The Falling Away

Apparently some in the Thessalonian church believed that the day of Christ might have already come. But Paul reminds them that this is not so.  Here is the next paragraph:  “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, ² not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. ³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”  There is much discussion among bible scholars as to exactly what these events will look like.  I think that most see the “son of perdition” as another name for the Antichrist. Since I do not ascribe to a two stage return of Jesus, Paul’s words fit my understanding perfectly.  I see that the Antichrist will be revealed before Jesus returns.  I don’t see two “comings” of Christ…just one.  Anyway, notice that this son of perdition exalts himself above all that is called God.  He wants to receive the worship of God.  This is what Satan has always desired…when he was first cast out of heaven…when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness…and here at the end.  If we look around us, we are tempted to make other things in our lives; career, money, fame, even family, as more important than God.  I doubt any of us would exalt Satan above God but do you have anything else in your life that you exalt above Him?  Please don’t be so quick to say “no” to that question. Think about your attitudes and actions and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal this to you.