KJV and NKJV Scripture
– Let no man deceive you, for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first. And, that the man of sin be revealed – the son of perdition. – 2 Thessalonians 2:3
– And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast. – Revelation 13:14
Adolf Hitler once said, “If you tell a big enough lie, and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.” He most certainly used this approach to his advantage, along with some charismatic oratory, as he rose to become Führer over Germany just before World War II. The country had fallen into a crippling financial crisis after World War I, but most of its citizens clearly wanted an easy solution to their difficult problems.
As it has so often been in other countries through the centuries, these people desired to see and hear some new person with some new pitch promising to fix their ills (Acts 17:21). They wanted another name under heaven to create a government in a nation that still could not save them (Acts 4:12, Lamentations 4:17). They also needed a scapegoat (Leviticus 16:10) to pin the blame on – and Hitler did just that with the Jews.
By the time Hitler seized power, he had achieved his goal of deceiving the people, by getting them to buy into and believe nothing but a bunch of likeable lies. Still, as Martin Luther King, Jr. once touched upon, everything Hitler did to get elected was perfectly legal – but everything he did after was purely evil. Well, there is one waiting in the wings to do what Hitler did, but on a world-wide stage before Christ can return.
As problems keep mounting around the globe, and iniquity keeps increasing, the love of many – even Christians – will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). More and more will scoff at God’s promise of sending Jesus back with salvation. Instead, they will walk away from Him and after their own worldly lusts – because all things keep continuing on this planet just as they have from the beginning of creation (2 Peter 3:3-4).
Just like it was in the Old Testament, people will see a God who is supposed to be One of righteous judgment and love above – as sitting idly by upon the circle of the earth (Isaiah 40:22), or One who is handing down some very wrong judgement from heaven. Violence, spoiling, strife, and contention will be increasing. As wickedness begins to surround the righteous, they will see His laws as being quite loose (Habakkuk 1:3-4).
Many will have had enough of God in man’s last days. They will not do what He says despite lip service claims of loving Him (Ezekiel 33:31, Mark 7:6, Luke 6:46). Some will even think He views evil as good (Malachi 2:17). Because He does not seem to be doing much about the world’s wickedness, at least not as fast as human courts handle wrong-doing, they’ll say He’s not doing His job (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13).
It will all be the perfect time for perdition’s son – the most evil one ever – to step into the world’s spotlight. One who will appear to have the perfect solution to every planetary problem. Citizens of all countries will follow this individual. People of every belief will be easily deceived by his pernicious ways. What Hitler did will pale in comparison to what will happen on a global scale when perdition’s son enters the picture.
Who will oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God – or worshipped – so he is God. Sitting in His temple and showing he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Whose working is after Satan – with all power, and signs, and lying wonders. With all deception of unrighteousness in those who perish – as they didn’t receive the love of truth, that they might be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, John 3:17, Hebrews 9:15).
And for this reason, God shall turn people over to reprobate minds and send them strong delusion – so they should believe a lie. It’s that they all might be damned who did not receive the truth, but who had pleasure in unrighteousness and things still worthy of death. Taking delight, despite knowing God’s fiery sentence against such disobedience (Romans 1:28-32, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11, 2 Thessalonians 1:8).
Will this son of perdition catch people off guard and take the world by surprise? Well, he shouldn’t unless God’s many warnings are ignored (e.g. Matthew 16:1-4). One major sign he is gaining followers will be the widespread apostasy among those who once believed (2 Timothy 3:1-6). The ones ever learning but who never come to the knowledge of truth (2 Timothy 3:7) about how narrow heaven’s path is (Matthew 7:14).
How will it all happen? There has been a slow but sure, subtle and subversive movement underway in this world for a long time. It is being perpetrated by false prophets and apostles, along with the prince of the world himself. These are the ones perverting God’s Word to pursue worldly pleasures or plans, and move people who buy into and believe such lies, far from the gospel they first heard (Galatians 1:6-7).
It’s all designed to undermine God’s authority and diminish His truth, deceiving as many as possible their lustful worldly ways are okay with Him, and it’s all “being Christian.” This is how believers will fall from repentance as commanded (Hebrews 6:4-6, Acts 17:30) and begin repeating old walks and talks (2 Corinthians 5:17). Perdition’s son will arise from the midst of this disobedient, unbelieving apostasy.
Also, crumbling economies, shaky peace in many places, corruption and dishonesty at all levels of government, increasing world hunger, dwindling natural resources, and reigning confusion in religion, will convince many this evil is of God. To where they wonder why should they wait on Him or His promises any longer (2 Kings 6:33). So, perdition’s son will offer a final solution for world peace and prosperity.
Even though it will be under the guise of a “one world, one way, we’re all children of God” mindset – it will all be meant to defraud. It’s so Satan can try to complete his last chapter in devouring as many souls as possible (1 Peter 5:8) and deceive the whole world – the only job he has had since the start (Revelation 12:9). To the point were Jesus Christ might not find any faith left on earth upon returning (Luke 18:8).
We’ve been seeing pieces of this pernicious puzzle being put into place for decades now. One was the founding of the World Bank in 1944 – and subsequent criticism for its consolidation of power among the strongest economic countries – despite representing all 188 nations on earth. Another piece has been the recent and rapid rise in the practice of ecumenism, and many Christians seem actively involved in it.
