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Pamphlet #1005 KC2Thes3

Most Christians believe Christ can return at any time; yet my Bible says He won't return until after these two things happen...

Do you believe that Jesus Christ can return at any moment?

If you do, why do you believe that?

Who was it that told you such a thing and where did they get that idea?

It is precisely because some of the Thessalonians believed that the day of the Lord was at hand, as do so many believers in the pre-trib Rapture Theory today, that Paul wrote this second letter to "straighten them out" on this urgent matter!

It is EXTREMELY important that Christians understand the chronological order of events which are about to take place because as Paul will make clear to even the simplest reader, there is a "supernatural one" coming first, BEFORE Jesus Christ returns, and he will look just like the Messiah, and he will call himself Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, those who are expecting the return of Jesus Christ at any moment will surely believe the second advent has taken place because they don't know there is in adition to Jesus Christs, the imposter, Satan who comes to ahead of the real Christ and pretends to be him.

Just wait until you find out who this first spurious messiah, the Instead-of-Jesus, really is that the "many" will be worshipping! Woe baby!

In today's exciting study we are going to discover what the Word of God says concerning the second advent as we begin to carefully examine chapter two of Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians.

However before we begin, take a moment and carefully consider the words the great scholar E.W. Bullinger wrote in his Introductory to "How to Enjoy the Bible", Kregel Publications, pg. 6.

"When we come to ask ourselves, and say, 'Where did I learn this?' 'How did I get this?' 'Who taught this to me?' it is astonishing to find out how much we have imbibed from man, and from tradition; and not directly and for ourselves, from the Word of God.

"All that we have learned from our youth up must be tested and proved by the Word of God.  Where we find it is true we must learn it over again, from God. And where it will not stand the test of His Word we must be not only content, but thankful to give it up; and receive Divine revelation in the place of man's imagination."

Now carefully consider the Word of God.
2 Thes. 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
Arrrggghhh! We've just been "beseeched"!

Do you know what that means?

It means that Paul is imploring us not to do something concerning the subjects of "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering unto Him".

Here is what he begs us not to do:

[2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
You better not be "wishy washy" about this subject or have any doubts whatsoever when it is that we gather back to Jesus Christ!

Furthermore, there is no need to be ignorant concerning our gathering back because Paul "spells it out" in real simple terms in this chapter.

Do you remember we covered the problems that were troubling the Thessalonians concerning the Day of the Christ's return in our last study?

They were not much different than the problems confronting Christian's today concerning His return.

You see, the "many" whom Christ said in Mat. 24 and Mark 13 would be deceived by the words of false teachers in these last days, are continually fed a "vision" of a mentally disturbed woman who claimed her vision was a "revelation" of the spirit.

Today it is called the Rapture Theory and lately it has been promoted very heavily among Christians on radio, TV, in book after book, and now in full length motion pictures such as "Left Behind".

I recently saw a very prominent Christian preacher on a nationally televised talk show tell the host of the program that at any time during that interview Jesus Christ could return and snatch him right out of his seat!

Well, I'm sorry!

That was simply a lie, whether spoken intentionally or not!

Hopefully the man is just sorely deceived in his own Biblical illiteracy.

Either way though, he has perpetuated a big dangerous lie!

How so?

We are going to find out.

Note: With just a little research at your local library you can easily trace the origin of the Rapture Theory back to Glasgow, Scotland, to the year 1830 when a lady named Margaret MacDonald saw a "vision" whereby all of a sudden the Lord descends in the clouds and calls His saints to rise up and meet Him in the air. Start with the book "The Incredible Cover-up", by Dave MacPherson. You can then trace this Rapture Theory's entry into this nation, even identifying the group that brought it here, and chart its infiltration into the majority of our churches today. Those who support this any-moment Rapture Theory rely heavily on the two verses of 1 Thes. 4:16-17 to support their theory. However, we have already documented that the events of vs. 16-17 occur at the last Trump, which is the Day of the Lord and the first day of the Millennium.

Paul continues in verse 3 with an even more direct statement:

2 Thes. 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;
Remember, the subject being addressed here is the return of Jesus Christ and when it is we gather back to Him!

That is certainly easy enough for anyone to understand.

But the really hard part of this verse for people to come to grips with is the "Let no man deceive you by any means" part!

