The Revealing Of Antichrist

II Thess. 2:3 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;

In this hour the Holy Spirit is revealing, to those who have ears to hear, the coming forth of the spirit of Antichrist. Not only the coming forth of his external appearance, but also the coming forth of his internal appearance. Most mature Christians can identify his coming forth in the nations of the world and especially in our nation. They can see the mystery of iniquity in its’ one phase, coming forth in the government and authorities of our nation. It’s very hard to deny this fact as they listen to the news media and read the newspapers. The one world government is truly being formed and the external man of sin is being revealed. What is even more dangerous is the revealing of the internal many membered man of sin, the sons of perdition. However, not many Christians can recognize the hidden coming forth of the spirit of Antichrist.

II Thess. 2:4 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, showing himself that he is God.

John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:21) But he spake of the temple of his body.

Jesus referred to His body as the temple of God in the book of John. Paul referred to the Christians at Corinth as the temple of God.

I Cor. 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

I Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

II Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Eph. 2:20-21 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Scripture makes it very clear that Christians are the real temple of God. Therefore, we can safely assume that when the writer of II Thess.2:4 speaks of the Temple of God, he is speaking of Christians. He is speaking of Antichrist coming forth in Christians.

This may seem some what shocking to you. Yet we must remember that “Judas”, who was one of the twelve (only twelve) chosen of our Lord to walk closely with Him for three years was the one who betrayed Him. It is not against God’s ways to allow those who have chosen to follow Christ, to allow them the free will to choose to betray Him also.

The falling away that must come first, spoken of in II Thess. 2:3, must be speaking of Christians who have fallen from the faith. What else would they have fallen away from? This must happen first before the man of sin is revealed.

The reason the falling away must come first is so a way is made for the Antichrist spirit to come forth in disobiedient Christians.

Most spiritual Christians recognize that the ‘falling away’ has been happening and is happening in this day. However, not many can recognize the coming forth of the Antichrist spirit in those who are falling away. Those Christians, and so-called Christians, who are not endeavoring to walk a close obedient life to the Lord are opening themselves up to another spirit - the spirit of Antichrist. They have been given a free will to walk where they choose with the Lord.

David Wilkerson recently wrote in one of his papers that a minister he deeply respects believes that deluded Christians may actually be the force that brings the Antichrist to power. How could this come about? Paul gives the reason in II Thess 2:10. These believers “received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” While there will be a one man outward manifestation of the man of sin, the Antichrist, there will most assuredly be a many membered spiritual manifestation of the man of sin, the Antichrist. We are living in perilous times. Let us draw close to the Lord with a pure heart.

II Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Psalms 24:3-5 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Rev. 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God...

We have this promise, that if we overcome all other spirits and lusts in our lives, God will make us a pillar in His temple. However we must overcome.