End Time Insights

Repeatedly, the New Testament warns of the coming “apostasy” that it also links to the future “man of lawlessness” whose intent is to deceive Christians . To the church at Thessalonica, Paul explained that the “ Day of the Lord ” will NOT  commence until “ first ,” the “ apostasy ” occurs, and second, the “ man of lawlessness ” is revealed, two events that are inextricably linked. In this statement, Paul is reiterating the warning found elsewhere in the New Testament that originated with Jesus - [ Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash ].

To identify the Antichrist, we must depend on what the relevant scriptures say about him, his methods, and his agendas .  The subject of the “ Antichrist ” raises understandable questions. Who is he? When will he appear? How will we recognize him? What is his “ mark ” or “ number ”? In popular preaching, he is a global political leader who uses military might to coerce other nations. But if Satan is truly clever and cunning, why would he do the very things that so many of us expect? - [ Photo by Showkat Chowdhury on Unsplash ].

Two events must occur before the “Day of the Lord” - The apostasy and the unveiling of the Man of Lawlessness – 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 .  Next, Paul explained why the “ Day of the Lord ” had  NOT  commenced. Two key events must occur first - the “ apostasy ” and the unveiling of the “ man of lawlessness , the son of destruction .” In Thessalonica, the men who were spreading false information about the coming of Jesus were deceiving believers by raising false expectations about the nearness of that day - [ Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash ].

Disinformation about the “day of the Lord” caused alarm among many in the congregation at Thessalonica – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 .  Paul addressed the claim that the “ Day of the Lord had set in ," false information was disrupting the congregation in Thessalonica, rumors that were being spread either by a “ spirit ,” by a word ( logos ), or by a letter, “ as if from us .” In response, Paul listed two events that must occur  BEFORE  the “ parousia ” of Jesus - the “ revealing of the man of lawlessness ” and the “ apostasy ” - [ Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash ].