THE MAN OF SIN PART II: THE HISTORY by David Vaughn Elliott

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THE MAN OF SIN

PART II: THE HISTORY

by David Vaughn Elliott

    Paul warned that "the mystery of lawlessness is already at work" (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Thus the fulfillment of this prophecy began in the first century. Something was already working in Paul's day which in time produced "the man of sin... the son of perdition... the lawless one."  

"ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME"

    Most students of prophecy, from Paul's day to this, understand that the little horn of Daniel 7 and the beasts of Revelation 13 and 17 are related to Rome. Today there are three major views about when Rome is involved. The preterists place the fulfillment in our past. The historicists place it in our present. The futurists place it in our future.  

    Most agree that 2 Thessalonians 2 is part of the same prophetic picture. This means that "the man of sin" will be found in Rome. The evidence studied in Part I: The Prophecypoints to the conclusion that "the man of sin," "the son of perdition" refers to the most outstanding apostate church. Add Rome to the equation and the fulfillment of the prophecy becomes obvious. 

"I TOLD YOU... YOU KNOW"

    The Bible was not sealed in a vacuum as soon as it was written, to be untouched by human hands until it reached each of us in the 21st century. To ignore the intervening centuries is shortsighted and egotistical. If we do not learn from others, why should we expect others to learn from us? 

    "I told you... you know," said Paul, "what is restraining" (2 Thessalonians 2:5,6). This is amazing. The saints in Thessalonica knew. Paul had taught them in person. But the Holy Spirit prevented Paul from writing it down. Is there any other place in Scripture like this? The writer says his readers know what he is talking about, but he shrinks from writing it down. It becomes irresistible to scan early Christian writers to learn what they can tell us. Can you conceive that the first-century Christians would not pass the information on?  

    Before examining early Christian writers, we need to be aware of three things. 

    1) They were not inspired. Therefore, they express many contradictory views on prophecy as well as other matters. 

    2) Before a particular prophecy is fulfilled, we cannot expect Christians to understand it all. The apostles, for example, with Jesus in their midst, did not have correct views of many messianic prophecies. 

    3) After a prophecy is fulfilled, there will always be those who will deny its fulfillment. The Jews, for example, to this very day, deny that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah.  

    With these precautions in mind, it is still very enlightening to discover what Christians through the ages have believed regarding various prophecies. Especially is this true in this case in which Paul said, "You know... "  

NOT FULFILLED IN THE FIRST CENTURY

    The preterist view teaches that "the man of sin" appeared in the first century. They apply all the details of 2 Thessalonians 2 to events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. They quote authorities with identical views, but never anyone earlier than the seventeenth century. Why not earlier? The reason is simple. There are no earlier authorities.  

    Not one writer prior to 1600 A.D. ever mentions anybody who believed that "the man of sin" prophecy was fulfilled in the first century. Notice:  

    1) The Thessalonians knew who was restraining. 

    2) Many Christian writers in the second to fifth centuries wrote in detail about this prophecy. 

    3) Not one early writer thought "the man of sin" prophecy was fulfilled in the first century.  

    4) The early writers often discuss views contrary to their own. None of them mention anyone who applied this prophecy to the first century.  

    In the 18th century, Thomas Newton, in his famous "Dissertations on the Prophecies," discusses 2 Thessalonians 2 at length. He mentions five recent writers who claimed that "the man of sin" prophecy was fulfilled in the first century. He points out that they disagree with the majority of interpreters, and indeed disagree with each other as well as with all who were before them. 

    Then he remarks: "If this prophecy [2 Thessalonians 2] was fulfilled, as these critics conceive, before the destruction of Jerusalem, it is surprising that none of the fathers [early Christian writers] should agree with any of them in the same application, and that the discovery should first be made sixteen or seventeen hundred years after the completion. The fathers might differ and be mistaken in the circumstances of a prophecy which was yet to be fulfilled; but that a prophecy should be remarkably accomplished before their time, and they be totally ignorant of it, and speak of the accomplishment as still future, is not very credible" (page 400).  

THE EARLY CHRISTIANS SPEAK

    A search into early Christian writings reveals that many believers had a definite view as to what was restraining or withholding the appearance of "the man of sin." No, there is no writer who claims to quote the apostle Paul or one who heard the apostle Paul saying what was restraining. Nevertheless, these early Christians lived infinitely closer to the source than we do. They were thus in a far better position than we are today of being in touch with the information which Paul imparted to the saints in Thessalonica. What early Christian writers thought Paul was talking about should surely be seriously investigated before considering novel interpretations of the 21st century.  

    In light of the many divergent views on prophecy which we find among the early Christian writers, it is impressive that there is so much agreement on the question of what was restraining-withholding-hindering. In the end, of course, their view has to be tested both by Scripture and history. But as we follow their view and watch history develop, we cannot help but be impressed with the fact that the early Christians were on the right track in regard to much of this prophecy--well before it was fulfilled. 

IRENAEUS: 130 to 202 A.D. 

    Irenaeus was born about 30 years after the apostle John died. In his extensive work, "Against Heresies," Irenaeus devoted several chapters to Daniel 7, Revelation 13 and 2 Thessalonians 2. Typical of believers in all ages, he understood that the three prophecies are related. Irenaeus wrote: 

    "Daniel too, looking forward to the end of the last kingdom, i.e., the ten last kings, amongst whom the kingdom of those men shall be partitioned, and upon whom the son of perdition shall come, declares that ten horns shall spring from the beast, and that another little horn shall arise in the midst of them." 

    "In a still clearer light has John, in the Apocalypse, indicated to the Lord's disciples what shall happen in the last times, and concerning the ten kings who shall then arise, among whom the empire which now rules [Rome] shall be partitioned" ("Against Heresies," book 5, chapter 25, paragraph 3; chapter 26, paragraph 1). 

TERTULLIAN: 145 to 220 A.D. 

    Not many years later, Tertullian, quoting and commenting on 2 Thessalonians 2, wrote the following. He blends "the man of sin" prophecy with the prophecies of the ten-horned beast. 

    "Again, in the second epistle he [Paul] addresses them with even greater earnestness: 'For that day shall not come, unless indeed there first come a falling away,' he means indeed of this present empire, 'and that man of sin be revealed,' that is to say, Antichrist, 'the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God... And now ye know what detaineth, that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now hinders must hinder, until he be taken out of the way.' What obstacle is there but the Roman state, the falling away of which, by being scattered into ten kingdoms, shall introduce Antichrist upon (its own ruins)?" ("Of the Resurrection of the Flesh," chapter 24).  

HIPPOLYTUS: 170 to 236 A.D. 

    A few years later yet, Hippolytus wrote "A Treatise on Christ and Antichrist." While discussing Daniel 2 and 7, he wrote: 

    "The golden head of the image and the lioness denoted the Babylonians; the shoulders and arms of silver, and the bear, represented the Persians and Medes; the belly and thighs of brass, and the leopard, meant the Greeks, who held the sovereignty from Alexander's time; the legs of iron, and the beast dreadful and terrible, expressed the Romans, who hold the sovereignty at present; the toes of the feet which were part clay and part iron, and the ten horns, were emblems of the kingdoms that are yet to rise; the other little horn that grows up among them meant the Antichrist in their midst" (paragraph 28).  

CYRIL OF JERUSALEM: 315 to 386 A.D. 

    Moving to the fourth century, Cyril, after quoting 2 Thessalonians 2, said the following: 

    "Thus wrote Paul, and now is the 'falling away'... now the Church is filled with heretics in disguise. For men have fallen away from the truth, and 'have itching ears'... This therefore is 'the falling away,' and the enemy is soon to be looked for...  

    "But this aforesaid Antichrist is to come when the times of the Roman empire shall have been fulfilled, and the end of the world is now drawing near. There shall rise up together ten kings of the Romans, reigning in different parts perhaps, but all about the same time; and after these an eleventh, the Antichrist, who by his magical craft shall seize upon the Roman power...  

    " 'So that he seateth himself in the temple of God.' What temple then? He means, the Temple of the Jews which has been destroyed. For God forbid that it should be the one in which we are!" (Lecture 15, paragraphs 9,12,15). 

    Cyril, living before the fulfillment, preferred to think that "temple of God" meant the temple of the Jews. He recoiled from the idea of "the man of sin" sitting in the church. Nevertheless, the way he expresses himself shows that he understood that "temple of God" could well refer to the church. Many today miss this point. 

CHRYSOSTOM: 347 to 407 A.D. 

    Later in the fourth century, Chrysostom wrote multitudes of homilies based on Scripture texts. In his Homily on 2 Thessalonians 2:6-9, he says: 

    "What then is it that withholdeth, that is, hindereth him from being revealed? Some indeed say, the grace of the Spirit, but others the Roman empire, to whom I most of all accede. Wherefore? Because if he meant to say the Spirit, he would not have spoken obscurely, but plainly... But because he said this of the Roman empire, he naturally glanced at it, and speaks covertly and darkly. For he did not wish to bring upon himself superfluous enmities, and useless dangers...  

    " 'Only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way,' that is, when the Roman empire is taken out of the way, then he shall come. And naturally. For as long as the fear of this empire lasts, no one will willingly exit himself, but when that is dissolved, he will attack the anarchy, and endeavor to seize upon the government both of man and of God" (paragraphs 1-2). 

JEROME: 340 to 420 A.D. 

    Jerome wrote this first letter in 396 A.D. and the second in 409 A.D. Already the Roman Empire was in deep trouble from the barbarians. 

    "I shudder when I think of the catastrophes of our time... The Roman world is falling: yet we hold up our heads instead of bowing them...  

    "Rome's army, once victor and Lord of the world, now trembles with terror at the sight of the foe" (Letter #60 to Heliodorus, paragraphs 16,17).  

    "But what am I doing? Whilst I talk about the cargo, the vessel itself founders. He that letteth [restrains] is taken out of the way, and yet we do not realize that Antichrist is near. Yes, Antichrist is near whom the Lord Jesus Christ 'shall consume with the spirit of his mouth'...  

    "For thirty years the barbarians burst the barrier of the Danube and fought in the heart of the Roman Empire... Rome has to fight within her own borders not for glory but for bare life" (Letter #123 to Ageruchia, paragraphs 16, 17). 

AUGUSTINE: 345 to 430 A.D. 

    In his famous "City of God," Augustine wrote: "I can on no account omit what the Apostle Paul says, in writing to the Thessalonians, 'We beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,' etc.  

    "No one can doubt that he wrote this of Antichrist and of the day of judgment, which he here calls the day of the Lord, nor that he declared that this day should not come unless he first came who is called the apostate... Then as for the words, 'And now ye know what withholdeth,' i.e., ye know what hindrance or cause of delay there is, 'that he might be revealed in his own time;' they show that he was unwilling to make an explicit statement, because he said that they knew... I frankly confess I do not know what he means. I will nevertheless mention such conjectures as I have heard or read.  

    "Some think that the Apostle Paul referred to the Roman empire, and that he was unwilling to use language more explicit, lest he should incur the calumnious charge of wishing ill to the empire which it was hoped would be eternal... But others think that the words, 'Ye know what withholdeth,' and 'The mystery of iniquity worketh,' refer only to the wicked and the hypocrites who are in the Church, until they reach a number so great as to furnish Antichrist with a great people, and that this is the mystery of iniquity" (book 20, chapter 19, paragraphs 1-3). 

    Christian writers of the second, third and fourth centuries have spoken. From these brief excerpts, we can make the following general observations of what was widely believed: 

    1) that Daniel 7, 2 Thessalonians 2, and Revelation 13 and 17 are interrelated, all prophesying about Rome. 

    2) that the little horn of Daniel 7 and the "man of sin" of 2 Thessalonians 2 refer to a future (to them) "antichrist." 

    3) that the antichrist would appear when Rome fell; that the Roman Empire was that which, in their time, was restraining the rise of the "man of sin." 

A TINY WORD REGARDING THE "DARK AGES"

    Before historical fulfillment, it was impossible for the early Christians to understand exactly what was going to transpire. But what is very impressive is that, being students of God's prophetic Word, many of them rightly understood that the "man of sin" would appear when Rome fell. 

    Rome fell in 476 A.D. The bishop of Rome stepped into the vacuum and took the place of the Emperor. As the years went by, the popes gained incredible powers over the bodies and souls of men. Popes crowned emperors. In a clash between Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII, the Emperor was left standing barefoot in the snow for three days in January 1077, until Gregory withdrew his excommunication. This style of power lasted for centuries. The entire history of this period is well covered in the history books and is beyond the scope of this article. 

THE REFORMERS KNEW THE TRUTH ABOUT ROME

    Nearly a millennium after the last writers quoted--as early as the 13th century, if not before--one voice after another began to cry: "The pope of Rome is antichrist"; "the pope is the man of sin." The voices grew louder and louder until a full-blown Reformation Movement took shape. From that day until recent times, Protestants have been united in calling the Roman Pontiff "the man of sin."  

    Rather than prove this with endless quotations from Protestants over the centuries, let us rather see that both preterists and futurists admit this historical fact. 

    Gary DeMar, a modern preterist, totally rejects the idea that the pope is "the man of sin." He thinks 2 Thessalonians 2 and related prophecies were fulfilled in the first century by Nero and the Jews. Nevertheless he admits: 

    "For centuries the papacy was the unanimous candidate for the Antichrist. The papal system was identified as 'both "the man of sin" and the Babylonian whore of which Scripture forewarns (2 Thessalonians 2; Revelation 19). In the conviction of the sixteenth-century Protestants, Rome was the great Anti-Christ, and so firmly did this belief become established that it was not until the nineteenth century that it was seriously questioned by evangelicals' " ("Last Days Madness," page 207,208). 

    Again: "The Reformers, almost without exception, believed the 'man of lawlessness' to be the Roman Pontiff. In their dedication to the King James Version of the Bible (1611) the translators identified the Pope as the 'man of sin' of 2 Thessalonians 2: 'The zeal of your majesty [King James] toward the house of God doth not slack or go backward but is more and more kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of Christendom by writing a defence of the truth which hath given such a blow to that man of sin as will not be healed' " (page 330). You will find this in the "Dedicatory" in the front of your King James Bible. Later in the same "Dedicatory," the translators speak of "Popish Persons" on one hand and "Brethren" on the other hand. 

    Dave Hunt is a well-known futurist. He does believe that the Roman Catholic Church is the "whore" called Babylon in Revelation 17. However, being a futurist, he believes that the beasts of Revelation 13 and 17 are in the future, as are also the little horns of Daniel 7 and 8 and "the man of sin" of 2 Thessalonians 2. He believes the antichrist is probably alive now but will not be revealed until during "the tribulation" after "the rapture." With all these beliefs, he yet admits: 

    "Early Protestant creeds unanimously called the Pope Antichrist."  

    "It is only after the Russian Revolution that Christians began to view Communism as the Antichrist system. Yet for 400 years before 1917, Catholicism was so identified by Protestants" ("Global Peace and the Rise of Antichrist," pages 108, 136). 

TURNING THEIR BACKS ON HISTORY

    History shows that the early Christians understood that the antichrist would arise when Rome fell. History shows that they were right. History shows that when the Reformation came, preachers, politicians and the populace declared that the pope was "the man of sin," the antichrist. History shows that the vast majority of Bible believers continued in this conviction until recent times. History shows that modern evangelicals are preaching a new doctrine when they refuse to believe that the pope is "the man of sin."  

    To reject the pope of Rome as "the man of sin" is to forget those who were burned at the stake because they dared translate or even possess a Bible in any language but Latin! To deny that the pope is "the son of perdition" is to turn one's back on the thousands of martyrs whose bodies were twisted and wrenched by the "Holy" Inquisition. To deny that the Roman Church is "the falling away" (apostasy) is to minimize the gross perversion of sound doctrine that still emanates from the Vatican. 

    Among the hottest items in the religious marketplace today are the sensational books and videos about "the rapture," "the tribulation" and the "antichrist," which the producers openly advertise as fiction. Instead of prophecy-fiction, it would be a far more beneficial use of time, money and energy to produce historical documentaries on the church of the Middle Ages. Truth is stranger and more startling than fiction. Those who think that a mere seven years of tribulation in our future could possibly be worse than the realities of the Dark Ages need to brush the dust off their history books. 

    (Scripture in the preceding article is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright (c) 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.) 

THE MAN OF SIN PART I: THE PROPHECY by David Vaughn Elliott

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THE MAN OF SIN

PART I: THE PROPHECY

by David Vaughn Elliott

   We are all sinners. Yet, one man in all history is singled out as "the man of sin... the son of perdition." Not a lovely description. Why talk about him? Yet, the Word of God does talk about him. 

    Most students of Scripture, past and present, see a connection between "the man of sin" of 2 Thessalonians 2 and the "little horn" of Daniel 7. They also see a connection with one or more of the beasts in Revelation 13 and with "the great harlot" and "Babylon" in Revelation 17 and 18. From ancient times, these outstanding prophecies have been lumped together under the common title "antichrist."  

    In spite of such agreement, views regarding the fulfillment vary widely. Is this enemy of God someone in the past, present or future? The most popular view today, futurism, says that he is yet in the future. To the opposite extreme are a growing number today, preterists, who believe that he is a relic of ancient history. Howbeit, for hundreds of years, the vast majority of Bible believers unswervingly proclaimed that "the man of sin" is a present reality.  

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

    Since there are so many conflicting views, why bother to try to figure out who "the man of sin" is in 2 Thessalonians 2? To ask that question betrays an ignorance of the text. This is not just some idle study out of vain curiosity. Eternal issues are at stake here.  

    Number One: Christ versus "the man of sin" (verses 1-3). It is our Lord Jesus Christ on the one side, and "the man of sin" on the other. Paul assures his readers that Christ is coming, but that "the man of sin" is also coming. The best and the worst. The Son of God versus a son of the devil (verse 9). Nothing less is involved than the eternal battle between the forces of good and evil. The eternal battle between God and Satan. 

