The falling away from the Gospel of Christ has happened and the “man of sin” is here.

2 Thessalonians 2

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

Isaiah 14:13-15

The verses above put this chapter of 2 Thessalonians into context. 1) Sitting on the “mount of the congregation” is to sit within people in every city around the world. That is done by forming what people think, feel, do, and says. 2) Ascending above the heights of the clouds is what Ezekiel 1 refers to in describing the space shuttle, space station, and space satellites. 3) To be like the Most High is to sit in the temple of God, our body, as if is God.

• Concern over when Jesus Christ returns.
• The falling away has happened and the “man of sin” is here.
• The Holy Spirit is taken out of the way as the “man” of sin and lawlessness is revealed.
• The “man” of sin, or lawless one, comes by the working of Satan with strong delusion.
• Encouragement to live by the traditions of the Gospel of Christ.

Concern over when Jesus Christ returns. “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

When Paul wrote the letter to the Thessalonians, they had just come to accept that Jesus Christ had come to this world as the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. They accepted Him as the Messiah and their Savior who atoned for their sin by the death He suffered on the Cross. They believed in His resurrection and ascension into Heaven. Now, they had to grasp the idea that He was coming again, which is referred to as the day of Christ.

It could have been very confusing distinguishing His first coming, which had just happened, from His second coming which would be an event in the future. Some people were writing to the Thessalonians, and speaking to them in person, to tell them that Jesus Christ had already come, it is done and over. Paul reassured the Thessalonians that the day of Christ is yet to come, a day of His second coming to gather all Believers to our eternal home in the New Jerusalem.

Today, we live in a world which has no belief in life beyond the grave and they scoff at the resurrection and the second coming of Jesus Christ. Today’s culture might speak of Jesus in the context of philosophy, activism, or philanthropy but never in terms of a resurrected Savior who is coming again. At the best, they would say He was here on earth but now His time is done and gone, with no hope of His return. However, as we see in the next verses, a way is being paved for the resurrected Christ to return.

The falling away has happened and the “man of sin” is here.  “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

In Daniel 11:28-35, he speaks of the great falling away.
In Daniel 11:36-39, he also speaks of the one who exalts himself above God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is returning after the people of this world suffers a falling away from the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is when the “man of sin”, also known as the “son of perdition”, is revealed. This is the one who sits in the temple of God, our body, as if is God.

The falling away: Before the return of Jesus Christ, people all over the world fall away from belief in God, the need for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, and from embracing the presence of the Holy Spirit. The falling away has already happened. The global falling away began happening immediately after WW2 when the United Nations was established in 1945, as described in Daniel 8:1-14 and also Revelation 17. The United Nations brought the government of the beast with it.

As a 1959 Baby Boomer, I recall when the Gospel of Jesus Christ had fairly strong roots in America. At the age of 20, 46 years ago, I participated in street corner evangelism where a group from the Church had a bass drum, horns, a microphone with amplifier, personal testimonies of being born-again through Jesus Christ, and a 10-minute sermon from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I also remember, just a couple years after that, when city ordinances began to be implemented to ban outdoor evangelism in public places.

Today, as I type this, and years before, the churches have abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ to align themselves with community standards. Not the standards found in Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Instead of being set apart from the ways of this world by their belief in the Living God, they have bonded with the secular ways of the world. No longer is there a central hub shining with the Light of Christ where people can be gathered to the altar of the Cross to live for God through the Holy Spirit. Government lawmakers no longer integrate the values of the Bible into their policies and laws. The education system prohibits the teaching of the Bible in classrooms, and the spread of the Gospel of Christ is not wanted within the community. Click here for a post on the extinction of Christian births from Revelations 12.

The “man of sin” or “son of perdition” has been revealed. Perdition relates to spiritual ruin. The “man of sin” or “son of perdition” sets in the temple of God as if he is God. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are the temple of God, being the home of His Spirit, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God…” 1 Corinthians 6:19 The “man of sin” or “son of perdition” sets within people as God by the power over physiology to give people what to think, feel, say, and do and brings spiritual ruin.

People in every city across the globe have fallen away from God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to live for the entity that lives within their thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors. This atheistic entity gives life to the image of the beast to live and speak through people everywhere as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do. This entity is the one “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

The “man of sin”, or “son of perdition”, is Satan’s equivalent of God’s “Son of God”. While we say, “…it is no longer us who live but Christ who lives in us”, it’s not really a flesh and bone person living within our flesh and bone body, but it is Christ living in us through the Holy Spirit. The “man of sin” or “son of perdition” lives within people but is an artificial and non-spiritual tool of Satan to live within people but not through the spirit and conscience. The spirit and conscience are replaced by the “man of sin” or “son of perdition” by governing through the thoughts and feelings of people to influence words and behaviors.

The “man of sin” exalts self above all that is called God, which means the artificial entity living within the physiology of people does not share the human body with God. The atheistic entity opposes the living God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit from living within the mind, heart, and soul of people. That is why this entity replaces the spirit and conscience by giving people what to think, feel, say, and do. Anything that people cherish or holds as God within their mind, heart, and soul is opposed by the atheistic entity that exalts self above anything that is called God. This includes all political and religious figures and parties that is honored above the “man of sin or “son of perdition”. This “man of sin” is also referred to as the “son of perdition” which means the son of spiritual ruin. Compare that to the Son of God who is spiritual life.

By the power over physiology to influence what people do, say, think, and feel, the “man of sin” or “son of perdition” is blasphemously showing himself to the world that he is God.

