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The Return Of Christ

The Second Coming Ed Corley

Part 1 The Parousa

...Christs Triumphant Return to Earth

I ACCEPTED THE LORD as my Savior under the influence of a ministry placing emphasis on the soon return of the Lord Jesus. I feared He might return before the night was over and I wouldn't be ready. That was in 1948 and for some years became the emphasis of "my ministry" as I preached in Mississippi and Louisiana, young preacher that I was. After I received the infilling of the Holy Spirit in 1956, this emphasis changed. I became taken up with the present Christ, and rightly so. His presence so filled my life and those around me; we no longer lived in anticipation of something future. Our hunger for God's Word kept us ever in the Scriptures, searching and feeding. As we grew in relationship with the Lord and in an understanding of His truth, we began perceiving there is indeed a present knowing of Christ, but there is also an anticipation of a Day yet to come. This was so with some of the men who lived before Christ came the first time. Nearly two thousand years early;Abraham rejoiced to see His DayJohn 8:56. Moses ...esteemed the reproaches of Christ of greater value than the treasures of EgyptHebrews 11:26. David foresaw His face a millennium before He walked by GalileeActs 2:25. As with these men, there are those today who rejoice to see Him. But, the seeing today only moves toward His greater appearing. His coming now is in His Body, preparing us for the far greater coming of which we speak hereHis Parousa. As we move toward the end of this age, two hopes reside in us. They come from the two events no force of Satan or man can overcome: the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, on the basis of which we presently know Him, and His parousa. We look back to the resurrection and receive an ever increasing release of His life. We look forward to the parousa and have our faith strengthened for a dark hour. Parousia is a Greek New Testament word meaning, "being alongside of; being present." The King James Version of the Scriptures always translates it coming when referring to the return of the Lord. It

has claimed our attention for years, holding an attraction like few other New Testament words. It comes from two Greek words, para, "alongside of," and ousa, meaning "to be, being." I have come to the conclusion that all the passages using the word parousa, point to a single event yet to come at the end of the age. Each time it appears in the Greek New Testament the Definite Article appears with it, making itthe parousa. This lends emphasis that there will be one grand parousa of the Lord Jesus Christ. Early Greek literature used parousa to speak of the arrival of a monarch whose presence in the region claimed the undivided attention of every subject. When applied to the Lord Jesus, it speaks of His arrival in majestic glory when He comes to rule as a military and governmental Prince in the earth. There are at least twelve different words in the Greek New Testament speaking of Christs appearance in the earth. These will be covered in the last chapter of this book.

1. The closing years of this age are the subject of much direct prophecy. After a close study of Daniel 9:24-27 and other passages to which it relates, we choose to call the end time "The Last Seven Prophetic Years." 2. The last half of the Seven Prophetic Years will be a time of great tribulation, closing with the return of Christ. (See: Daniel 12:1-3; Matthew 24:9-22; Revelation 11:2,3; 12:6 and 13:5-9.) 3. Before the end, the Lord Jesus will become very intimately known to many believers. Pressure and trouble only serve to enhance this knowledge of Him, as seen in Matthew 18:20; Matthew28:20; John 14:19-21; John 16:33. 4. At the end, the Lord Jesus, Himself, will return personally to gather unto Himself the elect. These will then join Him in battle against the forces holding the world in darkness. Matthew 24:31; I Thessalonians 4:16,17 and Jude 14,15. 5. The Father has given the Lord Jesus Christ this earth as His inheritance. This becomes clear in the Covenant Word of Psalm 2:7-9 and in Matthew 28:18. 6. Those joined with Christ will claim the inheritance with Him. This is made clear in Revelation 2:26,27 and substantiated by Revelation 5:9,10.

Christ's Parousa... Will bring about the consummation of this age. Matthew 24:3And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying. Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming (parousa), and of the end of the world? In this verse, endis from the Greek suntelea and means "consummation; the full sum and completion of all things relative to a matter." World is from ain and means "a period of time; an age." This makes the disciples' question mean, "What will be the sign of your parousa and of the consummation of the age?" There is no Scripture speaking of "the end of the world," in the sense of the ksmos coming to an end. This is another Greek word often translated "world" and meaning the order of social, economic and political affairs on the earth. He taught very clearly that this age (ain ) will come to an end. The "new age movement," with its strange mixture of ecology and spiritualism, takes on a certain Satanism as it rules out the only One Who can usher in the new age, the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 13: 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Four times in these verses Jesus spoke of the end of the world (the sunteleta of the ainthe "consummation of the age"). He used the same wording the disciples used in Matthew 24:3. There is something very interesting in the question from the disciples. They considered that both the parousa and the consummation of the age were connected. They both belonged to the Lord Jesus. If these two events are connected; then we can make the following conclusions: 1) All the ages will converge on this one mighty Day. 2) All human history will find its consummation in this Day. 3) All the redeemed of all ages were saved with a view toward this Day. 4) All the Covenants of God look forward to this day. 5) With a rapid pace, the present secular order is becoming ripe for this Day. 6) Principalities and powers now under Satan fear this Day. 7) We are being prepared for this Daythe parousa of our Lord Jesus Christ which will usher in the new age. The consummation of this age is in Him, for Him and through Him. J. B. Phillips' interpretation of Ephesians 1:9,10, in his Letters to Young Churches, makes a powerful statement regarding this: For God has allowed us to know the secret of His plan, and it is this: He purposes in His sovereign will that all human history shall be consummated in Christ, that everything that exists in heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Him. Phillips goes on with the next Ephesian verse to say: And here is the staggering thing: In all that will one day belong to Him, we have been promised a share.

CHRIST'S PAROUSA will not be a secret event. Matthew 24:27For as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming (parousa) of the Son of man be. In this verse the Greek word translated lightning (astrap) can mean lightning as we know it, "a bright flashing light in the sky caused by the discharge of atmospheric electricity." But, it can mean also like the bright shining of a lamp as in Luke 11:36. Because Jesus spoke of a light coming out of the east and shining unto the west, it is not likely He meant the flashing of lightning. It does not move in this pattern. More likely. He had reference to the "bright shining" of the sun as it comes from the east and shines unto the west. As the beginning of daysbrought on by the sun shining in the east and moving to the westis unknown to late sleepers, so the outset of the parousa will be unknown to the spiritually dead. The sun

makes no discernible noise in its shining upon us, but it does not remain silent in its effect. In the same way, the radiance of Christ's parousa will cover the earth, just like the light of the sun does in a day. There is one, however, to whom this radiance will be instantly known. This is that man of sin who will come to his end immediately when Christ makes His parousa in the earthII Thessalonians 2:8.

THE TIME OF THE PAROUSA ... Will Be exactly as the Days of Noah
Matthew 24: 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man. no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming (parousa) of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming (parousa) of the Son of man be. What a passage! So much in it calls for our attention, but well look at two points where the parousa is used. FIRST, the exact time and hour of the parousais known only to the Heavenly Father. No one else knows when He will come, not even the angels of heaven's government. But now, let us observe this: When Jesus said, no one knoweth the day and hour, the word used for "to know" is the Greek oda. This means to know instinctively a thing is sowith innate feelings, without being taught. Another Greek word meaning "to know" is ginsko,meaning to know by experience or by effort; to have knowledge gained by learning. Using oda, not ginsko, makes the statement mean: "No one can know within himself by an instinctive feeling when that day and hour is coming." Some have occasionally prophesied, apparently out of an instinctive feeling, that Christ would return at a certain time. They missed it. Could their own intuition have influenced their speech? The passage does not say, however, that those giving themselves earnestly to the truth in Christ and in the Scripture will be left without light regarding that day. There is an understanding and a knowing God is giving now that will bring us to that hour. This is born out in Daniel 11:33 which speaks of a people who understand in the furious time of the end and who share their understanding with others. The word for understand in the Daniel verse is from the Hebrew sachal, from which the word Maschil comes. It means, "to arrive at an understanding through diligent searching after truth." Daniel uses this word again in 12:3where he says. They that be wise (the "maschilim") shall shine as the brightness of the firmament. This tells of those who give themselves to the diligent seeking after truth and who shine in the earth with the brightness of understanding. Again he uses it in 12:10...none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise (maschilim) shall understand.

So, we can't know by human instinct the time of the parousa, but we can give our hearts and ears attentively to seeking after the truth regarding it. Daniel knew in his heart it was time for the Babylonian captivity to end in his day. He learned this from the writings of the Prophet Jeremiah in which he sought for understanding. (See Jeremiah 25:11,12 and 29:10.) In the same manner there is understanding for us when we study the Scriptures diligently with the aid of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures give us, not exact dates, but rather, information and the impartation of light needed to carry us through the dark years until the radiance of Christ's parousa bursts upon us. Those who understand will have great purpose in the final days when the corruption of world systems comes in its fullness. Many who have found provision for life only in the present world system will cry unto those who have found theirs in the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33; Daniel 11:34b.) All the world systems will failthe economic System, social system, and political system, even the religioussystems. Their disintegration will come before the Day of the Lord. In their break-up, anti-Christ will make his greatest strides. Only those who understand among the people will know what is happening, and stand triumphant through his onslaught until the moment of Christ's parousa. I and II Thessalonians give us great insight regarding these people who remain until the time of the parousa. More than any other Scripture, these Epistles teach us about the actual event. SECONDLY, Jesus said the time of the Parousa will be as the days of Noah. Let's look again at Matthew 24:37-39. For as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the coming (parousa) of the Son of man be.... They were eating and drinking, marrying.. .until the flood came We could take this as a general statement meaning life was normal up until the time of the flood. However, for the comparison of the time of the flood with the time of the parousa, it's likely to have more meaning than that. The word as in verse 37 takes our attention first. It comes from the Greek hsper, meaning "just exactly as." This shows Jesus meant more than a general comparison between the days of Noah and the time of the parousa. Rather, there will be striking similarity between the two times. The time of the parousa will be exactly as the days of Noah.

Lets step aside for a moment and consider ...the days of Noah
Genesis 3:14,15 is God's word to that old serpent, called the Devil, or Satan (Revelation 12:9 and 20:2), in which God declared the triumph of the Seed of the woman over the serpent's seed. This is the beginning of the Gospel. It belongs in the foundation of our understanding regarding the parousa, which is the final triumph of the Seed of the woman over the seed of the serpent. Genesis 3:

14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, that art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon they belly shall thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: The serpent's judgment to "eat dust" probably does not mean Satan will consume the flesh of man, as some have interpreted it. More likely it is reference to his defeat at the hand of man. By those who know the triumph of the Lord Jesus, he shall "eat the dust" in defeat. 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it (He)shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel. This statement, although made to the serpent, has the power of a covenant. Some call it "the Edenic Covenant."God made it in the presence of Adam after the serpent had come into the sacred confines of Eden. Adam and Eve's deception by the serpent was like the fatal injection of poison into the human race. It was the beginning of the satanic bid to gain the government of the earth. Indeed, the word of Genesis 3:15, more powerful than all the attempts of Satan to annul it, prevents the satanic overthrow. Through his darkest days of his oppression, this word prevails. Right up until the parousa, Satan will move with vengeance toward gaining the government rightly belonging to Christ. Because of the word in Eden, the first obstacle to his success lay in the woman who would bare the promisedSeed of his defeat. Thus, we see in the day of Noah the overspreading of an evil corruption aimed at woman to stop that Seed. God sent the flood, not to destroy the world, but to save the holy Seed. In a powerful triumph four thousand years later, Jesus came as that promised Seed. (See Isaiah 7:14; Galatians 4:4 and Colossians 2:15some of the passages showing the triumph over the Satanic design.) The word of Genesis 3:15 was that the seed of the serpent would bruise the heel of the Seed of the woman was not abruise (literally, "crush") unto defeat. The heel is not a point of the body on which a fatal strike can come. However, the Seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent's seed, the vulnerable point. The crushing of his head would mean utter defeat In Jesus' death, burial and resurrectionthe "bruising of His heel"He triumphed over the bruise of the serpent. The ultimate manifestation of this will come at the end. The seed of the serpent will make his own bold parousaon the earth in the final day, only to be brought to nothing by the Parousaof the Seed of the woman. Daniel 9:25 states it well: ...he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (See II Thessalonians 2:19.) Lets look carefully at Moses' concrete and concise statement regarding the time of Noah. Genesis 6:
1 And it came to pass, when 1)men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That 2)the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair: and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the Lord said, 3)My spirit shall not always strive with man, 4)for that he also is flesh: yet
5)

his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 6)There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5 And God saw that 7)the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and the every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth and it grieved Him at His heart. 7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But 8)Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Lets look closely at the above numbered statements: 1) men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them The word men, is from the Hebrew ha adorn. Having a Definite Article before it in this Hebrew passage, it literally means "the man Adam." Thus, the man Adam, with all his descendents, began to be many on the face of the earth. Our attention goes to the daughters among them. They are significant, for out of them would come the woman in line to bear the promised Seed. This woman must not be corrupted. 2) the sons of God saw the daughters of men Some interpretations maintain the sons of God were the sons of Seth, the third son of Adam (Genesis 5:3). However, there is more evidence they were angels who forsook their heavenly habitation to work in the satanic attempt to overthrow the holy Seed. The rebellious angels took wives of the daughters of Adam to corrupt that Seed. No seed of woman who could crush the seed of the serpent could ever come through a race mongrelized by Satan. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament widely used in New Testament times, translates sons of God in Genesis 6:2 as angels. For some, this will seem strange even though it is born out by Scripture that there were angels who fell. II Peter 2:4 tells of <the angels that sinned. Jude 6 tells of <the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation. First estate in Jude 6 is from the Greek arch, a word meaning an office of government like that of "chief magistrate" or "principality." Could the angels who rebelled and came into the earth to corrupt the holy Seed have come from among those set by God to minister in his heavenly government? There is indication this is so. Those who find difficulty with this, saying angels neither marry, nor are given in marriage, must note carefully what Jesus said in Matthew 22:30. He indicated it is in heaven they neither marry nor are given in marriage. This seems to emphasize the opposite for those who left their heavenly calling. For their disobedience, those angels of wickedness are reserved unto judgment. After His resurrection, Jesus wentby the Spirit to their prison and preached to themI Peter 3:19,20. Preachedfrom the Greek kersso, meaning, "He made a bold proclamation as a conqueror." He told of His triumph. What a glorious day! Their attempt to corrupt the holy Seed had failed. 3) My spirit shall not always strive with man. This statement sometimes finds use in meetings to encourage sinners toward repentance. However, the word strive implies more than the Spirit's struggle with a sinner to repent. It is from a Hebrew word meaning "to govern; to rule; to contend with." The passage more clearly means, "My Spirit shall not continue as a governing force in the man Adam or his descendents." God was not turning from His purpose for Adambut the corruption of his descendents through the fallen angels made them unfit to produce a holy Seed. God was making a determined statement to reject them allwith the exception of one family not yet defiled by the nephilim corruption. This was the family of Noah who alone was perfect in his generations and who walked with GodGenesis 6:9. The flood worked for our salvation. It saved the holy Seed and made possible His arrival in the earth.