    Number Two: "not shaken" versus "falling away" (verses 2-4). Some people think the study of prophecy has little to do with "practical" Christianity. How much more practical can you get than holding fast or falling away? The problem is that many believers think that "falling away" relates only to drunkenness, adultery, forsaking the assembly and the like. However, Paul speaks of being "shaken" by not knowing if "the day of Christ" is past or future. Paul speaks of "the falling way" which involves "worship" in "the temple of God." We need to investigate what this is all about. 

    Number Three: "the love of the truth" versus "not receive the love of the truth" (verse 10). Love God. Love Jesus. Love your brother. Love your spouse. Love your neighbor. Love your enemy. Also--love the truth. To some people, "love" means "sex." To others, "love" means "unconditional acceptance" of whatever another person believes or does. Enter "love of the truth." That love is not at all popular in our relativistic-materialistic society. It is not at all popular with the do-it-if-it-makes-you-feel-good club. If you love the truth, you will search for it as diligently as for a hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:1-4). 

    Number Four: "truth" versus "deception," "delusion" and a "lie" (verses 10,11). Living the Christian life is more than morality. It has to do with what we believe. It has to do with truth versus error. In the Garden of Eden, it was God's truth versus Satan's lie. It still is. Eve wanted the "freedom" of "choice." Paul tells Timothy that Eve was deceived. So are millions today by "the man of sin." We are not dealing here with idle prophetic curiosity. We are dealing with nothing less than the issue of truth versus lies. Jesus is truth. Satan is the father of lies. That is what this prophecy is all about. 

    Number Five: "saved" versus "condemned" (verses 10, 12). Eternity is involved in "the man of sin" prophecy. Saved or lost; blessed or condemned. Many Christians sidestep various issues by retorting: "Well, it isn't a matter of salvation." However, the issues of this prophecy are very much "a matter of salvation." This prophecy has very much to do with understanding the characteristics of those who are saved and those who are condemned. The issue is live and real.  

    Number Six: holiness versus "unrighteousness" (verse 12). Yes, morality does count. You cannot believe right and live wrong. At issue here are those who have "pleasure in unrighteousness." Reminds us of "lovers of pleasure" in 2 Timothy 3:4. Sin is fun; you had better believe it. Fun now; pay later. If it were not fun, why would people bother with it? Moses chose to suffer with the people of God rather than "enjoy the passing pleasures of sin" (Hebrews 11:25). "The man of sin" has to do with fun religion. Fun because you can have one foot in a church and another foot in the world. They "worship" yet have "pleasure in unrighteousness." 

    These are six solid reasons why "the man of sin" prophecy merits serious study on the part of every person who cares about his relationship with the God of the universe and His precious Son. 

MUST BE BASED ON SOUND DOCTRINE

    The interpretation of prophecy must always agree with sound doctrine. Example: if Christians are no longer obligated to keep the Sabbath, then the seal of God in Revelation 7 cannot possibly be Sabbath keeping. The doctrinal issue must be settled before attempting to interpret prophecy. 

    The prophecy at hand has several doctrinal issues that must be clarified in the light of New Testament Scripture. Among the most important issues is the meaning of "the temple of God," since that is where "the man of sin" will sit.  

WHICH "TEMPLE OF GOD"?

    Six centuries before Christ, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia devastated the temple in Jerusalem. Howbeit, three great prophets of God, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel, foretold the rebuilding of Jerusalem with its temple. Ezra and Nehemiah recorded the history of the fulfillment.  

    Nevertheless, Daniel and Jesus prophesied the destruction of this second temple. That was powerfully fulfilled in 70 A.D. (See Index by Subject, especially under heading "70 Weeks of Daniel 9.") There is not one Bible prophecy foretelling a rebuilding of Jerusalem's temple after its destruction in 70 A.D. 

    Those who claim the temple will be built again at some future date base their views solely on inference. Their arguments run like this: "Since the man of sin will sit in the temple of God, the temple in Jerusalem has to be built again in order to fulfill that prophecy." 

    What proof is there that "the temple of God" in 2 Thessalonians 2 is to be a physical temple in physical Jerusalem? Indeed, there are at least three reasons for rejecting that interpretation. First is the fact already mentioned that no Scripture makes a direct prediction of rebuilding after 70 A.D. 

    Secondly, one must consider the nature of the Jerusalem temple in the New Testament. Everyone understands that the temple in Jerusalem was the temple of God when Jesus arrived on the scene. Jesus himself said of the temple, "Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" (John 2:16). It was in the temple that animals were sacrificed and their blood shed for the remission of the people's sins. However, Jesus came into the world to offer His own body and blood as the perfect sacrifice for sins. Thus, at the moment of His death, God acted in an unprecedented manner: "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked" (Matthew 27:51). In this graphic fashion God declared that when Jesus died, He was finished with that physical temple. 

