Man of Sin? 2 Thes. 2 #3
The last wicked one
by
Ralph Woodrow
With comments by Keith Hunt if needed
PAUL'S PROPHECY - THE MAN OF SIN
Continuing now in Paul's prophecy, we see that he links the man
of sin with a falling away. "That day shall not come, except
there come a FALLING AWAY first, and that man of sin be re-
vealed..." (2 Thess. 2:1-3). Therefore, if we can determine when
this falling away occurred and where, we will have another point
of identification regarding the man of sin.
The Greek word that is here translated "falling away" is
'apostasia.' Strong's concordance defines this word as "defection
from the truth." It is from this word that we get our English
word "apostasy." This falling away or apostasy of which Paul
spoke was not to be a falling away from religion into atheism,
but rather a corruption of Christianity through false doctrine.
It would be a departure from the true faith - a departure that
would develop right WITHIN the realm of the Christian church.
As Lenski has said: "This is apostasy. It is, therefore, to be
sought IN the church visible and not OUTSIDE the church, not in
the pagan world, in the general moral decline, in Mohammedanism,
in the French Revolution, in the rise and spread of Masonry, in
Soviet Russia, or in lesser phenomena."
Is the falling away from true Christianity yet to happen at some
future time or has it already happened? Those who are acquainted
with church history know the answer.
The falling away to which Paul referred took place many centuries
ago. The only way the falling away could be future is if
Christianity had remained pure in doctrine and Spirit until now.
This has obviously not been the case.
[NOT SO— WHEN WOODROW WROTE THIS HE WAS
DECADES IN ADVANCE OF OUR MODERN ERA OF
THE LAST 40 OR 50 YEARS AND WHAT HAS TAKEN
PLACE IN THE CHRISTIAN CIRCLE OF THEOLOGY
UNDERSTANDING; YES RIGHT WITHIN OUR CHURCHES
INTO APOSTASY FROM TRUTHS THEY ALL HELD;
MORE FROM ME LATER - Keith Hunt]
Originally the New Testament church was filled with truth and
spiritual power. The book of Acts gives an account of those
glorious days. But as time went on, even as the inspired apostles
had warned (Acts 20:29,30; 1 Tim.4:1-3; 2 Peter 2:2,3), there
began to be departures from the true faith. The mystery of
iniquity was at work. Compromises were made with paganism in
order to gain numbers. Finally, what the world recognized as the
"Church" in the fourth and fifth centuries had actually become
the fallen church. And - as is well established in history - this
apostasy cantered in ROME!
The bishop of Rome rose to power claiming to be "Bishop of
bishops" and that all the Christian world should look to him as
head and to ROME as headquarters for the church. This apostasy
has continued through the centuries with a "man" at Rome exalting
himself above all others, claiming divine honours and worship - a
continual reminder that the falling away took place centuries
ago. It is not future, it is FULFILLED!
[IT WAS FULFILLED ONCE; BUT IT HAS BEEN FULFILLED
AGAIN IN THE LAST 50 YEARS, AND WILL CONTINUE
TO BE FULFILLED IN YEARS AHEAD - Keith Hunt]
Newton has well said: "If the apostasy be rightly charged upon
the church of Rome, it follows that the man of sin is the Pope,
not meaning this or that Pope in particular, but the Pope in
general, as the chief head and supporter of this apostasy. The
apostasy produces him and he promotes the apostasy." Or as Barnes
put it: "That his the Pope's rise was preceded by a great
apostasy, or departure from the purity of the simple gospel, as
revealed in the New Testament, cannot reasonably be doubted by
any one acquainted with the history of the church. That he is the
creation or result of that apostasy, is equally clear."
Understanding that the falling away occurred centuries ago and
cantered at Rome, provides more evidence that the Papacy has met
the requirements of the prophecy about the man of sin.
According to Paul, the man of sin was to "exalt himself above
all... in the temple of God" (2 Thess. 2:4). It is quite important
that we understand just what Paul meant by his use of the term
temple of God.
Those who hold the dispensational interpretation of prophecy with
its secret rapture, gap theory, etc.
[WHICH I DO NOT HOLD AS TOLD BY FUNDAMENTAL
PROTESTANT PROPHETS - Keith Hunt]
think that Paul was speaking of a future rebuilt Jewish temple in Jerusalem.
But a careful study of every reference that Paul made to the "temple God"
reveals that he NEVER applied this term to the Jewish temple.
