2 Thessalonians 2:1-5
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2 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.3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;4 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.5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 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.
Today the evil of the world is being held back by the prayers of a righteous remnant, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. But the day is fast approaching when He (the Restrainer), will be taken out of the way. And in a world, where almost every semblance of righteousness has been removed… the man of sin will be revealed – that man of lawlessness, who is the son of destruction.
As saved people we are not appointed to this wrath that God will pour out upon the earth. We however are to occupy ourselves, in the things of God, until the Lord Jesus comes to take us to be with Himself. Let us be vigilant to guard our hearts against the increasing apostasy within the Church… through an ever deepening knowledge and understanding of the Word of truth and let us earnestly share a knowledge of that truth, with those that are lost in their sins.. so that others may be snatched from the teeth of enemy, before that great and terrible day of the Lord – the pouring out of God’s wrath upon the godless generation of the day.
A falling away
A. To fall from truth, you must first know the truth
B. The unsaved world is blinded to the truth
C. The falling away will take place within the church
D. What does it mean to fall way
- Do you still pray like you used too?
- Do you still read your Bible like you use too?
- Do you still share Christ with others like you used too?
- Is your worship for sports figures or celebrities greater than your worship to God
- Has church become a social club instead of a place of service?
- If so, is it possible you may be part of the falling away?
The man of Lawlessness – destruction
A. There will be a falling away before He is revealed, but
His spirit will be present in the world before He is
Revealed
B. The spirit of Anti-Christ is already here –
I Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
I John 4:1-6
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: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.4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
I John 2:18-20
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
- Many false believers are in the church today
- They will turn from truth because they have Not the Spirit of God within them
- The church today is full of false teachers – Anti-Christs
II Timothy 4:1-7
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
The restrainer removed
A. The Holy Spirit will remove the church
B. The church is indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit
C. The true Church is a restraining force to evil through
the power of the Holy Spirit