The Brightness of His Coming (part 1 of 3)

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.  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.  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS COMING: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  (2 Thessalonians 2:3-10, emphasis mine, KJV).

I would suggest that the great falling away is already happening and that there are already many antichrists (sons of perdition or doom) exalting themselves above God, and are, in fact, taking up residence (sitting on the thrones of their own hearts playing God) within themselves (temples of God).  I would also suggest that as it takes many lively stones (individual Christians) to form a proper corporate temple where God sits as King upon His throne, so it is for THE antichrist.  Perhaps it will never be a single man, but a corporate man, a corporate son of perdition or antichrist where Satan will sit on the throne of an evil unification, an ungodly temple made up of the deadly stones of all those who refuse to receive the love of the Truth (Jesus Christ).

But, “the Lord [the Messiah], whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; the Messenger or Angel of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, He shall come, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3: 1).  And when He does, LOOK OUT!  As He says in the next few verses: “But who can endure the day of His coming?  And who can stand when He appears?  For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify…them” (Malachi 3: 2-3; emphasis mine).

Another perspective: “Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be tried, smelted, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but the teachers and those who are wise shall understand” (Daniel 12: 10).  “And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12: 3; emphasis mine).

So what does this all mean?  God is gracious to all and leaves punishment and scathing rebukes and final judgment until there is nothing more He can do.  Yes, He is Almighty, but He is also Love, and love is not something man-conceived (so he knows little, if nothing, about it).  God will enforce His will in due human course, but love can never be coerced, and it is love above all things that He is after; God is looking for man to reflect love back to Him.  Unfortunately, God knows unrequited love (more than any human).

Man’s anger, man’s jealousy, is nearly always too much for him to handle; almost every expression of it is misguided and unrighteous.  But God is not so; He is exceptionally patient.  But when He ceases to be, His wrath, as strong as it is, is still bathed in love and mercy.  He is jealous for us; we harlot ourselves whenever we use our life force to worship ourselves or other creatures.  It is more than ironic that someone who curses God does so with the very breath God gives them; it is inherently adulterous, unfaithful to do so.  God’s jealousy is therefore justified.