The man of lawlessness

Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ... 

For many centuries churches have looked for "the man of lawlessness" and have speculated as to "who" is the man of lawlessness of the end times. 
 
In the 1800's, in the book, War and Peace, Tolstoy told of the Russians thinking Napoleon to be the antichrist.
 
In the 1940's, I'm sure many thought Adolph Hitler was the antichrist.
 
Who is antichrist?
 
The apostle John tells us there are many antichrists and John told the church antichrist was already among them and came and sat with them for awhile and then left, not wanting to heed the doctrines of Christ as they were following at that time.
 
I John 2:18-19  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.



19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
 
💥💥💥
 
Acts 20  (Paul speaking to the elders at the church at Ephesus)
 

25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.



26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.



27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.



28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which HE hath purchased with HIS own blood.



29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.



30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

 

💥💥💥
 
The apostle Paul tells us that men will get worse and worse in the last days:
 
2 Timothy 3
 
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.



14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;



15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.



16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.


 

💥💥💥

2 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;



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.
(In 1982, God said to me:  "The falling away are not people leaving the churches.  The falling away are churches leaving the scriptures to set up their own doctrines.")


 
Paul tells us of that apostasy of the end times which comes into the churches where they fall away from scripture and set up their own preferences for doctrines, casting away portions of scripture.
 
💥💥💥
 
Antichrist is a spirit in men:  (The apostle John says:)
 
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.
 
Antichrist is a spirit that comes into men who fight the doctrines of Christ which are set forth for the church in the Holy Scriptures.
 
💥💥💥
 
The man of lawlessness:  NASB
 
2 Thessalonians 2
 
1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
 
(The apostasy had to come into the churches before Jesus could return.  That has happened as churches have fallen away from portions of Bible to allow the approval of various sins of the world in the churches today.)
 
6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
 
The scriptures, Jesus, kept antichrist back from the churches, until they removed portions of scripture from the churches.
 
Then antichrist came into the churches, the spirit of lawlessness against the doctrine of Christ.
 
This was ordained to happen in the end times and it has happened in many churches as they have changed from the doctrines of Christ of the Bible.
 
Jesus could return any time now.  HE will destroy the apostate churches.
 
2 Thessalonians 2  (KJV)
 
8  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:
 
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
 
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.



11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:



12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
 
💥💥💥💥💥

 

* For writings on additional subjects, click here:  Jesus Ministries Exhortations Blog