T H E M Y S T E R Y O F L A W L E S S N E S S

AN "END TIMES" SCENARIO -- PART TWO

by Earl R. Johnson

In Part One we looked at a common teaching about the end-times, the "pre-tribulation rapture of the church," and questioned if that might be an inaccurate appraisal. Many "Pre-trib" scholars reason that, since the church did not exist during the four-thousand years God previously dealt with the Jewish nation, then it won't be here during the seven years He again deals with the Hebrews in the future. However, what they overlook is that God never actually left the Hebrew people. He simply quit working with them as a nation. His purpose in this age is the same as it's always been, to bring individuals to a point where they'll desire a personal relationship with Messiah.

To substantiate their reasoning, however, they commonly cite 1 Cor.15:51-53 saying it refers to a one-time event concerning the church as a whole. But, actually it's the concluding remarks to a commentary on the resurrection and is specifically keyed to believers in Christ throughout the Christian era. It's basically an appraisal of what occurs "in the twinkling of an eye" before death of a Christian's physical body.

A similar text the scholars use to confirm their conviction is found at 1 Thes.4:15-17. What Paul actually says there, however, is that those who have died in Christ ("have fallen asleep in Jesus") went directly to be with Him, "first;" and then, "we who are alive (Christians) and remain" on earth where our flesh hasn't yet died will eventually also hear the last trumpet and take part in the rapture, join those who have gone before. Sadly however, that section also imparts a clear warning. For, where Paul speaks of those who are "alive and remain," there's the implication that some of those who appear to be "alive" (Christian) will not continue to appear so until Christ comes at their body's death.

The warning is further emphasized in 2 Thes.2:1 and following, where verse 7 suggests the Holy Spirit will be taken out of the earth. The scholars say that means the church will be gone during the tribulation; but, a concerted study will show those verses may not even relate to the seven year time of tribulation except perhaps in an indirect way. There are several points to consider; and of course it does say that He who now restrains "the mystery of lawlessness" will be taken out of the way (though, not out of the earth) at a time during which the lawless one will be revealed. But, assuming it is the Holy Spirit doing the restraining, and I believe that's true, where does He now reside? Indeed, He lives in the hearts of believers in Christ. He is not "in the world" restraining as the scholars would have us believe. In fact, the "man of lawlessness" may not even be the individual they say he is, that person who is called "the devil." But if it's not Satan, who is it; and what actually is this section intended to communicate?

A reading of both letters to the church at Thessalonica will show the people there fully expected to take part in "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him" (2 Thes.2:1). In other words, they looked forward to their body's dying so they could be included with those who had already been raptured. Where Paul had spoken to them on occasion, they were probably told how Stephen saw Christ stand to come for him (see Acts 7:56), and also understood that corrupt flesh and blood (natural mankind) cannot enter into heaven as Christ did after He died (see 1 Cor.15:50). They probably also knew that each soul born of the Spirit (all born-again believers) will go directly to heaven as part of "our gathering" to join with a previously born, existing spiritual body (see 1 Cor.15:44). But apparently some influential person in the church had been saying "the day of the Lord," that day of a thousand years when Christ will reign after our gathering is completed, had already come and gone without their notice.

During Christ's millennial reign on earth, since He will be here in person, He won't be coming for those whose earthly bodies die. There won't be anyone raptured; and in all probability there won't even be death during that era. Regardless, the congregation at Thessalonica probably believed that, and someone told them they'd been left behind. That made them upset and perhaps even afraid, like many Christians today would be in if told they had been left behind. But the apostle straightened them out, basically saying: "Hey Christians, you didn't get left behind. Don't let anyone deceive you, and don't become aggravated or frightened regarding that day unless you see apostasy, unless the man of lawlessness is revealed as having usurped God within what was designed to be His holy temple."

It's simple really. Christians can be their own worst enemy; and that basically was the just of Paul's warning. It's a matter of what we do with our lives, and our stewardship of the resources God has given us, that will show what our treasure is and where it truly lies. And it takes little imagination. Consideration of what's going on in America these days will verify that the church doesn't have to be gone from earth for a man of lawlessness to be revealed within what we may have previously believed was a "Christian" person or society; and hopefully we won't be seeing him in ourselves. For, despite the scholar's charge that there is no temple in Jerusalem that he can "take his seat in," that's certainly not what we should be looking for.

A new brick and stone Jewish temple may indeed be built in Jerusalem sometime in the near future, as it probably will be. But, where is God's true temple during this age (see Act.17:24 and 1 Cor.3:16-17)? Our attention should be focused on what's happening in that temple, the only one that can be part of the "apostasy" (see 2 Thes.2:3). Paul's second epistle to Thessalonica speaks of His coming in glory to parcel out judgement. But it was equally written to warn people of the church; and we are seeing "apostasy" and "lawlessness" revealed in many parts, within many people who claim to be Christian. Some will remain on earth for a time during which God will work to change them. But if they won't hear, in time "God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false" (2 Thes.2:11); and they will therefore die believing the lie.

Christ spoke about it when He said, "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations of account of My name (Christians). And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved" (Mat.24:9-13). I want to once again emphasize that people who are true believers, those who have made an earnest commitment, do not need to be concerned. For God will keep them in perfect peace throughout the times of trouble. In any instance, the faith that makes us Christian is a gift of God and is irrevocable (see Eph.2:8-9 and Rom.11:29). People who play the church game, however, those who attend regularly, who know the truth, who have all the right words, but who may not be true believers, those should be concerned. For, there will be times of pain and testing (see 1 Cor.3:13-15). And yes, there are "Christian" professors, pastors and teachers, who are crossing the line that will make it important for the rest of us to understand and recognize the warning signs.

So, what should a person be concerned about to know if they might too be considered a candidate for apostasy, one who may have to fear what will occur during the tribulation? Well, first, remember that both faith and fear have to do with what's going to happen in the future and are, therefore, opposite sides of the same coin. Basically, the person who has an absolute faith (faith like a child) won't need to fear; while the one who doesn't have that assurance should probably be afraid, because apathy won't help. When you hurt bad enough, it's impossible to continue as you may previously have. At that time, only the pain will matter; and only a true faith will get you through. You will either have to become stronger in your faith; or you'll become bitter. But, crossing the line has to do with a couple of things. One is called the "mark of the beast," that infamous number 666, and the other is called the "image of the beast" (Rev.13:14-18); and several people have asked me what I've thought those might represent. I'm not certain, but perhaps there's a clue in how God has made Himself known in creation (see Rom.1:21).

The likeness of God is often characterized as a unique three-in-one relationship: 1 x 1 x 1 = 1; but actually there are many such relationships in our universe -- three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas; three basic particles: electron, proton, and neutron; three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue; three dimensions of space: width, length, and depth; potentially three persons in one body: the body's natural instinct, a separately created reasoning soul, and the Holy Spirit of God; and so on. But another three-in-one relationship may be overlooked by many people, and that's the number 666 or the "mark of the beast."

There will probably be a physical mark placed on people of the world sometime in the future, either "on their right hand, or on their forehead" (Rev.13:16). And I suspect it will be something like the Universal Product Code which has three dividers a computer can recognize, the three sets of double-thin-lines that commonly extend into the numbers at the bottom of the code. Each of those three sets of lines represents a six; so that every full-scale bar code can be read thus: 6 (#) 6 (#) 6. But I'm certain that mark, whether ink or magnetic, will simply be the visible or otherwise tangible representation of what is actually a pre-existing spiritual condition.

When you consider that the molecular backbone of every organic compound on earth, of all "living" sustenance from the earth (with perhaps a few exceptions), is a carbon atom comprised of three sets of six sub-atomic particles -- six protons, six neutrons, and six electrons, then it becomes almost academic. For a human soul can figuratively be clothed either with diamond (transparent crystalline carbon) or with graphite (opaque nondescript carbon). Of course, both forms will oxidize, both can be burned; but only one will readily become part of a physical human body and can therefore be consumed by the stomach. You can decide which metaphorically relates to life on this cursed earth, and which other one would therefore apply to the spiritual body our soul will rise to meet in the rapture (see 1 Cor.6:13).

