The Man of Sin.
Reference has already been made to a period of tribulation yet to come
upon the earth. That period is referred to in Scripture by various
figures: "The great tribulation," "the time of Jacob's trouble," and "a
day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness." It
is also described as the culmination of the great apostasy which is
predicted for the end of this age and which is emphasized in the later
Epistles of the New Testament. These Epistles not only recognize a
complete apostasy yet to come in this age, but teach that the beginning
of that apostasy was apparent even then at the time when they were
written. This teaching of the apostles finds its natural culmination in
the last book of the Bible wherein the exact development of the apostasy
and the conditions to prevail in the tribulation are recorded at length.
All other references, both in the Old and the New Testaments, perfectly
agree with this extended description.
In reference to the time of the tribulation which is thus predicted,
Paul states in II Thes. 2:3 "Let no man deceive you by any means: for
that day ('the day of the Lord') shall not come, except there come a
falling away first, and that man of Sin be revealed, the son of
perdition," thus showing that the tribulation precedes the day of the
Lord; and in Rev. 19 that day is seen to be the termination of the
tribulation, which is previously described in that book. This period of
tribulation is, therefore, to come before the Kingdom Age, and to be
ended by the glorious appearing of Christ, the King.
Again, the tribulation is to come after the true Church has been
removed; for it should be remembered that the true believers are to be
saved _out_ of the "hour of trial which shall come upon the earth to try
those that dwell therein" (Rev. 3:10), (the believer, being a citizen of
the heavenlies is, therefore, not included among those who dwell in the
earth). This aspect of the Lord's return is often misunderstood. He
comes first, not to the earth, but into the air to meet His Bride and
gather her to Himself; both those that are sleeping and those that are
awake: "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thes. 4:16, 17). This phase of
his coming is, and has been, imminent since the promises of his return
were given; and it is for this particular preliminary event that the
Church is taught to hope and pray, for it will be the time of her
rapture and blessedness. As has been before stated, the utter
dissolution of humanity is latent in the unregenerated heart (Rom.
3:10-18), and its own tribulation only awaits this removal of all Divine
restraint. It is, therefore, both Scriptural and reasonable to conclude
that tribulation will instantly begin upon the earth after the first
aspect of the return of Christ when He comes _for_ His Church.
Thus it may be seen that this period of unsurpassed trial upon the
earth, when the blasphemous claims of Satan and man are to be proven and
God's testimony is to be vindicated, is bounded by the two events in the
Second Coming of Christ: when He comes _for_ His saints (I Thes. 4:16,
17), to gather to Himself His heavenly people, and when He comes _with_
His saints (Rev. 19:11-21) to be the complete fulfillment of all the
covenants of God with His earthly people.
The actual duration of this period is marked off in Daniel 9:24-27:
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to
finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make
reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness,
and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the
commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the
Prince shall be seven weeks, and three score and two weeks: the street
shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after
the three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for
himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the
city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and
unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm
the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he
shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the
overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the
consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
There are three distinct periods of time here indicated. First: Seventy
weeks between the time of the vision, and the age of "everlasting
righteousness" and anointing of the most Holy; or, from the time of the
vision, to the earthly kingdom of Christ, which is yet future. Second:
Sixty-nine weeks; beginning to reckon from the same time, or from the
command of the King of Babylon to restore Jerusalem, and continuing unto
the death of Christ, which is referred to as the "cutting off of the
Messiah." And lastly: One week, for the overspreading of abomination and
that which is determined to be poured upon the desolate.
History fortunately interprets the time here indicated: for, from the
command of the King to rebuild Jerusalem, to the death of Christ was 483
years, or sixty-nine weeks of seven years each. This leaves but the one
additional week of the seventy before the bringing in of the everlasting
righteousness. That one week is here described as the time of most
terrible desolation and overspreading of abomination, when the people
are under a covenant with another prince. This present age is as a
parenthesis in Jewish history and, as no account is made of it in these
reckonings, the last unfulfilled week (seven years) of the seventy,
before the kingdom is established upon the earth, must be the time
between the gathering out of the Church--an event which completes the
purpose of this parenthetical age--and the final bringing in of the
kingdom.
