The Man of Sin - Part 5

Who is Keeping the Antichrist from Being Revealed?

II Thessalonians 2:6-8 – “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed…”

We have before us a most debated passage of scripture. Paul writes to the Thessalonian church regarding this man of sin. Paul teaches plainly two truths regarding the “restrainer”: first, that there is a restrainer, defined as someone who is withholding the Antichrist’s power, keeping him from being revealed; and second, that the Thessalonians, at the time of Paul’s writing, already knew the identity of this restrainer. “Ye know what withholdeth that he [the man of sin] might be revealed in his time,” Paul said. Since the Thessalonians already knew the personage of whom Paul was speaking, Paul did not take the time to state it in this passage. I have often wished that Paul would have just written a few more words to clearly identify this restrainer again for the Thessalonians, and thereby end the debate once for all. The Holy Ghost, however, with divine wisdom and purpose, withheld this information from us. The fact of the matter is this: the Bible does not state expressly who the restrainer is. I am very dogmatic when the Bible states something explicitly. But when the Bible does not clearly identify the restrainer, it would not be wise for Christians to break fellowship because of differences on the subject. I will therefore give briefly some theories I have heard, then I will give my own opinion.

Some Say the Restrainer is Human Government and Law*

Perhaps among the oldest of opinions regarding the restrainer is that it is identified by human government and law. Some state that the human government that hindered the Antichrist from being revealed was the Roman Empire. Paul stated in II Thessalonians 2 that the restrainer would be taken out of the way, and then the man of sin would be revealed. The Roman Empire WAS taken out of the way, but the Antichrist still has not been revealed.

As for the restrainer being human government in general, a simple study in Revelation will show that even after the Antichrist is revealed, there will still be human government. In Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of the world empires, human government DOES come crashing down, but not until after the reign of the Antichrist. So it cannot be human government that is taken away so that the Antichrist can be revealed.

Some Say the Restrainer is Satan

I have heard this by some, especially by some who promote a post-tribulation rapture of the church. Revelation 13:4 states that it is the dragon (the devil) that gives power to the beast. Since Satan has refrained from giving the Antichrist this power as of yet, he cannot come on the scene. This sounds feasible until we hear Paul’s words stating that the restrainer “will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed…” The Antichrist will not be revealed until whoever is restraining him is removed. If Satan is keeping the Antichrist from being revealed, then Satan must be removed prior to the Antichrist’s arrival. However, Revelation 20 shows us the removal of Satan into the lake of fire, but not until AFTER the reign of the Antichrist, and after the Millennium.

Some Say the Restrainer is the Church

While this opinion is, I believe, closer to the truth, I cannot embrace the idea that the church of Jesus Christ is the restrainer. There are two verses that are commonly used to prove this, being Matthew 5:13, in which Jesus tells his disciples “ye are the salt of the earth”; and Matthew 5:14, in which Jesus tells his disciples “ye are the light of the world.” Salt preserves against corruption, and light repels darkness. In the same way, the church keeps the man of sin from being revealed, they say.

Suppose I spoke to one who believes the church is the restrainer. I would ask him one question. When did the church begin? Did the church of Jesus Christ begin at the cross? At Pentecost? Or perhaps some time before either of these events?

Suppose he answers my question regarding the church’s beginning, stating that the church began either at the cross or at Pentecost. If that be the case, then the church was not yet on the earth when Jesus told his disciples “ye are the salt of the earth” and “ye are the light of the world.” If the church began either at the cross or on the day of Pentecost, then Christ was not speaking to the church when He made the above statements. In this case, any believers in Christ, whether before the church was founded or after the church is gone, would be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Even tribulation saints would be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and we know that tribulation saints will not keep the Antichrist from being revealed.

