The Lawless One
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8(NLT) For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
Introduction: Greetings to all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are welcome to another week as Scriptures Speak to our souls.
I pray that His words will not be parable unto us in Jesus name
Lawlessness is obvious in some part of the world and secretly in operation in other nations of the world.
Observing politicians, leaders in all government parastatals, those in authority and the Led, Lawlessness can be seen clearly.
I was driving along roundabout towards LASUTH in Ikeja. I moved when the traffic lights turned green but there was hold up in front that stopped movements, then one police woman stood in my front claiming I disobeyed traffic lights. Telling her that hold up at the roundabout made me to stop after traffic light passed me fell into her deaf ears. She forced herself into the car with another colleague and asked for sixty thousand Naira. On the part of the Led, (fellow Country men), I have witnessed several instances where drivers moved on red traffic light, also driving on one way in flagrant disobedience to traffic laws. Lawlessness and wickedness can be seen from the leaders and the led.
The truth is lawlessness is already at work worldwide, antichrists are already in the world.
Who are the antichrists already in the world❓
1 John 4:3(AMP) And every spirit which does not acknowledge and confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh [but would annul, destroy, sever, disunite Him] is not of God [does not proceed from Him]. This [nonconfession] is the [spirit] of the antichrist, [of] which you heard that it was coming, and now it is already in the world.
The presence of the Church of Christ, Christians or Believers with Holy Spirit restrain open evil manifestations but once the Church of Christ leaves the world, the Lawless One will take over without secrecy.
Who is the Lawless One❓ What are the signs of his imminent take over❓ What will happen to people of the world and Christians under his rule❓ What shall we do to avoid being under the rulership of the Lawless One❓
Answers to these questions will make Christians to be watchful and yearn for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 4:8(AMP) [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day–and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).
Christians are to look beyond attractions of this world so as not to be carried away by deceitfulness of riches. Possession of wealth does not determine life .
Luke 12:15(AMP) And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man’s life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs.
Let us look at our text today;
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8(NLT) For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
Who is the Lawless One❓
2 Thessalonians 2:3(AMP) Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition),
The Lawless One is the Antichrist, son of the Devil that shall surely come to rule the world. Devil also has the son, (Antichrist), and the spirits, (Demons). Our adversary is a copycat who always wants to copy ways and agenda of God known to him.
1 John 2:18(MSG) Children, time is just about up. You heard that Antichrist is coming. Well, they’re all over the place, antichrists everywhere you look. That’s how we know that we’re close to the end.
Note that Antichrist is coming, and antichrists are already everywhere.
After the Rapture when the faithful ones are gone, the Lawless One, Antichrist will take over rulership of the entire world for three and a half years, with blasphemous words against God and war against Israel and anyone called Christian.
Daniel 7:25(AMP) And he shall speak words against the Most High [God] and shall wear out the saints of the Most High and think to change the time [of sacred feasts and holy days] and the law; and the saints shall be given into his hand for a time, two times, and half a time [three and one-half years].
Under the rulership of the Lawless One, only the trickery ones, (419, ritualists, yahoo-yahoo, kidnappers, etc) shall prosper. No human power can conquer the Lawless One. That is why Christians that are left behind cannot prosper under his rule, they are either tortured to death or receive the mark of the beast and be doomed forever.
Daniel 8:25(AMP) And through his policy he shall cause trickery to prosper in his hand; he shall magnify himself in his heart and mind, and in their security he will corrupt and destroy many. He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes, but he shall be broken and that by no [human] hand.
Brethren, lawlessness is secretly in operation. We can witness it in every spheres of life including the church of God. Many are preoccupied with worldly activities, neglecting the written words of God that inform and warn Christians about this impending Dispensation. Very few people knew from prophecy when Jesus Christ was born, it was foretold but even those in possession of the written words did not know because their interest was in worldly kingdom NOT in the Kingdom of God. In the same way, every Christian with the Bible, the written words of God, and is preoccupied with affairs of this world will be caught unaware when Rapture takes place. There will surely be Christians that shall be under the rulership of the Lawless One due to carelessness and lackadaisical attitude towards God’s commandments.
Hear what the Bible says about the end times;
1 Timothy 4:1-3(NLT) Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons. These teachers are hypocrites and liars. They pretend to be religious, but their consciences are dead. They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanksgiving by people who know and believe the truth.
All these are already in operation under our watch but social activities prevent several Christians from the written words and revelational knowledge of impending danger.
What are the signs of his imminent take over❓
The signs are obvious to those who are committed to God’s written words.
2 Timothy 3:1-5(NLT) You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.
In Nigeria for example, process of embarking on Cashless policy generated cash scarcity, caused pains to many and death to some. At this period, people were ready to do anything to obtain cash for feeding and medical. This is just a tip of the iceberg of what will happen when the Lawlessness One comes.
Some of the signs and preparations for the Antichrist are as follows;
⚠️ The unification of legal tender, Eurocurrency for Europeans and currency unification for Africa is on the pipeline. One currency will eventually be legal tender worldwide.
⚠️ Cashless policy is already in operation in many countries of the world.
⚠️ Use of BVN that brings out information concerning individuals
⚠️ Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip implementation in some countries which will eventually spread all over the world.
⚠️ Very soon, chip implantation will replace credit and debit cards and any form of identification in all countries of the world.
These policies will compel everyone to be under the control and worship of Antichrist and failure to comply will bring torture and death.
Revelation 13:8,13-14,16-17(NLT) All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast —all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
Jesus Christ warned disciples about this period referred to as Tribulation period. Faithful and watchful Christians shall not witness this period. Do NOT be preoccupied with affairs of this world and be caught unaware.
Matthew 24:21-22(AMP) For then there will be great tribulation (affliction, distress, and oppression) such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now–no, and never will be [again]. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would endure and survive, but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened.
The elect or chosen ones are the Israelites and Christian Gentiles left behind or receive salvation during the Tribulations, and refuse to comply with the commandments of the Antichrist.
What will happen to people of the world and Christians left behind❓
Christians will be forced to take the mark of the beast that changes ownership from belonging to God to Devil’s property.
Revelation 13:16(AMP) Also he compels all [alike], both small and great, both the rich and the poor, both free and slave, to be marked with an inscription [stamped] on their right hands or on their foreheads.
Christians will be subject to great lack and suffering in order to compel submission to the Devil.
Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Christians will be forced to worship Devil or be tortured to death
Revelation 13:15(AMP) And he is permitted [also] to impart the breath of life into the beast’s image, so that the statue of the beast could actually talk and cause to be put to death those who would not bow down and worship the image of the beast.
Please note that any Christian who worships and receives the mark for whatever reason is doomed forever as ownership has changed.
Revelation 14:11(NLT) The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.
What shall we do to avoid being under the rulership of the Lawless One❓
What to do is expressly stated by the Master Himself in one word. “Be prepared”
Matthew 24:37-44(NLT) “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the Flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the Flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. So be prepared, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. “Know this: A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would stay alert and not permit the house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected.
Finally brethren, signs of end times are obvious to those who have close relationship with God. We are to prepare at all times. No one knows death day or Rapture day. Apostles of old who wrote and taught Rapture will happen in their times died without it, but wrote by revelation that the dead in Christ shall rise first on Rapture day while those alive in Christ shall be changed and caught up with Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18(NLT) I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words.
Can you see why we need to be seriously committed to God’s word at all times❓ Do NOT allow activities and pleasures of this world distract you from fellowship and intentional study and meditation of the Scriptures written for us.
2 Timothy 3:16(AMP) Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action).
Watch out❗Signs of end times and imminent coming of the Lawless One are obvious.
✋ Maranatha
