MAN OF SIN #3— THE LAST WICKED ONE!

 Man of Sin? 2Thes. 2  #3

The last wicked one

   by Ralph Woodrow and Keith Hunt

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.

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!

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. 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.

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!

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.

(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 Keith Hunt

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 pinicle 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 that 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 TIES DIRECTLY WITH REVELATION 19:20. A GREAT MIRACLE WORKING "FALSE PROPHET" WILL ARISE DURING THE 42 MONTH PERIOD OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION..

THE MAN OF SIN AT THE END OF THIS AGE WILL INDEED BE IN THE PAPAL

OFFICE OF THE POPE OF THE BABYLON WOMAN CHURCH, WHICH NEARLY ALL THE PROTESTANT BIBLE COMMENTARIES SINCE THE REFORMATION, HAVE DECLARED TO BE THE PAPACY, THE ONE MAN WHO WILL SIT IN THE PAPAL OFFICE

THE FALLING AWAY COULD ALSO BE A FALLING AWAY OF EVEN MORE GROSS ERROR. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS LOOSENED ITS POSITION ON ABORTION, AND IS NOW ACCEPTING PRACTICING HOMOSEXUALS AND LESBIANS INTO ITS CHURCH. AND THIS FALLING AWAY IS ALSO IN MANY PROTESTANT CHURCHES, EVEN TO WOMEN ORDAINED IN ITS MINISTRY, EVEN ALSO PRACTICING CHURCH LEADERS WHO ARE OPENLY GAY, THEN WE CAN ADD SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN MANY OF THE POPULAR CHURCHES.

THE PART OF SHOWING HIMSELF TO BE GOD, WOULD BE LIKE A POPE  [TWO OR THREE BACK] WHO WENT TO A SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY; A REPORTER ASKED A YOUNG LADY AROUND 20, WHAT SHE THOUGHT OF THE POPE VISITING HER COUNTRY; HER IMMEDIATE REPLY WAS—— "HE IS GOD ON EARTH."  I SAW IT ALL ON THE TV NEWS; I THOUGHT OF 2 THESS. 2 

IMMEDIATELY.

AS FOR "SITTING IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD" VINE [NEW TESTAMENT WORDS] SAYS "SHRINE OR SANCTUARY."  IN DANIEL 9: 16-19 HE IS PRAYING CONCERNING JERUSALEM, THY HOLY MOUNTAIN. HE CALLS FOR GOD TO SHINE UPON HIS SANCTUARY THAT IS DESOLATE. HE TELLS GOD TO BEHOLD OUR DESOLATION AND THE CITY THAT IS CALLED BY THY NAME.

THE CITY AND PEOPLE ARE CALLED BY THY NAME.

JERUSALEM, THE HOLY CITY, AND PEOPLE WERE DESOLATE.

THE HOLY CITY IS THE SANCTUARY OF GOD.

TURN TO EXODUS 15: 17.  ISRAEL WAS TO BE BROUGHT IN TO THE MOUNTAIN OF THY INHERITANCE…THE PLACE GOD WILL DWELL IN…THE

SANCTUARY OF THE LORD…"

THE HOLY LAND IS THE SANCTUARY OF GOD….WHICH THY HANDS HAVE ESTABLISHED.

IN THE END TIME THE KING OF THE NORTH [WITH ITS POLITICAL BEAST LEADER AND RELIGIOUS CHRISTIAN FALSE PROPHET LEADER— BOOK OF REVELATION], WILL ENTER THE GLORIOUS LAND [HOLY LAND] ….AND PLANT THE TABERNACLE OF HIS PALACE, BETWEEN THE SEAS IN THE GLORIOUS HOLY MOUNTAIN ….. DANIEL 11: 40-45.

THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY SPEAKING ABOUT THE END  TIME BEAST POWER OF REVELATION, SAYING THIS POWER WILL SET ITS SEAT IN JERUSALEM IN THE HOLY LAND. IT WILL BE WHAT JESUS SAID WAS THE "ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION" [MATT. 24; MARK 13; LUKE 21].  THE ABOMINATION IN GOD'S EYES THAT MAKES DESOLATE THE CITY OF JERUSALEM [LUKE 21: 20, 21].

IT IS TO DO WITH THE 7TH AND LAST RESURRECTION OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE NOW RISING IN EUROPE.  IT WILL HAVE ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIGION WITH ITS POPE, RIDING  THIS BEAST WOMAN, KNOW AS BABYLON MYSTERY RELIGION, IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

ONE LAST HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE IN EUROPE, WITH ITS POLITICAL LEADER AND ITS SPIRITUAL LEADER, THE FALSE PROPHET, THE MAN OF SIN, AND BOTH OF THEM DESTROYED BY THE COMING OF CHRIST, THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE BURNING WITH BRIMSTONE— REVELATION 19: 20.

Keith Hunt

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