His Way is in the Sanctuary

Stephen Bohr

Secrets Unsealed

26. In Antichrist’s Temple (Part 2)

Our Father and our God, once again we approach your throne because we need your help.

This is a very, very important subject on the Antichrist sitting in the temple of God.

And we need divine wisdom, we need understanding from on high.

And so we ask for your presence through the ministration of the Holy Spirit.

I ask Lord that you will give us tender hearts and open minds to receive the truth as it is in Jesus.

And we thank you for hearing our prayer for we ask it in Jesus name.

In our last study we analyzed what the Bible has to say about the Antichrist, and we were studying the passage of the Apostle Paul that is found in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2.

And basically we notice that in the Christian world there are 2 ideas concerning the identity of the Antichrist.

The first idea is that the Antichrist was a nasty individual that arose in Old Testament times called Antiochus Epiphanes who lived between 171 and 164 BC.

Other Christians, mainly conservative Christians, believe that the Antichrist is a future nasty individual who's going to arise and sit in a rebuilt Jewish temple after the rapture of the church.

In other words for most Christians in the world the Antichrist either already came in the distant past or the Antichrist has not yet come.

But in our last study we noticed that the first stage of the Antichrist has already taken place in Christian history because scripture tells us that the Antichrist was going to sit in the temple of God and the temple of God represents the church.

And so it is a system that claims allegiance to Jesus Christ but actually betrays Jesus Christ even though it professes to serve Him and to preach Him.

Now we want to begin today where we left off in our last lecture, 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 5.

2nd Thessalonians 2 verse 5 tells us that the Apostle Paul had already told these things to the Thessalonians, they already knew everything that he had said that we studied last time.

Notice 2nd Thessalonians 2 and verse 5, here the Apostle Paul says.

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

In other words this shouldn't be new to you, I've already talked to you about the Antichrist.

And then the apostle Paul goes on to speak about the mysterious restrainer.

This is something that was holding back the Antichrist from manifesting himself from actually revealing himself for what he was.

Let's read that verse 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 6.

And now you know, see they even knew this, they knew who the restrainer was.

And now you know what is restraining, that he, that is the Antichrist, may be revealed in his time.

Now as we noticed in our last study, many Christians say, well you see the personal pronoun he here indicates that this is an individual, this is a person, because the personal pronoun he is used.

But we noticed 4 reasons last time why just because the personal pronoun he is used it doesn't mean that it's speaking about an individual but rather about a succession of individuals, in other words a system.

Now there's an interesting detail here and it is that the Apostle Paul does not actually identify the restrainer by name.

Now some Christians believe that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit, that when the Holy Spirit would be removed then the Antichrist would be manifested, but I don't believe that the restrainer here that kept the Antichrist from revealing himself actually was the Holy Spirit, because if it had been the Holy Spirit the Apostle Paul would have had no problem identifying him.

But the Apostle Paul here is using ambiguous language because he's saying you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.

In other words there's some reason why the Apostle Paul does not identify the restrainer specifically by name.

Now I want you to notice the comment that was made by the noted Bible commentary Albert Barnes, a very famous Bible commentator, he had this to say about the meaning of the restrainer who was keeping the man of sin from manifesting himself.

The belief among the primitive Christians was that what hindered, another word for restraint, what hindered the rise of the man of sin was the Roman empire, and therefore they prayed for its peace and welfare, as knowing that when the Roman Empire should be dissolved and broken in pieces, don't forget that expression, and broken in pieces the empire of the man of sin would be raised on its ruins.

In other words, the restrainer was the Roman Empire.

When the Roman Empire was broken or divided in many pieces, then a new empire would arise, which is the empire of the Antichrist.

Now in order to understand what the restrainer is we must go back to the Old Testament prophecy that is being spoken of by the Apostle Paul.

Do you remember that in our study last time we talked a little bit about the little horn, the little horn who thought that it could change the law of God that ruled for 1260 years.

Well the fact is that Daniel chapter 7 shows us very clearly that the Roman Empire would be broken in pieces, and then when it was broken in pieces the little horn or the Antichrist would arise.

In fact let's read Daniel chapter 7 and verses 23 and 24.

Thus he said, the fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth.

What does that fourth beast represent in Daniel 7?

Remember Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome very well.

So it says, then he said the fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, shall trample it, and break it in pieces.

And now notice what was going to happen to that empire.

The 10 horns are 10 kings who shall what?

So was the kingdom of Rome going to be divided?

And then who was going to arise when the empire was divided into pieces?

Notice it continues saying, and another shall rise after them.

He shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue 3 kings.

When the restrainer is taken out of the way, the Antichrist manifests himself.

And we notice that the early Christians believed that when the Roman Empire was broken in pieces the empire of the Antichrist would rise.

Incidentally in Revelation Chapter 13, if you go with me there, Revelation Chapter 13 and verse 2, we notice the same sequence of the Roman Empire giving its throne and its power to the beast, which is the same as the little horn.

Let's read that, Revelation 13 and verse 2.

Now the beast, which is the same as the little horn, which I saw, the beast that ruled for 42 months or 1260 years, was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, His mouth was like the mouth of a lion, and now notice the dragon which is the fourth beast which represents the Roman Empire, gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority.

So where did the Antichrist get his power from?

He got it from the fourth beast, he got it from the dragon beast.

So Antichrist rises after the dragon beast has its fall, after the dragon beast is divided into 10 kingdoms, is that point clear?

So the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation 13 clearly show the sequence.

The sequence is the Roman Empire would rule, the Roman Empire would be divided into 10 kingdoms or broken up into 10 kingdoms, and then the Antichrist would arise.

So the question is what was it that was restraining the Antichrist from manifesting himself.

In other words it's the previous power while the previous power is ruling a new power cannot rule.

The previous power has to be taken out of the way, and then the Antichrist could manifest himself.

Was this Antichrist, at least the spirit of this Antichrist wanting to manifest itself even in the days of the Apostle Paul absolutely because he says there is something that is what that is restraining it in the days of the Roman Empire.

Now you can't have something restraining this power unless the power is there, and so basically what you have here is that you have this Antichrist spirit that is wanting to manifest itself and it's already there in the days of the Apostle Paul just waiting to manifest itself.

Is this then speaking about a future Antichrist that's going to arise after the rapture of the church?

This Antichrist power was always already wanting to manifest itself when In the days of the Apostle Paul, he was already wanting to manifest his power.

Now, allow me to give you a little bit of history.

I'm going to read lots of quotations from historians in this presentation.

That's why I've given you a copy of the lecture so that you can follow along.

Now, I want to just go a little bit through the history.

The Roman Empire around the 4th century started to be invaded by the barbarian tribes from the northern sector of the empire and they began to carve up what had been the Roman Empire.

In fact by the year 476 the Roman Empire had been carved into 10 pieces.

In that year 476 the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire fell.

Now shortly before this Constantine had transferred the capital of his kingdom to Constantinople or Istanbul in the Eastern Roman Empire.

And when he went to the Eastern Roman Empire the Western Empire was left to the mercy of the barbarian tribes.

There was no emperor, there was no law, there was no order.

Allow me to read you a few statements here from historians about this period.

Notice from Alexander Clarence Flick in his book The Rise of the Medieval Church, pages 168 and 169, he says this, the removal of the capital of the Empire from Rome to Constantinople in 330 left the Western Church practically what?

25. In Antichrist’s Temple (Part 1)

Almighty Father, we want to thank you first of all and praise your name because you have given us your word, a sure guide, a certain compass in uncertain times.

We thank you, Father, that we are able with freedom to open that word, to study it, and to practice it in our lives.

And father as we study this very important subject on Antichrist sitting in the temple of God.

We ask that you will soften hearts and that you will open minds that we might receive the truth as it is in Jesus.

Thank you Father for hearing and answering our prayer for we ask it in Jesus name.

1 of the churches that the Apostle Paul established was the church of Thessalonica, the church of the Thessalonians.

And in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 and verses 15 through 17 the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about what would happen with those who died in Christ and those who were alive when Jesus comes.

As we begin our study I would like to read from 1st Thessalonians 4 and verses 15 through 17 because in this passage evidently the Thessalonians got the impression that Jesus was coming in the days of the Apostle Paul, in their days.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord that we who are alive and remain notice he's including himself we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep that is those who are dead For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

And now verse 17 repeats the same thought that we found in verse 15.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them, that is with those who died and resurrected, in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Twice in this passage the apostle Paul gives the impression that he and the Thessalonians were going to be alive when Jesus comes.

