[amoni]

By Mike Stine
(lists compiled from a sermon by Robert Conway)

2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 NASB

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the
apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son
of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-
called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the
temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember
that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6
And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be
revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only
he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with
the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His
coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the
activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and
with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because
they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

2 Thessalonians speaks of a man of lawlessness who will appear on the
earth in the end times. Who is this man of lawlessness? He is given
many names in the Bible, but the one most commonly associated with
him is the Antichrist. However, there are numerous references to him
from the beginning of the Bible until the end. He is referred to as
all of the following:

The Serpent's Seed – Genesis3:15
The Wicked Man – Psalm 10
The Assyrian – Isaiah 10:5, 12
The King of Babylon – Isaiah 14:4
The Oppressor and Aggressor – Isaiah 16:4
The Little Horn – Daniel 7:8
The Profane King – Daniel 7:25-27
The Stern-faced King – Daniel 8:23-25
The Coming Prince – Daniel 9:26-27
The Worthless Shepherd – Zechariah 11:11-16
The One Who Comes in His Own Name – John 5:43
The Man of Lawlessness – 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8
The Antichrist – 1 John 2:18
The Beast – Revelation 13:18, 17:12-17, 19:19-21
There are many who think that we are living in the end times today
and that Jesus Christi could come at any time to take His church away
to be with Him. If this is true, then the Antichrist would be alive
and on the earth today. However, we should not be quick to name the
Antichrist if he is alive on earth today for it would be foolish.
The Antichrist will rise suddenly and out of obscurity.

7 Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast, terrifying,
dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with
huge iron teeth and trampled what was left beneath its feet. It was
different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns. 8 As I
was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among
them. Three of the first horns were wrenched out, roots and all, to
make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a
mouth that was boasting arrogantly. (Daniel 7:7-8). NLT

It is my belief that the church will not discover the identity of the
Antichrist as we will be raptured before he is revealed. However,
when a seven year covenant of peace is confirmed with Israel, those
on earth may know who he is.

establishes His
kingdom on earth.