There is a key passage found at the
second letter to the church at
Thessalonica at chapter two which
provides important insights as to the revelation of the one which Scripture
calls the son of perdition. Said in
other terms this passage is referring to the Antichrist who will be made
manifest to the world towards the end of the age and just prior to the time of
tribulation.
Let us
take a look at the content of the passage and it’s very important ramifications
for all peoples dwelling on the earth at that time. Many Christians have been
taught that there will be a “rapture” of all who are true believers immediately
prior to the time of tribulation and that the Church or the saints will not be
affected by the tribulation, but rather that period is reserved for God’s
dealings with Israel or the Jews. Is it true?
Paul
is seeking here to cast the light of truth on the event of the return of the
Lord Jesus Christ and the gathering together of all true believers unto Him. He is instructing them and us as to the order
of events which must occur before that return.
He tells them and us that that gathering will not occur before there is
a great falling away and that the man of sin (Antichrist) must be revealed.
When that event which is certain to come the evil one will present himself as
God and set himself in the place of God sitting in the temple. Under the new
covenant the temple of God is the inner spirit of man not a building made with
hands. So the prevailing issue for mankind in that day will be the issue of
deception because he will manifest himself in craft and deceit. There has been
a very great spiritual battle raging down through the ages to determine who
will gain dominion over the souls of men. This warfare will reach its peak of
intensity at the time of the tribulation and contrary to the doctrine espoused
by many of those people who profess the Christian faith; .The church will be
subjected to this very difficult tine of trouble which is to come upon the earth.
We know this not only from the passage but many otters such as Matthew
24:29-31, I Corinthians 15:51-52, and the passage at I Thessalonians 4:13-18
all of which are clearly defining the resurrection and not a “rapture”. The
resurrection is after the tribulation.
Paul
is warning concerning all “deceivableness
of unrighteousness “for the craftiness
and deceit of the evil one exceeds our ability to discern except one is
abiding in Christ and is quickened by
the Holy Spirit. In the absence of this
reality Paul continues by stating that God, as it were, will “send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie”(verse 11). The words of the Lord Jesus confirm the deception
speaking to his disciples At Matthew
24:24: “For there shall arise false
Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch
that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect”. And Daniel
adds at Daniel 11:32: “And such as do
wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt with flatteries: but the people
that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits.”
So we see that to avert the possibility of being deceived for those
living at that day living in that day (and that might well include you or your
loved ones)Is of the utmost importance.
. A
principle area of deception within the Christian community is the false
doctrine that the Jews or Israel are God’s “chosen people” and there is in the plan of God a restoration
of these people in the ancient homeland from which an earthly kingdom will be
established with dominion and rule over the nations for a millennium. All of
God’s promises to the Jews were completely realized and concluded under the old
covenant and the coming of their Messiah, Jesus the Christ. To prepare yourself
with understanding you must be established in the truth and be completely aware
of this deception. I recommend my recent
title The Israel Deception.
The book is available at Amazon.com, BN.com and other
major book sellers.
David Lance
Dean website:
thesprophets.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment