The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
The coming of the lawless one is part of the second coming that is seldom heard of within the teaching about the end times. It was important enough that God inspired information about his activities and actions design to make people believe his lies. With this information man can be fore warned to know the deception Satan will use to avoid falling into his trap and be doomed because we were deceived. Knowing the role and character of the man of lawless one will give the elect the advantage of understanding of the end times so they may stand their ground when the day of evil comes.
God’s forewarning about the man of lawlessness changes how we see the events of the end times happening. Prudence demands that we understand both sides of the end times to have a complete picture of what is coming upon the earth. Most men study the coming of Christ and seldom attempt to understand what the opposition is going to do gain the upper hand. Remember that the man of lawlessness purpose was important enough that God revealed his role so we may not be caught unaware end up swimming in the lake of fire. Deception catches you by surprise and always when it’s too late to avoid disaster and wishing you had done things differently.
One of the problems human beings face is that we focus on the stuff that has danger attach to it but don’t take time to learn the consequences for our actions. We have itching ears that chooses to hear what the world offers and refuse discern a warning about what happens when we do something wrong. Through Paul God warned his elect that the peace and safety message (1 Thessalonians 5:3) may just be that we will not be harmed by what will happen during the end times because we have been take out of harms way. You can’t say God hasn’t warned you in advance, you didn’t listen. Believing that we will be raptured out of that mess will not prepare the elect to be like the lamb led to the slaughter.
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Matthew 24:3
Every passage about the end times answers a specific question. The disciples asked the question above and Christ answered this question in regards to the signs of his coming and of the end of the age. The answer describes the signs prior to Christ return but it was only a small portion of the bigger picture. There is more on this subject in other passages but how many Christians study to understand Christ’s answer in great detail. For the most part we want to hear the part about our Lord coming in glory about the timing and order that Christ will gather the elect. Still the lawless one will be revealed before Christ comes and what do we know about the coming of the lawless one?
God inspired four hundred and fifty words about the signs of the end time before saying anything about sending his angels from one end of the heavens to the other to gather his elect. Those four hundred and fifty words are words of wisdom to prepare those who go through the end times.
Within those four hundred and fifty words Jesus spoke about the events that would take place on earth and the practices Satan will use to deceive the world. It will be the last time man will be given a choice to choose whom they will serve, but this time the choice man has at that time will be slanted in favor of the kingdom of darkness. During this time the lawless one will unveil all sorts of signs and wonders to prove himself to be a god worthy of worship. The truth is;
"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." John 4:48
People believe what they see and Satan will perform the same types of signs and wonders ascribed to Jesus that confirmed his deity by his father. One of Satan’s cohorts will perform great and miraculous signs causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men (Revelation 13:13). The bible says the miraculous signs are counterfeit in the same way God demonstrated Elijah was his prophet and a man of God.
Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. 2 Kings 1:10
The bible says
At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible. Matthew 24:23-24
Miracles, Signs and wonders confirm God working with his prophets.
The things that mark an apostle - signs, wonders and miracles - were done among you with great perseverance. 2 Corinthians 12:12
The sight of miraculous signs and wonders may be one of the ways that deceives those who do not know the Lord. God enabled Balaam’s donkey to speak to rebuke him but during the end time another miraculous sign will be performed to make the image of the first beast speak with a deceptive but deadly outcome.
He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. Revelation 13:15
These miraculous sign may be performed to say Satan is the savior of the world who has come to upset God’s plan of salvation.
He replied:"Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. Luke 21:8
Will we recognize these three evil spirits in time when they come because they will perform the signs and wonders to delude the world. Just as God set his seal of ownership on us (2 Corinthians 1:22) the signs and wonders of Satan will deceive the world to accept the beasts’ mark of ownership upon the person of everyone who believe his lies.
Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. Revelation 16:13-14
The consequence of believing anything the beast says or does is death. At the appointed time Satan will gather the kings of the world to do wage war against the King of kings the Lord of Lords. According to God’s word Satan is not destined to win this battle and those who follow him will suffer the same consequences with the loss of their eternal lives.
But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Revelation 19:20
Miracles, signs and wonders are not normally done through human efforts but they were meant to demonstrate the power of the divine. Satan will use signs and wonders to destroy what God has created and made for his glory. The bible says Satan was a murderer from the beginning in addition to the thief comes to steal, to kill and destroy (John 10:10) and these characteristics reveal his true nature. In regards to Satan’s nature the bible says If those days had not been cut short, no one would have survived (Matthew 24:22).
However, Christians have an advanced warning inspired by God to prepare themselves for those days. Nothing can substitute for the truth that will help you take a stand for God.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
Deception comes from a lack of knowledge so the question we all have to answer is in whom are we listening? The knowledge of the end times has been given to you if you make the time to take God’s word to heart. Your time is a preventive measure that will prevent you from perishing with those who have been deceived.
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 1 Corinthians 1:19
Are the opinions of bible scholars trustworthy? As Christians we must work out our own salvation by making an effort to understand the inspired words of God for our own peace of mind. The bible says do not trust in man (Isaiah 2:22) test all things hold on to the good (1 Thessalonians 5:21), lean not on your own understanding but trust in the Lord with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5). Listen to God and take his word to heart for the wisdom of God preserves the life of its possessor (Ecclesiastes 7:12). 2/27/2014
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