Paul now talks about something he calls “the apostasy,” during which the “man of lawlessness” will be revealed. From my studies of end times, I understand this man will be the Antichrist, a human being who will be controlled by Satan himself.
What is this apostasy? According to one of my study Bibles:
Paul is referring to the very act of ultimate apostasy which reveals the final Antichrist and sets the course for the events that usher in the Day of the Lord. Apparently, he will be seen as supportive of religion so that God and Christ will not appear as his enemies until the apostasy. He exalts himself and opposes God by moving into the temple, the place for worship of God, declaring himself to be God and demanding the worship of the world. In this act of Satanic self-deification, he commits the great apostasy in defiance of God. (The MacArthur Study Bible, © 1997, Word Publishing)I’m a pre-trib believer, and I believe this person will appear prior to the Rapture, but he won’t come to power until Christ removes His followers before the Great Tribulation.
But whether you’re pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib, the important thing to remember is that Christ will return. He will take His followers away from earth. The Great Tribulation will occur. And one day, Christ will return in full and complete triumph to set up the new heaven and the new earth.
Are you ready?
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