The Time is Imminent
But how do we know that now is the time in which this danger is more imminent than it has been at any other time? We shall explain.In the First Letter to the Thessalonians, Paul wrote so much and spoke so plainly of the coming of the Lord, that the brethren, not keeping in mind what he had preached to them when he was there, had drawn from his letter the erroneous conclusion that the coming of the Lord was then immediately at hand.
This erroneous conclusion had been strengthened by the pretended revelations of some, and even by forged letters as from Paul, that it was so. And some had even gone so far wrong that they thought the coming of the Lord was so near that they need do no more work.
Now the Second Letter to the Thessalonians was written expressly to set the disciples right on this point. But so far is he from covering up, or toning down, the reality, the greatness, or the importance of that event, that the first thing after the address, he introduces the coming of the Lord Jesus...
2 Thessalonians 1:7 ...revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him,That you 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.
2 Thessalonians 3:11. 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 opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God,showing himself that he is God. Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
It is plain from this that when Paul was at Thessalonica he talked to them, and told them, about this falling away, and the development of the man of sin, and the self-exaltation of this son of perdition, and his opposition to the Lord. But where did Paul get his knowledge of these things? Upon what authority did he present these things for their acceptance? We read:
Acts 17:1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews; And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures.
Where, then, in the Scriptures did Paul learn anything of the rise of a power which he might fitly describe as “that man of sin” (lawlessness, or transgression of the law) and “the son of perdition” (utter destruction), which should exalt himself so highly and oppose God and His law?
Daniel 7
In the scriptures of the book of Daniel, and in that alone, he found the basis and the authority for his argument on this subject. In Daniel 7:7 he found the prophecy of the rise of a great and terrible beast, which represented Rome. He found that the beast had ten horns, representing ten kingdoms which should rise upon the fall of Rome. After the rise of these ten kingdoms and among them, and by the destruction of three of them, he found another power that was to arise, diverse from the others. He found that this power would “speak great words against the Most High” (“opposes himself” against God), and “wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws” (the man of sin, the lawless one, exalting himself above God). He found there also the prophet saying:
Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit;10 ...the Judgment was set and the books were opened. 11 ...I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame;
And therefore, with the authority of the word of God, Paul could speak and write to the Thessalonians, that after the falling away, “that Wicked” should…
2 Thessalonians 2:8 ...be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming. And so he could very appropriately call this power…3 ...the son of utter destruction.
Daniel 8
Again, in Daniel 8. Paul would read of a “little horn which waxed exceeding great,” and which covered the whole work and period of both the beast and the “little horn” of Daniel 7. In this 8th chapter he would read of this little horn that he should...
Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Yea, he magnified [himself] even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily [sacrifice] was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And an host was given [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.
And:
25 He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes, but he shall be broken without hand.
Therefore Paul could speak and write the Thessalonians that after the falling away, then should arise that man of sin...
2 Thessalonians 2:3 ...the son of perdition; 4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
And that when he should be revealed and run his wicked course, then the Lord would consume him with the spirit of His mouth and destroy him with the brightness of His coming;
9 Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
The Time of the End
The “little horn” power of Daniel 7 was to continue a time, times,and the dividing of time—1,260 years—then:
Daniel 7:26 The judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.27 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 dominions shall serve and obey Him.
The time of Papal supremacy—the 1,260 years—ended in 1798, at the time the world entered upon the time called in the prophecy, “the time of the end”:
Daniel 8:17 Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
Daniel 11:35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
Daniel 12:4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. 9 And he said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
The Judgment was set in 1844. His dominion has been taken away to consume and to destroy it unto the end. Soon He shall come whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; and who shall consume “that Wicked” with the spirit of His mouth and destroy him with the brightness of His coming. But before He comes, Satan is to work…
2 Thessalonians 2:9 ...with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Therefore it is certain that we are now living in the time when this working of Satan is to be looked for, and also the time when the truth is to be given, the love of which will save men from the falsehood and deception of the working of Satan. Daniel 7:10; Daniel 8:14; Revelation 14:6-7.
