What Shall be the Sign...Part 8

VII.                  Abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15-19, Mark 13:14, Luke 21:20-23)

Matthew 24:15-19	Mark 13:14-17	Luke 21:20-23
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:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!	But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter [therein], to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.  But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!	And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.  Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.  For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

 

a.       What are these passages referring to with regard to the abomination of desolation?  Since Daniel is referenced we shall begin with those passages in Daniel that reference the event.

§         Daniel 11:29-32 - At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.  For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.  And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily [sacrifice], and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits] (work effectually).

o        Observations:

-          He (king of the north) shall return at an appointed time

-          He shall come toward the south

-          Arms shall stand at his command

-          He will corrupt the covenant (what covenant?)

-          God will strengthen those who know Him

-          Those who know God will take action against him

o        Isaiah 14:12-13 - 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!  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:

-          Of the congregation - מועד mow`ed, appointed place, appointed time, meeting

-          Same word used for the appointed feasts of the Lord

o        Is the mercy seat the throne of God? 

-          God instructed Moses to fashion an ark of the covenant and a mercy seat upon the ark.

-          Exodus 25:10-22 - And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. (about 45 inches X 27 inches) And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof. And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

-          Was this mercy seat placed on top of the ark God’s throne or a replica of God’s throne in heaven?

-          Stars of God

1.       Job 38:7 - When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

a.       Morning stars sang and Sons of God shouted

b.       In this context stars clearly represent supernatural beings created by God

2.       Genesis 22:7 - That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

a.       The stars that Lucifer/Satan wishes to exalt himself above could be the descendents of Abraham

-          What did the children of Israel treasure above all?  The Ark of the Covenant which is, either the throne of God or a replica of the throne of God in heaven.

1.       Could sitting upon the mercy seat (unauthorized) be considered an abomination of desolation?

2.       Where is the Ark/mercy seat?  It was in Solomon’s temple, but there is no mention of Nebuchadnezzar capturing it when he pillaged Jerusalem.

a.       Was it hidden prior to Nebuchadnezzar’s raid

b.       Was it taken by God?

c.       Was it possibly hidden within or underneath the temple awaiting an appointed time or the מועד mow`ed?

§         Daniel 12:11-12 – And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination of desolation that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days (1,290 days or 3½ ,360 day years plus 30 days ).  Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days (1,335 days 45 days later).

o        Observations:

-          Commences when the abomination of desolation is set up

-          1,290 days of desolation

-          Blessed is he that reaches the 1, 335^th day

-          45 day transition period?

-          Is this when the Messiah returns?

§         It appears that the abomination of desolation coincides with the commencement of what is commonly referred to as the great tribulation

§         This corresponds to our current place in the  outline of the gospel accounts

b.      Deuteronomy 7:25-26 – The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.  Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

§         Graven images of gods are an abomination

§         We are to detest any such item

§         Could the abomination of desolation be a form of idolatry?

§         Daniel 3:1, 4-6 - Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon….4) Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, [That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

o        Could this have been a type of the abomination of desolation?

o        Image set-up , people forced to worship the image

o        But…know this…

-          Isaiah 43:2 - When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

c.       Daniel 8:13-14 - Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain [saint] which spake, How long [shall be] the vision [concerning] the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?  And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

§         The word sacrifice is added by the translators

§         What is the “daily” spoken of here?  Could be referring to the daily (morning and evening) time that Daniel spent in prayer

§         Could be a reference to the forced worship of a false god like the one Nebuchadnezzar established. 

d.      2 Thessalonians 2:3b-4 – …that man of sin revealed, the son of perdition, 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.

§         “…called God…”

o        Called – λέγω legō, verb, to say, to speak

o        God - θεός theos, masculine noun, whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way

o        Can be said to exalt himself above all that is spoken of God or established by God

§         This son of perdition inhabits the Temple of God, is this a physical temple of God rebuilt? Or is it the temple that Christ referred to as His body? The body of Christ being the Church?  Or perhaps both

§         What better way to proclaim to be God than to sit upon his throne (the mercy seat atop the Ark of the Covenant) inside a rebuilt temple.  By giving an appearance of establishing an outward or external authority, he will establish the inward by deceiving God’s people (or the stars) into worshipping him.

§         1 Corinthians 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.

§         The same man, prompted by the same Spirit wrote 2 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians, if he is referring to a brick and mortar Temple in Thessalonians wouldn’t that be a contradiction?