In verse 15 he says that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord and then in verse 17 he repeats then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together.

So the Thessalonians got a wrong impression of what the apostle Paul was really saying.

What the apostle Paul was saying is that if we are alive then we are going to be translated.

He's not predicting that that generation was going to be alive.

But they misunderstood him and so the Apostle Paul felt it necessary to write a second letter to the Thessalonians where he explained a little bit better what needed to happen before Jesus would come.

And so we want to study 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 and basically the first 13 verses in our study today and also in our next lecture.

So let's go to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verses 1 and 2.

Here the apostle Paul says, now brethren, concerning the coming, that's a word you need to remember, that's the word parousia, That's a Greek word, very important word parousia.

Now brethren concerning the parousia or the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.

Notice it's not Him gathering to us, It's us gathering together to Him.

Remember 1 Thessalonians 4 where it says we'll be caught up to join Him.

It's referring to the second coming of Christ.

So he says now brethren concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and are gathering together to him, we ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit, that would probably mean by a prophetic dream or vision, or by word, that is because somebody told you so, or by letter, a supposed letter that I have written, as from us as though the day of Christ had come.

So if somebody tells you they had a vision or a dream or if somebody tells you that they heard somebody say that Jesus has come, or if you even see a letter that appears to be signed by me, don't believe it.

And so we find that the Apostle Paul says don't believe the idea that Jesus has come yet, because certain things have to transpire before Jesus comes.

Let's go now to 2nd Thessalonians 2 and verse 3 and we're going to spend a lot of time in verses 3 and 4 and 5, and then in our next lecture we're going to study verses 6 and following.

Now notice 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 3.

The day of the parousia, the day of the coming of Christ is the context.

So that day will not come unless the falling away comes first.

Now there are several things that we need to say about this.

First of all, falling away is preceded by the definite article the.

This is not just a general falling away, this is a specific falling away that the Apostle Paul had spoken to them about and which is predicted we're going to notice in the Old Testament.

And so the Apostle Paul is saying that the falling away has to come first, not just a falling away but the specific falling away.

Now I need to say something also about that expression falling away.

It actually is a translation of 1 Greek word and that Greek word is apostasy.

Now what word do we get in English from apostasy.

Can you apostatize from the faith if you did not belong to the faith to start out with?

Apostasy means that you embrace the truth at some point, and then you forsook the truth or you fell away from the truth.

That's the reason why it's translated here in the New King James, the falling away.

In other words, the Apostle Paul is saying, don't let anyone deceive you.

The apostasy is going to come before Jesus returns.

And then he says, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.

So do you understand what we're dealing with when we talk about the apostasy?

Did this mean that originally those who were going to participate in this apostasy belonged to the Christian faith and were genuine Christians.

And this is a specific apostasy, not just apostasy is going to come or un-apostasy is going to come.

This is the explicit and definite apostasy.

Let no 1 deceive you by any means, for that day, that is the day of the coming of Christ, will not come unless the falling away, that is the apostasy comes first, and the man of sin is revealed.

Now let's discuss the expression the man of sin.

Of course we need to ask the question what is sin according to the biblical definition.

If this is the man of sin this is a system that personifies sin and enjoys sin.

First John chapter 3 and verse 4 has the biblical definition of sin.

It says there Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness.

That's a very important word because it's used in 2 Thessalonians 2.

And so it says whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness and sin is what?

Sin is lawlessness or as the King James Version says, sin is the transgression of a law.

So the man of sin is going to teach people to do what?

Now this brings to mind the little horn that we studied about remember the little horn that is mentioned in Daniel chapter 7 and verse 25 who spoke blasphemies against God and persecuted the saints of the most high and he ruled for a period of 1, 260 years, and we're also told that the little horn thought that he could change what?

You see, the man of sin and the little horn are the same power but with a different name.

Let's read Daniel chapter 7 and verse 25.

He shall speak pompous words against the most high shall persecute the saints of the most high and shall intend to change what times and law.

Then the saint shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.

And so this apostasy is going to involve the law of God.

The man of sin is a system or a power that has an onslaught against the law of God, because sin is transgression of the law.

Now let's notice another expression that we find here.

Let no 1 deceive you by any means, for that day, that is the day of the coming of Christ, will not come unless the falling away or the apostasy comes first, and the man of sin, which we've noticed is transgression of the law, is revealed the son of perdition.

I need to tell you something about that word revealed.

It's the word apocalypse, the same word that is translated revelation in Revelation chapter 1 and verse 1 the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Well it would help us to know what the antonym of revealed is.

What is the antonym or the opposite of reveal?

So the question is was this power concealed even in the days in which the Apostle Paul wrote?

In fact the word revealed means to unveil.

In other words in the days of the Apostle Paul this power was already wanting to manifest itself.

If you read for example the 3 epistles of John he deals a lot with the law and with the commandments doesn't he if anyone says I know him and does not keep his commandments he is a what he is a liar and he says his commandments are not what are not burdensome Time and again in the epistles of John, John is saying we need to keep what?

So was there a problem already in the days of the apostles with lawlessness wanting to show its ugly head?

24. A Monumental Conversion Experience

Father in heaven we gather once again to study your holy word, the sure word of prophecy for these last days.

And Father we ask that as we open that word that the Holy Spirit will be with us to guide our thoughts.

Our ways are not your ways and your ways are not our ways.

That's the reason why in order to understand you we need special revelation And so we ask for your presence and we thank you for hearing our prayer for we ask it in Jesus name.

The Holy Spirit had fallen on the day of Pentecost And the Christian movement was growing and extending like a grass fire.

In fact, in Acts chapter 6 and verse 7, we find a description of the fact that many members and priests were leaving Judaism and they were joining the Christian movement.

It says there, then the word of God spread and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

In other words, clergy and laity were being converted to Christianity.

The Bible tells us that 1 of the reasons for this phenomenal growth was the work of Stephen, who was 1 of the 7 deacons.

In Acts chapter 6 and verse 8, we're told that Stephen was instrumental in the growth of the church.

It says there, and Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

So fast was the Christian movement growing that Judaism was greatly disturbed.

In fact, there was 1 particular person who was very disturbed.

It was a young man who was a very promising prospect for Judaism.

It appeared like he had a brilliant future.

He believed that God had chosen the Jewish nation unconditionally and irrevocably, and woe to whoever questioned that fact.

You see for Saul of Tarsus the preservation of Judaism was number 1 on his list.

Judaism had to be preserved at all costs.

We're told in Acts Chapter 22 and verse 3 and here the apostle Paul is talking about his heritage.

He says I am indeed a Jew born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, great teacher by the way, taught according to the strictness of our father's law and was zealous toward God as you all are today.

And so here we find Saul of Tarsus describing his Jewish heritage.

Now Saul wanted to preserve the Judaism for the same reason that the Jews that led Jesus to the cross wanted to preserve Judaism.

In fact, in John chapter 11 and verses 47 through 50, we find the high priest, Caiaphas, speaking before the Sanhedrin, and he was explaining why they needed to do away with Christ.

In other words, the subsistence of the Jewish nation was at stake.

We find there in John 11 47 through 50, this is happening just a few months before the death of Christ, then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, what shall we do?

If we let him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.

That this would grow so great that Judaism would disappear.

It says, And 1 of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that 1 man should die for the people and not that the whole nation should perish.

So notice that the main argument for destroying Christ was the preservation of the Jewish nation.

The same feeling was in the heart of Saul of Tarsus.

He said this growing Christian movement is a menace to Judaism and it must be destroyed.

In Acts chapter 26 and verses 9 through 11 we find a description of Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor of the church.

It says there in Acts 26 verses 9 through 11, Paul is reminiscing about his previous life.

Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests.

And when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them, and I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme, and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

So Saul of Tarsus had the same spirit as the Sanhedrin.

In his mind the preservation of Judaism was uppermost in his mind.

And this is the reason why Saul of Tarsus was so intent on destroying not only Christianity but particularly Stephen who was 1 of those who was leading to the phenomenal growth of Christianity.

In fact, we find in Acts chapter 7 and verses 57 and 58 that when Stephen was being stoned, Saul of Tarsus was present there.

It says, Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with 1 accord.

And they cast him out of the city and stoned him.

And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

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All Teachings

26. In Antichrist’s Temple (Part 2)

57m

25. In Antichrist’s Temple (Part 1)

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24. A Monumental Conversion Experience

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