Because the “man of sin” or “son of perdition” lives within the thoughts and feelings of people to bring spiritual ruin, all of humanity can be considered to be the embodiment of the “man of sin” or “son of perdition”. “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb…” Revelation 13:8 When the word “man” is used in the Bible, it mostly refers to “mankind,” all of humanity, and people in general. For example, this verse says, “But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.” John 2:24-25 The word “man” is not to exclude women nor any other person, but is interchangeable with the words, “mankind,” “humanity,” “people,” etc. That verse could be translated as, “But Jesus did not commit Himself to people, because He knows all people, and had no need that anyone should testify of people, for He knew what was in people.”

The “man of sin” is appropriately used in the context of “mankind” or humanity, because the “man of sin” is revealed when people globally cease to believe in the Living God, dismiss the necessity of sin’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and lack the presence of the Holy Spirit within them. They are the people of sin, or rather the humanity of sin, and the children of spiritual ruin. In their attitude and demeanor, they boast, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:4 Which mirrors the atheistic entity living within them who “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4

The Holy Spirit is taken out of the way as the “man” of sin and lawlessness is revealed. “Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 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. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8

The “lawless one,” the “man of sin,” and the “son of perdition” refer to the same entity. All of these refer to the atheistic entity that sits within the temple of God, our body, as if it is God. This is done by living within the physiology of people to govern through thoughts and feelings to influence words and behaviors. By doing this, humanity becomes the “man of sin” by denying the Living God, rejecting Jesus Christ, and not having the Holy Spirit within them. They are living in spiritual ruin as the “children of perdition” and are the embodiment of the “lawless one” referring to the absence of the Holy Spirit.

The atheistic entity that sets itself up as God within the human body, cannot exist in the presence of the Holy Spirit. That is why this entity hardens the mind, spirit, and conscience against the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then enables the image of the beast to live and speak through people. The Holy Spirit is who restrains lawlessness from appearing on this earth and keeps the “lawless one” from ruling. Lawlessness has been at work in this world for a long time, but now we are living in the day when the Holy Spirit is being taken out of this world. Today’s culture does not welcome the Holy Spirit to be a part of who they are. The entity with power over physiology now sets in the body as if it is God, ruling over people’s thoughts and feelings, and is the “lawless one”. The “lawless one” has been revealed in this world today because the giver of the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ, has been rejected.

The Lord will consume this present world system and its global culture because they are the embodiment of the “lawless one”, the “children of perdition”, and the “man of sin”. This world system is built on atheism, who are living in spiritual ruin, and severe global lawlessness is their destiny. Their destruction is coming at the return of Jesus Christ, and they will be destroyed with the brightness of His coming. “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” 1 Corinthians 3:17 The Day of the Lord is described in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and also Zachariah 14.

The “man” of sin, or lawless one, comes by the working of Satan with strong delusion.  “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

The “lawless one”, who has power over physiology to influence what people feel, think, say, and do is by the work of Satan. This entity displays its power in that “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb…” Revelation 13:8 This describes the global culture of today. They are under the influence of a strong delusion working under their skin and within their physiology to shape how they think and feel. They believe the lie that there is no God, that Jesus Christ is not needed, and that the Holy Spirit does not need to be a part of who they are.

Today’s global culture is under an unrighteous deception by lying wonders. The lying wonders come by the sense of empowerment they are given through the signs of uncanny knowledge, heightened intuition, extraordinary skills and talents, amazing physical abilities, uncanny authority over others, artificial emotions, etc. Their attitude and demeanor are “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:4 They are those who perish because they do not believe the truth, and that truth is in Jesus Christ, which leads to Salvation, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 Because they do not believe the truth, they will all be condemned because they have pleasure in unrighteousness.

Within the strong delusion, signs, and lying wonders, the global population has fallen far from the gospel of Christ and choose to welcome the atheistic entity that empowers them by giving them what to think, feel, say, and do. As a consequence, the image of the beast is enlivened to live and speak through them as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do.

Encouragement to live by the traditions of the Gospel of Christ. “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

The Holy Spirit encourages us, through Paul, to hold on to the traditions which we were taught through the Gospel of Christ. Nowadays, the traditions and culture of every nation around the world are being changed to adapt to the goals of the United Nations (global government of the beast). The global culture also promotes the LGBQT+ lifestyles and the killing of the unborn, which permeates the United States of America. Also, the State of Israel has the most liberal abortion rights in the world and embraces the LGBQT lifestyles. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to hold on to the teachings of the Bible through all of that, which leads to our sanctification. Sanctification means to be set apart from the ways and values of the world and to live by the cleansing of our spirit through the Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit by the remission of sin which happens when we live for the Lord Jesus Christ. In that way, we receive the glory of Jesus Christ, which is the resurrection from the dead and eternal life.

From the very beginning of the testimony of Jesus, from the very beginning of the traditions of the Gospel, we were chosen for Salvation by the death Christ Jesus suffered on the Cross to atone for sin. That is the tradition we are to hold on to which is our belief in the truth. The entity which forms what people think, feel, do, and say is far from tradition rooted in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. In fact, it enables the image of the beast to live and speak through people. That is far from the tradition of allowing the image of Christ to live and speak through us by the Holy Spirit. Those who live by the thing forming their thoughts and words are being conformed to their place in life by what they say and do. They are groomed to the mark of the beast. That is far from the tradition of being conformed to our place in the eternal New Jerusalem.

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11