The last period of seven years of desolation is, however, to be
shortened, according to the words of Christ: "For then shall be great
tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this
time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened,
there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days
shall be shortened" (Matt. 24:21, 22). It should be noticed that this
period cannot be confused easily with any other, for it is referred to
as the time more terrible than any other that has ever been, or ever
will be (Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:2; Matt. 24:21, 22).
Reference has been made at length to the tribulation period in order to
make clear the exact conditions in which the Man of Sin is to appear;
for this mighty world-ruler makes his advent in those days of earth's
darkness and gloom when all the light of God has been withdrawn, and the
world is left in its own helpless confusion. He appears in the
tribulation as the agent of Satan after that mighty head of the Satanic
system has been cast out of heaven into the earth (Rev. 12:7-12). The
time of the destruction of the Man of Sin is also revealed in that it is
mentioned as one of the events in the glorious coming of Christ (Dan.
2:44; 7:11-14; II Thes. 2:8; Rev. 19:20). He, therefore, appears as the
culmination of the Satanic effort, and a careful study of his person and
character will reveal the fact that he is the most stupendous work of
Satan in his enmity against God.
In connection with the time of the Man of Sin, it is also to be noted
that the believer is not directly warned against his person, but is,
rather, warned against the conditions that are to prevail as a
preparation for his coming. This is due to the fact that the true
believers are to be gathered to their Lord before that "Wicked one"
appears, and they are, therefore, only in danger of being influenced by
that which precedes and prepares for his coming. His description is set
forth at length only in such passages as deal with the whole and final
development of the age.
It should also be remembered that the description of this person, like
that of the person and work of Satan, is from the standpoint of the
holiness of God; and that which the world will hail as its glorious
ideal of perfection is, in God's sight, the personification of
rebelliousness, blasphemy, and treason.
The order of the governments and rulers of the world in this Gentile age
is revealed to Daniel in visions which are recorded and interpreted in
the book of Daniel. In these visions the Man of Sin appears as the
"little horn" of Dan. 7 and is the last and most God-dishonoring
world-ruler. He also later appears as the "desolator" of Dan. 9:27; the
"willful King" of Dan. 11:36; the "abomination of desolation" of Matt.
24:15; the "Man of Sin" of II Thes. 2:4-8; the rider on the white horse
of Rev. 6:2; and the first Beast of Rev. 13. His identity is certain,
even though he appears under various figures and titles; for he, like
Satan, is so unique in his character, time, and undertakings, that he
cannot be confused easily with any other.
In Daniel 2 the order of the kingdoms is set forth by the figure of the
great image which, at the last, is suddenly and violently shattered by
the "stone cut from the mountain without hands": which Stone is Christ,
the Corner Stone; and the Stone which the builders rejected. The feet
and toes of this image are said to be the last manifestation of human
government, and it is this part of the image that is violently shattered
by the Stone. Of this termination of earthly rule it is recorded in Dan.
2:44, 45: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up
a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be
left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these
kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. For as much as thou sawest that
the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake
in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the
great God hath made known to the King what shall come to pass hereafter;
and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure."
From this chapter it may be seen that the setting up of the Messianic
Kingdom is to be both sudden and destructive to all human governments,
and that it is in no way the result of an age of development and
progressive improvement.
In Dan. 7 the Man of Sin appears, as has been stated, as the "little
horn" among ten horns; which, like the ten toes of the great image,
indicate the extreme end of human authority and power. In this vision
the latter end of the kingdoms of the earth is seen to culminate in the
one most daring ruler, the "little horn", who has "a mouth speaking
great things" and whose look is more imposing than all others; and he it
is who makes war with the saints and prevails over them until the coming
of the Ancient of days. The inspired interpretation of the vision is
given in Dan. 7:23-27: "Thus he said, the fourth beast shall be the
fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and
shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in
pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall
arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from
the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great
words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most
High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into
His hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the
judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume
and destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the
greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the
people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and all dominion shall serve and obey Him."