It's also interesting how jewels are mentioned in regard to the "New Jerusalem" (see Rev.21:10-21); and before his sin, Satan was said to be clothed in a garment (body) of many jewels, "the ruby, the topaz, the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, the jasper, the lapis lazuli, the turquoise, the emerald," and perhaps others (see Ezek.28:13). Also, where heat and pressure deep within the earth are what makes a natural diamond, maybe that's something of a picture of worldly tribulation. But, despite our speculation about tangible images and their spiritual application, there's one point that few people can argue.

As for the true mark, the term "right" is significant where in the Bible it often denotes righteousness; and where it's used in context with the words "hand" and "forehead," it's fairly apparent those verses actually refer to our righteous deeds (right-hand) and our righteous thoughts or motives (forehead). Perhaps we should ask if our deeds, thoughts, and motives are based on fulfilling the desires of a graphite based entity (the "beast" in all of us, the instinctive temporal flesh), or if they are indeed righteous, the result of God working through a diamond based entity (the born-again spiritual flesh)? Indeed, the true mark may not be something a person gets, but will rather be what they have already had and will simply have brought out of the closet to where the rest of the world can see it. A frightening point about that is how the mark will be revealed primarily by what a person does with money, and therefore, will be reflected in the many needs and wants their money can purchase: "No one should be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark" (Rev.13:17).

It's a tragedy how we in the United States of America, a "Christian nation," have used our freedom to run from God and otherwise despoil the bountiful resources He has laid at our disposal. We're very much like Adam and Eve who basically chose freedom from God, albeit unwittingly, so they could be "like God" (see Gen.3:5). The very nature of their sin tells us what to beware of; and quite simply, all they did was unrighteously consume.

The "tree" that first couple ate from had three basic characteristics. It was, one, "good for food," two, "a delight to the eyes," and three, "desirable to make one wise" (Gen.3:6). Those are basically the same "loves of the world" that God expects us to avoid: one, "the lust of the flesh," it's good for food; two, "the lust of the eyes," it's a delight to the eyes; and three, "the boastful pride of life," it's desirable to make one wise (I John 2:15-16). We do have needs. But perhaps we should ask, "Do I honor God in my job and in what I do with my money; where is my treasure?"

The man of lawlessness, the person who displays the "mark of the beast" and worships his "image," is part of the apostasy and will include all people who think more highly of worldly things than they do God. Basically, anything a person places in higher regard than God, whatever they consume to the exclusion of Christ, that thing becomes a god to that person. It may be a self image, their toys, sports, entertainment, a particular type of job, or any number of other such possibilities. And of course, all things are good when blessed by God. But, as Christians, we should beware if there's a man of lawlessness apparent in our thoughts and deeds regarding all that we "eat." God was speaking to affluent Christians when He said, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). And in America, the acquisition of wealth for the sake of being wealthy, along with acquiring the possessions that wealth can buy, tops our list of gods.

Regardless of what's being specifically referred to by the number 666, I fear that many people in our churches today already have the mark and worship the image of the beast, that man of lawlessness, themselves. Probably most are not true Christians. They attend simply because it's part of the image. Many may even think they're correct in their beliefs, when in fact they've never made a commitment to Christ. And, unfortunately, there are many pastors and teachers, not to speak of several large church organizations, who also fit expressly into the lawless category.

When considering these things, it would perhaps be good to ask ourselves what exactly would constitute "tribulation" or "trials" in our life. It's a difficult concept for most Americans; but we need to once again remember that Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example "to follow in His steps" (1 Pet.2:21). That's not to say we should appear down and out. I'm sure Christ didn't throughout His sufferings. But how we view the disciplines of God will be apparent only during times of trial. There's an adage that makes good sense when you relate it to "Christians" in America today, and it's a good rule of thumb when planning for our money and our lives. It states simply: "If life is comfortable and things are going great, we should wonder if Satan might have us right where he wants us." Indeed, when things look good, worldly people will seldom look to God.

During the tribulation, however, the fruit of the Spirit will become evident (see Gal.5:22-25), as well as its lack thereof; and that day will make apparent those who have "exchanged the truth of God for a lie" (see Rom.1:25). We should all seriously ponder these things; for the day is certainly at hand, the Lord is coming soon; beware.

"A quart of wheat for a denarius" (Rev.6:6). (A loaf of bread for a day's wages)