    Following the rending of the veil, the term "house of God" never again refers to the temple in Jerusalem. A physical temple has not existed now for over 1900 years. Any physical temple built today would be a slap in the face to Jesus, who shed His blood to do away with the temple's animal sacrifices. The second temple, which existed in Jesus' day, was once the temple of God and then ceased to be. A third temple, if built, would not for one second of time be a temple of God. 

    This brings us to the third point. Notice how clear 1 Timothy 3:15 states it: "that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." Scripture could not say any more clearly what the "house of God" is today. God's church. 

    The same is true of the expression "temple of God." Examination shows that after Jesus' death, "temple of God" never again refers to the physical temple in physical Jerusalem. Rather, it refers to the church of God. It seems that our brethren in Corinth were not quite clear on this point. Thus Paul asked them, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and [that] the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). Today we would ask people a similar question: "When you study prophecy about the 'temple of God,' do you not know that since Jesus' death the people of God are the 'temple of God'? Do you not know that the 'house of God' is the church of God?" 

    This is sound doctrine. Using sound doctrine as the basis for the study of prophecy, the careful student of the New Testament will realize that when 2 Thessalonians 2 speaks prophetically of "the temple of God," it must be a prophecy about the church. Something very bad is going to happen to Jesus' church. 

WHAT IS APOSTASY?

    There are more doctrinal issues that must be clarified in the light of Scripture before attempting to find the fulfillment of "the man of sin" prophecy. The matter of the "temple of God" is only the first. 

    Second, there is the question of the meaning of the expression "the apostasy." Actually, several versions make it clear when they render the word "the falling away." That is exactly what apostasy means.  

    A man can not fall from a cliff if he has never been on the cliff. A child cannot fall from a train she never boarded. Since this prophecy has something to do with "the temple of God," the church, it is therefore predicting a falling away from the true church. It is a prophecy about apostasy, a prophecy about a departure from the faith "once for all delivered" (Jude 3). The prophecy cannot be talking about Judaism, because it preceded the church of Christ. It cannot be talking about Islam, because it is a wholly distinct religion unrelated to the Gospel of Christ. We have to study church history to search for "the falling away."  

    Notice also that the prophecy is not about just any falling away. It prophesies "the" falling away, "the" apostasy. That would seem to tell us that to find fulfillment we must look for the most important false church in all history.  

    Connected with the idea of falling away is "the lawless one." That is to say, he would turn his back on the law of Christ and establish his own laws. A person is a "law breaker" for breaking just one law. However "lawless one" conveys the idea of someone who repeatedly and in large measure opposes the commandments of the New Testament. This prophecy, then, is not dealing with just any slight variation from the true Gospel. It foretells a departure of major proportions.  

    Paul wrote this more than 1900 years ago. Before thinking that "the man of sin" might be future, a believer must search 1900 years of church history to see if the prophecy has already been fulfilled. It is only when people ignore 19 centuries of Christianity that they can be deceived into thinking that fulfillment is in the future. 

ONE MAN OR A GROUP OF MEN?

    Third, there is the question of how many people are involved. The text says "the man" of sin. However, in Bible prophecy, one person often represents an entire body of people. For example, most students agree that the four beasts in Daniel 7 represent Babylonia, Persia, Greece and Rome. Each beast represents an entire empire. Daniel 7 clearly says as much. In verse 17, it says "Those great beasts, which are four, [are] four kings." Yet, in further exposition, in verse 23 it says, "The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth." So, a beast represents a man and both represent a kingdom. This Bible symbolism is not nearly as strange as some seem to think it is. Ever hear of Uncle Sam? What about the elephant and donkey representing the Republicans and Democrats? 

    This same type of symbolism is found in Revelation 17. Who would argue that "the great harlot" is a prophecy of a red-light-district prostitute? Indeed, the prophecy itself clears up any doubt when verse 18 says, "And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth." One woman represents an entire city. She represents especially the power of the leaders of that city to exercise control over many nations. 

    Both Daniel and Revelation thus make clear that a prophetic individual may well represent an entire city or an entire empire, especially the governmental powers. 

A MATTER OF RELIGION

    Fourth, "worship" is involved in this prophecy. Whatever political power he may have, "the man of sin" is a religious figure. He presents himself as God. Moreover, he does this in the temple of God, which is the church.  

    God does not want just any religion. The very first murder in the human race was for religious motives. "The LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry" (Genesis 4:4,5). The first sin of Cain was not murder, not even hate for his brother. Cain's first sin was false worship. 