§         If we are talking about the body of Christ being the Church, could this passage refer to a grand deception whereby we have a great apostasy in the Church? Can we see evidence of this now? Are churches caving to the pressure from the world to adapt to the world?

§         Zechariah 6:12-13 - And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name [is] The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

o        Zechariah prophesied that Messiah would build the temple of the Lord.  Did Christ come and build a physical temple? No, He built… and is still building His temple through the preaching of His Word through His servants

§         Another far out idea is the possible cloning of the original body of Christ through blood found either on the shroud of Turin or on the Ark of the Covenant.  This seems highly sci-fi, but it at least warrants mention as this is a theory promulgated by some modern authors.  This technology is recent and worth exploring as a possibility.  New technologies seem to be discovered almost daily and as we continue to advance in ways of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, some prophecies may become clearer whereas in past generations understanding would be limited to the technologies of that day (unless divine understanding was given by the Holy Spirit).

e.       Revelation 13:5-6 – And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months (3½ years).  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

f.        2 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.

g.       Is it feasible that this correspond to one of the woes given in Revelation?  The Woes given in Revelation 8-12 correspond to the last three trumps (5^th, 6^th& 7^th)

§         Revelation 8:13 - Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

§         Woe - οὐαίouai, interjection, alas, woe, grief or of denunciation

h.       Woe to them that are with child and give suck

§         Jeremiah 30:5-7 – For thus saith the Lord; “We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.  Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child?  Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?  Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

§         The passage here in Jeremiah is not referring to a literal pregnancy, but a metaphor for being pregnant with the doctrine of fear contrary to the doctrine of peace preached by Messiah.

§         Christ is expecting to find a virgin bride; woe to those who are pregnant depicts an unfaithful bride who has received false doctrine.  Mark 13:22 says the false prophets seduce, a sexual reference meaning deceive.  So it can then be said that one who is seduced by these false prophets are impregnated with deception and are then with child.

What Shall be the Sign...Part 7

V.                  Endure to the END (Matthew 24:13, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:17-19)

Matthew 24:13	Mark 13:13	Luke 21:17-19
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.	And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.	And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake.  But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.

 

a.       Why would Jesus state that those that endure to the end would be saved, if He planned on evacuating them?

§         Enduring persecution requires discipline and courage, and above all faith

§         2 Timothy 1:7 – For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

o       Fear – cowardice or the opposite of courage

o       Sound mind - Discipline

§         Why would God give us this power, love and discipline only to carry us away? Why would he equip us with spiritual armor only to flee the battlefield?

o       Ephesians 6:10-13 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

o       It is by His power and His power alone that we are strong.  He equips us with armour to do what? To flee? Heaven forbid! We are to put on the armour of God so that we can stand against the enemy in the evil day.

b.      This passage in Luke appears to be in contradiction to the previous verse, for here he states that: “…there shall not an hair of your head perish…” , In the previous verse we see that the servants of Christ shall be delivered up to be afflicted, and caused to be put to death.  Is this a contradiction or does it refer to our Spirit bodies not being subjected to the second death? This seems to be the only logical conclusion, why else would Luke contradict himself within the same paragraph?

§         Matthew 10:28 - And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

o       Destroy - ἀπόλλυμι apollymi, verb which can be a metaphor meaning to devote or give over to eternal misery in hell, to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed

-         In Luke 21:16 the word death is θανατόω thanatoō which is a verb meaning  to put to death

-         Luke 21:18 is ἀπόλλυμι apollymi, used above in reference to being lost.        

-         The passage in Luke seems to be emphasizing that though we may be persecuted and some of us may even be killed for our faith in Jesus, we have nothing to worry about for we are not in danger of being lost, or destroyed in the fires of hell.

§         Luke 9:24 – For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

§         “In your patience posses ye your souls” à “Whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it”

§         This word patience could probably be better translated as steadfastness, constancy, endurance or a patient enduring, sustaining perseverance.