In Dan. 11 the reign of the Man of Sin, the willful king, is prophesied
in detail; and the fact is stated that the reign and the blasphemous
attitude of this last great ruler are both in the purpose of God. A
portion of this remarkable passage is here given: "And the king shall do
according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself
above every God, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of
gods, and shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished: for that
that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his
fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall
magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honor the God of
forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold,
and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he
do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall
acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule
over many, and shall divide the land for gain." This last verse is more
clearly translated "and he will practice in the strongholds of
fortresses with a strange god; whoso acknowledgeth him will be increased
with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over the many, and shall
divide the land to them for a reward" (Dan. 11:36-39).
Beside the collossal disregard for God, this passage presents several
important revelations. First: The expression "the God of his fathers"
would seem to indicate that the Man of Sin would come from a lineage of
Christians. Second: His disregard for the desire of women is evidence of
his hatred of the true Messiah; for this reference is probably to the
desire of every Jewish woman to be the mother of Messiah. Third: Those
who acknowledge the strange god, (Satan), whom he honors, will be
prospered, and the land will be divided unto them and he will give them
authority and glory.
In the New Testament the Man of Sin is described as "the one who comes
in his own name," whom men will receive (Jno. 5:43); "that man of sin,"
"the son of perdition" (II Thes. 2:3); "that Wicked _one_" (II Thes.
2:8); and the "beast" (Rev. 13:1), and to him Satan gives all the power
and glory he offered to Christ (Lu. 4:5, 6). Of the many references to
him, two passages deal with him at length. In the first (II Thes.
2:1-10), his coming is mentioned as directly following the removal of
God's present restraint from the earth; and in the second (Rev. 13:1-8),
as has been shown, his coming is said to directly follow the casting of
Satan from heaven into the earth (Rev. 12:7-12), and continues until the
glorious appearing of Christ, which is described in Rev. 19 and 20.
The former passage (II Thes. 2:1-10) is as follows: "Now, we beseech
you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our
gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be
troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as
that the day of Christ is at hand. 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 (restrains) will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then
shall that Wicked (one) 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 receive not the love
of the truth, that they might be saved."
In this passage it is predicted of this mighty person that he will
assume to be very God, "sitting in the temple as God," and winning the
worship of the multitude by his miraculous power, signs, and lying
wonders; deceiving all who perish, and who would not receive the love of
the truth that they might be saved.
Still another and more striking description of this person is given in
the second passage just mentioned (Rev. 13:1-8): "And I stood upon the
sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven
heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads
the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a
leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the
mouth of a lion: and the dragon (Satan) gave him his power, and his
seat, and his great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were
wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world
wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon (Satan) which
gave power unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is
like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was
given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power
was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his
mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and his
tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to
make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him
over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the
earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life
of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
The first, and, it would seem, most important thing that is stated of
this being in this Scripture is that one of his heads was, as it were,
wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. Some have claimed
this to be a reference to a previous political defeat followed by
reinstatement to power. The expression is, however, most suggestive and
significant as an attempt on the part of Satan to imitate, in the Man of
Sin, that which was the supreme miracle of the Christ--His death and
resurrection. The effort is plainly effective; more so than a mere
shifting of political fortune could possibly be; for the statement
follows: "All the world wondered after the beast who had received the
deadly wound and yet lived." After they wondered, they worshipped. First
they worshipped Satan, who performed the mighty miracle; and then they
worshipped the beast, saying, "Who is like unto the beast? who is able
to make war with him?" The terrible blasphemy of the Man of Sin has been
emphasized in all Scripture references to him, and is here still more
vividly pictured.