    The Bible is filled with accounts of religious conflict. Jesus, for example, told the Samaritan woman, "You worship what you do not know" (John 4:22). Jesus said of the religious leaders of his day, "in vain they worship Me, teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9). "The man of sin" is all about false worship. 

MIRACLES BY SATAN

    Fifth, the apostate church here foretold would be "the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:9). This eliminates many apostate people and organizations as candidates for "the man of sin." "The man of sin" works miracles. Satan working miracles is nothing new to the Bible. As early as the time of the Exodus, Pharaoh's magicians were capable of duplicating Moses' signs of turning rods into snakes, of turning water into blood and of producing a plague of frogs (Exodus 7:8 to 8:19). Yes, Moses by the hand of the Almighty outdid them. However, make no mistake about it. These pagan magicians worked real miracles.  

    There are numerous ways God's people can distinguish between the miracles of God and the miracles of Satan. One way is exactly that recorded in Exodus 8:18: "Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not." They had worked many miracles, but they came to the point where they tried again and they failed. Anyone who tries to work a miracle and fails is not of God, no matter what other miracles he has worked. Because God's miracle workers do not fail. They do not blame other people for their failures. 

    Sixth, do not overlook the fact that "strong delusion" (verse 11) is a part of the picture. Do not expect the people of the world to be convinced easily that some false church is "the man of sin." Do not expect the ecumenical movement to believe it. Do not expect those who put unity above purity of doctrine to believe it. "The man of sin" is very religious, he works miracles, he seems to many to be the true church of our Lord. Multitudes will be deceived, strongly deluded. 

STARTED IN PAUL'S DAY

    Paul made it clear that in his day "the mystery of lawlessness is already at work" (verse 7). Therefore, in searching for the fulfillment of this prophecy, we must look for some principle, some spirit, some activity that was already at work in the first century. It makes no sense to start our search with the year 2000 and work backward. It makes even less sense to theorize about some future possibility. How can we believe that something, which was already at work in Paul's day, has not been able to break out into the open for over 1900 years?  

    Rather, the sensible thing is to start our search with the first century and move forward in time. We must examine the movement of church history from its origin. We must search for something that was already working in Paul's day that in time became the full-blown apostate church. When we find that, if it fulfills all the details of the prophecy, then we have found "the man of sin."  

DESTROYED WHEN JESUS COMES

    Verse 8 of our text is very clear: "the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will... destroy with the brightness of His coming." Clearly "the man of sin," the antichrist, comes before Jesus returns.  

    Strange as it may seem, the popular futurist view says just the opposite and uses this text as a basis. "They" say that the antichrist will be manifested in all his power after the "rapture."  

    Futurists accomplish their twist by making "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 1) as one event, "the day of Christ" (verse 2) a second event, and "His coming" (verse 8) a third event. They claim the text teaches four events in this order: the rapture, the man of sin, the tribulation and the Second Coming of Jesus. Did Paul say all that? 

    "They" claim that the "coming" in verse 1 is "the rapture" and that the "coming" in verse 8 is "the Second Coming" seven years later. However, the Greek word for "coming" in the two verses is identical. If they are two different comings, then verse 1 is the Second Coming and verse 3 is the Third Coming. However, since no one accepts the idea of a third coming, "they" avoid such an expression. Instead, they invent the theory of "two phases" to the "second" coming. (See Insight #78 for a full treatment of "The Rapture.")  At this time, the discussion will be limited to 2 Thessalonians 2. 

    Their theory holds that "the day of the Lord" (or "day of Christ") is neither the Second Coming nor the Third Coming. Rather, they say, it is something in between. As in the case of "temple of God," they lean heavily on Old Testament usage while sidestepping New Testament usage.  

    Without leaving 2 Thessalonians 2, let us examine the question. In verse 1, Paul introduces the topic for discussion: "the coming of our Lord Jesus." Now if that is "the rapture," it is the only verse from verses 1 to 12 that speaks of the "rapture." In such a case, "they" put Paul in the position of saying he would talk about one topic but instead he talked about another. 

    But if you take "the day of Christ" (or "the day of the Lord") in context, then certainly "the coming" of our Lord Jesus Christ is "the day" of our Lord Jesus Christ. In verses 1 and 2, Paul is simply saying that in regard to Jesus' coming, don't think that it has already happened. Verse 3 says why they should not believe that: because "the man of sin" must come first. Verse 8 explains that the man of sin will be destroyed by the "coming" of Jesus. Obviously, therefore, "the man of sin" comes before Jesus comes. Now, if the "coming" in verse 8 is not the same "coming" as in verse 1, then Paul said he was going to talk about one thing but tricked us by talking about another thing. 