Perhaps your minister or pastor is a really nice man with a lovely family and you know him to be sincere and conscientious and one who would not purposely lead you astray.

And that may all be true but will you consider that perhaps he has blindly followed after the traditional teachings of the church, which have the appearance of being good, just as you have followed after him?

Think about it!

The point Paul is making is "PLEASE, DO NOT let anyone tell you in any way, shape, or form that the day of Christ is at hand, i.e. that Jesus Christ can return at any moment!"

They are "in the dark", void of accurate Biblical knowledge, and they will be caught off guard, caught sleeping, when the true Messiah returns.

You see, whether a man is pope, bishop, elder, preacher, teacher, pastor, minister, deacon, usher, author, televangelist, or the paperboy, we have been instructed to check out what that man says in the Word of God.

Remember Paul said to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good (1 Thes. 5:21)." Well, Paul was not, neither did he believe he was, nor did he attempt to, exempt himself from the "proving and the testing".

It is written in Acts 17 that those rascally Bereans checked him and Silas out real good, every day!

Acts 17:10
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

[11] These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Imagine that!

They had the NERVE to check out what the apostle Paul himself taught them.

The question one should then ask is, "Is there anyone greater than the apostle Paul today that we should exempt from accountability to the Word of God?"

Forget whether they are nice guys or good folks or popular among the people or followed by millions.

Do your homework and believe the scriptures!

If a teacher does not encourage you to study on your own (2 Tim. 2;15) or if that teacher is offended that you document whether his words fully align with the scriptures, then find another teacher.

No true servant of God will ever ask you to believe him or her apart from documentation in the Word of God.

[12] Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
They SAW for themselves that it was so in the Word of God and for that reason many of them "believed"... not because Paul or Silas said so... but the Word of God said so.

So Paul has now specifically told us in verse 3 that TWO THINGS must happen BEFORE we gather back to Jesus Christ. (I would say that if those two things have not happened yet then you are NOT going to be plucked out of your seat, are you?) What are those two things?

There must first come a falling away and the "man of sin", who is the "son of perdition", must be revealed.

Who is this "man of sin", this "son of perdition"?

The word Greek word for "perdition" is a derivative of "apollumi" which means to fully destroy, i.e. die, perish:

apollumi, ap-ol'-loo-mee, Greek 622; from Greek 575 (apo) and the base of Greek 3639 (olethros); todestroy fully (reflexive to perish, or lose), literal or figurative :- destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.
The active participle of "apollumi" is "Appollyon" which is Satan's name in Rev. 9:11.

You see, there has only ever been one son who has been sentenced to "perish" in the lake of fire and that one son is the man of sin himself, Satan, the Devil, the Great Red Dragon, the soon coming spurious messiah. Judgment for everyone else, unless you are part of the First Resurrection, has been scheduled for the time following the Millennium known as the Great White Throne Judgment.

Here is some more info on the son of perdition:

2 Thes. 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, shewing himself that he is God.
Have you read about that one who exalted himself above God in the first* earth age?

* Note: If you are not familiar with the first earth age, the "world that then was" spoken of by Peter in 2 Pet. 3:6, or the over plan of God then write to us or send us an e-mail requesting the free booklet "The Plan of God". Be sure to include your postal address.

Isaiah 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

[13] For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

[14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

This same abominable one will be cast from heaven to this earth (Rev. 12:7-9) at the sound of the 6th Trump, which comes before our gathering back at the 7th Trump (the last one).

The 6th Trump is when Michael stands up (Dan. 12:1) and the time of trouble (spiritual trouble) begins such as never was since a nation was born nor ever shall be again.

Satan as the false messiah, will once again exalt himself above God and he will sit in the temple, just as Paul explained in verse 4, and claim that he is God, i.e. the Messiah who has come to rapture you away.

Jesus Christ also told us in Mat. 24 and Mark 13 about this abominable one who shall come before He returns, and when he does, stay away from him.

Matthew 24:15
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) [16] Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Students of the book of Daniel (i.e. those who read it with understanding) know that this is the "desolator", the little horn, the vile person, which are ALL names of Satan.

Keep reading, we'll will find out why it is and what it is that will cause most people to believe that he truly is Jesus Christ.

He will not only deceive the whole world with a display of power and signs and lying wonders but he causes the great falling away, the great apostasy, when the majority of Christians begin to worship him as Jesus.

That my friend is a "great fall" indeed!