4) that he also is flesh (In his going astray he became flesh.) It was necessary there remain a physical purity on woman for the bearing of the holy Seed. Since He would come of her flesh, she must not be tainted in flesh by the satanic corruption. The physical mongrelization of Adam's descendents, with the exception of Noah, made them not only useless but a threatlest his family also fall prey to the evil design. A spiritual corruption came upon all the race of Adam through the serpent in Eden. This brought us all under sin. To bring us back, the holy Seed would enter the race, become a man born of woman, and make a purification for our sins. Because of this, it is significant that Christ came in the flesh. Spirits under control of Satan refuse to confess He came in the flesh, less they concede that the holy Seeddid arrive in the earth. (See I John 4:2,3.) 5) his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. This fixed the time of the judgment to come. The descendents of Adam would have 120 years left on earth before the flood came. In the genealogy of Genesis 5, we see Methuselah, the eighth from Adam living to be 969 years. His name meant, "When he dies, it will be." This prophetic name determined when the catastrophe would come. We find he died the year of the flood, having lived longer than any man. In his preservation, we see the hand of God's <longsuffering that waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparingI Peter 3:20. 6) There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that. Giants, is from the Hebrew word nephilim. Its a form of the Hebrew word naphal, which means, "to fall. Nephilim actuallymeans "fallen ones." It's association in this passage and in Numbers 13:33 indicates that it has reference to beings of superhuman size and strength. This Genesis passage indicates there were the offspring of the sons of God and the daughters of Adam about whose union we learned in Genesis 6:2. Genesis 6:4 says they were in the earth in those days; and also after that. Since they were destroyed in the flood, there must have come a later eruption, perhaps from another gang of rebellious angels. From Numbers 13, we find how their presence in the land of Canaan so startled the spies surveying the land that all but two brought back a hopeless report. In speaking of the sons of Anak there, whom they said, were of ... the giants (thenephilim), they said. We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so were we in their sight. The nephilim had an inclination toward those with whom God made covenant regarding the Seed. Thus they came to be in Canaan, the land of promise to Abraham through whose line the holy Seed must pass. In Numbers 13:22 we note their place of dwelling in Canaan was Hebron. This was the very place in the land where, generations later, the men of Judah would anoint David King over JudahII Samuel 2:3,4. God also made a Covenant with David regarding His SeedII Samuel 7:12,13; Acts 2:30-32. The first thing we learn of the Lord Jesus in the New Testament is He was the Son of David, and the Son of AbrahamMatthew 1:1. The satanic plot failed. The holy Seed made His way into the world. He became fleshSeed of the woman, Son of Abraham, and Son of David. By tracing the line of the nephilim through the Scriptures, we find two particular families of them in Canaan, producing some pretty evil descendents. One nephilim man named Rapha begat Goliath whom David slew as a lad. Significantly, he had four brothers of amazing size and strength who also withstood David. II Samuel 21:15-22 names these four. There was also another family of one named Anak about whom we learn in Numbers 13:22,28 and 33. Whats the significance of this for the closing days before the parousa? Mainly that Jesus said it is significant. There will be a striking parallel between the days of Noah and the day of the parousa of the Son of ManMatthew 24:37. The satanic intention, before Christ's incarnation through the virgin woman Mary, was to bring about a physical and natural corruption. This was an attempt to corrupt the woman's seed and thus stop the coming of the "serpent crusher." In this he failed. Satan has no hope now of reaching that holy Seed Who has ascended already to the Father's right hand. His remaining hope is to corrupt those joined with that holy Seed, thereby weakening His Kingdom and authority in the earth. This latter day corruption will be parallel to the corruption before the flood, though of greater magnitude and more clandestine in its methods. It will be more of a spiritual corruption.

Paul makes a curious statement in I Corinthians 11:10 that probably has some bearing at this point. In a passage speaking of spiritual authority, he said, For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Power is from the Greek exousa, a word denoting "executive power," or "authority." He meant, "It is obligatory that woman be under the covering of authoritybecause of the angels." To what angels did Paul refer? Was it to more angels who rebel and look with unholy intention on women? Possibly, yes. Paul's admonition that women be covered with authority was not that they be brought into subjection, but that they might be protected spiritually from an unholy interference. Are women alone the objects of satanic desire for these last days? No. He desires both men and women as objects for his corruption. Is there any further need for bringing about a physical corruption? No. Christ, the holy Seed, has come already in the flesh. The end time corruption must be spiritual to accomplish Satan's plan. The Parousaof the Lord Jesus will foil his last evil attempt. 7)...the wickedness of man was great in the earth, ...every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The corruption reached a level demanding God's judgment. It was not only physical; it came over on mind and heart. The frame of mind in Adam's descendents became only evil. No capability of good remained in them. If there is that parallel between the days of Noah and the time of the parousa, then what might we expect in the last days? The sophistication of evil will reach a degree never before known. It will demand the judgment of Christs Parousa. It is no wonder that God is dealing with us regarding the framework of our inner man. It is here Satan designs to start off his latter day corruption. It is also here that the Holy Spirit is working to set up the power and authority of Christ's Kingdom. 8) But Noah found grace What an indication of hope for those of us who face the final days!

Back now to the New Testament passages ...pertaining to the Parousa

Lets look at the remaining verses of Matthew 24, and then proceed on to Paul's revelation.

Matthew 24:
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming (parousa)of the son of man be. Those people who lived before the flood knew not until the flood came and took them all away. The word knew is from the Greek ginsko. It indicates they gave no attention to learning or perceiving what was taking place, even though they had the warning of Noah, a preacher of righteousness (II Peter 2:5). He was building an ark where there had never been water. They should have taken heed. Perhaps God would have granted some of them repentance.

A New Dimension of Life Will Find Release ...at the Parousa of the Lord Jesus
I Corinthians 15:22,23...51-54
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order. Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming (parousa). 51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound. And the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in victory. Complete resurrection life will come to those who are with Christ when He makes His parousa. This is a description of what will happen to believers when the Lord Jesus makes His parousa. There will come a burst ofdynamic power in the earth. It will be a release of the same power that worked in His tomb, but in a proportion like never known. Those who have known Him but have died will come to life. The fact that many have gone on before does not exclude them from this triumphant hour. Believers of all ages will stand triumphant and become a part of Christ's company. The primary difference between saints prepared before the time of the end and those who reach the final day, is that those who remain will have gone through great Babylon's fall (Revelation 18:21) and the release of untold fury in the earth. Also, they will have faced anti-Christ himself and learned what it means to endure to the end. The operation of the Holy Spirit in those who live just prior to the parousa will be more significant than in earlier times. What the end time saints face will call for more of God's anointing than ever before known on so wide a scale. The main purpose for the latter day out pouring of the Spirit, coming on throughout this century, has been for the preparation of a people who can stand in the end time fury. The operations of the Spirit we have thus far received are a pledge of the Life that will become fully ours at theparousa.

Jesus is Coming as Captain of Jehovah's Host


I Thessalonians 3:13To the end He may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, ever our Father, at the coming (parousa) of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. The language of I Thessalonians becomes very military in its expression. After Jesus appears He will present His redeemed host before God, even our Father, in a military review. They will stand there unblamable in holiness, equipped for conquest. Jude sheds light as to what Jesus and His host will proceed to do. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold. The Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds... The host assembled with Jesus will go out into the earth under His leadership as instruments of judgment. Little is known of this in the church today. Nevertheless, Paul's searching question in I Corinthians 6:2 remains with us. Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? Preparation for the hour of judgment is progressing among all the nations. A people is being made ready. See Revelation 2:26,27 and Revelation 5:9,10.

Something Jesus said to Peter shows us the judgment and conflict to which we are called will not be with weapons of the flesh. He told Peter, Put up thy swordJohn 18:11. The weapons of our warfare are of a far higher sortlike none the world could ever use. Of course, II Corinthians 10:4,5 and Ephesians 6:1018 instruct us regarding our weapons.

Paul Uses Military Language


I Thessalonians 4:
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that 1)we which are alive remain unto
the coming(parousa) the Lord shall not prevent (go before) them which are asleep. 16 For 2) the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are 3) alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds 4) to meet the Lord
in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. No writing could be more military in expression than this. Filled with warfare terms pertaining to the parousa, it tells of a battle like never before known, between Christ and the prince of the power of the air. Lets look at the numbered statements above: 1) < we which are alive and remain, is significant in that it implies some survive, some do not. It could be translated properly "we who are the living survivors." It describes a company who have come through severe trouble, alive and well. That there will be survivors indicates some, on the other hand, did not survive. There will be those who stand and those who fall during the difficult days before the parousa. Daniel 11:33,34 informs us more about this. Revelation 13:5 tells us power(exousaauthority) was given unto him(the beast, the anti-Christ) to continue forty and two months. In this time he will make his boldest attack on believers. According toRevelation 13:7, he will overcome them. However, the message of Revelation does not end here. The saints, with a little help, come to the end in triumph. Daniel 7:25 tells of this time, designating it <a time and times and the dividing of time. Daniel 9:25 refers to <the midst of the week. Revelation 11:3 calls this same time <forty and two months. Revelation 12:6 informs us of the same time, <a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Daniel 7:22 helps us see through the dark time and learn that the saints do not go down in defeat, ...and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. When that man of sin manifests his false salvation, when he comes boldly on the scene with his solution to world problems, when he blasphemes God and all associated with Him, and when all not under the authority of God's Kingdom worship himthere will remain a company true to Christ. They will come through every conflict triumphant and stand with the Lord in the final day. Ephesians 6:13 is about this. 2) In His PAROUSA <the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout (with the cry of a mighty military leader). He will come with the voice of an archangel. The trumpet of God will sound. These are both associated with mustering forces for battle. 3) Those who are <alive and remain, along with <the dead in Christ who rise, will be caught up in the clouds <to meet the Lord in the air. The King James translation of this passage may be misleading. It seems to indicate we will be caught up into the clouds where we will meet Jesus, and from there be ushered to our eternal home. However, in the Greek, the emphasis of the word clouds makes us consider that it is not speaking of our meeting Jesus in the nebulous watery masses hovering over the earth. Instead we ourselves become like the particles of clouds as we advance en masse upon the prince of the power of the air. We will become clouds of witnesses as in Hebrews 12:1. We will advance as clouds of warriors.

4) To meet the Lord in the air.... To meet expresses purpose, thus saying, "The purpose of our being caught up together is to meet the Lord." The Greek, however, uses the word eis meaning "unto" with apntesin meaning "an encounter." This generally indicates a meeting with someone after which the company proceeds on the way with the one whom they meet. In this case, the meeting is with Jesus to proceed on with Him to His destination. He is not on His way to heaven, but rather on His way to the earth. This is clearly the case in the only other two passages where the term eis apntesin is used. In Matthew 25:6, the virgins go out to meet the bridegroom to accompany him back to the wedding. In Acts 28:15, the brethren go out along the way to meet Paul and proceed on the way with him.

Eis apntesin can have further implication. It could mean a military encounter. The context of the preceding verse seems to demand this. We will meet Jesus to proceed on the way with Him to a battle encounter in the air. He must break the force of <the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience(Ephesians 2:2). This will make way for the Kingdom of heaven to spread the earth over. We shall be with the Lord Jesus in the battle <and so shall we ever be with Him in His Kingdom. All the great doctrinal teachings of Paul move toward and through this encounter with the anti-God government of the earth. All the Covenants God has made with man from the time of Adam require that this encounter take place. It is in this encounter the evil one will make his last great thrustonly to be rendered powerless when Christ makes His parousa. He shall come to his end; and none shall help him Daniel 11:45.

God's People Are Undergoing Preparation for ... Their Place In God's Eternal Kingdom
I Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming (parousa) of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our condition on the Day of the Lord will have bearing on our condition and function in the eternal Kingdom. Paul had no higher desire for those to whom he ministered than that they come to the parousa of the Lord Jesus whole. This meant the salvation he proclaimed must enter every part of their beingspirit, soul and body.

The Anti-Christ Will Have His own parousa


II Thessalonians 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. 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 (parousa): 9 Even him, whose coming (parousa) is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish: because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. Note how the word parousa occurs in this passage twice. Once with reference to the Lord Jesus; once with reference to the man of sin. Perhaps no passage of Scripture demands an understanding born of the

Holy Spirit more than this one. At the most spectacular moment in history, the Lord Jesus will make His parousa upon the world scene and render powerless that man of sin. The last satanic feat of the age will be an attempted coup d' etat against the Christ of God. Energized by Satan, the anti-Christ will make a grand and prideful move to gain the holy of holies, the innermost sanctum of the Kingdom <yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help himDaniel 11:45b.

There Will Be an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit before ...the Parousa of the Lord Jesus
James 5:
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming (parousa) of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming (parousa) of the Lord draweth nigh. It is significant that James, another minister of the early church, held the parousa of Jesus as something much anticipated. He connected it with the early and latter rain, prophetic language speaking of the movings of the Holy Spirit in the earth in the last days. Just as Scripture teaches there will be a time of trouble before the parousa, so it also teaches there will be an unusual moving of the Holy Spiritexceeding any outpouring of the Spirit ever known before. We will not face the terrible Day of the Lord in our own strength, but in the power of God's Spirit. There are some great and powerful prophetic Scriptures having to do with the latter rain. Since early in this century, they have been quickened to many ministries who have seen them relating to the days in which we now live. They point to an outpouring of the Spirit leading to an ingathering of souls. Two of the most significant passages are Hosea 6:3 and Joel 2:23-32coupled with Acts 2:14-20 and Acts 3:19-26. The verses in Acts do not mention the latter rain, but the prophetic insight in them relates to the same gracious and powerful movement. We could ask a question regarding James's statement in James 5:8. He said the parousa of the Lord draweth nigh. Was he wrong in believing the it was imminent in his day? Immediately it would appear he was; But let us understand the early men of the Gospel saw how we are at war with the anti-Christ system. Ever encouraging their souls was the triumphant parousa of Jesus when anti-Christ would be rendered powerless. Whether it took place in their lifetime or millenniums away, they were, and are, still part of God's eternal Kingdom and will share in the glorious parousa. Its hope was ever with them. It became a great part of their reason for being. Thus, it was alwaysnigh. Paul lets us know how they who lived in ages past will share in the parousa at the consummation of the ages. All who have known Christ, but have died, will be raised up.

At the Parousa ... Everything on Earth Will be Judged by Fire


II Peter 3:
3 Realizing this first of all: there will come in the last days mockers making a joke of the whole thing. These live only according to their own base desires, 4 continually saying, Where is the promise of His coming (parousa)? Ever since early Christians died, all things continue as they have been from the beginning of creation. 5 These people are deliberately closing their minds to what they know. They know there were heavens long ago and an earth formed out of water by the Word of God. 6 It was through the deluge of water that the

world which then was perished. 7 And the present heavens and the earth, by the same Word are kept in store for fire, being reserved for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But let no one of you be ignorant of this matter, beloved, because one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some apparently think he is, but He is long-suffering
toward us, not resolving that any be destroyed but that all move on to repentance.

10 For the Day of the Lord will come as suddenly as a thief at night. In that Day the heavens will vanish
with a terrible hissing noise, and the elements burning with intense heat will disintegrate, and the earth and the works that are in it will be discovered for what they are worth.

11 Since all these things will thus disintegrate, what manner of persons you ought to be in holy living and
godliness, 12 looking for and eagerly expecting the coming (parousa) of the Day of the Lord, in which the heavens being on fire will disintegrate and all basic elements will be liquefied through intense heat.

13 But we are expecting new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness
dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, as you are expecting these things, give diligence to be found in Him in peace without
spot and blameless.

15 And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is our salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul
according to the wisdom given him, has written... I have interpreted this passage in II Peter from the Greek, not to give any deep or mystic translation, but simply to allow its words to flow out as they have to me. I trust the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart through them. There may be points in the passage we don't yet understand. With these we can trust the Lord, looking to a day of greater understanding. The passage speaks of fire in the day of the Lord. Knowing Him, we need not fear this. There are many kinds of fire. Even our God is a consuming fireHebrews 12:29.

God's Covenant Promise In PSALMS 2 assures us ...He will make His Parousa in Triumph.
II Peter 1:
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power(dnamis) and the coming (parousa) of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 17:5). 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy (Psalms 2:8,9); whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.

Peter was there when the Father spoke from the heavens regarding Jesus: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye HimMatthew 17:5. Hearing the Father assured Peter that Jesus would make HisParousa. The more sure word about which Peter told is the decree recorded in Psalm 2:7-9 where the Father promised the Son His inheritance. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen (nations) for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Jesus heard this word from the Father before the world began. This is the word most hated by Satan, the decree he cannot bear, the statute most abhorred. It is the word that sustained Christ in His death. It is the word that brought Him to His throne. It is the word that assures His triumphant parousa.

A Final Word from the Apostle John


I John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him in His coming (parousa). Amen!

