And the second is like unto it…Some of you may cry foul on
this blog stating that it is the same reason as the first blog. I see it as similar but different. The last blog was about a general readiness
for the end times. Here we get to
greater detail.
Both Jesus and Paul go into great detail describing the
antichrist for believers. Here’s an
excerpt from Jesus’ Olivet discourse:
4 And Jesus answered and
said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
5 For many will come in
My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 You will be hearing of wars
and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things
must take place, but that is not yet the end.
15 “Therefore when you see
the abomination
of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel
the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader
understand), 16 then
those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop
must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 Whoever is in the field
must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those
who are nursing babies in those days! 20 But pray that your flight will not be in the
winter, or on a Sabbath. Matthew
24:4-6, 15-20.
Just to answer the preterists (those that hold to some level
of preterism) out there: Yes, I do believe that the
destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was a type or partial fulfillment of this
prophecy, but I do not believe that it was the
fulfillment. With that out of the way…
I think it is clear that Jesus is talking to believers and
addressing those that would read this record to give them (us) a warning of
what is to come. If I have my general
outline of the Tribulation correct, the temple abomination occurs on or about the three
and a half year mark in the seven year tribulation. For believers to “see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION”
spoken of in Daniel, they would have to be present during the tribulation at
least up to the midpoint.
Also, as hinted at in my last post, Paul comforts the
believers at Thessalonica that the second coming could not have come yet since
the antichrist has not yet appeared.
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. 2 Thessalonians
2:1-12
It seems wildly counter intuitive that
these two passages giving direct warning about the antichrist could be
construed in another way. Why would the
antichrist even be mentioned? It seems
as though both Jesus and Paul would have stopped short of the details of the
antichrist and would have just said something like, “Don’t worry. It will start getting bad, but then you’ll be
whisked away.”
So there it is again. Pretty short.
I apologize for the long quotes, but I think they are needed. Summary question: “Why would details about the antichrist, some
of which are predicted to be in the middle of the tribulation, be given to
believers to warn them about the future and comfort them about the present?”
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