NEVER EVER forget the clear and precise statement Paul gave us in 2nd Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 3.

It is a statement so simple that it can be understood by even the most basic reader.

He said "let no man deceive you by any means, for that day [the day of Christ's return] shall NOT come until there is
#1. a great apostasy when the man of sin,
#2. the son of perdition is revealed. "

How can anyone read that sentence and still think Christ can return at any moment when that man of sin has not been revealed?

Would you like to know a MYSTERY, something which is unknown to most people because they have never read the scriptures with understanding or without the preconceived traditions of men distorting their comprehension?

That man of sin, that son of perdition Paul said will be revealed, will be REVEALED to the world AS JESUS CHRIST, not some bad dude who goes around killing people!

Therefore, the mystery is that the FIRST Jesus who appears will actually be Satan, the imposter, the false messiah, BUT the whole world with the exception of those who have the seal of God [His Word] in their foreheads (Rev. 9:4) will believe that he is the real Jesus Christ and will worship him as God!

THAT IS the GREAT APOSTASY!

Do you now see why the any-moment Rapture Theory is such a dangerous doctrine?

It sets people up for the fall, even the great falling away, doesn't it?

In today's study we will examine some of the reasons why people will be so convinced he is Jesus Christ!

Let's get started.

2 Thes. 2:5
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Paul now reminds the Thessalonians that he told them before, when he was with them, that there would be a great falling away, a great apostasy, before Jesus Christ returned and that the Wicked one would be revealed, "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 (2 Thes. 2:4)."

We know that the apostle Paul was an Hebrew scholar (Acts 22:3) and that he "reasoned with them [the Thessalonians] out of the scriptures" as it is written in Acts 17:2.

Therefore he would have been very familiar with the words of Daniel, whose prophecies concerning Satan, who come as the false-christ, parallel those of John in the Book of Revelation and Paul here in 2 Thes. 2.

Daniel 7:25
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
The blaspheme that this "little horn", the son of perdition, will speak against God is just as Paul said in 2 Thes. 2:4.

He will sit in the temple and blasphemously claim that he is God himself, i.e. that he is the Messiah returned, when in fact he is Satan, the "instead-of-Christ".

The "times and decrees" that he will think to change is to convince people that Jesus Christ has returned (before it is time), i.e. that it is the time of the 7th Trump when in fact it is only the 6th. That will be easy for him considering that most people are expecting Christ to return at any moment, thanks to the "vision" of the Rapture Theory.

Couple that with Satan's supernatural abilities to perform great signs and wonders in the sight of men, and just like that, in one day's time, Christians all over the world will begin to worship the "dragon", the "religious beast", the "vile person", the "devil", "the son of perdition", as if he were Jesus Christ.

Again, that is the "Great Falling Away" from the true Christ which Paul speaks of when the son of perdition is revealed!

So we now know from irrefutable Biblical documentation that the son of perdition is coming FIRST, before the real Jesus Christ returns and we gather back to Him.

The question is, "What is keeping Satan from being here now?

Paul explains:

2 Thes. 2:6
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
Paul says "you know what is keeping him from being here already; for he can only come when his time is ready" (Living Bible).

The Greek word for "withholdeth" in verse 6 is "katecho" which means to hold fast, to hold back, to retain, etc.

Take a Strong's Concordance and look up the many verses in which this word is used.

katecho, kat-ekh'-o, Greek 2722; from Greek 2596 (kata) and Greek 2192 (echo); to hold down (fast), in various applications (literal or figurative) :- have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, × make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.
You see, there is someone "holding back", katecho, the son of perdition at this time, and his name is Michael. However, he will soon "stand up" (Dan. 12:1) and cast Satan and his angels out of heaven to the earth (Rev. 12:7-19). (Oh, you thought Satan was here on earth now? Who told you that? See Eph. 6:12.)
Rev. 12:7
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

[8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

At the appointed time of the 6th Trump Michael will stand up and cast Satan and his angels to this earth.
[9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Let there be no doubt about who this person is.

It is NOT some flesh man.

It is that OLD SERPENT from the garden of Eden, called Satan the devil, the son of perdition himself!

And when he is REVEALED, when he is cast out from heaven by the one who is now holding him back, i.e. Michael, he will come as the Messiah returned, looking just like the Lamb, and will "deceive the whole world" into believing he is Jesus Christ.