Part 2 Twelve Distinct Words


...in the Greek New Testament Relating to Christ's Return at the End of This Age.
(This is to be used with your Bible. The words in parentheses following each reference show how the word is translated in the King James Version. The longer passages in parentheses with most of the references give the context necessary for a more complete understanding.) 1. Parousa--This is a Greek New Testament word meaning being alongside of or being present. The King James Version of the Scriptures always translates it coming when making reference to the Lord Jesus. In common Greek usage, its reference was to the coming of a dignitary into an area of his domain, with his presence claiming the attention of all. In its seventeen references respecting Jesus, it always occurs in singular form, and always with the Greek Definite Article, making it THE Parousa. The idea that He will have more than one Parousa will not hold out in the light of these passages. They each have reference to the one and same Event at the end of this age. In Matthew 24, Jesus's great prophetic teaching to His disciples, there are four references to His Parousa All of these are best read and understood in the context of the entire chapter. We discuss each reference in The Parousa of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. Matthew 24:3 (thy coming) (24:1-4)

2. Matthew 24:27 (the coming of the son of man) (24:23-27) 3. Matthew 24:37 (the coming of the son of man) (24:36-39) 4. Matthew 24:39 (same) Paul, the great teaching Apostle to the church, made clear reference to Christ's Parousa that will come at the end of the age. 5. I Corinthians 15:23 (his coming) (15:19-26) 6. I Thessalonians 2:19 (his coming) (2:19,20) 7. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 (the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ) 8. I Thessalonians 4:15 (the coming of the Lord) (4:15-17) 9. I Thessalonians 5:23 (the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ) 10. II Thessalonians 2:1 (the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ) (2:1-10) 11. II Thessalonians 2:8 (his coming) James, Pastor of the first church in Jerusalem, spoke of Christ's Parousa. 12. James 5:7 (the coming of the Lord) 13. James 5:8 (the coming of the Lord) By no means was Peter, the great Apostle of Pentecost, silent with regard to the Parousa. What he said requires insight and help from the Holy Spirit in understanding. 14. II Peter 1:16 (the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ) (1:16-21) 15. 11 Peter 3:4 (his coming) (3:3-14) 16. II Peter 3:12 (the coming of the day of God) The final word from John, the Apostle who leaned on Jesus's breast, is gentle and loving, yet firm and clear. 17. I John 2:28 (his coming) 2. rchomai--This Greek New Testament word basically means to set out on a journey, to go forward, to come to some place. It carries with it the sense of appearing, of coming forward publicly, of coming on the scene suddenly. It is the word the Lord Jesus used most frequently when speaking of His return. It is important we note the distinct forms this word takes in the Greek. Frequently it occurs in its Present Tenseform. The context of each reference, however, gives it a future meaning each time. This helps us see that what Jesus said about two thousand years ago has an unbroken and sure connection with what is yet to come. His word is reaching over all the years with the promise, "I am coming!" Herein lies the end time hope of the church.

1--Matthew 16:27 (the Son of man shall come) (6:21-28) This is the first time Jesus spoke of a coming that was yet future. This came after He had told the disciples of the death He would suffer in Jerusalem. His statement in the Greek is powerful and unusual. It carries this meaning: "The Son of Man is destined to come. I say this with a finality that cannot be contested..." This one time, the word come is from the AoristInfinitive form of rchomai. This makes it precise and decided, with no room for contest. It is preceded by the Present Tense form of mllo, a word used to express a present certainty about something thatshall come to pass in the future. 2--Matthew 24:42 (your Lord doth come), 44 (the Son of man cometh) and 46 (he cometh) (24:3647) The season of His appearing will be just like the days of Noah. His coming will be in such an hour as ye think not. 3--Matthew 25:6 (the bridegroom cometh) and 13 (the Son of man cometh) (25:1-13) His coming will be as a bridegroom coming for His bride. He will come at the midnight hour while many sleep. 4--Matthew 25:19 (the lord of those servants cometh) (25:14-30) He is coming in judgment to discover the works of His servants. 5--Mark 13:35 (13:32-37) This is similar to the above passage with emphasis on watching lest His comingfind you sleeping. 6--Luke 19:13 (19:12-27) This passage is similar to the above two, but also includes the statement,Occupy till I come. The word occupy is from the Aorist Imperative from of prsso, giving it this meaning: "Let it be settled with you that you will be busy with My orders--even in My absence." Prssois similar in meaning to the Hebrew word translated "do exploits" in Daniel 11:32 (MV). 7--John 14:3 (I will come again) (14:1.4) Although the KJV translates this as though it were Future, the Greek form is Present. However, its use with the Greek palin (again) gives it a Future meaning--but with strong connection to the time when it was first spoken. The emphasis is that, from the day Jesus spoke those words, He has never turned from His determination to come again and receive those who trust Him. 8--John 14:18 (I will come to you) (14:15-20) That this statement is in the Greek Present Tense, but with a future meaning, confirms to us that, in all the years since Jesus spoke it, it remains effective. It is in this Chapter that Jesus told of the coming of the Holy Spirit Who would abide with us, make real His presence and that of the Father, and enable us to stand in this world. 9--John 14:28 (1 go away and come again) (14:27-29) Lest they be distraught, Jesus gave the promise of peace to His disciples while He is away--with the added revelation that He is going to be with the Father and then come again. NOTES: From the time He spoke, it is has been the determination and continuing purpose of the Lord Jesus to return. Through the years, every generation has been able to hear, "I am coming again unto you." Yet, it is necessary that heaven hold Him until the time when all things are restored, which God spoke through the mouth of His holy Prophets--Acts 3:21. From Hebrews 10:12,13 we learn that, after offering one sacrifice for sins for ever, He sat down on the right hand of God. From that time He has been expecting till His enemies be made His footstool.

It becomes apparent from II Thessalonians 2:1-12 that iniquity must come to its full, with all restraint against it removed. It is then the man of sin will make his most blatant move toward the eternal Throne, demanding the open return of the Lord Jesus Christ. 10--Acts 1:11 (He shall so come) This time the Verb does occur in its pure Future Tense form. While Jesus has been the One speaking in the passages we've seen thus far, two men in white apparel, apparently messengers from heaven, made this statement. They told it to the disciples who were watching Jesus ascend into heaven. The men said, He shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go... 11--Revelation 1:7 (Behold, He cometh with clouds) We compare this with Daniel 7:13,14, from which the wording is taken. Jesus will come with a radiant display of glory to receive His inheritance among the nations. The word of Psalm 2:6-9 reaches here. 12--Revelation 2:5, 2:16 and 3:11 (I will come unto thee quickly) Because the Greek Verb come is in the Present Tense in each verse here, as well as in those that follow, we can see this is a coming from which Jesus never turns. Throughout the ages, He is moving toward it. However, the word quickly(from the Greek tchu) shows us that when He does appear upon the scene, it will be with a suddenness. There will be no more time for change for those who have refused to obey His words. 13--Revelation 22:7, 22:12 and 22:20. Three more times Jesus says, I come quickly. This is His last word in Scripture. It is both a promise and a warning. In these passages, the word rchomai takes its form as a Present Participle so it can be used as an Adjective to describe Jesus as the Son of Man coming. Take note how often Jesus spoke of His coming in the clouds. Again, take note how Daniel 7:13 and 14 prophetically describes this event. The radiant splendor of the event demands that there be clouds to shield the beholders. 14--Matthew 16:28 (the Son of man coming in his kingdom) (16:24-28) Jesus said some who were with Him at that time would not die till they beheld Him coming in His Kingdom. Very clearly, He had reference to His resurrection that came three days after His death. On the basis of that, His Kingdom was secured--and remains secure. He conquered the final enemy, death. 15--Matthew 24:30 (the Son of man coming in the clouds) (24:29-31) Immediately after the tribulation of the last days, all tribes of the earth shall mourn when they see the Son of Man coming. While the disciples could behold His coming in His Kingdom early, it is left to the time of the end for all to behold this. Then it will be too late for repentance. Great sorrow will come over all who have refused Him. 16--Matthew 26:64 (the Son of man... coming in the clouds) (26:61-66) To His tormentors, Jesus said they would later see Him coming in the clouds of heaven--again associated with Daniel 7:13,14. 17--Mark 13:26 (the Son of man coming in the clouds) (23:24-27) This is a passage similar to Matthew 24:29-31. 18--Mark 14:62 (the Son of man... coming in the clouds) (14:60-64) For the high priest trying Jesus, the statement that He, as the Son of Man, would come again was enough to convict Jesus to die. 19--Luke 21:27 (the Son of man coming in a cloud) (21:25-28) Compare this with Matthew 24:29-31. Jesus said His coming would be after the heavens and earth are shaken. For those

of us who know Him, this will be the time of our final redemption. (See Paul's statement in Romans 8:20-23.) The word rchomai also occurs as a Present Participle preceded by a Definite Article. This takes the force of the word as a Verb and turns it into a Noun. Thus, Christ Jesus is The Coming One. 20--Revelation 1:4 (which is to come) and 8 (which is to come) Christ Jesus is now, was then and is The Coming One. TAKE NOTE: There may have come, and yet will come, foreshadowing fulfillments of the above prophetic statements, but they all move toward a great and final coming in the Day of the Lord. 3. Apokalpto--This is a Verb meaning to reveal, to disclose, to distinctly declare. Its kindred Noun,apokalpsis, means a disclosure, a revelation, an unveiling, a manifestation, an appearance. This particular word is in the name of the last Book in the Bible which is the revelation (apokalpsis) of Jesus Christ. In some other passages, these words can take on the meaning of a spiritual revelation or disclosure of truth. Each of these following, however, speaks distinctly of the revelation, or unveiling, of Jesus Christ. It's use as Verb: 1. Luke 17:30 (when the Son of man is revealed) (17:26-30) Destruction like that in the days of Noah and of Lot will precede the Day when the son of man is openly disclosed. 2. I Peter 4:13 (His glory shall be revealed) (4:12-14) Peter adds his word regarding the full disclosure of Christ's glory. He emphasizes that this revelation will come after a time of stress. The unveiling of Christ out of tribulation is a principle working through the ages. His great, and final, revelation will come in the Day of the Lord. It's use as Noun: 3. I Corinthians 1:7 (the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ) It is to our advantage to recognize the true meaning of this word the King James Version here translates coming. It was Paul's admonition that the church come behind in no spiritual gift while awaiting the revelation--the full disclosure--of the Lord Jesus Christ, whether it be to the church in some dark hour through history or at the end of the age. 4. II Thessalonians 1:7 (the Lord Jesus shall be revealed; lit. "in the revelation of the Lord Jesus") (1:4-10) His apokalpsis from heaven with the angels of His power will mean the relaxing of all pressure on those who have been trusting Him throughout their time of tribulation. This is Paul's pronouncement of blessing: "And to you who are under pressure, tranquillity--with us, in the unveiling of the Lord Jesus from heaven..." 5. I Peter 1:7 (the appearing of Jesus Christ) and 13 (the revelation of Jesus Christ) Again we learn from Peter that the appearing (apokalpsis) of Jesus Christ will come out of a time of stress, during which hope need never die. 6. Revelation 1:1 (The Revelation of Jesus Christ) Distinctly, note that the final Book of the Bible is, indeed, an unveiling of Jesus Christ. NOTE--There is reference to the apokalpsis of the man of sin in II Thessalonians 2:3, 6 and 8. He, too, will have his time of unveiling. 4. Epiphana--Only Paul used this word in the New Testament. It is a beautiful and powerful word, from which we get our word "epiphany." It means a sudden appearance, a manifestation, a glorious display, brightness.

1. II Thessalonians 2:8 (the brightness of his coming) This verse links the Epiphana with the Parousa. The outburst of power and glory, the Epiphana, attending Christ's Parousa will consume that wicked one who has opposed to the hilt God's Kingdom in the earth. 2. I Timothy 6:14 (appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ) This is Paul's admonition that we remain faithful until His Epiphana. 3. II Timothy 1:10 (appearing of our Savior) (1:8-11) This one time Paul used the word with reference to Christ's first coming, during which the power of the Gospel was made sure by His death and resurrection. 4. II Timothy 4:1 (his appearing) (4:1-5) Paul's admonition to those of us who minister the Gospel is that we prepare a people who can stand in the judgment that will be released at the Epiphana of the Lord. 5. II Timothy 4:8 (his appearing) Those who have given themselves to loving the Lord and His righteous judgments will receive a crown of righteousness at His Epiphana. 6. Titus 2:13 (the glorious appearing) (2:11-15) Paul's exhortation is that we remain faithful in righteousness as we anticipate the Epiphana of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. 5. Emphanzo--This is a verb translated manifest in the KJV. It means to appear clearly, to make a positive and straightforward declaration. John 14:21 (1 will manifest) (14:21-23) To those keeping His commandments, Jesus makes the promise that He will appear to them. There is no limit on this as to when it can happen. This is an appearance that could come at any time through the age, but will surely reach its apex in the time of the end. 6. Oro--This is a Verb used in the Passive Voice this one time with reference to the return of Christ. It means to be seen with the eye. Hebrews 9:28 (he shall appear) Christ came once as an offering for sin. To those who anticipate Him, He will be seen the second time having nothing to do with a sacrifice for sin, but to release the fullness of the salvation He once obtained. 7. Eko--This is a Verb meaning to arrive, with an emphasis on the finality of it. Note how often in these passages Christ's arrival is associated with immediate judgment, especially on those who should have remained faithful through trial. 1. Matthew 24:50 (the lord of that servant shall come) (24:42-51) For those who are unfaithful in their duty toward Him, the Lord will arrive unexpectedly with the release of His judgment. 2. Luke 12:46 (the lord of that servant will come) (12:41-48) He will arrive and render judgment on those who knew His will but did it not. 3. Hebrews 10:37 (he that shall come will come) (10:36-39) This is taken from the ancient Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, Habakkuk 2:3,4--Ho Erchmenos xei.. "The Coming One will come..." This is an awesome passage calling for patience--steadfast endurance--on the part of those who have placed their confidence in Christ. One day, what has seemed His delay will suddenly be over. 4. Revelation 2:25 (till I come) This is Christ's admonition to the church to maintain a hold on all ground gained till His final and awesome arrival.

5. Revelation 3:3 (I will come, I will come) This is Christ's warning that, to those who abide unfaithful and watch not, He will arrive as unexpectedly as a thief. 8. Katabano--This is a Verb meaning to descend; to come down. It is used once with reference to the glorious descent of the Lord in the final day as He comes to engage in war with the forces of evil in the earth. I Thessalonians 4:16 (the Lord himself shall descend) The Lord's descent to the earth will come with a warfare cry calling His hosts to battle. NOTE: This word also finds use in Ephesians 4:9,10, a powerful passage about Christ's descent into the lower parts of the earth to win the contest for those positions, named in Ephesians 4:11, He would appoint in the Church. See also Revelation 21:10, another glorious descent. 9. lthon--We generally associate this Verb with rchomai as its Aorist form. It has similar meaning except there is a decided completeness about it. It means to come--finally and completely. 1. Matthew 25:31 (When the Son of man shall come) (25:31-46) This means, 'When the Son of Man does finally come in His glory He shall sit upon the throne of His glory." His government will become complete, manifest and settled in all the earth. 2. II Thessalonians 1:10 (When He shall come) (1:7-10) This is Paul's statement in line with the one above from Jesus. It is a promise to those who believe and a warning to those who obey not the Gospel. 3. Jude 14 (the Lord cometh) (with 15) This is Jude's statement in line with the above two. All three make awesome use of this word lthon, associating His final coming with both glory and judgment. 10. Phanero--This is a Verb meaning to be set in a clear light; to appear. Each of these passages carries a wonderful promise as to what will become ours when Christ shall appear. The promise of each leaves much room for appearances of Christ through out the age, but point, as do most of the other passages in this study, to the time of the end. 1. Colossians 3:4 (When Christ.. .shall appear) (3:1-4) 2. I Peter 5:4 (the chief Shepherd shall appear) (5:1-4) 3. I John 2:28 (when He shall appear) 4. I John 3:2 (when He shall appear) (3:1-3) 11. Phano--This is a Verb meaning to shine forth so as to be seen clearly. It occurs this once. Matthew 24:30 (then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven) (24:29-31) After the great tribulation, the sign of the Son of Man will shine forth as a radiant light in heaven. It will bring terror to the nations and signal the gathering together of His elect. 12. Hupostrpho--This is a Verb meaning to turn around and come back. Luke 19:12 (and to return) (19:1127) This is a parable of a certain nobleman who went away to receive for himself a kingdom--and to return. He entrusted the authority of his wealth and present dominion to his servants. On returning, he found only some of them had been faithful. Others had done wickedly.

