Man of Sin

Man of Sin

(2 TH 2:1-15) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 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: for that day shall not come, except there come (1) a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (5) 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 (2) 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 (3) he be taken out of the way. (4) 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: Even him, (5) 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: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness...

(2 TH 2:2-12) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a (1) falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (5) 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 (2) 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, (3) until he be taken out of the way. (4) 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: Even him, whose coming (5) 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: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The man of sin will have the same qualities of Satan,

He will appear Godly "for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (2 CO 11:14)

He will deceive the world "Satan which deceiveth the whole world" (Rev 12:9)

There will be little truth in his words "because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar" (John 8:44)

He will claim the powers of God "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God... I will be like the most High" (Isaiah 14:12-14)

(1) That which had to fall out of the way first, was the Roman Empire with its Caesars, before the man of sin could come to power.
(2) They apparently knew what withheld the man of sin from coming to power, for it was present at that time.
(3) "He" that is mentioned was the Caesars.
(4) After the fall of the Roman Empire with its Caesars, the Roman Catholic Church with its Popes rose up in its place.
(5) He will claim the powers of God.