That IS the great tribulation of the false christ.

It will be a time of peace and prosperity (Dan. 11:24) for all, but it will be the greatest time of spiritual trouble ever and will mean "spiritual death" to MANY!!

You see, the magnitude of this event as recorded by Daniel will be "such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time... (Dan. 12:1)."

Satan is a supernatural archangel and when he comes he will be accompanied by his angels who are cast out with him, which we read in Rev. 12:9.

They are the same "fallen angels" of Gen. 6 who left heaven (their first habitation - Jude 6) and came directly to earth in the time of Noah.

They were "giving and taking in marriage" and took the daughters of Adam to wife causing our Father to bring about the flood of Noah.

"As it was in the days of Noah", Jesus said in Luke 17:26, "so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man."

Yes, we are talking about angelic beings coming to earth along with Satan when he is cast out!

Here is what Jesus said concerning those days when the "abomination of desolation", the abominable desolator, i.e. Satan, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stands in the holy place claiming to be God:

Matthew 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Our people are not prepared either mentality nor spiritually to face the supernatural.
[22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
The actual time when Satan will reign on earth has been shortened to the time of the locusts, which is a 5 month period as documented in Rev. 9.

These guys are really, really good at what they do best, which is to lead people astray!

[23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
That is what they will be saying, "Isn't it wonderful that Jesus has returned to Jerusalem?"

Do not believe it. Remember we documented in 1 Thes. 4 and 1 Cor. 15 that when the real Jesus Christ returns at the last Trump, the 7th Trump, then in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we who are alive and remain unto His coming will ALL be changed from our flesh bodies to our spiritual bodies?

So if you are still in the flesh, know from the Word of God that Jesus Christ has not returned.

[24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Satan and his angels are masters of deception.

Want an idea of how good Satan is? Get a load of this trick:

Rev. 13:13
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
What a show they will put on!

The Greek word for "fire" is "pur" which means "lightning".

Satan, disguised as Jesus Christ, will be able to perform great signs and wonders like calling "lightning" down from the sky!

Wow, he commands the weather!

What effect will this have on people?

As it is written, those "miracles" will deceive the people into believing he is Jesus:

[14] And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Paul will also tell us of the "power" and "signs" Satan will perform when we get to verse 9.

By the way, the "image" of the beast is that which Satan, who is the religious beast of Rev. 13, appears to be.

In other words, just as politicians and "stars" have public "images", which is how the world perceives them but which is often totally different than how they "really are", the beast's image, i.e. Satan's public image, will be that he is Jesus Christ.

He will cause people to worship that image, in other words to worship him as Jesus Christ, which is his image.

2 Thes. 2:7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Hey, the work of deception to prepare this world to receive Satan as the Messiah is going on right now.

Do you know what the "mystery" of iniquity is? It is "religious" deception.

mystery = musterion, moos-tay'-ree-on, Greek 3466; from a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) :- mystery.
Yes, the deception brought about by the famine of the end times (Amos 8:11) and given a big push by the leaven of Margaret MacDonald's any-moment Rapture Theory "already works", i.e. is already going on.

But Satan himself will not "be revealed" until Michael boots him out of heaven.

Note: The word "letteth" in verse 7, which is also "katecho", the same word as "withholdeth" in verse 6, is a transitive verb in this verse, which simply means that an object must be supplied. Since the subject is Satan, the son of perdition, the object must be his place in the heavenlies which we have already shown is where Michael is "holding him back" (Rev. 12:7).  See Dr. Bullinger's notes on page 1796 in the Companion Bible.

Nevertheless, it is simply amazing how many ministers and preachers believe this verse is talking about the Holy Spirit being taken away from the earth when antichrist is here.

That's really too bad because the Holy Spirit will not only be here during antichrist's reign, but as it is written in Mat. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, the Holy Spirit will speak through God's elect, like the example given on the first Day of Pentecost following the crucifixion, when they are delivered up to the spurious messiah.

Do not listen to nonsense and theories blindly repeated by the blind.

Study the Word of God as it is written and become mature.

Here is a little clearer translation to help understand verse 7.

2 Thes. 2:7
As for the work this man of rebellion and hell will do when he comes, it is already going on, but he himself will not come until the one who is holding him back steps out of the way. (Living Bible)
Again, this does not refer to the Holy Spirit but to the one who is holding back (katecho) Satan, the son of perdition.