Part 3 The Great Deception


...the Astonishing Day of Christ
When He Renders the Man of Sin Powerless Laying out the truth of II Thessalonians 2:1-12 The most significant characteristic of the end-time, according to Scripture, is not revival. It is deception. Ed Corley YEARS AGO AN OLDER FRIEND directed my attention to II Thessalonians 2:1-12 and encouraged me to study it because of its importance for the last days. I have looked at it for years, awed by the power and energy of what it says. Some statements in the passage are awesome and fearful. No warning is so terrifying as that occurring in verse 11. It is that God will release an energizing power of delusion to lock those who refuse to love the truth into believing the lie. Yet, with this warning, comes a positive hope. It is that we can still receive the love of the truth that will enable us to stand through the most fearsome time the world has ever known. Actually, this is a gift God is ready to release unto those of us who will receive it. Think of itthe love of the truth.

Our purpose in this article is to examine the passage to which my old friend directed me and to see other passages confirming it and relating to it. We recognize the Scriptures about the end-time as coming out of the divine counsel of God for us who face the insidious deception of the last days. I believe no passage of Scripture is more important in this end-time day than this Thessalonian passage. It directs us to several matters that are of life-or-death importance. Following are the points that come to our attention: FIRST, II Thessalonians 2:1-12 tells about the coming of the "anti-Christ" on the world scene. Paul calls him...that man of sin, the son of perditionverse 3. With his appearance, a strong deceptionespecially regarding him and the Lord Jesus Christwill come against believers. This will blind many as to the true identity of anti-Christ, causing some to believe that he is Christ. This arch-enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ has an inclination toward that which is religious. Because of this, many religious people will flock after him. We must remember that the anti-Christ is not anti-religious; he is anti-Christ. His great aim is to inhabit the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the holiest place of all. SECOND, this Thessalonian passage tells of the apostasy, the great end-time falling away that will come among believersespecially those on the fringe of serving the Lord. It is apparent many will turn from the Lord and join the forces of the anti-Christ. Paul tells of this again in I Timothy 4:1 Now the Scripture speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart ("apostatize") from the faith, giving heed to

seducing spirits and doctrines of devils ("teachings of demons"). What we learn from other Scripture leads us to conclude that at the same time many are turning from the Lord, there will come a great in-gathering movement of the Holy Spirit. This will draw many into the fold of the Lord Jesus. It will result in the greatest harvest of souls ever known. All persons, everywhere, will be either completely with the Lord or completely against Him. So sharp a line of contrast has never before been drawn. THIRD, in this passage we find how the anti-Christ will operate when he appears openly in the world. He will attempt a final great seduction of all Christians, aiming for their minds. In addition, he will receive power from Satan to produce signs and lying wonders. This great movement of deception will reach toward those who have not received a love for the truth and will draw some of them into the apostasy.Then, in what will be the last move of the Holy Spirit before the coming of the Lord Jesus, God will send strong delusion upon all refusing to receive the love of the truth. How amazing and how awesome! God will turn those deceived by unrighteousness over to the deception of the anti-Christ. This will bring iniquity to the full and call forth the judgment of the last Day. FOURTH, this passage clearly foretells what will finally destroy the anti-Christ. It is the Parousa of the Lord Jesus Christwhat many call His Second Coming. What we learn agrees with the end-time prophecies of Daniel, each of which speaks clearly of anti-Christ's defeat. This powerful and important material also agrees, wonderfully and perfectly, with what Jesus taught in Matthew 24. FIFTH, the Thessalonian passage tells about our gathering together unto the Lord Jesus Christ. This will be so powerful a time that no force from heaven, earth, or hell can remain unaware of it or go untouched by it. The passage also tells us precisely what will happen in the Parousa of the Lord Jesus. This is when He comes with the open display of His might and governmental authority in all the earth. Concerning the above, II Thessalonians 2:1-12 has points difficult to translate and interpret, but vital to our understanding regarding the last days. For this reason, we ask the help of the Holy Spirit as we look deeply into its every statement.

LET US LOOK FIRST at the passage as it unfolds from the Greek New Testament. Some terms in it require a more precise interpretation than possible with a mere word-for-word translation. To give a clearer meaning, I've placed some words in parentheses. They do not occur in the original but are essential to understanding. Notice the wordparousa. It means the coming of a great king or dignitary into his region of rule. It occurs three times in the passage. We do not translate it because its meaning is so precious. II Thessalonians 2 1 Now we exhort you, brethren, concerning the Parousa of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering under His leadership, 2 that you not be so quickly shaken from (soundness) of mind, nor terrified, neither by a spirit, nor through a spoken word, nor by a letter claiming to be from us, as that the Day of Christ is (already) at hand. 3 Let no one cheat you into believing (this lie) by any means, because (that day shall not come) unless the apostasy comes first and the man of sin is unveiled, the son of destruction, 4 who sets himself against (Christ) and exalts himself above everything that is called god or that is worshipped, so that he sets himself in toward the Holy Place of God as God, proclaiming that he is God (or, that he is a god). 5 Don't you remember that when I was with you, I told you these things? 6 And now, you know what is placing a restraint on (all his activity) that he might be unveiled in his own designated season. 7 For the mystery of the iniquity is already at work, only there is presently a restraining force (at work) until he comes into (his) being out of the midst (of humanity). 8 And then, the lawless one will be unveiled, whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of His mouth, and render powerless by the brightness of His Parousa... 9 (even him) whose parousa is according to the energizing work of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 and in all deceit of the unrighteousness (residing) in those who are perishing because they received not the love of the truth whereby they could have been saved. 11 And on account of this, God will send them an energizing work of deception that will cause them to believe the lie; 12 that they might all be judged who believed not the truth, but took pleasure in the unrighteousness.

NOW WE FOLLOWED each verse as it comes out of the King James Version. We will give special emphasis to key words. This is Paul's finest and most precise word regarding Christ's Parousa. In presenting it, he had reason for grave concern. Even in that early day, erroneous teaching had come among believers. In a matter so serious as the day of Christ, it was important that their understandingand ours in this daybe right and pure. Take note that Paul pointed to two important matters regarding the time of the end. They are clear in the verse. II Thessalonians 2: 1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him... In approaching these two matters, Paul used the strong word beseech. It is from the Greek eroto and means "to put a matter before someone for their consideration by making an earnest appeal." It is a word used sometimes in prayer to God. Paul was concerned for the early believers. A deceptive spirit had come among them bringing wrong understanding about the return of the Lord Jesus. His concern was that of a good Pastor, or of a spiritual father, who wanted his people kept straight in the truth. The first thing to which Paul gave attention was the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Coming is from the Greekparousa, that powerful word describing the most powerful Event ever. It will take place at the end of this age as the Lord Jesus takes His place and reigns in the earth. His glorious burst upon the scene will render powerless all satanic operations. There are seventeen references in the New Testament to the Parousa of the Lord Jesus; there is one reference to theparousa of the man of sin in II Thessalonians 2:11. He will attempt to make his own "glorious burst" on the world scene to claim the position belonging to the Son of God. But, the glory of the Lord Jesus will exceed his little show of power even more than the blinding light of the sun exceeds the flame of a burning match. From the beginning, Satan has put up a contest to place his own man in the high position belonging to the Lord Jesus. His attempted grand parousa will be with the design of taking this place finally and completely. But alas for him! His parousa will call forth the Parousa of the Lord Jesus. Before the end, a determined force from Satan will work at bringing all world governments and institutions into favor with the anti-Christ. As his influence spreads and the final day approaches, all outward hope of a deliverance from his grip will seem to vanishexcept from those whose eyes have been trained to behold Jesus in the darkness. Believers whose knowledge of Him reaches through the thick veil of deception and oppression will survive to the day of Christ.

PAUL'S SECOND CONCERN was with regard to our gathering together unto him. Gathering together is from the wonderful Greek word episunagog. It means a "gathering together in one place." The power of this word is that there is coming a gathering together unto the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself. He is The Powerful One to Whom God has given the rulership over all earthly government. He is the Seed of David, the Seed of Abraham, the Son of God.Concerning Him, God made an oath declaring that He shall reign over all nations with an everlasting dominion. (See the article The Covenant Promise).

Jesus told of the gathering together in Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. From all over the world, he will draw those who are in the company of His elect. The distant Prophets confirmed this gathering together unto himfrom Genesis 49:10, through Deuteronomy 18:15, through Psalm 2:6-7 and Psalm 72, through all of Isaiah 53 ,and on, and on, through Matthew 28:18-29,Ephesians 1:10, then through Revelation 11:15 and 21:22-24. Christ Jesus will be the Head. No movementwithin Christendom, or withoutcan provide a leader to take His place. How this gathering together unto Him at His Parousa will take place I cannot imagine. It is beyond the scope of my mind, so I won't even try to tell. We can know some things, however. The Spirit will connect all believers, everywhere, to the power and government of Christ's Throne. There will be no more movements of the Holy Spirit known only by some few earnest believers, but not by others. The power of this gathering and of Christ's Parousawill reach into the most remote darkness the earth knows with a magnificent bond that will include every believer. Paul's concern in this Epistleand our concern, toois that we arrive at the Day of Christ's return whole, with nothing to hinder His flawless government over us, in us, and through us.

WHILE OUR MINDS cannot grasp how the gathering together unto Him will take place, Revelation gives us an amazing Scripture that will help us understand at least a little. It will be an event in the class with Christ's Resurrection. All the power that worked to bring that wonderful Event about will come into force at the Parousa. It will touch every believer in the world. Revelation 5: 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Revelation 5:12 and 13 tells about the Event. 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Word has just come in the preceding verses 9 and 10 that some, redeemed through Jesus's death, out of every kindred(from the Greek phul meaning "tribe; a body of people united by blood and descent," that is, every family), and tongue (language), and people (culture group), and nation will reign on the earth with the Lamb in His government. Go over that again. Representatives out of every family, every language, every culture group, in every nation will participate with Christ in His Government on earth. This is one of those passages confirming to us that a great movement of the Holy Spirit is coming in all the earth to prepare a people for the Day of Christ. Then, verse 12 reveals the seven-fold ascription of worthiness Heaven gives Christ as He takes the throne of His Government and reigns. It is apparent this is His Parousa. A multitude of heavenly beings say with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive...

power (dnamis, the dynamic ability to perform mighty works), and riches (plotos, opulent wealth), and wisdom (sopha, superior knowledge and enlightenment), and strength (ischos, robust might, the power of muscle to overthrow one's enemy), and honour (tim, the highest estimate of personal worth), and glory (dxa, the magnificent glory of being the highest dignitary in the earth), and blessing (euloga, a mighty celebration of praise). As earth joins in verse 13, the adulation increases. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing (euloga), and honour (tim), and glory (dxa), and power (krtos, governmental might and authority), be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. By looking at these verses carefully, we see the three kinds of power that will find release as the Lord Jesus brings His Kingdom openly into the earth. (Go back to verses 12 and 13 and see the words dnamis, ischos and krtos.) The energy of all this power came into effect two thousand years ago in His Resurrection. It will come into an even grander effect at His Parousa and in our gathering together unto him. Paul used these same words of "power" in Ephesians 1:18 describing the resurrection and the power the Lord Jesus released for us. We covered these words in past Ephesians articles. Let us review them: dnamisdynamic power krtosgovernmental power ischosmuscle power energeaenergetic power. It is interesting to note that Jesus used yet another "power" word in Matthew 28:18 when He made His Own declaration of governmental might. He said, All power (exousa, the authority and privilege of ruling) is given unto me in heaven and earth. All the aboveOh, wonderfully! all the abovewill work in His Parousa. All that is contained in the eternal purposes of God, all that is proscribed in His Covenants with man, all that was released in Christ's resurrection will come into force and effect at the Parousa. Christ's followers, when He was here the first time, could not imagine His resurrection. It escaped their comprehension. So, how can we suppose to comprehend His Second Coming? We can only be ready. Of course, there is coming satanic opposition to this powerful display of might from the Lord Jesus. The enemy's only hope of stopping Christ's dominion is through his power of deception. But, we thank God, the power of Christ is so much greater. The deception of the closing days will be more intense and determined than ever. It will reach toward the high things of God's Kingdom and present duplicates of themreplicas, yea counterfeits, of the realwith the intention of swindling the elect out of their inheritance in the Kingdom.

PAUL HELD A CONCERN for the minds of those early believers. That kind of concern is all the more

important for us as the time of the end draws closer. To deceive the people of God in the closing days is the great final tactic of the enemy. II Thessalonians 2 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 awayfirst, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. To be shaken in mind and troubled means to be thrown out of one's sober and natural state so as to be unable to think straight or comprehend what is going on around one. Shaken is from the Greek saleo. It can be used to speak of winds shaking a tree or tossing a ship at sea. But here, its reference is to the mind a mind, if you please, in turmoil. Mental shaking results in our being troubled. This is from the Greek throo meaning "to be in an uproar." It is an operation of the emotions and describes someone who is alarmed, disturbed, terrified. Imagine, if you will, being in a house shaken by the winds of a hurricaneas many have beenor being in a ship driven by a stormas many have been and perishedand yet, in the midst of it all remaining calm and surviving. This is what will happen with many believers in the time of the end. Terror will strike into many heartsbut, others will remain quiet and stable who are under the same affliction. A mental shaking leads to an emotional shaking. This destabilizes a person and makes one very liable to fall when the times become unstable. There is so close a tie between the mind and the emotions, that instability in one has an effect on the other. Psalm 46 tells of a stability in mind and emotion that is possible in the midst of trouble. It lays out the strengthsmental, emotional, and physical, along with material security belonging to those under the rule and protection of God's Government.

FOR YEARS, THE HOLY SPIRIT has directed me toward a concern for the minds of believers. When He spoke to me some years ago that I was to "study psychology," my immediate thought was that I should return to school and take up that study. Then He told me the Bible is the greatest book on psychology there is. What I began finding there left me amazed. I found the salvation offered us in Christ Jesus will reach into the most interior parts of the mindas well as our emotions, conscience, and human spiritto plant in us the calm stability of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Greek word Paul used in II Thessalonians 2:2 for mind is nous. It means the part of us that perceives and thinks, that remembers and makes decisions. It is the part that makes resolutions and forms purposes. The nous is the intellectual part of us where understanding and intelligence reside. Daniel had insight regarding this mental part of us. In telling of the maneuvers of the anti-Christ in the last days, he revealed how at one point .. he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenantDaniel 11:30. This means the anti-Christ will take control of the mindpsychic control, if you pleaseof all who apostatize from the faith. He will reach for the interior parts of the apostates to take them captive in mind, emotion, will, and conscience. Anti-Christ supposes, by possessing these parts, he can then make his boldest move to take over the spirits of persons everywhere and gain control of all government. If he can gain the spirits of those given over to the Lord Jesus, he can then have the place he most desires the temple.