Ecumenism is an organized attempt to unite various religions and theologies, etc. – into one blended body of belief through the use of doctrinal error – rather than dividing over Biblical truths as God commands (Matthew 10:34-37, Romans 16:17, 2 Corinthians 2:17, Titus 1:10-13). It can go by names such as interfaith or Chrislam. However, its working is after Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9), and not our Saviour.
If the Antichrist is to succeed in rounding up the masses, he has to get everyone he can on the same page. He will have help from false prophets who will arise and deceive many. Fostering ecumenical unity by assembling different beliefs together on Sundays. Claiming it is advancing the gospel, when it is their own agenda in the world or Word. Preaching perverse things like gain and being of one purse as godly.
Once people’s pocketbooks and professions of faith are in alignment with a world system, it will be easier for the son of perdition to rise through the political ranks and assume global rule and authority. As it was with Hitler, it will all seem perfectly legal as humans buy into his lies disguised as truth. This man will likely be as charming, using words smoother than butter and softer than oil to disarm (Psalm 55:21).
When people decide they do not have to keep their whole armor of God on at all times (except maybe on Sunday) – they’re not doing all they can to withstand all the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11-18). This is when he gains advantage over souls. This is when Christians begin falling away from repentance and start becoming ignorant of subtle and pernicious devices Satan uses to deceive, devour, and destroy.
Ignorance is never bliss for any believer as it is a rejection of God’s truth … and not receiving it by believing Satan’s lies more. For this, God will send such people strong delusions (as noted before), so they keep believing the devil’s falsehoods. Full of boasting, pride, and other ungodly traits marking end times apostasy. Willingly ignorant of how only eight souls were saved after a water deluge long ago.
The devil’s aim all along has been to tear down each and every denominational, geographical, economic, educational, racial, and religious barrier to unite men in rebellion against the God of the Bible. Sitting right beside us in Sunday pews (Revelation 2:13), or even preaching from the pulpits (Ephesians 6:12). Still blinding minds from seeing the truth with his bright worldly lights and beguiling lies (2 Corinthians 4:4).
This earth is not Christ’s kingdom (John 18:36). It is the devil’s dominion, who has power over all deaths (Hebrews 2:14) until Jesus returns. The only desire he has ever had in this evil world he is the prince of – has been to deceive souls so gradually – they don’t realize it’s happening. Satan wants to finish what he started in the Garden of Eden – by uniting the human race against God in full service to and worship of him.
This plan, whose final pages will be authored and finished by the son of perdition, seems to be working to near perfection in today’s church. Believers who have already been deceived have somehow managed to author and finish their faith before Jesus ever does (Hebrews 12:2). Now, many just seem like they are hanging around in a daze and haze of confusion God never authors; not sure of what they should be doing.
Jesus was not crucified for any Christian to ever be uncertain about what God wants them doing. Those confused are being disobedient (1 Peter 2:6-7). Still, such individuals have drawn up their own criteria for certain salvation prior to death. This mind removes any need for repenting of sins by faith in Jesus – and as commanded by God. It is drawing back from faith unto perdition; an unrepentant state of existence.
This fits neatly into the son of perdition’s program to drag as many into the pit with him. Systematically picking off those who are erring spiritually (James 1:16, 2 Peter 3:17). Physical lions generally prey upon young, sick, or straying animals. Satan is a spiritual lion who preys in a like manner. Seeking out the young ior unstable n faith, those sick or dull of hearing God’s Word, or straying back to the world.
Still, it’s all part of God’s eternal plan whose ending was declared from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). To see who would get beguiled by Satan’s subtlety, or guided by Christ’s simplicity. To see who would be led by God into all truth with no lie, or misled by the devil’s lies – all illusions of truth. To see who would stay on heaven’s narrow path all the way, or would fall off for good by fully believing perdition’s son.
In conclusion, the following is taken mostly from Ian Vincent’s 2013 book “Reality Church“: “One way to look at all of this regarding the son of perdition, or man of sin – is to closely observe how the world today – both secular and religious is heading. And, to see if there are any across-the-board trends and common threads which could help piece together a composite identikit picture of this person – so it’s not so sketchy.
This is based on the idea that the man of sin will embody and incarnate everything the final generation on earth aspires to become. The son of perdition will encapsulate the hopes and dreams of humanity, and speak on behalf of mankind as head of the human race. Hence, he will dethrone Christ. He is an anti-Christ or a false Christ, but who will fool the planet by deceiving the people into believing he is Jesus.
This world right now is paving a path for this man and creating a job vacancy for him to fill as its last leader. A global spirituality has been rising to the surface for years, such as the emergence of ecumenism and the Emergent Church, There’s also been a desire for a common economy and currency for some time (e.g. The European Union), as many nations seem to be teetering on the brink of complete financial ruin.
Combined with a steady decline into moral decay in a large part of the modern world, perdition’s son will still convince people all is fine with their faith. They can still love the world and its things, pursue greedy ways, and follow sin’s motions without worry about eternal consequences for such disobedience, because God loves them enough to let them do whatever they want. After all, He has already saved them, right?
The throne for this one-man triumvirate (political, economical, religious) is being readied. Those whose names are not written in the Book of Life, of the Lamb slain from the world’s foundation – will worship him (Revelation 13:8). His crowning achievement will be to trick the earth into thinking he knows God’s truth better than He does, and deceive them into believing he is Jesus. He seems to be well on his wicked way.
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