The word that is translated "temple" in 2 Thess. 2:4 is used many
times by the apostle Paul. The first is Acts 17:24: "God... _.
dwelleth not in temples made with hands." In what kind of temple,
does God now dwell? Looking through the epistles, we find that
Paul always used the expression in reference to BELIEVERS, the
CHURCH - never to a literal building.
"Know ye not that YE are the TEMPLE OF GOD, and that the Spirit
of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the TEMPLE OF GOD, him
shall God destroy; for the TEMPLE OF GOD is holy, which temple YE
are" (1 Cor.3:16,17). In this passage, three times he refers to
Christian believers - the church - as the temple of God.
"What? know ye not that your body is the TEMPLE of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God?"(1 Cor. 6:19). Each
believer is as a stone, a living stone, in that great "spiritual
House", "the church of the living God"(1 Peter 2:5; 1 Tim.3:15).
This same truth is seen in 2 Corinthians 6:16: "And what
agreement hath the TEMPLE OF GOD with idols? For YE are the
TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD." Writing to the church at Ephesus, Paul
said: "Ye are built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone; in
whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy
TEMPLE in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph.2:20-22).
None of these references could possibly refer to a literal Jewish
temple in Jerusalem!
Barnes states that Paul's use of the expression "temple of God"
refers to "the Christian church" and that "it is by no means
necessary to understand this of the temple at Jerusalem... The
idea is, that the Antichrist here referred to would present
himself in the midst of the church as claiming the honours due to
God alone... No one can fail to see that the authority claimed by
the Pope of Rome, meets the full force of the language used here
by the apostle." (Barnes' commentary, p. 1114).
When the Bible speaks of the complete, literal temple, the word
"hieron" is used. This word appears 71 times in the New Testament
in reference to the temple at Jerusalem. On the other hand, the
word that Paul used for temple is "naos" which refers not to the
complete, literal temple, but to the holy place, the dwelling of
God. And the dwelling place of God is now the church.
[YES “NAOS” CAN MEAN “SANCTUARY” AS VINE’S
EXPOSITORY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS—— A POINT
TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN I EXPOUND THE SECOND
FULFILMENT OF PAUL’S PROPHECY FOR THE END
TIME - Keith Hunt]
In what sense, then, are we to understand the term as used in 2
Thess. 2:4? Since this verse links the "temple of God" with the
falling away, the term must be understood in the sense of
profession. The Church of Rome professes to be the one true
church, but is actually the fallen church, having departed from
the teaching that the church at Rome had originally received.
(cf. Book of Romans).
We see, then, that the man of sin was not to be merely a
political leader, but would claim to be above all others within
the very framework of professing Christianity! How different this
is from the futurist ideas about an atheistic, political superman
of the last days!
[WOODROW IS CORRECT—— THE FUNDAMENTAL
PROTESTANT PROPHETS ARE WRONG - Keith Hunt]
The man of sin is mentioned as he that "sitteth" in the temple
of God. His sitting within the church realm "as God" suggests
that he would claim a place of rulership there. The word
"sitteth" is translated from the word "kathizo." The sitting
implies a "seat" in which he would sit. The word translated seat
is "kathedra" which is a related term. From this term we get the
word "Cathedral" which means "the bishop's seat"; also "ex
cathedra", the expression used to describe the Pope's words as he
speaks from his seat officially, such pronouncements being
considered infallible.
Guinness says: "There, in that exalted cathedral position, and
claiming to represent God, the man of sin was to act and abide as
the pretended vicar, but the real antagonist, of Christ,
undermining His authority, abolishing His laws, and oppressing
His people" (Guinness, Romanism and the Reformation, p. 57).
The man of sin is further described as he that "exalteth himself
above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he
as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is
God" (2 Thess. 2:4). We understand from this description that the
man of sin would exalt himself in great pride, would make great
claims, would magnify himself above all others.
Similar expressions are found in various ways through the
Scriptures. The prince of Tyrus is represented as saying: "I am a
God, I sit in the seat of God" (Ez. 28:2). The king of Babylon
being lifted up with pride is represented as saying: "I will
exalt my throne above the stars of God... I will be like the most
High" (Isaiah 14:4,15,14). Concerning a king in Daniel 11:36,37,
it is said that "he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself
above every god... for he shall magnify himself above all."
Another king is said to "magnify [exalt] himself in his heart"
(Dan. 8:25). Concerning Herod, certain ones after hearing his
speech, said: "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man" (Acts
12:21-23). Concerning Edom, Obadiah 4 says: "Though thou exalt
thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the
stars, thence will I bring thee down." Or concerning Capernaum,
Jesus said: "And thou, Capernaum which art exalted unto heaven,
shall be brought down to hell"(Mt. 11:23).
Verses which speak of kings, countries, or cities exalting
themselves unto heaven, exalting themselves above every god,
sitting in the seat of God, being like the most High, etc., are
expressions which convey the meaning of pride and arrogance. In
the case of the man of sin, he would exalt himself above all
others - above all others in the church! That is, he would not
only claim to be "a" leader in the church, but would actually
claim to be "the" leader of the church.
The man of sin would claim to be "AS God", exalting himself as
head of the church - a position that belongs only to the Lord
himself - "showing that he is God." There is no article before
"God" in this case; the meaning is that the man of sin would
claim to be divine. Concerning this passage, Barnes has written:
"This expression would not imply that he actually claimed to be
the true God, but only that he sits in the temple, and manifests
himself AS IF he were God. He claims such honours and such
reverence as the true God WOULD if he should appear in human
form" (Barnes' Commentary, p. 1114 - note on 2 Thes. 2).
Have the Popes claimed to be above all THAT is called God, have
they claimed to be AS GOD in the temple of God, and have they
attempted to show that they are DIVINE? The answer is yes!
The Popes have claimed to be above all kings and emperors. They
have claimed not only the rule of the earth, but of heaven and
hell also - these three realms being symbolized in the triple
crown which they wear. They have claimed attributes and titles
which can rightly pertain only to God.
At the coronation of Pope Innocent X, the following words were
addressed to him by a Cardinal who knelt before him: "Most holy
and blessed father! head of the Church, ruler of the world,
to whom the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed, whom the
angels in heaven revere, and the gates of hell fear, and all the
world adores, we specially venerate, worship, and adore thee!"
Moreri, a noted historian, wrote: "To make war against the Pope
is to make war against God, seeing the Pope is God and God is the
Pope." Decius said: "The Pope can do all things God can do." Pope
Leo XIII said of himself in 1890: "The supreme teacher in the
Church is the Roman Pontiff. Union of minds, therefore, requires,
together with a perfect accord in the one faith, complete
submission and obedience of will to the Church and to the Roman
Pontiff, as to God himself." In 1894, he said. "We hold the place
of Almighty God on earth."
On April 30, 1922, in the Vatican throne room before a throng of
Cardinals, bishops, priests, and nuns who fell on their knees
before him, Pope Pius XI in haughty tones said: "You know that
I am the Holy Father, the representative of God on earth, the
Vicar of Christ, which means that I am God on the earth."
The pagan Caesars were styled, "Our Lord and God." For centuries
the Popes accepted the same title! On the arches raised in honour
of Pope Borgia were the words: "Rome was great under Caesar; now
she is greater: Alexander VI reigns. The former was a man: this
is a god"!
Pope Pius X, when Archbishop of Venice, said: "The Pope is not
only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ
himself hidden under the veil of the flesh. Does the Pope speak?
It is Jesus Christ who speaks."
The following is an extract from the actual wording that has been
used by Popes in making their claims: "The Roman Pontiff judges
all men, but is judged by no one... We declare... to be subject
to the Roman Pontiff is to every creature altogether necessary,
for salvation... That which was spoken of Christ, 'Thou has
subdued all things under his feet' may well seem verified in
me... I have the authority of the King of kings. I am all in all
and above all... I am able to do almost all that God can do...
Wherefore if those things that I do be said not to be done of man
but of God: what can you make me but God?... Wherefore no marvel
if it be in my power to change time and times, to alter and
abrogate laces, to dispense with all things, yea, with the
precepts of Christ; for where Christ biddeth Peter to put up his
sword and admonishes His disciples not to use any outward force
in revenging themselves, so do not I, Pope Nicholas, writing to
the Bishops of France, exhort them to draw out their material
swords?... Wherefore, as I began, so I conclude, commanding,
declaring, and pronouncing, to stand upon necessity of salvation,
for every creature to be subject to me", etc.
The man of sin is referred to as "the son of perdition" (2 Thess.
2:3). This same title was applied to Judas Iscariot - John
17:12).By this duplication of the term, the Holy Spirit is
apparently showing that the man of sin would resemble Judas.
