[II Thessalonians 2:1-4] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 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. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who 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, shewing himself that he is God.
Two things jump out at me here. This is happening before the second coming and a "Man of Sin" will be revealed.
[II Thessalonians 2:5-7] Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
This man of sin is not Satan. It is a "Man" and he will be a great leader of a Church/State system....commonly called in [Revelation 19:20]....the false prophet.
Paul speaks of the "Mystery of Iniquity" already at work in the first century. This was the early beginnings of the Church/State system that was begun by Simon Magus [Acts 8] after leaving Samaria and traveling to Rome. He was exalted as a god by the Romans and even had a statue erected in his honor on a bridge over the Tiber. Luke identifies this Man of Sin and his mystery religion and the others refer to him and his false religious system continually throughout the New Testament. The system he began was an offshoot of the Babylonian mysteries.....and it still exists today.
The False prophet will be an exalted Church/State ruler and he will sit in the temple pretending he is God. Young's literal translation shows the word temple to be: Strong's #3485. naos (nah-os')from a primary naio (to dwell); a fane, shrine, temple. Young's Literal Translation calls it a sanctuary: [II Thessalonians 2:4] who is opposing and is raising himself up above all called God or worshipped, so that he in the sanctuary of God as God hath sat down, shewing himself off that he is God -- [the day doth not come].
This is not speaking of the temple in Jerusalem....or the Heavenly Temple in the New Jerusalem. It is speaking of a man made edifice, a Church sanctuary, a famous structure, a well known City/Church/State building where this false prophet will attempt to convince humanity he is God!
[II Thessalonians 2:9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. His works follow after the patterns of Satan....and can be actually said to be Satanic......but he (The False Prophet) is a man.
Smiley to you....Douglas! :-) LOL
I reread some older files on Simon Magus from you and Uncle Chip. The meaning is hitting home now, more than earlier. I have a busy weekend but I look forward to looking at this in depth.
Because I already had a preconceived idea it is difficult to replace....things keep running through my mind on what you are saying about the "man of sin" and what, who and where he is representing and also....how?
Thank you Diego,
.......Ping