§         In our sustaining perseverance in Christ Jesus (even through death) we shall posses our souls or save our lives

c.       To what end is Jesus referring?  The end of the age or the end of our lives?  Could it refer to both? For every generation other than the last it could mean endure until the end of your life, but for the last generation this could refer to the end of the present age.

d.      Matthew 13:30 – Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “Gather ye together first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”

§         Key verse that provides the order in which end times events transpire, no “rapture” could take place prior to the removal of the wicked without contradicting this parable.

e.       Matthew 13:39 – The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

§         World - αἰώνaiōn, 1) for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity 2) the worlds, universe 3) period of time, age

f.        Matthew 13:47-50 – Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

§         We see the same story given in another way the catch contains both good and bad fish just as the harvest contains both wheat and tares.  The tares and the bad fish are cast “away” alluding to the destruction of the wicked in the furnace of fire mentioned here.

g.       Both the good seed and the bad seed grow together until the harvest, which is defined by Christ Himself as the end of the world, aion or age.  In this parable Jesus specifically states that the tares are gathered first.

§         Without contradicting Christ how do we reconcile a pre-tribulation rapture or gathering of the church when Jesus clearly states that the wicked will be removed before the children of the kingdom?  Are the children of the kingdom and the church separate groups or one in the same? If they are the same then this verse eliminates the possibility of a pre-tribulation rapture.

§         It appears from these verses that we are to stand through the tribulation, relying on the provision and power of God.  It is only by His power that we are preserved, for all of the wicked face destruction.

VI.               Gospel preached to the nations (Matthew 24:14, Mark 13:10)

Matthew 24:14	Mark 13:10
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.	And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

a.       Notice that in Mark it is mentioned that the gospel going forth is in the midst of the delivering up and is out of sync with Matthew on this point.

§         Clearly the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been going forth in the world since His death and resurrection, does this indicate that the delivering up is an ongoing phase (rather than a one time future event) and that martyrs down through history have served this pivotal role in expanding the gospel?

§         What purpose would it serve for the gospel to be preached immediately before the end of the age? It would lead to salvation for many but these last minute converts would miss out on building a relationship with the Lord.

§         The preaching of the gospel message has been going forth into the world for the past 2000 years; Christians have been “delivered up” to persecution and death for that same length of time.  Stephen was delivered up and he being filled with the Holy Spirit gave a testimony of faith. 

b.      Many hear this gospel message through the persecuted Christian.  Persecution provides credibility; people will not normally endure persecution for something they do not believe.  God allows His children to suffer for the purpose of saving the lost and expanding His kingdom to the hearts of unbelievers

c.       Foxe’s Book of Martyrs indicates that all of the apostles except for John were put to death for their faith in Christ.  Their testimony and sacrifice has saved the souls of millions.

§         John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

o       This is what Jesus did, and what His followers do, not for themselves, but for the promotion of the gospel.

§         1 John 3:16 - Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.

o       Jesus received no benefit in sacrificing Himself for us; He was already God and had no obligation, other than His Word, to save us.

o       The disciples, likewise, received no earthly benefit through the sacrifice of their bodies, the benefit was passed on to the following generation of believers that these men who sat at the feet of Jesus believed what He taught them, so much that they would endure excruciating deaths.

§         Romans 5:6-8 - For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

o       While we were still dead in our sin, Christ died for us

o       Therefore, being raised out of our sin by the sacrifice of Christ, we may in turn be required to die so that others might believe in His Word.

What Shall Be the Sign...Part 6

b.       Is the reader to assume that the second statement is the result of the first? (Matthew 24:11-12)  Because many are deceived does it produce an abundance of iniquity? Long term conditioning of the world has led to mass deception, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law”…phrase coined by Aleister Crowley in “The Book of the Law” which was apparently dictated to him by the dark spirit entity named Aiwass.

§         False Prophets à Deception à Iniquity à Love (true love) is scarce

c.      The abundance of iniquity results in what? The waning of Love

§         Love – ἀγάπη agapē, feminine noun, affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love

§         Iniquity – ἀνομία anomia, feminine noun, a condition without law either by ignorance or by intentional violation.

                                                                                       i.      From this statement can we infer a direct inverse correlation between love and iniquity

                                                                                     ii.      As iniquity increases love decreases

                                                                                    iii.      As love increases iniquity decreases

§         1 Corinthians 13:12-13 -For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;but the greatest of these [is] charity.