But there will be those who withstand his maneuvers, especially his last one. We will see this as we look later at II Thessalonians 2:4. Here Paul tells of the man of sin sitting in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. We take note that every time Paul made reference to the temple as the dwelling place of God, he saw it composed of believers (The passages where Paul used the word nas when making reference to the temple are I Cor 3:16,17; I Cor 6:19; II Cor 6:16; Eph 2:21 and II Thes 2:4). He said, Know ye not that ye are the temple of GodICorinthians 3:16. In his last great move toward obtaining this temple, the antiChrist design is to confuse and deceive us who make up the temple. Can you not see it? He wants us. We are that temple. He wants us because we are where the Spirit of God dwells. From us, redeemed and made whole in Christ, will go forth heaven's Government in all the earth. Consider your spirit as the core of who you are. Surrounding your spirit, with roots reaching into it and drawing substance and strength from it, is your soul. Your soul consists of your mind at the top, your emotions and yourwill each to the side of the mind, and your conscience giving foundation to the whole. All this is the real you, housed in your body. In order to lay hold of our spirits, the man of sin is reaching for our minds. On obtaining this part in us, he aims to control our emotions and gain their strengths. By controlling our emotions, he intends to draw our will after him. On taking control of this, he thinks he will use us at his will. Then, he supposes he can possess the part in us called conscience. If successful, he actually believes our awareness of being sons and daughters of the Kingdom of God will fade and we will slip into his kingdom of darkness. Let us not be ignorant of this. The forces of anti-Christ are moving with confidence to overthrow every follower of the Lord Jesus.

IS THIS A TEACHING that we can lose our salvation? Well, let me say there are some powerful statements in Scripture that seem to point to this possibility. The roots of my own upbringing in the Lord reach into the Baptist faith, with strong ties to "eternal security." I do not quickly say that we can lose our salvation. But I do state that the enemy of our souls has set out to draw us back under his hold and present us as trophies in his kingdom. Because we have trusted Jesus as our Savior, we are a threat to his design. He will use every means possible to wipe us out. Just holding the doctrine of "eternal security" or belonging to a church believing this way will not suffice in the day of his most determined attack. We must have a strong relationship with the Lord Jesus, Himself. And, I also firmly believe, we must receive the love of the truth. Oh, I love those eternal security verses! Right after I was saved, my Pastor preached them over and over. John 10:28became one of my favorites. It kept me through times of trial. About a year after I gave my heart to the Lord, I went through a trial. The thought came to me that perhaps I should give up being a Christian. But immediately, it came to me that I could not do that. So I did not even try. He has kept me ever since. This is not a doctrine within me. It is simply one principle of the life I live with the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is another verse that laid hold on me back in those early years of knowing the Lord. It is Jude 24 Now unto him that is able (powerfully able) to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Hallelujah! What's wrong with believing this with all our hearts? And againI remember that night when Philippians 1:6 became my very own. Look it up. It can become yours, too.

At the same time, I am aware of what Paul said in I Timothy 4:1 at which we looked earlier. In this verse, he said ...in the latter times some shall depart from the faith. Depart from is from the Greek apostsontai. It means to separate one's self, to withdraw, to become an apostate. In the very meaning of the word is the idea that for one to apostatize he must first have been with the faith. Otherwise he could not have departed from it. How shall I regard this? In II Thessalonians 2:3, Paul said, before the day of Christ comes, there will come a falling away first. This is a weak translation regarding a falling away. It is from the Greek h apostasia. H is a Definite Article. It means "the." Apostasia means "defection, apostasy; the act of standing against someone with whom one once stood." These words mean "the apostasy." It is apparent Paul had reference to something very definite that will take place in the latter day. Paul made another powerful statement in II Timothy 3:1-7 about the last days and those who hold a form of godliness but are never able to come to "an acknowledgment of truth." With this, we must also face Hebrews 3:1 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Departing is from the same Greek word as above that means "to become apostate." "Take heed, brethren, lest perchance there come to be in any of you an evil, unsound, malignant heart that could cause you to become apostate from the living God." Facing these verses, and being aware of my own tendency to stray from the Lord, I had to allow my security to find a greater stronghold than my adherence to the doctrine of "eternal security," even though I saw it had powerful Scripture backing it. Two things happened that I believe are keeping me. One, I let the Lord Jesus break my will. In His becoming my Lord, I gave up any right I might one day have to defect from Him, even under the most severe pressure. Two, I received the love of the truth. I remember the time. Something from His Spirit was placed in me that would enable me to knowinstinctively and certainlywhat comes from Him and what comes from the enemy. The battle is fierce; it rages all around. It will become more severe. More than any believers have ever faced at any time in history, we will face trouble at the time of the end. We cannot have our confidence in our ability to hold on to Him. Our confidence must be in Him. He does the holding.

PAUL HELD A CONCERN that ... no man deceive you by any means. This was especially so with regard to the day of Christ. In II Thessalonians 2:2, he laid out three means by which deception might come. Incidentally, these are precisely the same means by which truth can come by a spirit, by a spoken word, by a written word. Since truth from God and deceit from Satan both come in these same three dimensions, discernment in our spirits, born of the Holy Spirit, is necessary. Spirits of deception flock after believers as soon as they are born again and seek to draw them back into the darkness of former ways of living. Spiritual deception, born out of satanic darkness, often carries with it religious overtones. It can be close to truth born of the Holy Spirit. Only the pure in heart can discern the difference. The first time I became aware that demonic forces will presume to use the Scriptures was over 35 years ago in Haiti. I would not do this now, but I went then into a voodoo conclave to see what they did. It was a display put on for tourists, yet it was authentic. In the course of the ritual, much was made of chanting what many call "The Lord's Prayer." At first, I thought it was an indication that some of what they were doing might be all right. Perhaps they were Christians. Then I saw the absurdity and filth of the ritual and realized it was all evil. They had taken something wonderful and pure and polluted it by placing it in a demonic ceremony.

I have repented of going into that voodoo tent, and have renounced the curiosity I then held. I did learn something, however. I saw how demons can take what is pure and good and defile it. Now, it did not take much discernment to recognize the corruption in that voodoo tent. A babe in Christ could see that. But here we are now in the time of the end. Deception in these days is reaching for us with an intensity and refinement higher than any ever known.

I DISCUSSED THE DECEPTION that is coming upon us with my friend, John Brown. He made mention that the most significant characteristic of the end-time, according to Scripture, is not revival. It is deception. The greatest deception of the end-time will be religious delusion. The closer we come to the end, the more subtle will be the deceit. It will reach into the high things of the Kingdom with counterfeit word and faith and manifestation so like the pure that only the most discerning can know the difference. The value of a counterfeit to a crook is measured by how closely it resembles the original. The nearer it is to the true, the greater is its power to deceive. Should a counterfeiter reproduce a perfect likeness of an original, it would yet remain worthless. The value is not in how it comes but from whom it comes. The only difference between a perfect counterfeit and its original is the source. When the tempter came to Jesus, he spoke what was true and yet conveyed the lie. He quoted Scripture, but it was wrong because it was not what the Father was saying to Jesus. As we have seen, the great end-time battle of Satan is for our minds. This is the seat in us of either truth or deception. For us who are believers, he intends to win us with what is dear to usthe truth of God's Kingdom. But, let us know this: truth from him becomes corrupted into falsehood. Is this disturbing? Then what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 should be disturbing also. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the Will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Note what they called Jesus ...Lord, Lord. Note the three things they didprophesied, cast out devils, did many wonderful worksall marks of good committed believers. Note what He said to them ... I never knew you. This is strong language. It is even stronger in the Greek. This makes me tremble. The reason Jesus turned these away from His Kingdom was that they still worked iniquity. The Greek has a Definite Article with iniquity, making it the iniquity. It is from the Greek h anoma. This is a very definite iniquity. I believe it is the original iniquity that entered through Adam. These people did everything that was right, but they still held on to the iniquity that came through being descendants of Adam. Iniquity means the attitude of doing what one wants with no regard for what God wants. It is the exaltation of self-will above God's will. It is basic in human nature. The difference in us and in the anti-Christ is that in him it is raised to its highest degree. He is lawlessness personified. Doing all the right things, no matter how religious and productiveif they are born out of self-willthey cannot fit one in, or enable one to function in, the Kingdom with Christ. Therefore Jesus said, I never knew you.

Those whose faith resides in ministry, doctrine, affiliation, experience, saying prayers, and even the bare Word of God not quickened by the Holy Spirit, if they are not subject to God's will, they will find themselves subject to the great delusion of the last days.

IN II THESSALONIANS 2:3, Paul said, ...Let no man deceive you by any means. Deceive is from the Greekexapato, a strong word meaning to deceive thoroughly. It could be used to speak of seducing a woman, of cheatingsomeone into believing a lie, of swindling someone out of what is rightly his, or of beguiling a person away from the right course of action. We find this same word in II Corinthians 11:3. What a revelation is here! But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled (deceived) Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. There are words so important in this verse and so relevant to what is presently upon us that we must take time to see them. First take beguiled. It is from exapato, the word translated deceive in the Thessalonian verse. Seeing it here helps us understand that the serpent did indeed swindle our dear ancient Mother out of what was rightly hers. He presented her with something so close to the true that she could not discern the difference. He seduced her. He cheated her. He beguiled her. He deceived her thoroughly. How did the serpent accomplish this? Through subtlety. This is from the Greek panourga which means "capable of doing anything." The serpent was not a snake in the grass as we might suppose. Revelation 12:9 tells us he was...the great dragon, ...the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. His seduction of Eve came out of his ability to fake his way on any level. That first deception released in the hearts of Adam and Eve was not a call to become like demons, but rather, to become like God. The intrusion into their understanding was not to distract them from their godly calling, but rather to provide them with Satan's way of coming into calling. How cunning and deceitful! Genesis 3:1-9 tells of that serpent's approach to Eve. In that first deception we can find the basis of all spiritual deception. What began there will become full in the final days. In that first deception, the serpent cast doubt on God's Word as he said to the woman, Yea, hath God saidGenesis 3:1. This meant, "Is it indeed a possibility that God said thus and so to you?" His intent was to deny God's Word and replace it with his own altered version. In doing this, he set out to confuse Eve as to what the Lord had said. What he went on to say bore enough resemblance to the original to sound right. It seemed to remain in line with the divine intention. Satan's words drew Eve away from the purity of what God said so he could replace it with what would aid him in his plan to gain the world for himself. The woman was open to the serpent's attack because she twisted God's Word, then added to them. God had said inGenesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. She said in Genesis 3:3...God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it. She added that last part. God said in Genesis 2:17<for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Eve altered it to say lest ye dieGenesis 3:3. This means, "...lest, perchance, ye might die." She interpreted it to mean, "There is the possibility of death coming as a result, but there is also a possibility that it may not." What she said was so close, and sounded almost right, yet it bore two errors prevalent in spiritual deception. She added her own thoughts to what God said and she altered what He said. Paul's concern was that our minds not be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Corrupted is from a Greek word meaning to become "ruined and depraved" so as to have no more valueespecially for the purposes of God.Simplicity is from a word meaning "simple, open, frank, straight-forward." The enemy

would like to ruin the inner parts of us so that a simple, open, frank relationship with the Lord Jesus becomes so difficult as to be almost impossible. What the Holy Spirit is doing right now is reaching inside us to free us from the spiritual and emotional trash that makes us liable to fall into the anti-Christ's traps. We welcome the Holy Spirit's awesomeand, some times, painfulwork.

PAUL ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN in II Thessalonians 2:2 about believers being deceived by the spoken word. It is interesting that he made use of the Greek word lgos. This means the spoken word, plus the idea and life behind that word. The Lgos of God, when spoken by a person, carries with it the power to accomplish what that word is saying. The same is true of the deceptive lgos. It carries with it the power of satanic delusion. The deception of it can enter the spirit of the person who hears and receives it. The "prophet" Balaam, Numbers 22-24, is a prime example of someone bringing a word that sounds right, is nearly right, and is spoken with regard to the high purposes of God, but that carries with it a contamination that comes over on the people who hear it. Before he became involved with the people of Israel, Balaam was a diviner. The Lord held divination as an abomination. According to Deuteronomy 18:10-12, it brought corruption over on those who practiced it. Even though Balaam began speaking what was right and apparently chose the side of the Lord against the inhabitants of the land, the corruption remained in his spirit. The New Testament brings three indictments against Balaam. These judgments help us see what can be transferred to the hearers of false teachers and prophets who speak what is true but convey a lie. ONE: Some people become taken with the way of Balaam and sell themselves out for money. Peter tells of those...which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness..II Peter 2:15,16. From Numbers 22:7 we learn that the wages of unrighteousness are the rewards that come from delivering false prophecy, which is divination. II Peter 2:3 tells of those who through covetousness... with feigned words make merchandise of you. Feigned is from the Greek plasts from which we get our word "plastic." It means that which is fabricated, forged, counterfeited. Peter is telling of words coming from "plastic" ministers who make speeches that please the hearers and bring in offerings. The followers of these will be poor and lacking in the day of Christ. TWO: Others become taken with the error of Balaam which promoted greed. Jude said, Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of CoreJude 11. The word error in this verse is from the same Greek root word as deceit in II Thessalonians 2:2. So it could be called "the deceit of Balaam." Greed will cause a person to run after a delusion with their eyes blinded to what actually lies before them. What a woe! THREE: Others become taken with the doctrine of Balaam which leads into impure practice. The Lord Jesus said in one of the church letters in Revelation, But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication Revelation 2:14. How terrible this is! But let us see something. Balaam did not teach the people outright, with words, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. We learn some thing here. What a Prophet or a

Teacher is ministers more than what he or she says. Look at Numbers 24 and 25. Balaam gave such exalted words in 24:15-24 they were like Messianic prophecy. But see Numbers 24:25 and 25:1 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place. And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. If his words did not teach it, what he was in himself communicated it. His personhood taught fornication. His spirit came over on the people. What a minister is carries more importance in ministering the word than what that one says. It is possible to communicate deceit and error while speaking what is true? This is the insidious form of deceit that will try and come over on the people of God in the last days. What a challenge to us who minister the Word! Let us wait before God to hear what His Spirit is saying. Let us learn to speak what we hear from Him. But, more than that, let us lay our hearts bare before Him for His searching.

PAUL HELD ANOTHER CONCERN in II Thessalonians 2:2. It was that believers not be deceived by the written word. Most of us have learned to reject teachings put out by groups like the Herbert W. Armstrong association and the Watchtower publishing society. But there are others more insidious in their deception. It is with regard to these that we need the help of the Holy Spirit. Years ago, shortly after I received the infilling of the Holy Spirit, I became taken up with some books then popular in the Body of Christ. They were filled with unusual and high revelation about Christ, the word of God, faith, and who and what we are in Christ. Much of it was true, but it led to my own self-gratification in the things of the Lord. To put it plainly, those books led me to use the promises of God for my own personal gain rather than the gain of Christ's Kingdom. They led me to center on myself by concentrating on getting God's blessing on my own life. One day, the Lord spoke to me to lay these books aside. Not long after that, I picked up a book written by a famous minister who was having many miracles in his meetings. The words in his book were almost exactly the same as in the books the Lord directed me to put down. I saw the same in another's books. I only took notice but said nothing. I knew the Lord was directing me away from some of the doctrine that was developing throughout the Body of Christ. I neither spoke against it, nor did I promote it. Years later, I found how greed and deception had remained in the lives of many who had subscribed to those teachings. It became so corruptive that it came over on large segments of the Body of Christ and caused many to turn from the faith. A deep concern came within me. The question arose: How can I know what is truth? Then, the precious Holy Spirit led me to the word in II Thessalonians 2:10 ... they received not the love of the truth. I could see it! There lay my answer. They would perish because they received not the love of the truth. If they only would receive the love of the truth they could be saved. I didn't know how to go about doing that. So, I simply asked the Lord for it. Oh, He gave it to me that day! I did not know all truth, but I did receive a love for truth. Receiving the love of the truth has sometimes been painful because it has meant knowing the truth about myself. As I've seen my need and depravity, He has revealed His mercy and righteousness. Sometimes it has meant walking alone while others followed what was popular. That has been especially painful, but it has helped me know the Lord better.

Now, here is the amazing thing. There are countless others who have received the same love of the truth that I received. The Holy Spirit is gently bringing us together. What a precious thing it is. We are no longer joined by doctrine, experience, affiliation or class. We are joined in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is precious; when we come together, we come under the Head of the Lord Jesus Christ. May God's gracious Spirit release this love of the truthand of Himwithin you. Amen!

