1 John 2:18-20:
...Young children, it is the last hour, and, just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there have come to be many antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us. But [they went out] that it might be shown up that not all are of our sort. 20 And you have an anointing from the holy one; all of you have knowledge [brought us by Christ].
Jesus clearly indicates those who abandon his Bible teachings are the ones making up this "man of lawlessness" [or anitchrist]. They are the ones going away from the simple and clear Bible teachings of the Christ, and then judging others wicked because they will not follow in their badness. (John 16:1-2) Jesus also said his followers had an anointing from the holy one: They received knowledge. We today gain that same knowledge Jesus gave his first century followers through our study of the Bible with a focus on Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as those men recorded the actions and teachings of Jesus. Bible knowledge both identifies the "man of lawlessness," and enables us to avoid believing his lies. Jesus's spirit anointed followers said the "last hour" for this wicked system was starting even in the first century. [Remember; it is the "last hour" from God's perspective. (2 Peter 3:8-10)] The Bible indicates the "last hour" has nearly run it's course today. Hallelujah! (Revelation 19:6) It is now the last hour from God's perspective, and from ours as well. Praise Jah you people! (Psalm 104:35) It is the judgments of יהוה that have made it so! (Matthew 12:36-37 ; Romans 2:5-6)
Many choose to abuse drugs or alcohol in an attempt to escape reality. It is sad when reality is so bitter as to drive people toward such hopeless solutions to their problems. We must confess: The world we see around us, the one in front of our eyes, certainly is one needing to be escaped. The stark reality of life in this world is this: We are born dying. We see our loved ones die all around us as we grow up; and any sensible person very quickly recognizes that is the fate of us all. If we are fortunate to be warm and well fed, reasonable people must recognize most of the world is not among those so fortunate. One in four people in the earth suffer starvation or malnutrition. [As the world is rapidly deteriorating, it is probably more than one in four starving. (By 2025 it is probably more like one in two.)] After that terror, we must add disease, war, death or suffering of those we love, and on the list goes. We soon recognize the number of our days of life are short and "glutted with agitation". (Job 14:2) Humble followers of Christ are not able to judge themselves more righteous than those who suffer. So... People of this world try to hide from knowledge of our fate in the brief happiness we might find through "everyday life": We marry, or we seek after wealth or power, or what ever else we might think of to look to for an escape. Sadly for some, that includes alcohol and drugs. The actual truth is, we are caught in a war for our faith and there is no escape. (Ecclesiastes 8:8) We must always remember that our Father did not start the war we are caught in; His enemy did! We can however, choose to be on the side of truth and right. (Isaiah 32:14-18) We can choose to be on the winning side: We can choose to be on our Righteous Father's side. (Zechariah 8:12 ;Zephaniah 2:3)
The world we see with our eyes: That is where we exist and what tends to be real to us. While there is no immediate escape from that reality, there can be peace and hope while awaiting the end of suffering. (Romans 8:22 ; 2 Peter 3:12-13) Knowing and understanding what is happening in the spirit realm; that knowledge is what is most important. Our response to truth defines our physical reality for the future; It defines our reality even now in our faith. Making people aware is the purpose of this website. To try and hide from what is truth, or to choose to ignore it, is not a solution. It is not one that will benefit us at any rate. If you embrace truth, and recognize the happy outcome for the righteous, that will bring you peace and hope and happiness. (Proverbs 22:4 ; Proverbs 3:13-18 ; Romans 8:21) Recognizing nothing else will make us truly happy will keep us from chasing empty and useless sources of meaning for life. An important part of "knowing truth," includes recognizing the modern day revelation of the "man of lawlessness." (2 Thessalonians 2:3) As Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8,
"True, the mystery of this lawlessness is already at work; but only till he who is right now acting as a restraint gets to be out of the way. 8 Then, indeed, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence."
Put very simply, then; knowledge of Bible truth reveals to sincere Bible students this composite lawless one, or man of lawlessness: Consisting of those who try to hide or obscure the truth. (Romans 1:18 ; John 14:6 ; John 8:44 ; John 1:17)
What of those making an effort to be faithful to truth? We strive to carry on life as best we are able in the face of so many problems. We try to be productive and to care for others. We marry and have children; and we work and strive to care for and protect them as they grow up. We support and enjoy the arts or have hobbies; and we take vacations and enjoy family and group activities. All of that happens in the world which appears to our eyes. There is nothing wrong with any of that, of course. Those good things make up much of our life, and they are wonderful. The hidden world of spiritual reality though, is the world that is even more important. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31) Knowledge of the attack by God's enemy helps us understand it is that attack which is causing so many suffer; and most importantly, we can understand what God is doing to correct that suffering. Truth helps us realize our loving Father is not responsible for the problems we face; He is correcting them. (1 John 3:8b) If we have children, teaching them the truth will help set their mind at ease and can give them hope. The outworking of that solution by God goes on largely hidden, and seen only through eyes of faith, by those willing to see. (2 Kings 6:15-17 ; Hebrews 11:27 ; 2 Chronicles 16:9) Which of these worlds, then, do you recognize as most important? What commands your attention and affection? In which does your hope lie? Are you able to recognize the man of lawlessness Jesus taught would be revealed in the last days? (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12) He is not hard to identify! The man of lawlessness is not one individual, but a composite man made of all those who follow satan [the great liar]. (John 8:44) Since individuals making up the man of lawlessness have no faith or dedication to follow the truth of God's word, you should expect they may say or do anything. What ever they choose to say however, can be summed up in one category: Lies... But, they are lies being exposed in the light of truth! Those who wish to be faithful to our Father, simply must recognize the wicked individuals who comprise the man of lawlessness.