Judas was to outward appearances a bishop and apostle (Acts
1:20,25). Nevertheless, he "was a thief, and had the bag, and
bare what was put therein" (John 12:6). Such things are a picture
of Papal practices, especially during the dark ages. Claiming to
have apostolic authority, the Popes propagated such things as
indulgence selling, prayers for the dead in purgatory, payment
for masses, relic sales, offerings before idols, etc., by which
they enriched themselves. Though Judas had received thirty pieces
of silver to betray Jesus, he approached him in the garden with a
kiss and the words, "Hail Master"? And likewise, the Papacy has
claimed to be Christ's apostle and friend, but has betrayed the
Lord by promoting doctrines and practices which are contrary to
what Christ taught.
The man of sin's rise to power was to be accompanied by claims of
supernatural signs and wonders. "Whose coming is after [according
to) the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders" (2 Thess. 2:9). The rise of the Romish church to a
world-wide system of religion is in itself a wonder, for though
claiming to be the church of Jesus Christ, it has actually
promoted practices and teachings that are the opposite of what
Christ taught. Millions have been deceived by its claims.
A full account of all the miracles which have supposedly happened
within the Romish system would fill volumes. The following are a
few of the claims that have been made:
crucifixes have spoken; images have come down and lit their own
candles; idols have sweat, turned their eyes, moved their hands,
opened their mouths, healed sicknesses, raised the dead, mended
broken bones; souls from purgatory have appeared on lonely roads
and begged that masses be said in their behalf; many have claimed
that the virgin Mary visited them, etc. All of these miracles -
whether supposed, real, or faked - greatly increased the fallen
church.
We see, then, that the man of sin would appear in connection with
the falling away; he would rise to power within the very
framework of Christianity, claiming to be above all others, as
God; and his rise to power would be accompanied with lying signs
and wonders. We have seen the evidence, point by point, that
these things have found their fulfillment in the Papacy.
MY COMMENT——
(YES, the Church at Rome was in the beginning a very real part of
the body of Christ, a very real part of the true Church of God.
In the second century we have recorded in church history that
Polycarp and Polycrates, went to debate with the bishop of Rome
over the Passover/Easter issue and practice. The bishops of Asia
Minor still held the church of Rome to be part of their
fellowship and part of the true Church of God. And so indeed it
was that the "man of sin" - did come from within the true
fellowship and body of Christ. The bishop of Rome was in the
second century A.D. beginning to fall away from the true word and
teachings and practices of the true Church of God. And so the
prophecy of Paul in 2 Thes 2 came to pass, and the man of sin,
came from within the "temple of God" - the Church of God - Keith
Hunt).
Some object to this interpretation on the basis that Paul spoke
of "the man of sin" and that such wording must refer to one
individual man, not a succession of men. But this is not
necessarily true. For example, "the" is used in the expression,
"the man of God" (2 Tim.3:17) - a reference to a class of men of
a certain character, a succession of similar individuals. Or we
read about "the high priest" (Heb. 9:7) - meaning a succession of
high priests.
The church - the long line or succession of believers through the
centuries - is spoken of as "one new man" (Eph. 2:15), but
certainly no one would insist that the church is one man in a
literal sense. The statement about a "woman" called "Babylon the
Great, the Mother of harlots" (Rev.17) is not taken to mean one
literal woman, nor is the "woman clothed with the sun" (Rev.12)
thought of as a literal woman. A single beast in prophecy often
represents a whole empire or kingdom in all its changes and
revolutions from beginning to end. The four beasts of Daniel 7
are mentioned as four kings, yet the meaning is not limited to
individual kings, for each of these empires referred to included
a succession of rulers.
Gramatically, the expression "the man of sin" could mean either
an individual or a succession of similar individuals. The use of
the singular expression neither asserted nor excluded a dynastic
meaning.
However, there was a strong hint that such could be a succession
of men, for since "he that letteth" was a line or succession of
Caesars, it would not be inconsistent to believe that "he that
sitteth" would also be a succession of men.
It has been said that prophecy is a wonderful combination of the
clear and the obscure; enough to show the hand of God, but not
enough to make fatalists of the readers; enough to prove the
message to have been from God, but not enough to enable man to
know all the details of how that purpose is to be realized. We
believe that such has been the case here.
Since the man of sin was to come to power upon the fall of the
Roman Empire, and would not be destroyed until the Lord's coming,
it is evident that one individual man could not be meant. Such
requires a succession of men. Nevertheless, the idea of ONE MAN
is not actually eliminated by this interpretation, for there is
only one man at a time who occupies the Papal office.....
Rome did fall, but it was a decline and fall - taking place over
a period of years. The rise of the Papacy was also gradual, many
years passing before it met all the requirements of the
prophecy. With its rise to power, darkness covered the earth, and
very little preaching was done on prophecy. But when the light of
the Reformation began to shine through, the study of prophecy was
revived. People began to re-examine things. They knew Rome had
fallen and had been divided into ten kingdoms. They could now see
that the power that rose up in Rome which thought to change laws,
wore out the saints, and made great claims, was the Papacy....
.............
End of study by Ralph Woodrow
END NOTE BY MYSELF, Keith Hunt
WOODROW HAS GIVEN A GOOD UNDERSTANDING
OF THIS PROPHECY AS IT PERTAINS TO ITS FIRST
FULFILMENT—— BUT WOODROW HAS NOT TAKEN
THE WHOLE CONTEXT INTO CONSIDERATION THAT
PROVES THERE WILL BE A SECOND FULFILMENT
SHORTLY BEFORE THE RETURN OF CHRIST JESUS.
Realizing that the church at Rome, into the second century was
still regarded by the bishops of Asia Minor as part of the
"church" of Christ, makes then full sense to understand that Paul
was prophesying that a large and very significant "falling away"
would come to the "church" the Temple of God, after the
constraining power of the civil Roman Empire had come to an end
or had been "taken away." God was working it all out according to
His time plan for the restraining power of the Empire of Rome to
be taken away, and then would come the panicle of the falling
away in the Church of God, with the rise of the full Papal force
of the vicar or bishop of Rome - who became known as the Pope.
THERE IS ONE LARGE DIFFERENCE I WOULD HAVE WITH RALPH WOODROW——
AND THAT IS…. I FULLY BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A ONE MAN OF
SIN, A “FALSE PROPHET” OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION, THAT WILL
COME ON THE WORLD SCENE, FOR ESPECIALLY THE LAST THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS OF THIS AGE, BEFORE JESUS RETURNS IN POWER AND GLORY.
2 THES. 2:8 CLEARLY TELLS US THAT AT JESUS' COMING, A MAN OF SIN,
"THAT WICKED" SHALL BE DESTROYED BY THE SPIRIT OF HIS MOUTH AND BY THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS COMING.” THIS VERSE THEN GOES WITH REVELATION 19:20.
THE MAN OF SIN AT THE END OF THIS AGE WILL INDEED BE THE PAPAL OFFICE OF THE POPE OF THE BABYLON WOMAN CHURCH, WHICH NEARLY ALL THE OLD PROTESTANT BIBLE COMMENTARIES SINCE THE REFORMATION, HAVE DECLARED TO BE THE PAPACY.
NOW FOR THE TRUTH REGARDING THIS PROPHECY FOR THE VERY END TIME; FOR THE LAST 42 MONTHS, OR 1260 DAYS, SPOKEN ABOUT IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.
WE SEE IMMEDIATELY IN VERSE ONE THIS IS CONCERNING THE COMING OF CHRIST AND OUR GATHERING TOGETHER UNTO HIM. THIS IS IGNORED BY PEOPLE LIKE RALPH WOODROW WHO WANT TO SAY THIS IS ONLY FOR THE AGES GONE, ALREADY TAKEN PLACE, AND NO FUTURE APPLICATION TO CONSIDER. VERSE ONE IS VERY CLEAR TO UNDERSTAND NO THEOLOGY DEGREE NEEDED. WHAT PAUL IS GOING TO ADDRESS IS THE HUGE EVENT TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE JESUS RETURNS AND THE RESURRECTION OF THE SAINTS TO MEET HIM IN THE CLOUDS OF THIS EARTH, GIVEN BY PAUL IN 1 THES. 4: 13-18.
AND HE FURTHER GOES ON TO SAY THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE SHAKEN, EVEN BY LETTERS, SUPPOSEDLY FROM US [APOSTLES] THAT THAT DAY OF JESUS’ RETURN IS “AT HAND”—— PAUL WAS GIVEN THIS PROPHECY FROM GOD, THAT MUST TAKE PLACE BEFORE JESUS WILL RETURN. PAUL OBVIOUSLY HAD INSPIRATION THAT THIS COMING PROPHECY WAS NOT CLOSE TO BEING FULFILLED. PAUL HAS OBVIOUSLY NO IDEA WHEN THIS PROPHECY WOULD BE FULFILLED, HE JUST KNEW IT WAS NOT AT HAND YET, AND IT HAD TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE CHRIST WOULD RETURN.
HE NOW PROCEEDS TO GIVE US THE PROPHECY HE HAD BEEN GIVEN BY GOD.
THIS WAS A NEW PROPHECY, NOT FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT, AND AS YET THE BOOK OF REVELATION HAD NOT BEEN WRITTEN.
THOUGH NOW WE CAN TIE IT INTO PARTLY FROM DANIEL 11 AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION.
THAT DAY OF CHRIST’S RETURN AND OUR GATHERING TOGETHER TO HIM [1 THES. 4: 13-18] WOULD NOT COME TILL A “FALLING AWAY FIRST” CAME [V.3].
SURE THERE WAS A FALLING AWAY FROM TRUTH IN THE FIRST 400 YEARS OF A.D. BUT WHAT WOODROW COULD NOT SEE WHEN HE WROTE HIS STUDY, WAS A GREAT FALLING AWAY FROM THE LATE 1960s TO THE PRESENT, INTO A NEW CENTURY.
NOW IT DOES NOT SAY “A FALLING AWAY FROM THE TRUE CHURCH OF GOD” OR “A FALLING AWAY FROM THE TRUE SAINTS OF GOD.”
IT JUST SAYS “EXCEPT THERE COME A FALLING AWAY FIRST.”
YES THERE WAS A FALLING AWAY FROM SOME TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE IN THE FIRST 400 YEARS A.D. BUT EVEN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND INTO THE “PROTESTANT AREA” DID HAVE MANY TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE. YOU CAN NOT DECEIVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN CHRISTIANITY UNLESS YOU HAVE SOME TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE. PAUL SAID MANY WOULD COME TO DECEIVE AS LIKE SATAN CAN TRANSFORM HIMSELF INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT [2 COR. 11: 13-15].
SO CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT CHURCHES HELD THAT FORNICATION AND ADULTERY, CHILD SEXUAL MOLESTATION, RAPE OF GIRLS OR WOMEN, WAS WRONG!
CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT CHURCHES TAUGHT MARRIAGE WAS BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN!
CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT CHURCHES TAUGHT PRACTICING HOMOSEXUALITY/LESBIANISM WAS WRONG!
CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT CHURCHES TAUGHT THE 4TH COMMANDMENT, THE WEEKLY SABBATH DAY, WAS TO BE OBSERVED [THOUGH FOR THEM IT WAS SUNDAY]. I GREW UP IN THE 1940s AND 1950s WHEN THE SUNDAY SABBATH WAS PRACTICED BY SOCIETY AT LARGE IN THE WESTERN WORLD. SOMETHING YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY CAN NOT COMPREHEND SOCIETIES DOING SUCH A WEEKLY PRACTICE. THE OBSERVING OF THE WEEKLY SABBATH IS TODAY IN THE MAJORITY OF “CHRISTIAN” CHURCHES NOT TAUGHT!
CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT CHURCHES TAUGHT ABORTION WAS WRONG!
MANY OTHER MORAL TEACHING WERE TAUGHT; YES SOME ARE STILL TAUGHT BY SOME CHURCHES, BUT FAR FROM ALL OF THEM——
YES—— TODAY WE HAVE HOMOSEXUAL AND LESBIAN MINISTERS OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION—— PASTORING CHURCH/S!
TODAY WE HAVE MANY CHURCHES TEACHING SAME SEX MARRIAGE IS OKAY, SANCTIONED BY THE LORD!
WE HAVE MANY CHURCHES TODAY SAYING PRACTICING HOMOSEXUALS AND LESBIANS ARE JUST FINE, GOD ACCEPTS THEM.
WE HAVE SADLY DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS HAVE FOR DECADES, BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILDREN. MAYBE THIS WENT ON THROUGH THE CENTURIES, BUT CERTAINLY THE MUSHROOMING OF THIS SIN WAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT IN THE LAST 20 OR SO YEARS.
AT ONE TIME I BELIEVE NEARLY ALL “CHRISTIAN” CHURCHES BELIEVED AND TAUGHT JESUS WAS GOD IN THE FLESH, WHEN ON EARTH IN THE FIRST CENTURY A.D. TODAY YOU HAVE CHURCHES WHO DO NOT BELIEVE THAT; WHOLE LARGE CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS WHO SAY HE WAS JUST A MAN WITH MORE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAN OTHER HUMANS.
YOU HAVE TODAY CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS THAT TEACH JESUS DID NOT EXSIST UNTIL IN THE WOMB OF MARY, HE WAS THEY SAY, NOT ETERNAL LIKE THE FATHER GOD.