Part 4 - Overcoming The Anti-Christ's Determination To Defeat Us


~ A continuing look at II Thessalonians 2, other related Scripture, and the practical reasons why understanding these Scriptures about the last days is important
ACCORDING TO II THESSALONIANS 2:2,3, two things must take place before the day of Christthe apostasy and the unveiling of the man of sin. The apostasy is when those who have professed to follow Christ turn against Him. The unveiling of the man of sin is when anti-Christ comes on the scene openly and sin becomes so full it must be stopped by an intervention of God. We started the study of II Thessalonians 2 in the last MASCHIL Special Edition entitled The Astonishing

Day of Christ. Its word is too important to this hour for us to stop before completion. So we continue on.
Besides, the Holy Spirit is Still drawing us to it and we must follow His leading.

BEFORE WE LOOK at the Scriptures, I want to relate something that has disturbed me lately. It is troubling how dangerously inclined some of us remain toward apostasyturning from our faith. Something happened recently that caused me to closely examine myself. It made me see how fierce the wrath of Satan is and how determined he is to draw us into his snare. He knows the weakness in us and is ready to use it to make us fall. I related the following in a recent letter that went out from here. Never, to anything we've written, has there been so much response. This is what I told. For several days, an oppression had been coming upon me. It brought despair and weariness, along with an intense loneliness. I did not know how to respond to what I was feeling, so I kept it to myself. After all, I minister to others who look to me for strength.

Then one day I told wife Glenda something of the warfare going on in me. I asked her to be praying for me, for I knew a spiritnot from Godwas making a bid for my life. The night before, it had suggested to me that I drive my truck off the dam into the deep part of our lake. It said, "No one will know till it's too late." I did not even consider that advice, but it was a very disconcerting thought and I could not shake it. Later that day, without planning, I walked into the office and grabbed the first two people close at hand Glenda and Mary Clarkand asked them to pray with me right then. They prayed gently. I began weeping. We asked the Lord to reveal what had allowed that fierce attack. Then, something that happened one night, several months ago, came back to my remembrance. My father died nearly 25 years ago, but on that recent night, he came and stood by my bed and called me by my childhood name. I considered it only a dream, but it left me with a very uneasy feeling. As the two women prayed, I suddenly knew it was not my father, but a familiar spirit that had come by my bed. It had come to claim some ground in me that still belonged to the realm of darkness. That night as I drove by the lake, it was that same spirit reaching for my very life. Seducing spirils nest in the hurts and unfulfilled desires usually buried beneath our level of conscious memory. That spirit was reaching for that longing in me for a father who would encourage and guide me. I am grateful for the family into which I was born. I have many godly relatives who helped mold me, and, I'm thankful for my natural father. He was as good a man as he could be, but he was remote in my life. He sometimes cursed me to my face, then boasted about me behind my back. This left something in me that did not belong in the Kingdom of God. And, it was something very attractive to that seducing spirit. As we continued praying, a heaving began in my chest. I felt for a moment as though I might die. Then it came out of me with a roar. As I renounced the thing that had become a curse in my life, the seducing spirit lost the ground on which it was trying to work. There came a peace that was not in me before. Whereas I had been beholding all the negatives and impossibilities around me, now I could look at things differently. No circumstance changed, but I began seeing the Light of God's Kingdom shining upon each impossible situation. I never knew that such an innocent longing, like needing the loving encouragement of a father, could make one so vulnerable to demonic attack. How faithful the Holy Spirit was to allow this to come to the surface in me so I could open myself to deliverance & healing. I have shared the above in several meetings. Every time I have, people especially menhave come forward asking for prayer regarding the same thing in their lives. Let me quote from a letter coming from a missionary on the field: "I really want to respond to recent letter. I, too, have been going through a time of oppression, loneliness, dissatisfaction, etc. It is astounding to me, the similarities between what you experienced and what I have been experiencing. Also, the life situations are so much the same....I too had a good but distant father who in turn had a father who did not relate to his children. I also have, over the last few years, been growing more and more aware of the little boy in myself who longs for a relationship with a father, and the difficulties that places in my ability to really know my Heavenly Father intimately. I felt that either I could have written your letter, or that you were writing about me."

I TELL THIS BECAUSE I try to stay aware of how the Holy Spirit is moving. I believe he is reaching into lives, everywhere, laying hold on dangerous material in us that could make us subject to the anti-Christ's desire to defeat us.

As the day of Christ draws closer, the anti-Christ will increase his determination to deceive and entrap us. It is more important than ever that the Holy Spirit search out the darkness in us and release His healing and delivering power in us. The longing for a father buried in my bosom was slight compared with what lies in the hearts and minds of many. We know, because we deal constantly with people. We also know there is enough power in the Kingdom of God to reach in and deliver any person who will open up to the healing power of the Lord. The pain of physical and emotional abuse, heartbreak, disappointment, guilt over personal failure, sin and humiliation reside in the deep recesses of many lives. Some things are so painful they cannot be kept in conscious memory. Therefore, they are pushed down in the human spirit away from memorybut not away from a place of influence over mind, emotions, and will. Dark things remain buried in the subconscious parts of many a person while he or she tries to go on with life. The trouble is, these dark things catch the attention of Satan and will make surviving in the dark time of the end very difficult. Whatever attack we have had from the realm of darkness up to this time will only increase. The war on believers has only begun. The Lord Jesus helps us see this in Matthew 24:21,22. For then shall be great tribulation (thlpsis megleull blown and intense affliction; crushing oppression) such as was not since the beginning of the world...The Prophet Daniel gave his word to the same effect. In Daniel 12:1, he said, ...and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. I can only add that, after spending years with the above statements, conviction has only increased that they point to the end of this age. You say there have been terrible times of suffering already. Shall we see something more severe than anything that has ever happened? A wise answer is yes. While the pain of physical abuse and suffering, mental torment and emotional traumas may not get any worse than they have before, the spiritual darkness mixed with the suffering will become more intense. It is coming from the wrath of the anti-Christ and all the seducing spirits that work with him. In his last desperate attempt to put down the Kingdom of Christ on earth, he will reach for whatever in us belongs to him that he might wring the last bit of life out of us. He intends to wear us out and lay us on the ground with no hope of recovery. He just doesn't know!

TO HELP STRENGTHEN YOU for the fight, we want to look at several more points from the II Thessalonians 2passage, taking up where we left off in the last MASCHIL. Most interpreters add words throughout this passage to make its meaning clear. For me, it has been necessary to spend time with the original Greek and allow its words to come over on my spirit. It becomes apparent the Holy Spirit caused this passage, and some others relating to the time of the end, to be obscure. If this were not the case, we would develop doctrines about the end that are precise and "right" for a time when precision will not fit. Quite frankly, I become a little unsure of those who have their every doctrine settled with regard to the endtime. We can be certain of this: in the days that come, many doctrines we hold dear are going to have their testing. Some of the most important Scriptures relating to the end carry with them an irregularity. They tell of a time that will seem highly irregular to our poor minds with our limited ability to comprehend. Only the Holy Spirit can comprehend the fullness of what is happening and the Word that pertains to it for the last days. For this reason we give our selves unto His leadership.

We can comprehend some of what the Holy Spirit is speaking for this day. We learn to trust Him with regard to the rest. As we examine the Thessalonian passage, we look at the verses as they appear in the King James Version of the Bible. We will take a close look at certain key words in the original Greek. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, andthat man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;II Thessalonians 2:3 Words corresponding to "for that day shall not come" do not appear in the original. We told about the falling away in the previous MASCHIL. Let us recall this: the words translated falling away, h apostasa, mean "the apostasy." It is the time when those who, in some degree, have identified with the Lord Jesus now take a decided and definite stand against Him. The day of Christ, which Paul mentioned in the previous verse, cannot come until this takes place. Then that man of sin will be revealed. Paul also called him the son of perdition. These are titles he gives to the anti-Christ. He is the one who will bring sin to completion. Before the day of Christ comes, he must be revealed. This means any veil covering his true identity must be removed so he can appear for who and what He is. That man of sin is from the Greek h nthropos t hamartas. It is important to note the Definite Article t withhamartas. It makes it mean "THE sin." The anti-Christ comes as the final and full embodiment of the sin that came upon us through Adam. He will bring sin to its highest degree by manifesting all that is evil and rebellious against God. Hamarta means "the missing of the mark." It is the condition of one who has swerved aside from the call and purposes of God and has gone down a path away from Him. Every person in the world is in this condition, having been born off the track because of Adam. (Romans 5:12 makes this clear.) As the sin that began in Adam comes to its final expression in the man of sin, sin will burst out in the lives of people all over the world like never before. Speaking of this, Jesus said, ... and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax coldMatthew 24:12. So dissolute and wicked is this one that he must be called the son of perdition. This means "the son of waste, of corruption, of eternal ruin."

IN VERSE 4 OF II THESSALONIANS 2, we can see some of the final-day operations of the man of sin. Not only does sin come to its full in him, so does pride. He exalts himself to the level of being a god. In doing this, he 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, showing himself that he is God. His goal is to take over the temple of God. He hates us because we are that temple, indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is the Chief Agent of Christ's Government in the earth, the anti-Christ wants to corrupt His dwelling so it becomes useless to Him. Briefly, we need to review what Paul said about the temple. He saw it in three dimensions. Never did he regard it as a building; he saw it as people. In I Corinthians 6:19, he said the individual believer is a temple. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you...? In I Corinthians 3:16, he revealed a local body of believers is a temple. Know ye not that ye (plural) are the temple of God...? In Ephesians 2:20, he said the universal church becomes a temple. He spoke of Jesus Christ Himself ... in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple.

In each case Paul used the Greek word nos to speak of the temple. It means "the most holy place." He made several other uses of it with reference to persons who are believers. It is unlikely he would place another meaning on it in II Thessalonians 2:4 speaking of the temple anti-Christ wants. Opposeth is from the Greek antikemenos. Take note of the first part of this wordanti. It means "against or opposite to." The whole word means "one who occupies a position opposing someone." In an incredible move, the anti-Christ sets out with the goal of opposing God, Himself. Exalteth is from a word meaning "one who arrogantly raises himself up with a haughty front." Ironically, this man will seek to raise himself to a position of deity. He wants to be, if not God Himself, at least a god. In moving toward this, he will withstand every form of worship there is except what is directed toward him. The words he as God sitteth in the temple of God need careful attention. The word in in this string of words does not come from the ordinary Greek word en which carries that meaning. Rather, Paul used es, which is quite different. The Greek Preposition en, which he did not use here, indicates where something is locatedin the house, in the heart, in the temple, etc. On the other hand, es means untounto the house, unto the heart, unto the temple. There is a difference. One comes unto the house only to remain outside. The anti-Christ pushes unto the temple, crowding toward a seat insideonly to remain outside! He never makes it. He is cut short of his goal by the coming of the Lord Jesus. We know this by reading ahead to verse 8. According to some Daniel passages included at the end of this article, he makes an awful mess around the temple, but he does not reach his goal. Paul made a practice of telling the people to whom he ministered about the end of the age. He said in verse 5,Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

NOW SOMETHING AMAZING begins to come to light with regard to the activities of the anti-Christ. Through the ages, there has been a restraint on him. It will be removed as the time of the end comes on. We begin seeing this in verse 6. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. Paul indicated the Thessalonian believers should have known what brought restraint on the anti-Christ. As we become acquainted with the Word of God, especially what came through the Prophets, we learn that the restraint has come from out of God's eternal domain. Through the ages, a divine "restraining order" has been placed on the satanic activities of the anti-Christ and on the spirits and people who work with him. There can come no movement out of anti-Christ's realm except as allowed by God. He can move only within the bounds of what is contained in Scripture relating to him. In Daniel 7:25 we see he wants to alter this. We take note of the words that he might be revealed in his time. Revealed is from the Greek Aorist Infinitive form of the word apokalpto. It means "to be unveiled; to be plainly and distinctly disclosed." According to the interpretation of Greek grammar, the Aorist Infinitive means that this unveiling can happen but one time. All the suppositions and theories regarding certain men through the ages as being the anti-Christ never once came into realization. Only the true anti-Christ will be unveiledand that at the time set by God. This unveiling of him will happen in his time. His is from eautos which means "his own." It is distinctly for him.Time is from kairs which means "a period of time; a season having a marked characteristic." It is apparent the anti-Christ is allowed by God to have a seasonwith his character stamped upon itin which he can work without restraint. In this period of time, he will manifest himself to his own destruction, as sin in him reaches the fullest point possible.

In the spirit, David saw this dark time and called it the time of trouble in Psalm 27:5. Indeed, many of his Psalms are for the people of God going through this time. Daniel saw it. The Lord Jesus saw it. Paul saw it and called it the evil day in Ephesians 6:13.

PERHAPS NO VERSE IS MORE important to our understanding the coming dark time of trouble than II Thessalonians 2:7. It shows what will cause the bridle to be removed from iniquity so the anti-Christ can move with more freedom in sin than ever known. Every word of this verse is so important we must look at it carefully. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. Mystery is from the Greek mustrion. It means "a concealed principle or power" that cannot be known till it is revealed. It is the mystery of iniquity that is concealed. Iniquity is from h anoma. This is one of several New Testament words meaning "sin." It means sin in the sense of withstanding, or opposing, the law of God. It has worked through the generations of mankind as a mystery, concealed in its power as a principle of human life no one has been able to overcomeapart from Christ. Doth already work is from the Greek energo which means "to communicate energy and activity." The concealed principle of sin, even though under restraint, has been in operation from the beginning when Adam sinned. One generation has passed its energy and activity on to the next. There has been no ability on the part of any to harness it and keep it from passing on to the most innocent of babes. Take the most righteous man and the most virtuous woman in the worldfilled with the Spirit of God, full of the knowledge of His Word, committed entirely to His willif they be married and have a child, that child receives the energy of sin. The concealed principle of it, like a ruling life-force, has passed on and on and on through the ages. Sin, even though it has passed from generation to generation, has been kept under restraint. The energy and power of it has been allowed to work only within the limits of this restraint. But the force that holds it down will be removed before the end. Only he who now letteth is from the same Greek word as what withholdeth in the previous verse. This time it is ho katchon. The statement means, "only there is a restraining force." This restraint will remain until he is taken out of the way. Here we need clear insight. Is taken is from the Greek word gnomai. It occurs 677 times in the Greek New Testament. Only this one time is it translated "is taken." The word means "to come to pass, to come into being, to be made." It is the word Paul used inGalatians 4:4 when he said God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. There it spoke of the birthof the Lord Jesus. In the same manner, its reference in this II Thessalonian verse is to the birth of that man of sin. The words could properly be translated "until he comes into being, or is made." Out of the way is from ek msos. It means "from the midst." We are not told from the midst of what. It is apparent, when we consider other Scriptures relating to him, it means "from the midst of humanity." This is just as Jesus came from the midst of humanity. Only the two seeds are different. Jesus came from the seed of the woman; the anti-Christ comes the seed of the serpent. This is in preparation for the show-down between the two foretold inGenesis 3:15. God said to the serpent, And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: it (he) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

As it was necessary that Jesus come in the flesh, so it is necessary that the man of sin come in the flesh. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit; the man of sin must be conceived of Satan. The word is: when the man of sin is born, the restraint on sin will be removed so it can begin its ripening.

IN 1962, I MOVED TO TORONTO, Canada, to pastor a church. Several of the men belonging to this church were leaders in the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship. They had invited Brother David Wilkerson to speak at a banquet. This man is widely respected as a Prophet in the Body of Christ. As I remember it, he said in that 1962 meeting that the Lord had revealed to him there was coming a removal of restraint on sin. It was coming as a judgment in the land. Moral filth would run openly in our streets. In effect, he said sin would begin coming to its full. About that time, a famous spiritualist and psychic published a book in which she told of a visitation from a serpent. It informed her there was then being born, some place in the world, a human baby who would come on the world scene as a "messiah." Because of her inside connections, she probably had correct information. If so, the word of II Thessalonians 2:7, as we have interpreted it about the birth of the man of sin and the removal of sin's restraint, is relevant. Shortly after 1962, there came drastic change in the standards and morals of western culture. Our Supreme Court legalized abortion. Pornography became open. Murder was released in our streets with the assassination of our President. Prayer was removed from our schools. Moral standards for marriage and the bearing of children were removed. On we could go. The change with regard to sin and morality can be dated to that year. Now, take note again of this understanding regarding what Paul said: "A restraining force will remain on the concealed power of sin until that one is born out of the midst." This means, when the man of sin does actually come to be in the earth, the mystery of sin's concealment will be broken and it will compound in power and magnitude. Then the world will become ready to receive the one John called a beast in Revelation 13. The beast is another term designating the anti-Christ. When he comes upon the scene, something shall have taken place to make all the world ready to follow him with awe and admiration, having lost all sense of what is right and what is wrong. What an hour to be alive as believers!

NOW IN VERSE 8, we are ready for the final act. 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: That Wicked is from ho nomos, meaning "the lawless one. " He is the embodiment of the rebellion, the full and final expression of disobedience toward God. But see thishis moves become so blatant and radical that he finally steps over the boundary that is set even for him and he meets his destruction. We wait for that day! The Lord shall consume needs a little special attention. In the Received Text of the Greek New Testament from which the King James Version is translated, the word consume is from analsko which means "to use up; to spend; to waste till nothing is left." In the Nestle text from which several modern translations are taken, the word is anairowhich means "to take away; to destroy; to kill." I can't tell why there is this variation in the texts. I only mention it in case your Bible reads differently than the King James which we are using. In any case, both words speak of his annihilation.

Take note of what Paul said will overcome this arch-opposer of the Kingdom of God. The Lord shall annihilate himwith the breath of his mouth. Breath is from the Greek pnema which means "spirit." Either the Lord will blow on him or He will Speak with His mouth to him. But there is something else to meet this man of sin: it is the brightness of his coming. This is the epiphanea (the sudden appearance, like a burst of light) of Christ's Parousa. This is one of the powerful texts revealing what will happen at the coming of the Lord Jesus. There will be released such a radiant outburst of power and glory, that, like the powerful blast of an explosion, it will completely do away with that one who has terrorized believers through the period designated as his time. Not only will Christ's burst on the scene do away with the man of sin, it will defuse the power of sin as it has worked through the ages of humanity. Oh, oh, oh! What was accomplished when He died will reach its full dimension of realization when He makes this descent again upon the earth!

THE NEXT TWO VERSES of II Thessalonians 2 carry on. Verse 9 tells of ... him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. Verse 10 tells us he works ...with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. The deception generated by unrighteousness will increase to a new level. Those caught in its snare will lose all sense of what is right and what is wrong. Thus, they are susceptible to deception. Them that perish is from a Greek Present Participle giving it the meaning of a perishing that is going on before its work is finalized at the day of Christ. These, caught in something strangling life from them, cannot discern that the life they are losing is the only life that will survive the final day. Thus, they become apostates from the faith. They swim on in their sea of deception because ...they received not the love of the truth. I make much of this. It is here the Lord got my attention and drew me to receive this very thingthe love of the truth. This doesn't set me apart as special. I believe it is available right now to any who will open their hearts to receive. Incidentally, the word love comes from the Greek agpe. It means pure unconditional love. How wonderful! We can have an unconditional love for the truth, even rejoice when it hurts. Coming in verse 9 is from parousa, the one time the word is used to tell of a glorious "coming" other than that of the Lord Jesus. We capitalize the word when its reference is to the Lord Jesus, but not when its reference is to this man of sin. It is his last vain attempt to rule the world. In the time allotted the man of sin to work, he is assisted by Satan himself who releases an energy toward him that results in the display of power and signs and lying wonders. The Greek word for "power" used here is significant. It is dnamisdynamic power, the power of explosion and creation, the power of miracles. Let us not think that all the anti-Christ can achieve will be a mirage. There will be real miracles, real displays of might, real wonders. Only they will be wonders born of deceit, conceived from the realm of Satan, and leading to death. Since the anti-Christ is inclined toward religion, we can imagine that his displays of might will seek to come over into religious circles. They will be directed toward those on the fringe of believing to draw them into the company of the apostates. We look to the Holy Spirit to work the discerning of spirits in us.

THEN COMES THE MOST ALARMING statement in all this Thessalonian passage. To bring on the ripening of sin and to make the line of division clear, God will choose the deception for those who halt between two opinions. Verses 11 and 12 make this clear. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. How awesome and terrifying! To bring the iniquity to the full, to fill up all unrighteousness, to draw the line sharply and finally between those who stand with Christ and those who do not, God will send an energy of deception on those who halt between two opinions. When this takes place, these who have hesitated will no longer be able to have an opinion. Their minds will have become taken over by a non-resistible power that draws them into the opinion on the side of the evil one. A lie in verse 11 is from the Greek ho psedos. There is a Definite Article here. It should be translated "THE lie." It has connection all the way back to the deception the serpent brought on our early Parents. Three forces of evil entered Adam and Eve that have remained like ruling principles on all their descendantssin, deception, and death. Paul, in his writings, told of these as The Sin (h hamarta), The Lie (to psedos) and The Death (ho thnatos). (Would that we had time to consider this!) The Lord Jesus came to deal with these three basics of depravity that have imprisoned us. He said, I am the way, the truth, and the lifeJohn 14:6. These three powerful and positive principles that rule in Jesus are set over against the three negative principles that have ruled in us. He invites us to receive from Him in each dimension. The one we deal with here concerns the lie and the truth. As Paul laid out the life principles of Ephesians, he came to the point of speaking of the new man that we become in ChristEphesians 4:24. As we become this new man, we begin by renouncing the first force that marred the life of Adam, the lie that came from the serpent. See the statement in Ephesians 4:25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor... The word lying is from the same Greek we found in II Thessalonians 2:11to psedos. Paul tells what we are to do. We are to put away the lie. Before we can walk in personal victory, before we can withstand the determination of the anti-Christ to defeat us, before we can stand with Christ in His Day, this step is necessary. How do we do it? I didn't know; no one ever told me. I had to learn on my own. So I followed Paul's admonition. I said, "I renounce the lie that has come over on me because of who I am in Adam." This took the attention of the Holy Spirit. He came in a precious way. Then I said, "I receive the love of the truth that is in Christ Jesus." Something more happened. A love for His Word, partaking of it as food for a hungry man, came upon me. This has remained through years of knowing Him. I still stand in awe of His truth. I have come to see it is not only a love for the truth of His Word that He gives; he gives us a love for the truth about ourselves. How necessary, if we are to partake of the grace He is offering for the last days!

THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE will be mostly Scripture, with few comments. There is much with which we need to become acquainted, but we do not have room to expound on each passage. We will leave this work to the Holy Spirit.

Some interpreters of the Bible take Scriptures we include and apply them to other times and people. The longer I spend with the verses that follow, however, the stronger the conviction grows that they all strike home to the end of the age with an interest for us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Some prophetic Scriptures are so powerful that they call forth foreshadowing fulfillments before their final day. This may be what is behind certain "sightings" of the anti-Christ through the ages. Some individuals have risen high in his office, demonstrating much of his demeanor and character. Each one always passes off the scene, however, waiting for the anti-Christ himself to come. Now, let us go into Daniel and look at passages pointing to the annihilation of the anti-Christ. Each of the four prophetic visions the lord gave Daniel tells of his end in terse and clear language. We will not try to interpret the visions, but simply take note of the statements pointing to that one's end. They will be enlightening to read in their scriptural setting. Daniel 7:2But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy itunto the end. The saints of the most High become the agents through whom the anti-Christ's final judgment comes.Jude 14 and 15 tell that ...the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment... Daniel 8:25d...but he shall be broken without hand. This statement comes after a long list of anti-Christ exploits. Here we see the suddenness of his defeat, very similar to what Paul revealed in II Thessalonians 2:8 saying the Lord will destroy him with the brightness of his coming. Daniel 9:27d...and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Hebrew, "desolater"). Again the statement of his demise comes quickly. Destruction comes on him when he least expects it. He who has brought desolation on others shall himself come to desolation. Daniel 11:45b...yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. Again, the statement of his judgment occurs at the end of a long list of his "accomplishments." And notice this: none shall help him. He that drew the whole world after him has not one to help him in his downfall. What weakness comes upon that one who determined himself to be so strong! Oh! what happens to all those who proclaimed his greatness?

NOW LET US LOOK at the list from the Daniel visions that reveals what anti-Christ intends to do. To interpret each of these would take more time and space than we have. Take note that points 1-10 follow what we see inDaniel 7 and 8. The anti-Christ will be allowed a period of time to overcome the saints. Daniel 7:21 Revelation 13:7 In neither passage is the overcoming a final thing. On studying relating Scripture, we conclude this will last through the final three and one-half years. He will bring blasphemy against God. Daniel 7:25a II Thessalonians 2:4 Revelation 13:5 This is with the intention of dissuading mankind from believing the Lord. It is aimed at the destruction of faith.

He will use up the natural energy of the saints. Daniel 7:25b This is one of the most destructive tactics brought against the saints. To overcome, we must learn to rest in the Lord according to the insight of Hebrews 4:9-11. He will attempt to change the times and a certain decree set by God pertaining to him. This is in order to ward off his defeat. Daniel 7:25c He will come violently against the redeeming work accomplished by the Lord Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God. Thus, he supposes to take away the daily sacrifice. He will suppress all worship and recognition of the Lord Jesus. Daniel 8:11-13 Daniel 9:27b Daniel 11:31 Daniel 12:11 He will seek to bring about the desolation of the temple in order to make it useless for the purposes of God. See the above references. Matthew 24:15 He will exalt himself even to the point of destroying the holy place of God. His anger seethes against the people who make up the temple of God. Daniel 8:11,12 Daniel 8:24, 25b The word destroy in these verses means to corrupt to the point of uselessness. We find the word in Genesis 6:11 which says the earth also was corrupt before God. Does anti-Christ suppose that, if he can manipulate the corruption of the people of God, God will destroy them? Revelation 13:3-9 II Corinthians 11:3 He will cause deceit to succeed. Daniel 8:25a II Thessalonians 2:9,10 Matthew 24:4, 5, 11 and 24 (What an important passage this is for the end-time!) Revelation 12:9 (All these Revelation passages are vital to our understanding for the closing days.) Revelation 13:11-18 Revelation 18:23 Revelation 19:20 Revelation 20:3 By peace he will destroy many. Daniel 8:25c Peace is from the Hebrew word meaning careless prosperity and ease. Destroy is from that word meaning to corrupt to the point of uselessness. Compare this with Matthew 6:19 Matthew 13:22 Matthew 19:22-30 In his boldest and most unwise move, he will stand up against even Christ Himself, the Prince of princes. Daniel 8:25d (At this point comes the Parousa of the Lord Jesus and the anti-Christ is broken

without hand.) Psalm 37:12,13

THE FOLLOWING FOUR POINTS arise out of the unusual revelation in Daniel 9. Here we find the time scheme for the closing out of this age. Soak in this chapter. It is one of the most importantalthough difficult for some to interpretpassages relating to the end. As the Lord enables us, we hope eventually to publish an article on it. In this chapter, the anti-Christ is called a prince that shall come. He will have it on his agenda to accomplish the following: 1. 2. 3. He will destroy the city and the sanctuaryDaniel 9:26. (See Revelation 11:1-13 and I Corinthians 3:17.) He will confirm (establish) a covenant with many for one weekDaniel 9:27a. (See also Daniel 11:30c and :32a.) He will cause the sacrifice and oblation to ceaseDaniel 9:27b. We have already listed this, but it is of much importance and is mentioned over and over. (See Daniel 8:1113; Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11.) He will bring the overspreading abomination of desolationDaniel 9:27c (See also Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 where Jesus makes mention of this and places a stamp of importance on our understanding it. I believe its reference is to the corruption the anti-Christ will try and bring among the people of God in his last-days attempt to ruin the temple.)

4.

NOW WE GO TO THE LAST GREAT VISION of Daniel contained in Chapters 10 through 12. We have seen some of the points of this section in the other visions, but give them again because of their importance. Here the anti-Christ is called a vile person in verse 21, and a king that shall do according to his own will in verse 36. His intentions are as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. He will have indignation against the Holy CovenantDaniel 11:30b. He will establish intelligence with the apostatesDaniel 11:30c. (See II Thessalonians 2:3.) He will pollute the sanctuary of strengthDaniel 11:31b. He will set up the abomination that makes the Holy Place desolateDaniel 11:31c. By flatteries, he will corrupt those who forsake the holy CovenantDaniel 11:32a. He will bring sword, flame, captivity, and plunder against those who understand the ways of the LordDaniel 11:33. Psalms 9, 10 and 37 relate to this and contain important information for those who will overcome. 7. He will exalt himself against every god and speak great things against the God of godsDaniel 11:36,37. (See also II Thessalonians 2:4 and Revelation 13:5.) 8. He will honor the god of forcesDaniel 11:38,39. (This is probably an occultic practice.) 9. He will enter the glorious landDaniel 11:41. 10. He will establish his dwelling in the glorious holy mountainDaniel 11:45. 11. He will scatter (break) the power of the holy peopleDaniel 12:7b. There is an amazing thing in this verse. We should look at it carefully. ...and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. The word scatter is from a Hebrew word meaning "to dash in pieces; to disperse; to shatter. "Could it beoh! could it bethat thepower that is here broken, shattered, and dispersed is the human strength of the people who will inherit the Kingdom?

The word power comes from the Hebrew word yadh, which basically means "the strength of one's hand." Is it not the strength of human might that is shattered by the anti-Christ? Is he doing the holy people a disservice? No. It makes those whose strength is shattered all the more ready to reign with Christ in His Kingdom where the power of human hand would be a hindrance. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can accomplish the work of His Kingdom. His word to Paul made this clear ...my strength is made perfect in weaknessII Corinthians 12:9.

FINALLY, LET US SEE what God intends to do. We draw this list from the same prophetic visions we find inDaniel 7, 8, 9, and 10-12. 1. He will give dominion, glory, and a Kingdom to the Son of Man that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve HimDaniel 7:13. (See also Psalm 2:1-8 and Revelation 11:15 for their confirming word.) He will give Judgment over into the hands of the saintsDaniel 7:22, 26 (See also I Corinthians 6:2,3and Jude 14,15.) He will empower the saints to take away the dominion of the anti-ChristDaniel 7:26. (Compare this with II Thessalonians 2:8 and Jude 14,15.) He will give the kingdom to the saints of the most HighDaniel 7:18, 22, 27a. (See also Psalm 149:5-9;Matthew 25:34; Revelation 2:26,27; 3:21; 5:9,10; 20:4.) He will bring all dominions to serve and obey His SonDaniel 7:27. (See also Psalm 22:27; 72:11,17;86:9 and I Corinthians 15:23-28.)

2. 3. 4. 5.

IN THE LAST VISION in DANIEL 10-12, there is a remarkable list laying out the final great purpose of the Lord God. He will have a people pure and holy for the high purposes of His Kingdom. The list follows. 1. He will strengthen the people who know HimDaniel 11:32b. This remarkable statement, drawn from out of the fire of tribulation, is one of the highpoints of peace we have about the time of trial. It means that those who know their God in an intimate and personal way will arise from weakness into strength and carry on with life when all the systems around them either fail or fall into the hands of the anti-Christ. What a consternation this is to that man of sin. He will see to it that those of understanding who go through trial and purging will come through with purityDaniel 11:35b. (See also Revelation 3:5, 18 and Revelation 19:8.) He will bring the vile person (the anti-Christ) helplessly to his endDaniel 11:45. He will deliver every person ... that shall be found written in the bookDaniel 12:1. There is a strange and wonderful mystery about these, as it is with Revelation 13:8. Very probably, those written in the book are the ones brought into the Father's family through the Son who died in our place. The deliverance is a powerful expression of God's end-time grace. He will raise up those who have diedDaniel 12:2. What powerful hope rests in this. Jesus has said, they shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you. He did not shield us from knowing what might happen, but He did provide the power of His resurrection to bring us through the darkness of death with the triumph of everlasting life. He will purify, make white and refine manyDaniel 12:10. What a final word! The time of the end need have no dread for those whose life is hid with Christ in God. The purity for which we have longed will become ours. Our relationship and our fellowship will be more sweet than ever we imagined or knew before.

