Presents
Pamphlet #5149 KC2Thes3-2
So we now know from irrefutable Biblical documentation that the son of perdition is coming FIRST, before the real Jesus Christ returns and we gather back to Him.
The question is, "What is keeping Satan from being here now?
Paul explains:
2 Thes. 2:6
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
Take a Strong's Concordance and look up the many verses in which this word is used.
katecho, kat-ekh'-o, Greek 2722; from Greek 2596 (kata) and Greek 2192 (echo); to hold down (fast), in various applications (literal or figurative) :- have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, × make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.
(Oh, you thought Satan was here on earth now?
Who told you that? See Eph. 6:12.)
Rev. 12:7
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,[8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
[9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
It is NOT some flesh man.
It is that OLD SERPENT from the garden of Eden, called Satan the devil, the son of perdition himself!
And when he is REVEALED, when he is cast out from heaven by the one who is now holding him back, i.e. Michael, he will come as the Messiah returned, looking just like the Lamb, and will "deceive the whole world" into believing he is Jesus Christ.
That IS the great tribulation of Satan as the false-christ.
It will be a time of peace and prosperity (Dan. 11:24) for all, but it will be the greatest time of spiritual trouble ever and will mean "spiritual death" to MANY!!
You see, the magnitude of this event as recorded by Daniel will be "such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time... (Dan. 12:1)."
Satan is a supernatural archangel and when he comes he will be accompanied by his angels who are cast out with him, which we read in Rev. 12:9.
They are the same "fallen angels" of Gen. 6 who left heaven (their first habitation - Jude 6) and came directly to earth in the time of Noah.
They were "giving and taking in marriage" and took the daughters of Adam to wife causing our Father to bring about the flood of Noah.
"As it was in the days of Noah", Jesus said in Luke 17:26, "so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man."
Yes, we are talking about angelic beings coming to earth along with Satan when he is cast out!
Here is what Jesus said concerning those days when the "abomination of desolation", the abominable desolator, i.e. Satan, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stands in the holy place claiming to be God:
Matthew 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
[22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
These guys are really, really good at what they do best, which is to lead people astray!
[23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Do not believe it.
Remember we documented in 1 Thes. 4 and 1 Cor. 15 that when the real Jesus Christ returns at the last Trump, the 7th Trump, then in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we who are alive and remain unto His coming will ALL be changed from our flesh bodies to our spiritual bodies?
So if you are still in the flesh, know from the Word of God that Jesus Christ has not returned.
[24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Want an idea of how good Satan is?
Get a load of this trick:
Rev. 13:13
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
The Greek word for "fire" is "pur" which means "lightning". Satan, disguised as Jesus Christ, will be able to perform great signs and wonders like calling "lightning" down from the sky!
Wow, he commands the weather!
What effect will this have on people?
As it is written, those "miracles" will deceive the people into believing he is Jesus:
[14] And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
By the way, the "image" of the beast is that which Satan, who is the religious beast of Rev. 13, appears to be.
In other words, just as politicians and "stars" have public "images", which is how the world perceives them but which is often totally different than how they "really are", the beast's image, i.e. Satan's public image, will be that he is Jesus Christ.
He will cause people to worship that image, in other words to worship him as Jesus Christ, which is his image.
2 Thes. 2:7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Do you know what the "mystery" of iniquity is?
It is "religious" deception.
mystery = musterion, moos-tay'-ree-on, Greek 3466; from a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) :- mystery.
But Satan himself will not "be revealed" until Michael boots him out of heaven.
Note: The word "letteth" in verse 7, which is also "katecho", the same word as "withholdeth" in verse 6, is a transitive verb in this verse, which simply means that an object must be supplied. Since the subject is Satan, the son of perdition, the object must be his place in the heavenlies which we have already shown is where Michael is "holding him back" (Rev. 12:7). See Dr. Bullinger's notes on page 1796 in the Companion Bible.
Nevertheless, it is simply amazing how many ministers and preachers believe this verse is talking about the Holy Spirit being taken away from the earth when antichrist is here.
That's really too bad because the Holy Spirit will not only be here during the false-christ's reign, but as it is written in Mat. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, the Holy Spirit will speak through God's elect, like the example given on the first Day of Pentecost following the crucifixion, when they are delivered up to Satan.
Do not listen to nonsense and theories blindly repeated by the blind.
Study the Word of God as it is written and become mature.
Here is a little clearer translation to help understand verse 7.
2 Thes. 2:7
As for the work this man of rebellion and hell will do when he comes, it is already going on, but he himself will not come until the one who is holding him back steps out of the way. (Living Bible)
That one is Michael.
What happens when he steps out of the way and casts Satan to the earth?
2 Thes. 2:8
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:
However, for those who do not, the nature of deception is such that one who is deceived doesn't know that he is, else he would not be!
So wake up, it is not too late, and there's more yet to come in this 2nd chapter of 2nd Thessalonians!
Tomorrow we will learn about the
"Big Lie"!
(No, it's not about Monica, silly!)
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
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