How Some Shall Depart From Faith
The apostle Paul warns us that "some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." This is what we may expect. Our greatest trials will come because of that class who have once advocated the truth, but who turn from it to the world, and trample it under their feet in hate and derision. God has a work for his faithful servants to do. The attacks of the enemy must be met with the truth of his word. Falsehood must be unmasked, its true character must be revealed, and the light of the law of Jehovah must shine forth into the moral darkness of the world. We are to present the claims of his word. We shall not be held guiltless if we neglect this solemn duty. But while we stand in defense of the truth, let us not stand in defense of self, and make a great ado because we are called to bear reproach and misrepresentation. Let us not pity ourselves, but be very jealous for the law of the Most High. {RH, January 10, 1888 par. 3}
Says the apostle, "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." On every side we see men easily led captive by the delusive imaginations of those who make void the word of God; but when the truth is brought before them, they are filled with impatience and anger. But the exhortation of the apostle to the servant of God is, "Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." In his day some left the cause of the Lord. He writes, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world;" and again, he says, "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words." {RH, January 10, 1888 par. 4}
Paul continues concerning those who oppose the work of God, comparing them to the men who made war against the faithful in the time of ancient Israel. He says: "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was." We know that the time is coming when the folly of warring against God will be revealed. We can afford to wait in calm patience and trust, no matter how much maligned and despised; for "nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest," and those who honor God shall be honored by him in the presence of men and angels. We are to share in the sufferings of the reformers. It is written, "The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." Christ understands our grief. Not one of us is called to bear the cross alone. The suffering Man of Calvary is touched with the feeling of our woes, and as he has suffered being tempted, he is able also to succor them that are in sorrow and trial for his sake. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned." {RH, January 10, 1888 par. 7}
If we look to self, and trust in self, we shall surely fall from our steadfastness. The terrible tempest that is gathering will sweep away our sandy foundation, and leave our house a wreck on the shores of time; but the house that is built upon the rock shall stand forever. We must be "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." The apostle spoke some plain words to his Hebrew brethren, that meet the condition of many of those who profess the truth for this time. "We have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. [They were not quick to discern the things of the Spirit of God.] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." It is positively necessary for those who believe the truth, to be making continual advancement, growing up unto the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. There is no time for backsliding and indifference. Each one must have a living experience in the things of God. Have root in yourselves. Become grounded in the faith, so that having done all you may stand, with unwavering confidence in God, through the time that will try every man's work and character. Exercise your powers in spiritual things, till you can appreciate the deep things of God's word, and go on from strength to strength. {RH, January 10, 1888 par. 9}
The only safety is in rejecting instantly every suggestion of unbelief. Do not open your mind to entertain doubts, for even an instant; bid them a decided refusal as they come to you for admission. Fasten the mind upon the promises of God. Talk of them, rejoice in them; and the peace of God will rule in your hearts. {RH, January 10, 1888 par. 15}
If the word of the Lord of heaven and earth is not solid rock upon which to build, then it is in vain to look for a sure foundation. "Heaven and earth shall pass away," but "the word of the Lord endureth forever;" and unwavering faith in his word is the only faith that will endure through the perils of the last days.
The work of apostasy begins in some secret rebellion of the heart against the requirements of God's law. Unholy desires, unlawful ambitions, are cherished and indulged, and unbelief and darkness separate the soul from God. If we do not overcome these evils, they will overcome us. Men who have long been advancing in the path of truth, will be tested with trial and temptation. Those who listen to the suggestions of Satan, and swerve from their integrity, begin the downward path, and some masterful temptation hastens them on in the way of apostasy, till their descent is marked and rapid. Sins that were once most repugnant, become attractive, and are welcomed and practiced by those who have cast off the fear of God and their allegiance to his law. But the most pleasurable beginning in transgression, will end in misery, degradation, and ruin. {RH, May 8, 1888 par. 10}
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