2. 3. 4.

5.

6.

Please read Psalm 27 again and again. I never saw before what power and light it holds for this hour. It speaks right to us regarding the time of trouble and the marvelous answer the Lord offers us for this time. Just dwell in the Psalm. Let its light and power come over on you.

Heavenly Father, I have not the faith, strength, hope, or passion to stand through the time of trial. My state is poor when put up against what will be necessary for that day coming. Therefore, I lay my faith, strength, hope and passion at your feetto receive the faith Your Son gives, the strength that comes from Him, the hope born of the Holy Spirit, and the passion that comes from dwelling in your presence. Draw me. Teach me to wait before You that I may receiveday by dayall You are ready to impart to me. Bring me toward that Day of Christ with confidence, knowing that You are my strong High Tower. In the Name of Your Son, Jesus...

Part 5 A Believer's Preparation for the Final Conflict


Psalm 110

YEARS AGO THE LORD DIRECTED ME TO PSALM 110. I spent months looking at it, hours at a time. I found that the first verse of the Psalm has more reference to it in the New Testament than any other passage from the Old Testament. This placed a stamp of importance on it. In the Psalm are the two main texts for the Epistle to the Hebrews: Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstoolthe text of the finished work; and Psalm 110:4The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melehizedekthe text that directs us to the continuing

priesthood of the Lord Jesus. These two verses set the Covenant basis for His triumph and ours. I read little commentary on the Psalm but I was impressed by one statement from Adam Clarke: "The hundred and tenth Psalm is a war song, and every phrase and term in it is military." The light and effective energy released in it will take us through every personal conflict, as well as the great conflict of the end when all Satans force will be released against the church. Another thing that claimed my attention in the Psalm is the direction it gives us toward Zion. This is an important factor for today as we draw near the time of Christs final triumph in this age. What mystery attends Zion, and yet, what reality for those who already know its Government! Following is a translation born to me from the Original. We note there are two parts, each introduced by the Word from JEHOVAH to His Anointed Son. PSALM 110A Psalm of David 1 A declaration of JEHOVAH to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I set Your enemies as a stool for Your feet. 2 Jehovah will send the scepter of Your strength from out of Zion. Take dominion in the midst of Your enemies. 3 Your people shall be freewill offerings in the Day that You go forth in battle. In the splendid array of holiness, they will come from the womb of the day that is dawning. To You is the dew of Your youth. dew....Figurative of young warriors of a king with flashing weapons like dewdrops; signifying preparedness, having been equipped in the night, made ready for the battle of a new day. 4 JEHOVAH has promised with an oath and will not alter His purpose, saying: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 5 The Lord at Your right hand will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He will sit as a Governor among the nations where He has assembled an army. He will shatter the head over the earth with a powerful blow. army<.Taken from a Hebrew word similar in meaning to the Latin corpus which can mean a dead body, or a body of people

assembled for military purpose, as in "Marine corps." We impose this second meaning upon the Hebrew word here. 7 He will drink from the flowing river that runs by the pathway; therefore He will lift up the Head.

WE WILL LOOK AT THE PSALM NOW verse by verse from the King James Version. Each verse is so full, that no translation could ever reveal the full impact of all its statements. We can only hold ourselves in the presence of the Lord and await His revelation. Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at myright hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD is a translation from the Hebrew of the Name of Israels God. For generations His people considered His Name too holy to pronounce. They used four Hebrew consonants, corresponding to JHWH, in their writings. They called this "The Name." Today some believe its best translation is Yahweh. We are more inclined to use the traditionalJEHOVAH. It is the usual word translated LORD in the Old Testament, but in Psalm 110 there is also another word translated Lord. It is Adoni. It occurs but this one time. The LORD said unto my Lord is literally "JEHOVAH said to ADONI." Jehovah is Gods Covenant Name. It came from a word meaning "to be." It seems to mean The Eternal and Immutable One, Who Is and Who Causes to Be. This Name describes Who and What God is in Himself. Adoni is the name David called Gods Son. It meant "My Personal Governor, My Ruler." Here is the only place in the Bible where this Name occurs in this precise form, but it occurs many times as Adonai. Adoni has a singular Pronoun ending making it "My Lord." Adonai has a plural ending making it "Our Lord." This allows us to see the very personal and intimate relationship David held with the Lord Jesus, even before He came in the flesh. He would come as Davids greater Son, but He was also Davids Lord. This is part of the glorious mystery. Jesus touched on this mystery when He confronted the religious leaders who were more concerned with their doctrine than with the Lord Himself. He put a question to them they could not answer. David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his

son? (Luke 20:44) This mystery cannot be resolved in discussions and arguments. Angels cannot fathom the depth of it. Only mercy can discover its truth and find its release in the lives of His loved ones. The Word of Jehovah to Davids Lord was, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. Sit Thou means "Reign Thou as King." This He has done ever since His ascension to the Throne after His resurrection. Those who know Him intimately know Him as King. At My right hand signifies the highest place of honor there is. Jesus occupies this place as He awaits the time when His enemies will be brought manifestly under His feet. His final disclosure in the earth as King will come at the end of the age. His triumph is secure now in the heavens. Those who know the heavens and their place in Him in this age will become instruments for the release of His kingly power in the age to come.

THIS STATEMENT, Sit down at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool, has more reference to it in the New Testament than any other statement from the Old Testament. The fulfillment of it in Jesus baffled the PhariseesMatt 22:41-46; enraged the high priestMatt 26:6365; gladdened the common peopleMark 12:35-37; released the power of GodMark 16:19,20; preceded the outpouring of the Holy SpiritActs 2:32-36; continues to be effective till death itself is brought underI Cor 15:24-26; and obtained a complete triumph for Christs Body, the Church Eph 1:18-23. Add to the list Luke 20:39-47; Luke 22:66-71; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3,13; Heb 8:1; Heb 10:12,13; and Heb 12:2. You will be strengthened as you become acquainted with all these passages and the verses surrounding them. This powerful Word from Psalm 110, being one of the main texts for the Epistle to the Hebrews, tells of the finished work of the Lord Jesus, after which He sat down. Hebrews 1:3 says that after He made purification for our sins He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 8:1 says the highest point of the truth spoken in the Epistle is that we have such an High Priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.

Hebrews 10:12 reveals how every priest before the Lord continued offering the same sacrifices, but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that as we run in the course set before us, we are to give our undivided attention to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith Who is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

THE POWERFUL TRUTH OF ALL THIS began to come alive to us one day in the Bible school where I once served. For some days instruction had been coming to the students concerning The Finished Work of Christ, much of it from Hebrews. The frequent occurrence in that Epistle of one particular Greek word claimed our attention. It wasteleio which means "to bring to an end; to fulfill; to consummate; to bring to perfection." Some form of this word occurs about twenty times in Hebrews. We noted it was the same word Jesus spoke when He hanged on the Cross and said, It is finishedJohn 19:30. That word was tetlestai. Thus, the finished work is linked to all the revelation of Psalm 110 and to all the truth laid out in Hebrews. The Holy Spirit was anointing our understanding during those days in the Bible School. We saw that those words Jesus cried out from the Cross ring through the corridors of time to say to every sin, to every sickness, to every demon, and to every evil principality, It is finished! One day during an unusual moving of the Spirit in the morning chapel hour, someone said, "I believe if Dave were here, the Lord would heal him." Dave had asthma and had not attended class for some days. A friend went to the dormitory where he was in the same building and told him of the concern and faith for him. He put on a clean shirt and came, unshaven and looking quite ill. Several gathered around Dave to pray, all to no effect. He just stood there, weak and pale. Finally I was impressed to ask if he had anything he wished to say. He breathed heavily, almost gasping, then suddenly yelled out, It is finished! He fell to the floor under the impact of those powerful words, healed. We should say, rather, that the Truth of his healing became real in

him. It was actually accomplished before Jesus sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on highHeb 1:3. The next day, faith being prevalent, someone suggested that we go and minister healing to Mrs. S. The doctors had said she would never walk again. She had come with her husband to stay in an apartment on the school campus. With some degree of trepidation, several of us went to their quarters. I remember that walk, single file and silent, wondering if this might not be going a bit too far. We found the dear lady sitting with her husband in their bleak little apartment, their life beset with a problem too great to comprehend. She greeted us from her wheelchair. We told her she was healed and could get up from the chair. Her face lightened as she said, "Yes, I believe the Lord has healed me," and got up. Soon she was able to walk down a long flight of stairs. Restored, she returned with her husband to their home in Pennsylvania where they resumed work together in the fields of their farm. So the truth of the finished work laid hold on us. Dave, healed of asthma, became an anointed Pastor. Others in whom the truth found lodging became effective ministers of the Word. For myself, Ive found that any triumph that has ever come has had to come on the basis of the work finished by the Lord Jesus Christ. So, for those of us who face the days of the end of the age, our triumph is already sure, having been secured in that work of His. It is now being ministered to us from Him Who sits at the right hand of the throne of God. NOW, SEE THE UNFOLDING REVELATION from Psalm 110. Were touching on points here that can never be exhausted, nor can their depth ever be discovered. But we hold ourselves before them with the expectation that some of the life and power of them will find impartation in us. Ps 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies. Note the word rod in this verse. It comes from the Hebrew word matteh. I like to translate it "scepter" for it is the rod, or staff, held by a king to signify his authority and sovereignty. This means, "Jehovah will stretch forth the scepter of Your strength from out of Zion." The rod will never leave Zion,

but will extend from it into all the earth. Thus, Out of Zion will come forth the manifestation of Gods Kingdom in the earth. By Zion we do not mean one geographical location in the Holy Land. The Zion of prophecy is far greater than this. It transcends geographical bounds. The eyes of men and their minds cannot trace Zion out or discover if it has bounds. But it can be known, especially in the lives of those joined to the Throne of Gods Kingdom. Zion is corporate, made of living stones people. It is the Government of God released in and through His people. IN THIS NEXT VERSE we find a description of the people who will serve with the Lord in His Government. We find what they are, how they are dressed, where they have come from, and to what extent they are prepared. Psalm 110:3Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth. The word willing in this verse more exactly means "freewill offering." Thus, "Thy people shall become freewill offerings in the Day of Thy power." The word translated willing in this Psalm is verily translated freewill offerings inLev 23:38, and similarly in various other passages. This means that this people will belong singularly to the Lord in the Day of His manifested might and become voluntary sacrifices for His purposes alone. There is something about the Day called the day of Thy power that calls forth this willingness in His people. The Lord will then have greater purpose than ever before for a people abandoned to Him. The Headship of Christ will find recognition over these people exceeding any ever before known over so great a company. It will be necessary for Him to have a people abandoned to His command as His Kingdom covers the earth. The rewards due this people will not be soon evident. They will serve for a while without reward, given unto Him whether He give to them in return or not, bound by love. The word translated power is more exactly a word meaning "host or army." It refers to a military assembly in the earth made up of persons abandoned to their Leader.

Weve felt for some time that this verse is full of governmental truth. This is confirmed by the Septuagint (a translation into Greek of the Old Testament made several centuries before Christ came) which interprets the verse with this understanding: "With Thee is dominion in the Day of Thy Power, in the splendors of Thy saints." In the beauties of holiness may more accurately be interpreted "in holy array," thus speaking of the splendid garments of holiness His soldiers wear. As with the armor of Eph 6:11-18, this is an inward dressing, but expressed outwardly in the lives of those committed to Him. This army being prepared for the Lord comes forth from the womb of the morning. The Hebrew word for womb is from a root word meaning "to tenderly love." These people are a birthed people, having been very mercifully and tenderly cared for and brought to this place of usefulness in His Kingdom. That they come from the womb of the dawn implies that long before the dawn of His Day, while still in another day, and during a period of darkness, these were in spiritual gestation, forming into that which the Father alone fully understood, and from which they could not emerge until the time appointed for their birth. These had long severe lessons in being still. What discipline has been upon them! They were being prepared for a Day never before seen or understood, a Day called His Day, for which no people may be prepared by mans methodsbut only in Gods own mystical womb. This is what Paul saw and had reference to in Rom 8:21-27 when he spoke of creation groaning and travailing in birth pangs, and also ourselves which have the firstfruits of the Spirit groaning within ourselves. Thou hast the dew of Thy youth might be understood: To you belongs the freshness of Your young warriors." The fresh vigor of those born belongs to the Lord. They come forth from the womb fully grown, and before their strength is spent in soulish and carnal pursuits, they are given unto the Lord for His purposes. The dew speaks of quietness and gentleness. This mighty army assembled will not come with the flurry of human endeavor, but as quietly as the dew distills on the grass. The word youth is from the root word which means "to bring forth in birth." Its reference is to those who are newly born.

Ordinarily the newborn ones are infants, but these are born ready for combat. A supernatural host indeed!

HERE WE FIND the seceond text for the Epistle to the Hebrews as it gives its powerful exposition regarding the unchanging priesthood of the Lord Jesus. Psalm 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Here again, the LORD is Jehovah. There is no doubt but that this is the Word of the Father to His Son. See Heb 5:5,6; 6:20; and 7:17,21. Hebrews presents much about Christs being a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. All we can say here is that this mighty military Leader is both Priest and King, like no other priest or king. There is no order of Priesthood or Kingship that can be found as a precedent for this display of love and might. Melchizedek means "King of Righteousness," Who was also King of Salem (Peace). He appears in history in Gen 14:17-20, in prophecy in this Psalm, and in fulfillment in Heb 7.

THE NEXT TWO VERSES point us to the final blow against the man of sin himself as he is brought down by the Lord Jesus in the final day. Psalm 110:5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. Here the Hebrew word for Lord is Adonai. This is addressed to David about Christ. To David: "Our Governing Lord at your right hand will shake into pieces and crush kings in the Day when His wrath arises." The word for king is often used to speak of the Lord Himself as King, but can also refer to the idols heathen nations worship and to theprincipalities that hold nations in darkness. Since this refers to those whom the Lord will strike through, it means those spirit rulers over nations who give their might to human rulers of earthly governments. The smiting refers to the bringing down both of spirit rulers and the men through whom they rule. This

striking will come in the Day when the Lords fierce anger is called forth by the last bold moves of the anti-Christ himself in the earth. Psalm 110:6 He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries. The word judge is basically a word of government. This verse speaks powerfully of the extension of Christs Government over the nations. He shall fill the places with the dead bodies may have reference to the Lord making heaps of corpses through an immense slaughter of His enemies. See Rev 19:17,18. However, the words of the original in the Psalm can be interpreted to mean this: "He will bring together bodies of soldiers, troops for combat, corps of trained warriors." The Lord has quickened to our hearts that this latter is so, and that He is now making up His great army to fill all the places in the earthwherever the enemy has reigned. He shall wound the heads over many countries more exactly comes to us: "He will shake to pieces the head over the earth." It closes with an exclamatory statement best translated as "much!" The word heads is singular in the original. This must refer to that man of sin of whom Paul speaks in II Thess 2:3, and who is so forcefully put down when the Lord Jesus Christ makes His glorious appearance in the earth, which we call His parousa.

NOW WE SEE the final hope pointing us on into a day when the Lord alone is exalted. Psalm 110:7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head. It is from the flowing stream of Life that moves within His redeemed people that refreshment comes to the Lord. His people who praise Him and exalt His Kingdom minister to Him. The praise that issues from a life or from a congregation becomes a throne for the exaltation of the Lord in His Holy Government. So also the torrents of praise that flow cause the exaltation of His Government in an area instead of the government of antiChrist forces. This Psalm found much fulfillment in Christs first coming,

but it will have far greater meaning at His manifestation soon to come. May the words of itindeed may the WORD of it, take hold of your being that you may be prepared to stand with Him in the Day of His power.

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