That one is Michael. What happens when he steps out of the way and casts Satan to the earth?

2 Thes. 2:8
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
This is so simple to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

However, for those who do not, the nature of deception is such that one who is deceived doesn't know that he is, else he would not be!

So wake up, it is not too late, and there's more yet to come in this 2nd chapter of 2nd Thessalonians!

Would you believe that most people would not recognize Satan as Satan, the Wicked One, the Devil himself, if they came face to face to him?

Really, it is true!

People like this guy, especially liberal Christians!

He is very intelligent, extremely charismatic, a very smooth talker, and he has an entitlement program ready to go with your name on it!

Add to that his good looks as it is written in Ezekiel 28:12, "Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty", and many, many people will follow him and his liberal theology right into the pit of hell! Go figure!

In fact, it is written in Rev. 12:4 that the Great Red Dragon, aka Lucifer, drew fully one third of God's children away from our Father and His righteous ways in the first earth age, which is why our Father destroyed that "world that then was" (2 Pet. 3:6) and why we are now here walking under the sun in corruptible flesh bodies!

The prophet Isaiah records Satan's fall and his big problem:

Isaiah 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

[13] For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

[14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

This is exactly what Satan will do when he is "revealed" at the appointed time when Michael casts him to this earth (Rev. 12:7-9), just as Paul describes it in 2 Thes. 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, shewing himself that he is God."

However, when Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords returns, Michael will grab hold of Sleazy Slimy Satan once again and cast him back into the pit where he will remain bound throughout the Millennium.

You will find that documented in Rev. 20:1-3 "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
[2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
[3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."

Isaiah gives us some more insight concerning Satan's incarceration during the Millennium:

Isa. 14:15
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

[16] They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

People will walk by Satan during the Millennium and shake their heads in dismay and unbelief that this scumbag could have caused so much pain and suffering to God's children.

Meanwhile back home at the turn of the 21st century many Christians were anxiously awaiting the return of Jesus Christ at any moment and paying little or no attention to the Written Word of God because they were told they were soon going be "taken up" in the Rapture of the church.

They were not told to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(2 Tim. 2:15)", but that going to church regularly and participating in church activities puts them in good standing.

Therefore the day is coming when they shall surely be ashamed!

Yes, little do they know that they shall soon actually see that which they are expecting.

They will soon see "Jesus" coming in the clouds with a host of angels and with great power and signs and performing great miracles in the sight of men.

The problem is that this first Jesus will be doing the work of Satan!

Why?

Because he will be Satan, the Dragon, the Beast, disguised as an angel of light.

2 Cor. 11:14 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed [disguised] into an angel of light."

2 Thes. 2:9
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
The Greek word for "wonders" is "dunamis" meaning  "miraculous power".

In other words, he will put on a dynamite display of deceptive miracles to convince folks he is really Jesus.

The people are going to absolutely love it!

This "star" performer really knows how to "work a crowd"!

wonders = dunamis, doo'-nam-is, Greek 1411; from Greek 1410 (dunamai); force (literal or figurative); specially miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself) :- ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, might (wonderful) work.
Should miracles alone give a person credentials if what they teach does not align with the Word of God?

The answer is NO!

Let's read from the law in the Book of Deuteronomy.

Deut. 13:1
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

[2] And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

Hey, the miracles could really be dynamite and the things he says could actually come true!

The question is, "Would seeing those miracles cause you to 'let loose' of the Word and follow after him?"

[3] Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
There is a time of "proving" coming such as the world has never seen, no, nor ever will again.

Will you be deceived by the miracles and the signs and the wonders performed by Satan, the false christ (instead-of-Jesus) or do you love the Word of God with all your heart and with all your soul?

Here is what you are to do!

[4] Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
You stick to the Word of God and keep His commandments.

Period!

Jesus said in Mat. 24 & Mark 13 that when you see this abomination, the "desolator", standing in the holy place where he ought not, then get away from him and stay away from him!

It doesn't matter if he can snap his fingers and call lightning down from the sky or "take people up" in his high-tech saucers, i.e. his "flying wheels" (See Ezek. chapters 1 & 10).

Are you beginning to get the picture of the magnitude of this event?

So let's recap once more: Satan, the son of perdition, is coming to this earth as Jesus Christ and he will have all power to perform signs and wonders and flashy miracles in the sight of men.
He will be spectacular to say the least and most people will not recognize him as Satan but will rather believe he is truly the Messiah returned.
The problem is he is the religious "beast" of Rev. 13 and in their ignorance Christians all over the world will forsake the true Christ and begin to worship him!
That is the great falling away, the great apostasy which occurs when the son of perdition make his appearance, i.e. is revealed.
You see, no one would worship the beast if they knew he was the beast, would they?
Of course not!
They will believe he is really Jesus because of his powers and miracles and because they do not know the scriptures and the fact there is a false Christ and the real Christ, the real Jesus and His look alike, the false messiah!
They still perceive Satan as a bad dude with horns, a red suit with a tail, and a pitch fork in his hand! Not!

2 Thes. 2:10
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
What is this truth that people, yes even most Christians, do not love?

That's real easy for Christ Himself gave us the answer:

John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
The "love of the truth" then is the "love of His Word". The great apostasy is of those who claim to be Christians but do not know or love the truth, which brings up an important question. "Is everyone who now claims to be a Christian going to enter into the kingdom?"

Again, Jesus Christ personally answers this question:

Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many Christians love their church.

Many Christians love singing hymns and praises to the Lord and they love dancing in the isles and waving their hands in the air.

Many love seeing those entertaining displays of "miracles" on stage where people get knocked down or prancing preachers speak garbled syllables and pretend they don't even know they are doing it!

Christians do all sorts of religious things and support all sorts of charitable causes all the while believing they are doing "the will of the Father which is in heaven", but they are not!

They have never studied and rightly divided His Word to get to know Him and understand His will.

So will they be able to cash in those wonderful works for a ticket to the marriage feast of the Lamb?

Here is what Messiah says about that:

[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
These are the "Many" Christians Jesus prophesied WOULD BE deceived by the false preachers who come in His name, claiming to be Christ's representatives, and teach the people after the "precepts of men" and not directly from the Word of God.

He warned us not to be among them! Paul also warned us not to be deceived by any man!

[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The reason Christ never knew them is because He never saw their faces in the pages of His Word wherein He dwelled all the time while they were busy doing other religious things.

They did not hunger and thirst for Him. They did not "love the truth".

Therefore they did not really believe in Him, did they?

And for that reason God shall "prove them" and send Satan as Jesus Christ to teach them a big lesson.

2 Thes. 2:11
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
Again, "the cause" is that they loved not the truth, i.e. His Word!

They would rather listen to some story-telling preacher promise them they are going to be raptured on out of here when the Big Bad Wolf shows up.

The problem is that the Big Bad Wolf is going to huff and puff and blow their houses down because they built them upon sand from the straw doctrines taken from the traditions of men.

The BIG LIE that they will believe comes directly from the father of lies himself, Satan (John 8:44). The BIG LIE is that JESUS CHRIST HAS RETURNED and the 7th Trump has sounded, when actually SATAN THE DEVIL disguised and Jesus Christ has been revealed and only the 6th Trump has sounded!

Will you go to his wedding feast and be taken prematurely, out of season, or will you wait until the 7th Trump sounds?

[12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The traditions of men are unrighteousness indeed for they will lead you straight to worshipping antichrist.

But our people love them and hang onto them.

They love their pagan "Easter" (Ishtar) and the sexual fertility symbols of "quick like a bunny" and rolling Ishtar's eggs.

The word "Easter" isn't even in the manuscripts of the New Testament.

Neither is the word "rapture" to be found.

Neither is the word "apple" in the Book of Genesis!

We could go on and on with the traditions of men but the sad reality is that our people are just plain Biblically illiterate and do not really know the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Word of God.

Our Father says it best:

Jeremiah 4:22
For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
The word "sottish" means "stupid". (See note in the Companion Bible.)

But thank God for the servants of God who do love the truth and "hold fast" His Word.

2 Thes. 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
This is in contrast to verse 12 of them who believed not the "truth", His Word, but rather followed after the traditions of men.

You SEE, in this final generation of the fig tree, if you have eyes to see and ears to hear that means you were chosen "from the beginning", i.e. from "before the foundation of this world" (Eph. 1:4) and were also justified according to Romans 8:30, "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

All others are blinded for their own protection by the "strong delusion", the "spirit of slumber" as recorded in Romans 11:8 "(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day."

2 Thes. 2:14
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[15] Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Remember in verse 2 of this chapter Paul said "Do not be shaken in mind or be troubled"?

We are to "Stand fast" in the Word of God according to the words spoken by the prophets or written as epistles in His word.

In other words, believe the WORD of GOD, not man!

Remember Paul's instructions in his first letter: 1 Thes. 5:21 "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

2 Thes. 2:16
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
[17] Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
We are comforted by His Word even as our Lord said in John 8:32 "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free", free from worry and anxiety and free from strong delusion.

His word is truth!

We are "stablished", i.e. "set fast", "confirmed", "made strong", in every "good word" we have "proved" from His Word!

It is then made evident by the work we do according to His will.

We love our Christian brothers and sisters who have a "zeal for God" but do not seek after His Word and therefore have no knowledge to do good!

We do not judge them nor condemn them but rather we pray for the "healing of their eyes" that they may be opened and that they might be saved by the true Messiah and not the fake.

The first woman taken in the field, the foolish virgin, is taken and seduced by antichrist.

The other woman, the wise virgin with wisdom and knowledge from His Word, i.e. with enough oil in her lamp to see her way clearly through the hour of darkness, stayed working in the field until the true Bridegroom arrived.

Paul expresses best our desires for our brethren:

Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
The House of Israel includes not just Judah and Benjamin but all of the so-called 10 Lost Tribes who basically make up the Christian nations of the world.  If you would like to learn more about where the 10 "lost" tribes of the House of Israel reside today go to Pamphlet #1064 or Pamphlet #1020 under Table of Contents "Wisdom" on the this American Wisdom Series site.
[2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
1st and 2nd Thessalonians sure bear them record! Since they do not study His Word they are therefore ignorant of God's will, which simply means they are void of wisdom and knowledge!
[3] For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Again, they go to church and sit in pews and sing praises with their lips, and submit themselves to the traditions and practices of the church, all of which "appears good" but will get them nowhere fast for their heart is far from seeking after His Word.

Hear the words of the Lord:

Matthew 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

[9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

The choice is now yours.

The vision of Margaret MacDonald is that Christ will return at any moment and rapture, "take up", his church into the clouds before the tribulation of antichrist.Whereas the apostle Paul has gone to great lengths to make it quite clear to us that we are going to gather back to Christ ONLY at the LAST Trump and NOT before and that our gathering back will NOT take place UNTIL AFTER the son of perdition comes and reigns on this earth as God, i.e. as Jesus Christ, in His stead!

Who are you going to believe?

The question regarding the day Jesus Christ returns and when we gather back to Him has now been settled once and for all!

In his first letter to the Thessalonians Paul told us that the Second Advent will occur at the LAST TRUMP, at which time we who are alive and remain in the flesh will be changed into our spiritual bodies to meet the Lord Jesus Christ and all the saints who have gone on before us, i.e. our deceased loved ones who are with Him right now and will be returning with Him as Paul explained in 1 Thes. 4:13-18.

Apparently though, there was some confusion over the definition of the word "LAST"! Can something be last and yet happen at any moment before something else?

Of course not, because then the "something else" would be last!

So the apostle Paul, authorized by the Lord Jesus Christ, made it real clear in his second letter to the Thessalonians with a simple solid statement of fact as to what MUST happen first, BEFORE Jesus Christ returns at the Last Trump!

In 2 Thes. 2:3-4 he says, "Let no man deceive you by any means." No man means no preacher, teacher, visionary, commentator, friend or foe, whether male or female, or whether dead or alive! Paul continues... "For that day", the day the Lord returns, "shall NOT come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [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, shewing himself that he is God."

So before Jesus Christ returns, Satan will be cast to this earth along with his angels according to Rev. 12:7-9 and he will appear as the Messiah with "all power and signs and lying wonders (2 Thes. 2:9)", performing miracles "in the sight of men (Rev. 13:13)" and deceive the whole world into believing he is God, i.e.

Jesus Christ. You SEE, if you do not KNOW that the false messiah comes FIRST, which is part of having the "seal of God" in your forehead (Rev. 9:4), no one will convince you after the fact that Jesus Christ has not returned and you will surely worship the abomination of desolation, the abominable one, the wicked one, the beast, the dragon, that old serpent, Satan himself.

But, now you do know, don't you?

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.



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