And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false. Thessalonians 2-7,8,9,10,11

Many believe that the temple has to be rebuilt in Jerusalem before the man of sin arrives on the scene. I’m not so sure that Paul was speaking in this kind of language. I don’t think Paul was at all referring to this when he wrote down these things. For one thing Paul calls it a mystery. When Paul uses the word mystery he is referring to things that are hidden waiting for the appointed time of revealing. So really I don’t think one can say that the man of sin is waiting for the rebuilding of the temple, I believe that would be to simplify things to a systematic formula.

The man of sin opposes God and exalts himself against all that is genuinely sacred. He feigns religiosity, but his true character reveals that he is diabolic. His activity actually is according to the working of Satan. In some sense, the man of sin will sit in the temple of God. The temple is not a reference to the Jewish house of worship. The Greek word is naos used by Paul eight times; never does he employ the term of the Jewish temple. In fact, after the death of Christ, the Jewish temple is never again called the temple of God. Rather it is used of the Christians body, or of the church as Gods spiritual house. The suggestion is this: this unholy being is viewed as a Church character. A study of Paul’s man of sin by Wayne Jackson.

What it sounds like Paul is saying, is that when this mystery is finally revealed most people will not know it. It will look so much like the real thing that any who oppose it will be considered as opposing God.

I’m not saying that the temple will not be rebuilt, this still might happen, but I don’t believe Paul was referring to this line of logic when he made these statements.

This to me in Pauline fashion leads one to deeper meanings than what it seems to say on the surface.

I believe Paul was speaking mystery that was not yet. Like the Mystery of Israel, this mystery waits for the appointed time when mystery becomes event.

One should not get to dogmatic in a formula of events that must first transpire before the coming of Christ. The scriptures are very clear; no one knows the hour of his appearing. These things that are coming to this world are sudden, like sudden destruction they take people by surprise. Even though the reality has been growing in their very midst. Once the thing is revealed its usually to late, we miss it, We find ourselves fighting God. Like Israel of old when the mystery of Christ was visibly revealed they missed it, but not only missed it, but also became willing participants in his death.

If we have an ear to hear what the spirit is saying, God has promised us that these things will not be a shock to us when they do come. We will have knowledge about them before they are made visible.

These are very sobering deceptive days, If we are not in a state of communion before the Lord, one will find himself drifting with every new wind of doctrine and spiritual manifestations, which are not coming, but are very present now.

The bible says that the end of this age will be the most deceptive time in the history of the church; this makes me believe that these words are very relevant to the times in which we live.

This is the time of sifting; the only thing that will get us through is the reality of Christ in us, this is the only sure foundation, everything else that is not built on the foundation of Christ will be shaken.

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation! Hebrews 2-1,2,3