0930. How the Critics Prepare for the Antichrist

How the Critics Prepare for the Antichrist

"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;

"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" (2Th_2:3-4)

There is nothing indefinite in 2 Thessalonians 2.

1. There is an acknowledgment of the coming great apostasy. Paul gave a like testimony with John. He conceded that "the mystery of iniquity doth already work" (2Th_2:7). He emphasized that that iniquity would develop into an apostasy that would head up in a personality, the man of sin.

Has the apostasy come? It is fast ripening. Where are the schools and colleges, denominational or state, that stand committed to the faith once for all delivered. They are few, alas, very few.

Where are the denominations which stand both in message and in methods, free from the denials of the faith. They are few, alas, very few. The time has come when individual churches must even examine with care into the faith of prospective pastors.

What of the missionaries sent out to tell the Gospel message to those who grope in darkness? Reports from the front, so far as denominational missions are concerned, are far from reassuring. Hear the words of a young lady missionary in China, published in the announcement sheet of one of our Elyria churches:

"We are having rather loud echoes of the movement (millenarianism) out here in the so-called Bible Union, which is simply a challenge which we are not accepting with any great amount of fervor. The better educated Chinese men and women fox the most part recognize clearly what the situation is. I have come to feel that all of this stir is sort of like a dying gasp of the 'old-time religion!'"

Surely the apostasy is here!

2. The apostasy will head up in the man of sin. This man of sin, will exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped. He will even sit in the temple of God, as though he were God; showing himself that he is God.

Even in Paul's day, there were some who denied the rapture of saints, saying that the day of Christ had already come (see 2Th_2:1-2).

When the man of sin comes, there will be many who will wonder after and worship him as God.

Of this one, Christ said: "I came in My Father's name, and ye received Me not, if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

3. After the word of the coming great apostasy and the coming of the man of sin, is set forth, we have in 2Th_2:12-14, gracious promises which clearly show that believers will be saved (raptured) from the powers of the antichrist, and that they should be anticipating that day of the Lord's return.

(1) We have been chosen unto salvation through belief in the Truth.

(2) We have been called by the Gospel unto the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(3) Therefore we should stand fast, and hold fast to the traditions which we have been taught through the Word or Epistle of Paul.

(4) Then in 2Th_3:5 we have a wonderful admonition: "The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."

Amen and amen! Let us hold fast to the faith and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel. For yet a little while and He that cometh will come, and will not tarry. We must not waver, nor falter. Let men mock, let deceivers rage, let antichrists deny, let scoffers mock, let some turn aside to fables, let satan seek to veil the Gospel–through it all, whether in life or in death, we will cling unto that blessed hope of the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR