View source for (1Tm) The Man of Sin (Antichrist)

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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. (Daniel 7:25)

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14)

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (Revelation 13:7)

The four passages quoted above reveal to us that before Christ returns and destroys Antichrist by the power of His Presence (thus bringing to an end the persecution of the believers—see II Thessalonians 1:7-9), God will allow Antichrist to scatter the Christians saints over the face of the earth, driving them into hiding and preventing them from teaching and preaching in the centers of civilization.

There will be Christian churches in every city but they will be Laodicean churches. They will have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. Antichrist and his followers—the lawless masses of mankind—will insist that the Christian churches continue but that there be no expression of the Spirit of God in those churches (Revelation 11:9).

God will allow the witness of the saints to be overcome in order that lawlessness may come to maturity and be judged. But the saints themselves, their personal relationship with Christ, cannot be overcome. The forces of Hell can never overcome the Church of Christ! Furthermore, God will provide every need for His true saints wherever they are located, even in the remote areas of earth. There they will be protected until Jesus returns to exalt them to glory (Revelation 11:11).

We read in II Thessalonians that the restraining power will be removed so that the man of sin can be revealed. 

For the mystery of iniquity [lawlessness] doth already work: only he who now letteth will let [hold it back], until he be taken out of the way. (II Thessalonians 2:7)

The restraining power, according to our understanding, is the anointed Christian testimony. That testimony is continuing today in the major cities of the earth, although some countries are persecuting the saints.

As we stated previously, it is our conviction that we now are entering the greatest revival in all history. We believe that the doors to every country will open and the saints will be enabled to preach the Gospel with signs and wonders to every city, every town, every village, every tribe on the earth.

As soon as God decrees that the testimony of the saints has been completed He will permit Antichrist to crush the testimony and scatter the disciples so they no longer can affect world opinion.

This is the manner in which the Holy Spirit will be "taken out of the way," as we understand it. 

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:7)

Then the foulest, most hideous orgies of all time will take place in the nations of the world. Unbridled lust, murder, riotous living, covetousness, occult practices—all that a wicked person has ever desired—will be practiced without restraint on the earth.

It is this apostasy, this lawlessness, this wicked world spirit that will make it possible for a Satan-possessed human being finally to sit on the throne, on the Mercy Seat, in the Temple of God in Jerusalem. He will declare that he indeed is God and greater than all the other gods that have been worshiped by mankind.

If a person were to make such a statement today the Christian people, and the devout Jews as well, would rise up and pray and object until the pretender was overcome. The time is not here as yet but the drift toward lawlessness is preparing the way for the abomination that will bring unprecedented desolation to earth’s cultures. 

In those days (and perhaps they are near!) each believer in Christ must choose whether or not to follow the Lord. It will be easy and convenient to yield to Antichrist and worship in a lukewarm church. Antichrist at first will not appear as a monster but as a benefactor of all persons of good will.

But Antichrist insidiously will put pressure on the saints who are fervent and filled with God’s Spirit. He will work until world opinion is against the saints. Economic stress will increase until God’s people will find it increasingly difficult to provide for the needs of their families—just as is true in some countries today.

It will be much easier to agree and have fellowship with the lawless majority than to be a Spirit-filled saint of Christ and bear a true witness of Christ.

Woe! woe! woe to any believer who turns away from the love of Christ and permits his thinking and actions to be molded by the world spirit! He will lose his crown of life and suffer much torment. 

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:11)

Great glory and authority will be given to those who lead a live of victory in Christ during the rule of Antichrist.

He who endures to the end shall be saved. Many who live in the last days will be first in the Kingdom of God. The end-time will witness frightful scenes as the spirit of Satan expresses itself in the lives of men and women. But during that time the Glory of Christ will shine as never before in the hearts of those who are faithful to God.

Divine Virtue always shall triumph over wickedness, even in the dark days ahead. When spiritual darkness attains its fullness, covering earth’s peoples, then the Light of God Almighty will suddenly shine through the saints and the end of sin and rebellion will be at hand. 
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