    These then, are the things to consider about "the man of sin" prophecy before ever going beyond the Biblical text. Once we have learned all we can from the Bible itself, only then are we ready to launch out into history in search of fulfillment.  

    (Scripture in the preceding article is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright (c) 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

An Unfinished Nest by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/unfinished.html
 

An Unfinished Nest

It is spring. Hedges are budding and blossoms decorate the trees.
Yet, as I walked home from town, I saw something that made me sad. A dead sparrow lay beside the road, evidently killed by a passing car.
And still clamped in her motionless beak was a twig.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will" (Matthew 10:29).
God feeds the birds and cares for us (Luke 12:24), yet there is a day of death. Like the rich man, we pass away in the midst of our pursuits (James 1:11).
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that' " (James 4:13-15).
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13).
Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Repentance or consequences by Gary Rose

GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY AS SUNG BY VAUGHN MONROE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsfw9CEQITA

For more information, go to:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(Ghost)_Riders_in_the_Sky:_A_Cowboy_Legend

Riders in the Sky

Vaughn Monroe

Riders In the Sky
Vaughn Monroe

Peak Billboard position # 1 in 1949
Monroe may not have sung it precisely this way but a recording by him was not available so the words and music herein are taken from the sheet music as written by Stan Jones Monroes' version, as well as competing versions by Peggy Lee (# 2), Bing Crosby (#14), and Burl Ives (# 21) were all charted as just "Riders In the Sky"Later, The Ramrods took it to # 30 in 1961 with the parenthetical (Ghost) added,as did the Baja Marimba Band (#52 in 1966) and The Outlaws (#31 in 1981) Lawrence Welk used the original title on his # 87 in 1961.

The Lyrics….

An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw
A'plowin' through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw

Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o

Ghost riders in the sky

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their horns wuz black and shiny and their hot breaths he could feel
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
For he saw the riders comin' hard and he heard their mournful cry

Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost riders in the sky

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, and shirts all soaked with sweat
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught them yet
They've got to ride forever in that range up in the sky
On horses snortin' fire, as they ride on, hear their cry

Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost riders in the sky

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name
"If you want to save your soul from hell a' ridin' on our range"
"Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride"
"A-tryin' to catch the Devil's herd across these endless skies."

Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Stan Jones

Riders in the Sky lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Source:

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ei=SQKCXsKWBobu_QaiqZ74Bw&q=the+lyrics+to+ghost+riders+in+the+sky+by+vaughn+monroe&oq=the+lyrics+to+ghost+riders+in+the+sky+by+vaughn+monroe&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzIFCCEQqwI6BAgAEEc6BggAEBYQHjoFCAAQzQI6BQghEKABUOhcWIKDAWCRjAFoAHACeACAAZ8BiAH8D5IBBDMuMTSYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiC3_-6tMLoAhUGd98KHaKUB38Q4dUDCAo&uact=5

Yesterday morning (3-29-2020) I was on my computer, just filling in time before the Southside church of Christ Facebook broadcast of worship services and I spied a post that interested me. It said something like: find what song was a number one hit when you were born and ask yourself if it could be the theme-song for your life. So, I did a search and found Ghost riders in the sky by Vaughn Monroe (May 1949 – Yes, I am old). I vaguely remembered the title but when I found it and played it over and over. I found that I really enjoyed Vaughn’s baritone voice and the graphics of the video were interesting. The cowboy seemed to look a little bit like Clint Eastwood to me (you may remember him from the series “rawhide”). But, what stood out above everything was that admonition at the end of the song to: “change your ways”.

The world has been enduring a terrible virus for some time now and each day the news gets worse and worse. As the infection spreads and the death toll mounts I wonder if this could be a message from God to “change our ways”? Western civilization, as a whole has turned from God. We have become so wicked that we have even killed something like 40,000,00 unborn children. Compared to a great many nations, even the poorest of us live in luxury. In general, The United States has become self-absorbed, indulgent, prideful and more and more anti-God each year. As I think about it we are something like one of the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation. Jesus’ revelation to the apostle John says…

Revelation 3 ( World English Bible )

  ^[14] “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write:
“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning  of God’s creation, says these things:
  ^[15] “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.   ^[16]  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.   ^[17] Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing,’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;   ^[18]  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.   ^[19]  As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.   ^[20]  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me.   ^[21]  He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.   ^[22]  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.” 

In six months, many of us may no longer be alive. Have you listened to Jesus and acted on it? “Change your ways” is just another way of saying repent.

Question: Have you?