2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 – “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”  NASB

Through the years, the church has branded various world figures as “The Antichrist” only to be proven wrong.  Some have insisted that Barack Obama, the former president of the United States was the “Antichrist” but again, they are wrong.  “The Man of Sin, The Lawless One, or the Antichrist” is probably alive today somewhere on the planet.  Regardless of your belief as to who he might be or where he might come from, the fact that He will come should be foreboding. 

The former President Obama moved to allow a UN Resolution that would return Israel to Pre-1967 borders and effectively cripple the nation’s ability to defend itself.  I believe that any such action would not be in the best interest of Israel or the Free World including the United States of America.

The Door to Lawlessness is open in today’s world and it has largely resulted from Silence by the Church on too many fronts.  Paul advised or prophesied in our text that this one will not ascend to his ultimate position of power Until or Unless there is widespread ‘apostasy’ in the church and the world.  I have contended for a long time, based on my understanding of the Bible and observation of human nature, that when the Church is silent evil grows strong and often prevails.  When the Church is a strong force in voice and demonstration of purity, righteousness, and holiness evil is suppressed. 

The Antichrist, the Man of Sin that Lawless One, cannot find acceptance without the Church drifting from its biblical and moral mooring.  Tragically, too often, that is visible in today’s world.  Deception cannot prevail when there is diligence in prayer and commitment to God, His Kingdom, and His Word.  When the Church’s voice is strong, society, as a whole, resists deception, suppresses selfishness, and maintains moral sensibility.  That is not a breeding ground for the devil, so he has worked tirelessly to erode our commitment, tarnish our convictions, and encourage us to adopt the worldview of ‘tolerance.’  

Tolerance is a biblical concept but only to the degree that it does not violate the core principles of God’s Word and Righteousness.  The Bible is not Tolerant of Sin!  We are tolerant of sinners but not sin!  We are tolerant of differing views but not the Core Foundational Principles of God’s Word.  Jesus is the Door to Salvation.  Jesus is the Messiah who gave His life a ransom for whosoever will.  Jesus is the only begotten, sinless Son of God. 

There are not many roads leading to heaven and there is no other name under heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Jesus.  Trying to be inclusive at the expense of conviction is not inclusive it is destructive.  Therefore, the coming chaos is coming because the Church has opened the door.  The Spirit of Antichrist is and has been at work in the world and it is high time that we The Church, Believers, members of the Family of God, and the Body of Christ stand firm and “seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.” 

God, bless you as you dedicate, rededicate, and anchor your hope in God through His Son, Jesus Christ.