Opposition Leader

Facts dispel fake news. Or as President John Adams said, “Facts are stubborn things…” He continued with, “…and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence”. Faith is derived from facts not opinion or feelings. Hebrews 11.1 says— “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul is giving the believers some facts to drive away the fake news they have heard. Paul explains the key character missing in the fake news-drama. He’s an Opposition Leader. He is in opposition of Jesus and His followers. He is known as, “Antichrist”.

In verses 3b-4 we read— “…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.” He is the “man of sin”. (anomias) a man of lawlessness. This word “sin”is: ‘utter disregard for God’s law (received or natural) and to hold contempt for it.’ This is the environment we are in now, they just need a leader. He is the “son of perdition”. The devil can only mimic what God has, as in, “anti” to Christ, etc. But here we see more specifically: “son of”, just as Jesus is the “Son of God”. The Devil’s anti-christ is the “son of…perdition”. The word: “perdition” means ‘destruction and ruin; something completely severed.’ As Jesus brought life by reuniting and restoring man back to God,  the son of perdition is there to completely sever all hope and life. He is the one who “opposes” and “exalts himself above anything called God”. He has to “oppose” to be able to “exalt himself above”. Once he has done that, he can obtain their worship. “called God” because that would include all of the Muslims, Atheists, Hindu, and even false-professing ‘fake christians’ etc., left behind that will follow this antichrist, willingly. 

He is the one who “sits in the temple in Jerusalem” as if “he is God”. This is known as:  “the abomination of desolation”. Simultaneously, the one true God unleashed His wrath upon the ant-christ followers. 

This opposition leader is a vial, sickening, special envoy of Satan himself. The spirit of anti-christ has been here for quite some time. It has been the force of darkness plaguing mankind and destroying countless spiritual lives for the entirety of the church age. This is recorded in 1 John 4.3— “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

The thing is, this man of sin cannot come fully into the light until “The Restrainer” or Holy Spirit is removed first. We find this in back in our text of 2 Thessalonians 2.6-7— “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”There is lawlessness, always has been, but exponentially worse here, because their leader (antichrist) has been revealed. The Divine Restrainer does just that—restrain. He, the Holy Spirit, restrains sin. When He is taken out of the way, the man of sin (lawlessness) is revealed. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen the uptick in that?! The point here is: it’s a simultaneous action; the one predicates the other. How? Simply, the saints have left. Jesus said this is the Holy Spirit’s ministry throughus. (John 14.16-17, 16.13). Once restraint is taken away, the worse cane flood in.

The Opposition Leader dooms those who follow him, as described in 2 Thessalonians 10(b)-12— “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”Did you notice the phrase, “them that perish”? “Perish” means death spiritually, or eternal death. Why? “…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” They were not saved. Will they not ‘wake up’ when the tribulation comes? Sadly, no. Verse 11 tells us those that heard will not hear. But those who never heard will be given many chances in the 7 years of tribulation. In verse 12 we see a verdict-style statement— “but had pleasure in unrighteousness”. That is pretty heavy! Look around at our culture, it takes great pleasure in unrighteousness. It loves filthy behavior and exalts it. This is a sad indictment and a fatal one. It is our present environment. If you are saved today, rejoice and thank God, because you are not included in this drama. Those facts are laid out next week in verses13-17, which isn’t included in this article.

Always remember that God always has the final word! Verses 8-9 says— “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: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,”The physical, bodily, return of Christ to this Earth in all of His glory… amazing! We come with Him, riding white horses as subordinate kings…amazing! He will consume the man of sin with the sword of His mouth. Then chain the devil in the bottomless pit, thus establishing the millennial kingdom of King Jesus. After the millennial reign, the devil will be released from the pit to rally the ‘fakers’, and God will end them once and for all, consummating it with the Great White Throne Judgement. 

Revelation 20.11-15 says— “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

What comes to your mind when you read this? What emotions are conjured up? Where do you fit in this drama? Please recognize that the Opposition Leader is already in motion. If not the physical man, the preparations are in order. Now would be a good time to see what James 4.4 means, “…know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”