                                                                                       i.      In these last days it is going to be very important for us to love each other and not be pitted against each other through the deception of a Hegelian dialectic or a tactic of the enemy that uses conflict between two or more groups to ultimately advance society toward a  communist/dictatorship form of government. Examples of the Hegelian dialectic can be seen in:

1.      Race – example: black v. white

2.      Religion – example: Muslim v. Judaism

3.      Gender

4.      Wealth

5.      Career – example: union v. non-union

6.      Region – example: east side v. west side, north v. south

7.      Politics – example: democrat v. republican

8.      Education – college degree v. non-degree

9.      Age

10.  Marital status

                                                                                     ii.      If we remain loving toward one another as Y’shuah instructed us to do this tactic is rendered ineffective.  Love is the key to overcoming the enemy, its easy to get caught up in this game, but remember when we do we are behaving in the exact manner that the enemy desires.

§         1 Corinthians 13:1-3 -Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

                                                                                       i.      Charity - ἀγάπη agapē, feminine noun, affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love

                                                                                     ii.      From this passage and the prior passage we explored in Ephesians we can determine a pecking order of importance.  Faith is the most important piece of godly armor, yet Love is the most important of all attributes.

                                                                                    iii.      We can see from this passage that it is quite possible to do a great many “good” works, but the motivation behind why we do them is more important than the actual deed itself.  Are we motivated by our love for God or fellow man or for recognition?

                                                                                   iv.      We can also see this in what Christ deemed important in the two greatest commandments:

1.      Matthew 22:36-40 -Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shaltlove the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

2.      Though faith is of the utmost importance to God, these two greatest commandments do not mention faith (however, faith in God is required in order to be able to love Him).

§         The message of the deceivers back in vv. 4-5 was to come from imposters of Christ, here we see a message counter to the message to Christ’s message of love.

§         Proverbs 10:12 -Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

                                                                                       i.      Hatred - שנאהsin'ah, feminine noun, hating, hatred, hate

                                                                                     ii.      Covereth - כסהkacah, verb, to cover, conceal or hide

                                                                                    iii.      Sins - פשעpesha`, masculine noun, transgression, rebellion (could also be iniquity) so, this passage gives further clarity as to the relationship between love and iniquity, the reason iniquity decreases as love increases is because love conceals or hides iniquity.  If we view love as a blanket, the bigger the blanket all the more can be covered.

                                                                                   iv.      Note that Love covers all sin, but does not remove them.  They are still there because they still happened; when love diminishes it can reveal old sins of the past.  This is the difference between the love of man and the love of God.  God’s love (through His sacrifice) has the power to remove sin, man’s love can only cover sin.

1.      Psalm 103:12 - As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

2.      Why not North from the South?  Because North and South are finite (one can only go so far south (or north) until you start heading north (or south) again), but East or West is infinite.  (Written way before Columbus proved that the earth was a sphere)

§         2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 -  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,ⁱ 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.  Let no man deceive you by any means:ⁱⁱ for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first,ⁱⁱⁱ and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 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.  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way.  And then shall that Wicked be revealed,^iv whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:^v That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

                                                                                       i.      This subject of this passage is to address the return of Christ Jesus and our gathering back to him.  There is no indication that these are separate events, but one in the same.

                                                                                     ii.      Here is a command to “let no man deceive you” which is what is happening at this juncture of the Matthew 24 discourse, the false prophets are “deceiving many”

1.      An interesting observation here about the word man in this passage.  This word τις tis is a pronoun meaning: 1) a certain, a certain one or 2) some, some time, a while.  Thayer’s lexicon says that it refers to “persons or things the writer cannot or will not speak more particularly. 

2.      This could tie in to a supernatural being such as “an angel of light” or possibly “alien” beings from another world.  We need to be grounded in our faith that no matter who or what might contradict what the bible teaches, we remain steadfast.

3.      2 Corinthians 11:13-15 -For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

                                                                                    iii.      Paul clearly states here that until certain events transpire that the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ will not occur, in other words His return does no precede the appearance of the “son of perdition”

1.      Revelation 13:6-7 - And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  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.

·        What is “His tabernacle”?

·        1 Corinthians 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.

                                                                                   iv.      The wicked are revealed, this was the purpose of allowing the wheat and the tares grow in the Matthew13 parable of the sower

1.      Matthew 13:30 - Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

·        Matthew 13:38-40 - The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked [one]; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

                                                                                     v.      God, Himself will send a strong delusion to those who are given the opportunity to receive the “love of the truth” and reject it, so that they will believe a lie

1.      This is the effect, and the cause…they received not the love of the truth

2.      John 14:16 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

3.      What is the “love of the truth”? Receiving the Word of God, Y’shuah Mashiyach (Jesus Christ)

4.      Joshua 24:15 - … if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve…