Sabbath: The Antichrist
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Thess. 2:1-12, Matt. 24:1-14, Zech. 3:1, Dan. 8:8-11, Acts 2:22.
Memory Text: “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, ESV).
Key Thought: In correcting the Thessalonians’ false theology of last-day events, Paul reveals truth about end-time deceptions.
In the midst of all Paul’s words of encouragement as well as exhortation, he wrote about end-time events, including the greatest end-time event of all, the second coming of Jesus.
In this week’s passage, though Paul talks about the end, his emphasis is a bit different from what came before. For one thing, he already told the Thessalonians the details while he was with them. For another, his goal in this text is pastoral, to calm them and persuade them to be more patient regarding end-time events and to warn them about the false teachings being circulated on that topic.
The opening of this week’s passage (2 Thess. 2:1, 2) contains several Greek words that point back to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, such as the coming of our Lord (1 Thess. 4:15), the gathering (1 Thess. 4:17), and the day of the Lord (1 Thess. 5:2). To some extent, this week’s passage is a clarification of what Paul said earlier. In it he reveals truths that we ourselves need to understand today.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 22.
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We are told as Christians we must study to show ourselves approved unto God. The problem is, many of us do not study our bible for ourselves, pray as we should, fast, or meditate on the goodness of God. So because we are not doing these, but we depend on others to explain the bible to us and not try to help ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will be deceived. Deception comes in suttle ways, and it will be from those who we think are the wisest and most brillant in the church. People who we trust and who we love. God's people need to be like the Bereans, study, study, study. I am not saying all leaders are faulty, but we have to know truth when false present itself.
I cannot agree more with what you just said. We must be careful that we are not deceived and as I am currently going through a most dreadful experience, be wary of all who are in the church. I know a man who had every answer in the Adventist church, a man who I later learned has a family who are also faithful church members. This very man deceived me because I looked to him as to be one of the wisest and faithful men. It's not enough to know the Bible back to front. We need God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit to direct our every move because satan seeks relentlessly to tear us down. Do not think you are safe. I thought I was and one who I loved and trusted, one who was in the inner circle was used to mess with my safety. Despite all the horror I've been through and the consequences after, I am determined to move forward with Christ. When you are abandoned by all, when nothing else seems real or makes any sense, Jesus will always make sense. God bless you all and keep on studying!
Dear Kellie, I'm so sorry to hear that you had to go through such a terrible experience, and I pray that the Lord will comfort and sustain you and heal your heart and mind.
You are so right - that Satan seeks to destroy us every way he can. And the most effective agents he can use are wolves in sheep's clothing. A friend shared a poster with me that says, "What is worse than a wolf in sheep's clothing?" The answer is "A shepherd in sheep's clothing." I'm sure you can identify with that. The Lord who sees everything will judge according to your heart and the heart of the man who deceived you. Perhaps more men should heed the Apostle James's warning: "Let not many of you become teachers, by brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment." James 3:1 NASB
The method of gaining trust by a show of spirituality is as old as the world itself. (Satan pretended spiritual insight in the form of a snake!!) It was a problem in the early church, as evidenced by the Apostle James's warning against men who have a form of godliness and "creep into households and make captives of gullible women." (James 3:2-6 NKJV) But I suspect your case is more serious than what James writes about. Someone took advantage of your trust of a "godly man" and sincere desire to serve God.
But Jesus came
May it be so for you!
And I praise God for your testimony of faith:
Kellie,
Sorry to hear about your experience. I am very happy that you did not blame it on God, but is still moving on, knowing that God, himself does not deceive. God is your strength and will ever continue to be.
I totally agree with you. We need to study the Word ourselves. Call upon the Holy Spirit for Wisdom and Guidance.
We need to be like the Bereans, and trust no one with our salvation. Use a KJV Bible and compare scripture with scripture, instead of allowing the leadership to pervert God's word by translating the Greek and Hebrew to suit their own understanding. God's word is inspired, mans word is not, let the Bible give you the answer.
The minds of the Bereans were not narrowed by prejudice. They were willing to investigate the truthfulness of the doctrines preached by the apostles. They studied the Bible, not from curiosity, but in order that they might learn what had been written concerning the promised Messiah. Daily they searched the inspired records, and as they compared scripture with scripture, heavenly angels were beside them, enlightening their minds and impressing their hearts. {AA 231.2}
Shalom!
Thanks for your input, Mark. I'm curious. Why do you think that the translators of the King James Version did not translate "to suit their own understanding?"
Thanks, may our great God give us an in-depth understanding of the last day events.
Response to study, study, study. How many of us Adventist can safely say that the 2300 day prophecy is correct in so far as we understand scriptures? There many well versed bible scholars who do not agree with this application. I have two ways that discredit the false prophets. First is the law of God and scrpiture also includes prophets I apply this to include Mrs. White. Her writings identify exactly with that experience God has shown to me regarding His Love and grace. We shall be eternity learning about God so until then I feel the issue is to accept and live the truth we each have. I also need to take baby steps and my God be with you each one that we will share in His glory, Amen
Jonathan, I think you make a very important point. It is more important to practice the truths we already understand than to study to seek to understand more.
On the other hand, as we live out the truths we understand, God will reveal more to us. And if we do not apply the truths in our lives, no amount of study will do us any good. After all, the devil probably knows the Bible better than any of us!
Jonathan, many of those “well versed bible scholars” also do not believe in the Sabbath or a literal creation or for that matter most of the major miracles in the Bible. Some of them look at scripture as moral instruction only and deny that there is a superior being in the universe that we call God. There were extremely well educated people in Christ’s day that completely misinterpreted prophesy and ended up destroying the Messiah. Again even with the very powerful arguments that Paul presented there were those who turned their backs on justification by faith and continued to believe in salvation by works of the law. The same can also be said of many scholars during the middle ages. As Jesus said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (Jn 7:24 NKJV).
A useful interpretation of John 5:39 goes like this: "You search the scriptures because you think that by so doing you will find eternal life, but these scriptures testify of me." I am not a Bible translator and my knowledge of ancient languages extends to a couple of declensions of Latin verbs. However the sense of this translation appeals to me. Endless study of the scripture for some new meaning often ignores the fact that the Bible points us to Christ the author of our salvation.
I am an academic in the field of computer science and have spent years studying and researching computer architecture. While I can give a 14 week semester study course on computer operating systems, my intimate knowledge of computer innards is of no avail when trying to help someone sort out a Word document glitch or errant email message. There is a practical application of computing that simply cannot be ignored, even by academics.
The interpretation of John 5:39 above sums up what sometimes happens in Adventist circles; a continuous effort to an academic expert rather than seeking ways to present Christ in a practical and effective manner. It is not a matter of how much we know, but who we know and how we relate that experience to our interaction with others.
This lesson could not come at a better time than now. We are living at the time when bible prophecies are being fulfilled in our own sight. This calls for deep thoughtfulness and soul searching. We need to be Bible students so that we are abreast of where we are headed to with the unfolding of events. Let’s not be deceived or carried away with every doctrine that is blowing. Our safety is in the Bible and the Bible alone. From inspirational writings we are also warned to be vigilant. The devil will not calmly standby watching prophetic events unfold as foretold, he will misrepresent some events. Lets us pray and be studious that the lord can anoint our eyes with eye salve and be able to discern good from evil.
May the lord illuminate our pathways so that we do not stumble and be caught up in the devil’s snares.
Paul's message is giving us hope which will make us press on and fast while we are waiting for the 2nd coming of Christ. When the title of the lesson says "the antichrist" itself is a warning that not everyone we listen to is God's messenger, that is why it is important to test and understand all the scriptures. Literally! Most of our pastors in this church preach contradicting messages to gain love from those who are in favor of sin. Even though the bretheren is an Adventist, he can be the Antichrist.
Better that we know the truth and that not only live by it but we should love it to live by it.
“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3 ESV). Paul was making those people to know taht Christ won't come until rebellion among God's people occures and the man of lawlessness. The Anti-Christ or the papacy will not come up to rule on his own. Firstly, the protestant who have the truth has to fall and compromise to give power to the papacy. So before the beast comes protestants has to become one in breaking the law of God. (Rev 17 ) Let us not be worried of the beast or Anti-Christ now instead we should be first worried of ourselves of rebelion within our churches. The IMAGE BEAST which is protestant + earthly leaders has to come first and enforce people to worship the papacy and give him powers he lost in 1789 to rule the earth again. So be careful with our protestant leaders, when you will see that our church leaders start working with the earthly kings then know that rebellion is in the church which will give way to papal world leadership and evenually the coming of Christ.
Chibilika, if you will allow me, I would like to take exception to your statement below.
A lot of Adventists believe as you do but I think that is a misunderstanding. First of all the beast was only given authority for 42 months (1260 days = 3 1/2 yrs) (Rev 13:5). There is no other period assigned to the beast. Even though the head that was wounded was to heal it only represents the church recovering from nonexistence. By that I don't mean that it will not have an influence but rather that it will not have dominion over the saints again as the persecuting power it once was.
We need to read Rev 13:11-17 carefully and not put into it what it doesn't say.
It is the beast with the lamb like horns that directs everyone to worship the first beast. Furthermore, "he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived" (Rev 13:14 NKJ). In other words the image has the same character as the beast and does what it did during the middle ages - it is truly an image/likeness of the beast.
The beast with the lamb like horns was also, "granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed" (Rev 13:15 NKJ). It is the image that does the persecuting and the purpose is not to worship the first beast but to worship itself! Either the beast with lamb like horns or the image (I am not absolutely sure which), "causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Rev 13:16-17 NKJ).
My gut feeling is that the first beast provides the theological error with the beast with the lamb like horns selling the world on that error and supplying the political platform and power to the image which is the one that does the actual persecuting.
There are many antichrist institutions let alone individuals.
I really like all the comments, when followers of the scriptures comes together like this, minds are always updated and it makes studies lovely. the Bible is the only BOOK, that makes the simple wise, NO body on this earth can tune the mind of the simple with his own willing power, direct the person and allow him to read on his own, the BIBLE is self explained...it calls for daily study, memorise and try to live in conformity with the WORD and NO body can deceive you. lets ask for the spirit of understanding and it shall be given unto us. may God be on our side always and remind us to read His words always.