Now, back to my question to the one who believes the church is the restrainer. Suppose that, when I ask him regarding the church’s beginning, he says that the church began BEFORE the cross, and BEFORE Pentecost. Suppose he makes it clear that there WAS a church upon the earth at the time of the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus identified His disciples as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In that case, I would point out that the Antichrist was present on the earth at that time. Judas Iscariot was the devil incarnated (John 13:27). Jesus identified Judas as being a devil (John 6:70). Judas, like the Antichrist of the end time, was called the son of perdition (John 17:12). I elaborated on this in detail in part 3 of this series, so I will not elaborate here. But these considerations keep me from believing that the restrainer is the church.

*Pentecost, J. Dwight. Things to Come. Dunham Publishing Company. Findlay, OH. ©1953. pp. 259-260.

The Man of Sin - Part 4

The Mystery of Iniquity

II Thessalonians 2:7, 8 – “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”

In the above passage, we are told that “the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” What is meant by the phrase “mystery of iniquity”? I will discuss it in this post.

It is important to understand that the man of sin has not yet been revealed. In spite of what some say, we are not currently in the Great Tribulation, and the Antichrist is not here yet. The above passage, II Thessalonians 2:7-8, shows us three things: first, that someone is “letting,” or hindering, the Antichrist from being revealed; second, that whoever is hindering the Antichrist will one day be removed from the scene; and third, that this removal will allow the Wicked One (Antichrist) to be revealed. I will discuss later who is hindering the Antichrist from being revealed. But at this time, it is important to know that the Antichrist has not yet been revealed.

Today, there is much confusion on the subject of the Antichrist, and such confusion is uncalled for, since the Bible is so plain. I have heard far-out teachings that have striven to make Babylon of Revelation 18 to mean the United States. Some time ago, I had a man come to my church. After church, he told me that the American government has concentration camps throughout the country, ready to unload Christians at any time. I told this man that I already heard that Christians in America were headed for concentration camps – when Bill Clinton was president. And it never happened. I have heard that the new healthcare law mandates that every American receive a computerized chip in their hand in 2013. Some interpret this to be the mark of the beast.

Let us get some things straight. The first thing to get straight is the fact that funny, unscriptural teachings such as these do not arise from those who obey the myriads of New Testament verses that command us to watch, look for, be ready for, and wait for the coming of the Lord. These teachings always come from those who are looking for the Antichrist. Another truth to get straight is the truth that neither the United States, nor any American president, is the Antichrist. The man of sin will not rule from America. Understand this: we are not in the Great Tribulation, and the Antichrist is not yet revealed.

Our text, however, lets us know that although the Antichrist cannot be revealed until someone else is taken out of the way, the MYSTERY OF INIQUITY is already at work. This mystery of iniquity is what John calls the “spirit of antichrist.”

I John 4:3 – “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

I showed in the previous post how that the Antichrist will be influenced by the devil himself, as was Judas Iscariot. But devils of hell have been working for more than two thousand years to bring about this final empire ruled by the man of sin. There is a spirit of antichrist working in all the world, and we are seeing it more and more in the United States.

The Modern Cry for Unity

This spirit of antichrist, or mystery of iniquity, manifests itself in many ways. First, we see the mystery of iniquity in the modern cry for “unity.” In Revelation 3:10, we are told that the hour of temptation will come upon ALL the world. In Revelation 13:3, John tells us that ALL the world wondered after the beast. In Revelation 13:7, it is made clear that the beast will rule over ALL nations. In Revelation 13:8, we are told that ALL that are upon the earth will worship the beast (excepting those whose names are in the book of life). In Revelation 13:12, the false prophet will exercise ALL the power of the beast. In Revelation 13:15, the false prophet causes ALL to be killed who do not worship the beast. In Revelation 13:16, the false prophet causes ALL to receive the beast’s mark. As you can see, the Great Tribulation is a time that will involve ALL. The message of the Antichrist is “Let’s ALL come together. Let’s all worship together.” Ever heard that? I’m sure most readers have heard phrases such as these. While “unity” sounds good, we cannot unite with devils. I cannot join hands with Muslims and Buddhists. If a man prays to St. Jude, I cannot worship with him. If a man denies that Jesus Christ, while upon the earth, was God manifested in the flesh, I cannot join hands with that man. It is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1), but it is abominable for believers to join together with unbelievers (II Corinthians 6:14). Unity is important for the body of Christ, but we must be wary of any religious leader who promotes unity with unbelievers. Any such religious leader is operating in the spirit of antichrist – the mystery of iniquity.

The Desire for the Miraculous

Not only is the modern cry for unity evident that the spirit of antichrist is already at work, but there is further evidence in the modern desire for the miraculous. We live in a day where many are infatuated with someone who claims to have some type of miraculous power. If a man of God rises to expound upon the scriptures, most churchgoers today act bored to death. If a man of flesh, however, blows on people, claims to heal people, or announces in a church services that someone in the crowd has a headache, people follow after it like a maggot on molded meat. When the Antichrist and false prophet are the scene, they both will perform miracles. Notice:

II Thessalonians 2:4 – “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

Revelation 13:3 – “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.”

Revelation 13:13, 14 – “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.”

Let me be clear. I do not care if they can tell you your phone number. I do not care if they can tell you where you are aching. I do not care who they heal, how much they heal, or what miracles they can do. If they are not preaching the pure, unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ – the gospel of faith in the finished work of Christ and faith in Him alone to be saved – the gospel that produces a holy life, causing the believer to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, then their anointing is a false one. They are then operating by the spirit of antichrist; not by the true Holy Spirit of God. A man’s work is not validated by any miracles he does; but rather by the Word of God. If a man’s message doesn’t line up with the book, he is a false prophet!

As we see these things on the rise in the religious world, it is clear that the mystery of iniquity – the spirit of antichrist – is already at work.

The Man of Sin - Part 3

The Son of Perdition

II Thessalonians 2:3, 4 – “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

In the previous post, I made the following statement: “Although the Bible gives many names for the man of sin, it is worthy to note that the Bible does not provide the name of the man of sin.” The Bible certainly gives many names, or titles, to this coming man of sin. Since I am using II Thessalonians 2 as my main text for this brief study, I have been using the term “man of sin” as the chief reference to him. This phrase “man of sin” shows us that the Antichrist will in fact be a man. While some insist that the Antichrist is merely a spirit, the Bible teaches that a MAN is coming to have dominion over the nations of this world. Others insist that the Antichrist is simply a system. However, the Bible reveals to us the truth that the Antichrist is a man of sin.

In II Thessalonians 2:3, he is called the man of sin, as well as the son of perdition. In addition to these titles, he is called the Wicked One (II Thessalonians 2:8); the Little Horn (Daniel 7:8); the Prince that shall come (Daniel 9:26); the Vile Person (Daniel 11:21); the Wilful King (Daniel 11:36); the Antichrist (I John 2:18); the Beast (Revelation 13:1).

In this post, I will examine closely the phrase “son of perdition,” and its relation to the man of sin. This phrase is only found twice in the entire Bible:

John 17:12 – “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

II Thessalonians 2:3 – “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.”

In the former passage, the phrase “son of perdition” is used by our Lord to identify Judas Iscariot, the Lord’s apostle who betrayed him. In the latter passage, the phrase is used in reference to the Antichrist, the man of sin. Both Judas Iscariot and the coming Antichrist are referred to as “the son of perdition.” Some Bible scholars insist that there is no connection between these two Bible characters. However, they are the only two characters in the scriptures given this title. In addition to this, there are more similarities between these two characters.

Both Judas Iscariot and the Antichrist were influenced by Satan himself. Some men are possessed with devils; but Judas was influenced, not by a devil, but by Satan himself:

John 6:70 – “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

Here, Judas is called a devil by our Lord. The reason our Lord made such a statement can be found in Luke’s gospel:

Luke 22:3 – “Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.”

Judas was called a devil by our Lord, not because he was possessed of devils; but rather because he was indwelt by Satan himself. Judas was the only man in the Bible, besides the Antichrist, who was influenced by Satan in this manner. The Antichrist, as Judas was, will be influenced by Satan himself. The Antichrist will not be possessed by devils, but rather by Satan himself:

Revelation 13:4 – “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?”

Here, it is clear that the beast (man of sin) will receive his power from the dragon, who is identified in Revelation 20:2 as Satan. The Antichrist will not be influenced by devils, but rather by the prince of devils – by Satan himself.

It is also noteworthy that Judas came on the scene at the time of Christ’s first coming. The Antichrist will arrive at the time of Christ’s second coming.

It is also noteworthy that when Judas Iscariot hanged himself, the Bible does not say that he went to hell:

Acts 1:25 – “That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go TO HIS OWN PLACE.”

In Revelation 13, John saw the beast coming up out of the sea. The Antichrist comes up from somewhere beneath. I believe he is the same spirit that was in Judas Iscariot. When Judas died, he went beneath, I believe, to the bottomless pit. In Revelation, he will come again from that pit, in the person of the Antichrist.

The Man of Sin - Part 2

Identifying the Man of Sin

The Name of the Man of Sin

Although the Bible gives many names for the man of sin, it is worthy to note that the Bible does not provide the name of the man of sin. Look what Isaiah said concerning Cyrus, a Persian king:

Isaiah 45:1 – “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut.”

In the above verse, Isaiah prophesies concerning a king by the name of Cyrus. The time of this prophecy is at least 150 years before Cyrus comes on the scene. From the time of Isaiah’s prophecy to the fulfillment thereof was about 175 years! About 175 years before it happened, God told us through His prophet that a man by the name of Cyrus, a king of Persia, would rise up, and would command the city of Jerusalem to be restored. Listen to me very carefully. God Almighty gave us the name of the Persian king Cyrus more than 150 years prior to Cyrus’ coming on the scene.

Dear reader, we live in a time where people have tried, and continue to try, to name the man of sin. I am amazed that sincere people get caught up in trying to figure out who the man of sin is. Has it ever dawned on you, that the God who named King Cyrus no less than 150 years before he came on the scene could have given us the name of the man of sin had He wanted us to know? It would not have been any more of a challenge for God Almighty to put the name of the man of sin in the Bible than it was for Him to put the name of Cyrus in the scriptures! Before looking at this man of sin, this Antichrist, I want you to know this – naming him is not important! Down through the years, those who have tried to name the Antichrist have been wrong 100% of the time! Why are you so attracted to figuring out who the Antichrist is, when identifying the Antichrist has never once been successful?

As to the art of naming the Antichrist, I have heard some hilarious guesses! Of course, there are your classic examples – Mussolini, Hitler, and Franklin Roosevelt. Then, there are more modern examples. Ronald Reagan was supposed to be the Antichrist because his first name had six letters; his middle name had six letters (Wilson); and his last name had six letters! I know people who, at the moment of this writing, believe that Bill Clinton is the Antichrist, though Clinton is not currently in power. Some teach that the current president of the United States is the Antichrist. I have even heard it taught that Joe Biden is the Antichrist!

This kind of goofy nonsense originates from a perfectly blended combination of ignorance and foolishness! The fact of the matter is this: God did not tell us who the Antichrist is! Had he wanted us to positively identify the Antichrist, He could have identified Him as plainly as He did King Cyrus! Constantly, the New Testament Christian is admonished to be ready for the Christ, but never the Antichrist! You will never find the words, “wait,” “be ready for,” or “look for” in regard to the awful things coming upon the earth, or to the Antichrist. But many times, you will find that we are commanded to “wait,” “be ready for,” and “look for” the coming of the Son of man! Christ told us to “watch” for His coming repeatedly. Only ONCE do we find the word “watch” in reference to the Great Tribulation and the horrible things that will happen then:

Luke 21:36 – “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

The only time we are exhorted to watch with regard to the things coming upon the earth, we are commanded to watch and pray always, that we might escape them!

The Man of Sin vs. the Son of Man

It is striking to me that all of those who are interested in identifying the Antichrist seem to be equally uninterested in the promotion of the Christ. If I preach that Jesus is coming, and those who have rejected Him will be lost eternally, those who try to name the Antichrist are bored to tears. If, however, I preach that the Antichrist is coming, and hard times are coming, and you better be ready to suffer, these same folks who are trying to name the Antichrist would be moved to an altar of weeping and wailing! What if these people got as excited about Christ as they do Antichrist? We’d have such a revival we wouldn’t know what to do with all the revival fire! No matter how much we study prophecy, or the Antichrist, let us never give the Antichrist the place we ought to give the Christ!

TO BE CONTINUED…

The Man of Sin - Part 1

Introduction

While there is much to write concerning this “man of sin,” I will keep it as basic as possible. Even while keeping this study basic, there is a wealth of information regarding the basic study of this person. There is no need for the reader to send me an e-mail after reading this series of posts, reminding me that I “left this out” and “left that out” regarding the person of the man of sin. Understanding that volumes have been written concerning him, there is no way I can exhaust the subject in a post or two. I will examine this “man of sin” from the standpoint of II Thessalonians the second chapter. Although a few other passages may be consulted, II Thessalonians 2 will be the main text:

II Thessalonians 2:1-3 –

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
“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.
“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.”

That Day Shall Not Come, Except…

In the above passage, II Thessalonians 2, I draw your attention to the latter phrase of the third verse – “…for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”

Paul makes it clear to the Thessalonians that “that day” shall not come until there is a falling away, and the man of sin is revealed. Much false doctrine has arisen in failing to correctly identify “that day.” To what day is Paul referring when he says “that day shall not come”? The day is clearly identified in verse 2:

II Thessalonians 2:1, 2 –

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
“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.”

Paul tells the Thessalonian people not to be deceived into thinking that the day of Christ, or the day of the Lord, is at hand. Noah Webster, in his definition of the word “hand,” defines the phrase “at hand” this way: “At hand, near; either present and within reach, or not far distant.”* The term “at hand” can mean “near,” or it can mean “now present.” It is clear to me that the Thessalonians believed that they were presently in the time period known as the day of the Lord, the period of time initiated by the Great Tribulation. It seems that they had received a letter from someone claiming to be Paul the apostle, stating that the Lord had come for His church, and the day of the Lord had begun. Why else would Paul exhort the Thessalonians not to be deceived even by a letter “as from us”?

The Thessalonians thought they were in the day of the Lord, not only because they may have received a letter claiming to be from Paul stating this, but they were also suffering severely at this time.

In II Thessalonians 1, Paul repeatedly acknowledges the present sufferings of the Thessalonians:

II Thessalonians 1:4 – “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:”

II 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:”

II Thessalonians 1:6 – “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that TROUBLE you;”

II Thessalonians 1:7 – “And to you who are TROUBLED rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.”

With a letter supposedly from Paul stating that the day of the Lord was now present, and with a myriad of sufferings and severe persecutions, the Thessalonians were shaken in mind, and troubled, that the day of the Lord was at hand, or now present.

Paul writes this second epistle to the Thessalonians to clear up this misconception. Paul plainly states, that there are two events that, if they have not yet occurred, then the Thessalonians could NOT be in the time period known as the day of the Lord.

II Thessalonians 1:3 – “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.”

Paul reassures the Thessalonians that there is no way they were in the day of the Lord if there has not been BOTH a falling away, AND the revelation of the man of sin. In no way are we presently in the day of the Lord, or the Great Tribulation, because the man of sin has not been revealed. This was the message of Paul the apostle to the Thessalonians, as well as to us.

With that introduction, I would like to discuss the “man of sin.”

TO BE CONTINUED...

*Webster, Noah.  Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary of American English.