To summarize then: The man of lawlessness may be identified in anyone who tries to supplant Christ by acting as a priest or elder or preacher or anointed one or any other attempt to act as mediator between you and God. He is comprised of all who assert they have new truth, to replace or extend the Bible. He includes those who raise themselves up as lords over your faith, and even imagine themselves judges over who is righteous and who is wicked. Your protection from being destroyed because of going along with this composite lawless man, and your knowledge to recognize him, lies in your personal knowledge of the teachings of Jesus. (Matthew 7:21-23) Jesus's teachings are clear and simple. All it takes to understand is a little effort invested in reading your Bible. It is up to every one of us to learn what Jesus taught, and then, to look to him alone as our great high priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and as our lord and savior. (2 Peter 3:17-18) What we personally show we believe, as revealed in our actions, (Mal 3:16-4:3) that becomes witness for or against us as to whether we have faith. (Matthew 12:36-37) The message Jesus brought is clear and simple: Learn what the Bible teaches, and talk about it with others. (Matthew 10:27) Obedience to Christ demonstrates what our true love is. That is what the love of God means: That we obey. (1 John 5:3) In referencing the faith of Moses, Paul recounted at Hebrews 11:28 how Moses instructed the Jews to sprinkle blood on the door post of their houses to protect them from the angel of destruction. That instruction to them prefigured Christ Jesus pouring out his life blood in our behalf. No doubt many of the Egyptians thought it an act of insanity to put lambs blood over their door. Maybe some Jews did too. Those with eyes of faith to see the true reality did not hesitate. The sprinkling of blood over their door post was their simple act of faith. Learning what Jesus teaches, and then exercising faith in his teachings by talking with others about it, that is our simple act of faith today. That act by us shows in which world our hope lies, and which we give our energy to. Those who hinder spreading Bible truth, or willfully refuse to recognize it, constitute themselves a part of the "man of lawlessness."
It is no credit to him, but the man of lawlessness is actually used by יהוה to accomplish some good: There is a revealing of God's righteousness by his judgment against that wicked man of lawlessness. (Romans 1:16-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12) At Romans 1:16-32, we read how God's righteousness is revealed in those who choose to have faith in his goodness and promises; and also in his judgment against those who choose to place faith in lies. Simply and beautifully, God holds out the gift of life to any who want it; without forcing any to be obedient. Of course, those who will not abide by the law of love, and are thus willing to do harm to others, will die because of their sin: Simply because they refused to accept the remedy for their problems and those of others. We are all born in a sinful state, and so, we are all born dying. Life is a gift we must accept by our faith. We are not responsible for being born in sin, but we are responsible if we refuse to leave it; if we refuse the gift of life through faith in Christ Jesus. (John 3:16-21) The terrible conditions of this world of these last days is the direct result of those who refuse to obey the perfect standards of our Creator. The evidence is thus clear as to why all must be obedient; or must be allowed to cease to exist by refusing to accept truth.
Recognizing the man of lawlessness is also helped by having some understanding of the Dark Ages and the Great Apostasy.
Make no mistake, you are either among [or joining] those exposing the man of lawlessness, or you are part of him; there is no in-between. There is no exemption from the war! (Ecclesiastes 8:8) If you are part of the man of lawlessness through ignorance, the good news of the Bible can set you free. Accepting Bible truth is the gift of life. (John 12:50) It is your free will choice, and choosing wisely is choosing life: (Deuteronomy 30:19)
'Now we speak wisdom among those who are mature, but not the wisdom of this system of things nor that of the rulers of this system of things, who are to come to nothing. But we speak God's wisdom in a sacred secret, the hidden wisdom, which God foreordained before the systems of things for our glory. This [wisdom] not one of the rulers of this system of things came to know, for if they had known [it] they would not have impaled the glorious Lord. But just as it is written: "Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, neither have there been conceived in the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him." For it is to us God has revealed them through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God.' (1 Corinthians 2:6-10)
Simply know the truth, and the truth will set you free! (John 8:32)
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