AT ONE TIME I BELIEVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES TAUGHT SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE WAS ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. TODAY MANY SAY “GOOD” PEOPLE OF THIS AND THAT WHATEVER, CAN GAIN ETERNAL LIFE.
AT ONE TIME, ESPECIALLY FROM THE PROTESTANT REVOLUTION, CHRISTIAN CHURCHES TAUGHT ABOUT SIN AND REPENTANCE! TODAY IT’S NOT A PRIORITY OF TEACHING IN A LARGE PART OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
TODAY YOU HAVE [HARDLY FOUND 20, 30, YEARS AGO] THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL BEING PREACHED IN NORTH AMERICA. EMPHASIS ON THE PHYSICAL GOD WANT TO GIVE YOU.
TODAY IN THE LAST 100 YEARS YOU HAVE THE EMOTIONAL PENTECOSTAL [GOING WILD, FAINTING, FALLING DOWN, MUMBO-JUMBO TALKING] “CHRISTIAN” CHURCHES.
TODAY YOU HAVE A LARGE PART OF CHRISTIAN PEOPLE VERY HEAVY INTO “WORLD’S POLITICS” AND SO NOT COMING OUT OF THE WORLD. I MEAN YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DIG DEEPLY TO FIND OUT ALL THE LIES, HALF-TRUTHS, DECEPTIONS, EVIL COMPETITIONS, SLANDERING, AND THE DIRT THAT GOES ON IN THE WORLD’S POLITICS.
TODAY WE HAVE LARGE BODIES OF CHURCHES THAT BELIEVE GOD CREATED THROUGH EVOLUTION OVER MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF YEARS. CHURCHES THAT NO LONGER BELIEVE GENESIS ONE WAS LITERAL!
THIS SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR YOU TO REALIZE THERE HAS BEEN IN THE LAST 100 YEARS A “FALLING AWAY” FROM THE BIBLE IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN THE WESTERN WORLD!
THIS PROPHECY OF PAUL IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES!
IF YOU WANT TO ZERO IN ON THIS BY LOOKING AT THE TRUE CHURCH OF GOD, IN THE LAST 50 YEARS—— WELL—— GOD DID DO A MIGHTY WORK THROUGH A PART OF HIS TRUE CHURCH; THROUGH A MAN CALLED HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG!
IT WAS A WORK ON RADIO AND TV AND A MAGAZINE ON MOST STREET CORNERS IN MODERATE TO LARGE CITIES IN THE WESTERN WORLD.
THEN DURING THE 1970s THIS WORK WENT OFF-THE-TRACK IN A HUGE WAY. ALL THIS CAN BE FOUND ON MY WEBSITE AND OTHER PLACES ON THE INTERNET.
TENS OF THOUSANDS FELL RIGHT BACK INTO THE WORLD AND THE WORLD’S UN-CHRISTIAN WAYS—— THERE WAS A FALLING AWAY.
SO NO MATTER HOW YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT, THE LAST 100 YEARS HAS SEEN A MIGHTY FALLING AWAY FROM TRUTHS OF THE WORD OF GOD!
AND WITH ALL THIS, AS TIME MOVES ON, LESS AND LESS BIBLE TRUTHS BEING TAUGHT AND HELD, THE WORLD IS GOING INTO A MIGHTY, MIGHTY TIME OF CARNALITY. WE ARE GOING INTO MORE PHYSICAL NATURAL TROUBLES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING. OVERALL BIBLE PROPHECY SAYS WE ARE HEADING FOR A TIME OF TROUBLE GREATER THAN THERE EVER HAS BEEN ON EARTH SINCE ADAM AND EVE. JESUS SAID SO IN MATTHEW 24.
THE WORLD WILL BE IN SO DESPERATE A CONDITION THAT A MAN HOLDING THE TOP OFFICE OF THE LARGEST POPULATION “CHRISTIAN” CHURCH ON EARTH, WILL COME FORTH AS “GOD ON EARTH”—— WORKING MIRACLES, SO IMPRESSIVE THAT AT LEAST THE WESTERN PART OF THIS GLOBE, WILL EMBRACE HIM AS “THE SAVIOR” TO SOLVE THE WORLD’S PROBLEMS.
HE WILL BE THE END TIME ANTI-christ! THE FALSE PROPHET OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION.
HE WILL BE THE “MAN OF SIN” —— THE LAST GREAT CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS DECEPTION, THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL TALKS ABOUT IN THIS PROPHECY.
