in
somewhere before the Great Tribulation which is 3.5 years, takes
place. This is because during the Great Tribulation there is
virtually no peace on earthy but chaos, judgments from Heaven,
and war upon the saints launched by the Antichrist…
This is evidence that the Antichrist will surely and certainly
come in with false peace agreements with Israel and people will
not know that he is the Man of Sin especially the Jews, they
will be deceived in accepting an era of Pseudo Peace and Safety
until that time when The Antichrist in ‘exposed’ when he
declares himself as God in the Temple in Jerusalem and thus the
Abomination that causes desolation…
It is also important to note that Temple will have to be rebuilt
in Jerusalem for this scripture to be fulfilled. So, it will
take an agreement to have Israel rebuilt their temple in the
location they want and also it will take time for that Temple to
be rebuilt…
Some have erroneously taught that The Antichrist will just show
up some how out of the blue and go to Jerusalem and maybe a
Temple is miraculously built and then he declares himself to be
God and as such cause the Abomination that causes Desolation.
This is not so brethren, there will be a signing of a peace
treaty – a false covenant between Israel and the Antichrist who
will still be undercover as a man of peace. This is just history
repeating itself…for the Antichrist comes in peacefully…
Daniel 8:23-26
(23)
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors
are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and
understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
(24)
And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he
shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and
shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
(25)
And through his
policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he
shall magnify
himself
in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many:
he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he
shall be broken without hand.
(26)
And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told
is
true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it
shall
be
for many days.
Daniel 11:21-24
(21)
And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they
shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in
peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
(22)
And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before
him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
(23)
And after the league
made
with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and
shall become strong with a small people.
(24)
He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the
province; and he shall do
that
which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he
shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches:
yea,
and he shall forecast his devices against the strongholds, even
for a time.
Just like Antiochus Epiphanes did when he first deceived the
Jews into accepting a false peace accord, then he turned around
and came and took over Jerusalem and desecrated the Temple…
The Antichrist confirms a covenant with many for one week – 7
years…
Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm the
covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he
shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the
overspreading of abominations he shall make
it
desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall
be poured upon the desolate.
Many have argued that the ‘he’ in this verse is Jesus Christ and
argue that the New Testament does not in any way speak about a 7
year covenant that the Antichrist makes with Israel. However,
the ‘he’ here CANNOT be Jesus Christ but the Antichrist whom
Jesus Christ was referring to in Matthew 24:15
Matthew 24:15
(15)
When ye
therefore
shall
see the
abomination
of
desolation, spoken
of by
Daniel
the prophet,
stand
in the
holy
place, (whoso readeth,
let him
understand:)
The fact that Jesus Christ was referring us to the book of
Daniel should be of note. Jesus Christ admonishes the reader to
UNDERSTAND this book of Daniel. You cannot place Daniel 9:27 out
of context with the other types of Antichrists that Daniel
writes about like Antiochus Epiphanes…
Secondly Jesus Christ IS NOT referring to himself here as the
one who will cause the abomination of desolation… Jesus Christ
is NOT the Antichrist… Some as I said earlier argue that the 7
year period of the tribulation is not found in the New Testament
but that it is Jesus Christ who confirms His covenant with many
for one week…
I have argued that let any one dare show me a scripture in the
New Testament that says Jesus Christ will confirm His covenant
with many for ONE WEEK…. No one can come up with such a
scripture… The Covenant that Jesus Christ makes is EVERLASTING
and NEVER TIME SPECIFIED… (I will deal with the 70 weeks of
Daniel in a separate article in much more detail)
So, it is clear that the Antichrist will come with a PEACE AND
SAFETY program that the whole world including the Jews will buy
into and will not know the true character of the Antichrist
until he is UNVEILED, EXPOSED and UNCOVERED when he stands to
declare himself as God in the Temple…
So, Brethren, the Antichrist will sign a 7 year false peace
covenant with Israel and in the Middle of the 7 years, he will
break covenant with the Jews and declare himself to be God and
then the Great Tribulation will start which will be 3.5 years
full of chaos, judgments from Heaven, the forced 666 Economics,
and war on the saints by the Antichrist…
So let us watch as President Bush and EU leaders are busy
traveling to Israel seeking a Peace Agreement with Israel and
the Arabs over Palestine State and dividing of Jerusalem… Don’t
over look this, it is serious and we are to watch as The Lord
commanded us to…
He that restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way…
2 Thessalonians 2:5-7
(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.
Another contentious issue when it comes to Bible Prophecy is the
issue of who is the ‘Restrainer’ in 2Thessalonians 2:6-7. Some
have argued that the ‘Restrainer’ is the Church and the Holy
Spirit. These are folks from the Pre Tribulation camp who claim
that when the rapture takes place, then the Church and the Holy
Spirit will be taken out of the way giving room to the
Antichrist… However, we see the work of the Holy Spirit during
the Tribulation, we also see saints present during the great
tribulation, and so then that argument does not work.
Secondly if it is the Church that is resisting evil on the
earth, then the church seems to be doing a very bad job as we
see evil increasing and abounding in these last days. We also
see evil taking place inside many Churches. So the argument does
not hold up.
We must remember that the restrainer restrains the revealing of
the Antichrist. The Bible is clear that the mystery of iniquity
is already at work and there is one who restrains the revealing
of the Antichrist and so the antichrist will not be revealed
until he that restrains is taken out of the way…
Events prior to the Great Tribulation, a clue to the Restrainer…
Now when we put the pieces of this puzzle together, we are led
to look at what happens just before the Antichrist is revealed
and the start of the Great Tribulation as detailed in scripture…
In other words, what events transpire according to the Bible
just before the Antichrist is revealed and right after his being
revealed, including the start of the Great Tribulation.
We know that the Great Tribulation does NOT start until the
Antichrist is exposed in the Temple as he declares himself to be
God. So, if we can figure out the events that happen prior and
around the start of the Great Tribulation, we can figure out who
the ‘restrainer’ is that is taken out of the way… This will help
us see who it is that is ‘taken out of the way’ so that the
Antichrist is revealed…
Matthew 24:15-22
(15)
When ye
therefore
shall
see the
abomination
of
desolation, spoken
of by
Daniel
the prophet,
stand
in the
holy
place, (whoso readeth,
let him
understand:)
(16)
Then
let them
which
be in
Judea
flee into
the
mountains:
(17)
Let him
which
is on
the
housetop not
come down
to take
any thing
out of
his house:
(18)
Neither
let him
which
is in
the
field return
back to
take
his clothes.
(19)
And woe
unto | |
