Paul the
apostle told the Thessalonian church members that “the day of
the Lord” would not come “except there come a falling away
first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition”.
In chapter two and verse four of this second letter to the
Thessalonians from Paul, he shares some of the characteristics of the
“son of perdition” where we read:
Who
opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing
himself that he is God.
The
verse begins, “Who opposes and exalts himself above all
that is called God, or that is worshipped;” Paul
began, “Who opposes”
which means “is set against, opposite to, adverse to and
withstands” “and exalts”
or “lifts up, raises and is haughty” “himself above”
or “himself upon, on, at, by, before, across and against” “all”
or “each, every, any, all, the whole and everyone”
“that is called”
which means “said, spoken, taught, exhorted, advised, commanded,
directed, intended and meant” “God”
who is “the Godhead bodily or trinity comprised of God the Father,
Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “or that is
worshiped” which means
“whatever is religiously honored such as temples, altars, statues
and idolatrous images”. When this “man of sin” and
“son of perdition”
comes on the scene, he not only will “oppose” God
and “exalt”
himself, but he will also be defiant anything that has to do with
worship of God.
The
verse goes on to say, “so that he as God sits in the
temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” Paul
added, “so that he”
which refers to “the man of sin and son of perdition” “as
God” who is “the “Godhead
bodily or trinity comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the
Holy Spirit” “sits in the temple”
which means “sits down in the temple at Jerusalem, but only
of the sacred edifice (or sanctuary) itself, consisting of the Holy
place and the Holy of Holies” “of
God” who is the Godhead and
trinity comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy
Spirit “showing himself”
or “pointing to, showing forth, exposing, exhibiting, declaring and
proving” “that he is God” which
means “the Godhead and trinity comprised of God the Father, Christ
the Son and the Holy Spirit”. In other words, this “man
of sin” and “son
of perdition” will be an
arrogant imposture who will claim to be God.
When
we meditate upon these words from Paul, we begin to understand what
this “antichrist” or “man of sin”
and “son of perdition”
will do. He is not humble, but prideful, and he is so arrogant that
he believes he is God. The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt, and
this man will step into it and declare himself to be the Almighty.
This should be an obvious characteristic to those who are alive to
see it. People were teaching false doctrine concerning the return of
the Lord Jesus, and Paul felt it necessary to clarify this rising of
the “man of sin”
to the Thessalonians, and as we consider him, perhaps the reason is
to be prepared for the “coming of the Lord”, and
so may we be ready when He returns.
Next
time Paul reminds the Thessalonians how he “told them
these things when” he
“was with” them, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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