HE WILL SOUND LIKE HE REALLY IS FROM GOD. AND WITH HIM ABLE TO DO MIRACLES, MILLIONS WILL ACCEPT HIM, AS GOD ON EARTH.
BACK A FEW POPES [FORGOTTEN THE NAME OF THAT POPE], HE CAME TO A SOUTH AMERICAN NATION [FORGOT WHICH], AND A NEWS REPORTER SAID TO A YOUNG LADY, ABOUT 20 YEARS OLD, “WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE POPE COMING TO YOUR COUNTRY?” HER REPLY WAS, “HE’S GOD ON EARTH.” I JUST ABOUT FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR, ON HEARING HER WORDS ON THE TV EVENING NEWS.
RALPH WOODROW GAVE A FULL EXPLANATION OF THE FIRST PART OF VERSE 4—— “EXALTS HIMSELF ABOVE….“
“HE HAS GOD, SITS IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD….”
“TEMPLE”—— NAOS—— SHRINE OR SANCTUARY, AS VINE GIVES IT.
I SHOWED IN DETAIL IN MY STUDY “THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION” THAT STUDYING THE HEBREW IN VARIOUS OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES, BOTH …. JERUSALEM AND THE HOLY LAND ARE THE SANCTUARY OF GOD. SEE EXODUS 15: 17—— THE SANCTUARY OF GOD WAS THE HOLY LAND, THE PROMISED LAND! AND AGAIN SEE MY STUDY I JUST REFERRED TO ABOVE, FOR THE DETAILS.
WE ALSO KNOW FROM THE PROPHECY IN DANIEL 11: 40-45, THAT THIS END-TIME BEAST POWER OF DANIEL AND REVELATION, THE “KING OF THE NORTH”—— THE LAST AND 7TH RESURRECTION OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, WILL, AFTER IT CONQUERS THE “KING OF THE SOUTH” PLACE ITSELF BETWEEN THE SEAS [MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND THE DEAD SEA IN THE HOLY LAND]. THE HEAD OF THIS MIGHTY “CHRISTIAN” RELIGIOUS POWER, WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO SIT IN JERUSALEM, VERY HAPPY INDEED——GOD ON EARTH SITTING IN JERUSALEM AND THE HOLY LAND, THE SANCTUARY OF GOD—— HE WILL BE HAPPY INDEED!
PAUL HAD TOLD THEM ALL THIS WHEN HE WAS WITH THEM. NOW HE SAYS THIS IS ALL HELD BACK, NO TIME OF HOLDING BACK WAS GIVEN BY PAUL; HE WAS JUST NOT INSPIRED CONCERNING THE LENGTH OF HOLDING BACK, BUT THERE WAS A HOLDING BACK THIS END TIME “MAN OF SIN” UNTIL GOD SAW IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO BE REVEALED [V. 5, 6].
PAUL [AND JOHN IN HIS EPISTLES] TAUGHT THAT THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY WAS ALREADY AT WORK; AND IT WOULD BE SO UNTIL THIS FINAL ONE MAN FALSE PROPHET, “THE” ANTI-christ [SEE 1 JOHN 2: 18] WOULD COME AND WOULD BE DESTROYED [V. 7].
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” [V. 8].
THIS IS TIED IN WITH REVELATION 19: 11-20!!
THE FALSE PROPHET OF REVELATION IS THE “MAN OF SIN” IN PAUL’S PROPHECY!
YES INDEED PAUL’S PROPHECY WAS AND IS AN END-TIME PROPHECY!
THIS MAN OF SIN —— “EVEN HIM, WHOSE COMING IS AFTER THE WORKING OF SATAN WITH ALL POWER AND SIGNS AND LYING WONDERS; AND WITH ALL DECEITFULNESS OF UN-RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THEM THAT ARE PERISHING, BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED” [V. 9, 10].
THE PEOPLE ON THE WHOLE WILL BE DECEIVED, GOD WILL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE. THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED WHO BELIEVE NOT THE TRUTH, BUT HAVE PLEASURE IN UN-RIGHTEOUSNESS” [V. 11, 12].
O YES INDEED! THIS IS A PROPHECY FOR THE LAST YEARS OF THIS AGE—— WHEN THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS FULFILLED!
YOU NEED TO LOVE THE TRUTH—— TO LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS [SEE PS. 119: 172].
HE THAT HAS AN EAR TO HEAR WITH SHOULD HEAR!
Keith Hunt
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