The time he is to continue is said to be forty and two months, which
would be one-half the tribulation period; and this statement is probably
not at all figurative. By his overwhelming supernatural power and wisdom
he gains authority over every living thing in the Satanic system,
excepting those recorded in the Lamb's book of life. These are not
brought under his governing power.
The latter part of the chapter presents still another mighty person, who
is also called a "beast," but later appears as the false prophet (Rev.
19:20); and who exercises all the power of the first beast, and
receives his power from the dragon, Satan. Much is said of this second
"beast," but his mission is in no way to attract attention to himself.
He co-operates in gaining world-wide worship and authority for the first
beast, whose deadly wound was healed. The second beast seems to deal
directly with the people and by his mighty signs and miracles, as well
as by his authority, he compels loyalty to the first beast. Fire is
called down from heaven; and a dumb idol is made to speak and live. He
is able to establish a union of all people in trade, imposing a death
penalty upon them. And by all these means he furthers the interests of
the first beast. The Scripture here referred to is as follows: "And I
beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns
like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon (Satan). And he exerciseth all the
power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them
which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was
healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down
from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that
dwell on the earth, by the means of those miracles which he had power to
do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth,
that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a
sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the
beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as
many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And
he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to
receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no
man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the
beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath
understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a
man; and his number is Six hundred three score and six" (Rev. 13:11-18).
There is a deep suggestion, in the person of this second beast, of a
counterfeit of the Holy Spirit of God. He who came not to speak of
Himself, but to glorify Christ and to unite all believers; leading them
in worship and praise. This second beast is probably identical with
"Anti-christ," who appears under that title only in the writings of
John, and who is there seen as the consummation of a long succession of
false religious teachers who have denied the Christ and His sacrificial
work.
When the testimony of all Scripture upon the Man of Sin is considered,
he is seen to be a person whose superhuman power is plainly ascribed to
Satan. He appears upon the scene, after the removal of the heavenly
people and during the great tribulation, as the climax of all Satanic
exaltation and opposition to God. He is the last and greatest of earthly
rulers, and, from his position of unsurpassed influence, speaks great
words and manifests great wisdom. He is externally religious, and the
promoter of great righteous projects and principles which in God's sight
are only hypocrisy and blasphemy because of the subtle Christ-denying
motive which prompts it all. His hold upon the public mind is by a
process which is natural. Great miracles are performed by himself and by
his prophet,--fire is called down from heaven; a dumb idol is made to
speak and live; and he himself has been wounded to death and yet lives.
By such supernatural works his assumption to be very God is accepted,
and he becomes the world's ideal of all that is supreme. The people are
said to first marvel and wonder; then to worship at his feet; and at
last, in mad devotion, they challenge the universe to produce his
equal--"Who is like the beast?" they cry. He has been wounded to death
and yet lives; he performs as great miracles as the world has ever seen;
his teachings are based upon Scripture; and he must, therefore, be God
manifest in the flesh. His wisdom, beauty and majesty are a seeming
warrant for every element of adoration.
Thus the Man of Sin will appear as the culmination of all the
counterfeit methods of Satan; which method had its beginnings in the
last days of the age, even before the calling away of the true Church,
the Body of Christ. The subtle doctrines of devils will be adopted as
creeds in assemblies and so called churches, and these deep things, with
the Satanic ambition for moral improvement, will be voiced by ordained
ministers who appear as apostles of Christ and ministers of
righteousness. Yet in God's sight it is all a deep lie and hypocrisy,
for they are distorting His truth and subtly denying His redemption.
All this, as has been stated, is but the Satanic preparation of humanity
that they may wholly acknowledge him as their god, and that he may
himself become like the Most High. This program is permitted in the
purpose of God, for "that that is determined shall be done" (Dan.
II:36). It will be only for a moment; for the resistless coming of the
"Ancient of Days" will unveil all this deception, banish the enemies,
and bring in His own long-predicted and glorious reign of everlasting
blessedness upon the earth.