PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 254December 16, 2005
AN EXPOSITION OF II THESSALONIANS 2:1-12!
Part 5 (Same First Page on Each New Part)
II Thessalonians 2:7 – For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
I long ago lost count of the number of requests I have received about the identity of the “he’s” referred to by Paul in II Thessalonians 2:7. I did not reveal what I believed on the “he’s” for some time, and did not start to say what I believed about it until I made a trip to Kenya in 1999. Joel Cobb asked me what I thought about the he’s while I was lecturing in the Seminary there. As I had done so often in the past, I turned the question back on the asker, asking him to first tell me what he believed about it. Before that, when the asking person had told me what he or she believed, I would quickly say – well, that is what everyone else that asked me the question believes, so you are on solid ground. And, indeed, those who had asked me previously, all thought it referred to the Holy Spirit being taken out when the rapture came at the first of the week. But, much to my surprise, I was shocked to find that Joel Cobb believed what I believed about the Scripture and, as far as I know, still does. So, at age 73, knowing my time on this planet is limited, in this series I intend to offer my case as to who I believe the “he’s” represent in II Thessalonians 2:7. The reason I believe so many have asked me who it represents is this – down deep inside some, who have been taught the “he” is the Holy Spirit, there has been a suspicion it could be someone else.
I intend to exposit line by line from II Thessalonians 2:1 to 12 in order to make my case, and this will be the beginning sheet on each new Series Part issued.
Please review Parts 1 to 4 before reading this continuing exposition of II Thessalonians 2:1-12.
II Thessalonians 2:6,7 – And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. [7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
The he in verse 6 is the flesh and blood antichrist, whose spirit has been held back from revealing itself in the flesh since the time of the writing of the New Testament, as was elaborated in Part 4.
I John 4:3 – And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
The two he’s in verse 7 do not represent the Holy Spirit. It is difficult to accept a higher power than the Holy Spirit taking him “out of the way.” And it is also very difficult to understand how such an omnipresent Spirit could be taken out of the way if his very character is to be present everywhere on earth. A major purpose the Devil has in raising up his own antichrist is destruction of God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel, and those who have believed in the seed of the woman, Jesus the Messiah. After the Devil has been cast out of his spirit abode in heaven, he will indwell the antichrist, who will be Satan incarnate in human flesh. At that time he will persecute both the woman Israel, and those who believe in the Seed Jesus, the remnant that came out of her.
Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The chief antagonist of the archangel Satan has always been the archangel Michael, who is the Prince of God’s people, the nation of Israel. He has been holding back the power of the spirit of antichrist from coming forth, as the spirit of Satan in a flesh and blood body, before the appointed time. A battle has raged between them since the fall of Satan.
Michael is identified in the spiritual kingdom as one of the chief princes, and is also designated as the spiritual prince and protector of Israel by an angel sent to Daniel. He is the most powerful of all the angels created by God and, apparently, the only one capable of ending the career of Satan as an accuser of the brethren, and finishing off his puppet, the antichrist. (Revelation 12:7-10 and Daniel 12:1). Michael’s power over the angels in the spiritual kingdom that surrounds us on this earth is presented in Daniel 10 and 12.
Daniel 10:13,14 – But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. [14] Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
Daniel 10:21 – But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
II Thessalonians 2:7 – For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Michael, the spiritual archangel prince of Israel, has let the status quo continue, holding off the antichrist from being manifested, unveiled, revealed in human flesh, until the time God has chosen for him to do so. But it is a part of God’s plan for Michael to step out of the way “in the latter days,” and allow antichrist to come on the world stage, revealed in human flesh, to go unchecked against Israel for a period of three and one-half years. However, toward the end of that period, at the sounding of the seventh trump, Michael will again stand up for Israel, and play a leading role in delivering them from the antichrist. No one will be able to deliver antichrist from his fate when Michael stands up to defend Israel. After the antichrist has driven south to push Israel into the wilderness of the Negev while by-passing Jordan (Daniel 11:41 & Revelation 12:6), then conquered Egypt and driven to the borders of Libya and Sudan (Daniel 11:42,43), he will return to Jerusalem and establish a fortress headquarters on the Jerusalem Temple Mount, where he will be surrounded by the millions of tents of the great army he has called to the final great battle of Armageddon (Daniel 11:45). He will them stand boldly on the temple mount and claim to be the god of all gods (II Thessalonians 2:4), preparing to do what he came to do, destroy the nation of Israel, the children of God. Up until this time Michael has been the he who was taken temporarily out of the way by God, in order to let the antichrist make Satan’s final attempt to destroy God’s plan of salvation, which was extended through Israel, the man Jacob, to all men. But when Armageddon is about to be launched, Michael again stands up as the prince of Israel, the antichrist is soundly defeated, and the false prophet and the antichrist end up in a lake of fire.
Daniel 11:45 to 12:1 –And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. [1] And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Revelation 19:19-21 – And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. [21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
It would seem that when Michael is taken out of the way on earth, it is to fight a spiritual war with Satan in the heavens, which begins at the same time antichrist attacks Israel to begin the last three and one-half years of great tribulation. Michael and his angels win the war in heaven while the antichrist is winning his war on the earth. When the Devil is cast out of heaven by Michael he comes to the physical earth to indwell the body of antichrist, and the antichrist becomes Satan incarnate in human flesh.
Revelation 12:6-10 – And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [7] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, [8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. [9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [10] And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
II Thessalonians 2:8 – 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:
This is when the antichrist stands on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem claiming to be God as the Wicked Satan, revealing himself incarnate in human flesh. It will be when Michael stands up to defend Israel as her Prince, just before the vials of God’s wrath begin to be poured out on the earth. But it will be the Lord Messiah, Jesus Christ, who delivers his people at his coming, and who destroys the spiritual power of the Devil forever.
Matthew 24:30 – And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Malachi 4:2 – But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.