The Man of Sin

103 Pages·2004·4.94 MB·English

by  Ron Abel

The
MAN of SIN
A FUTURE FUEHRER IN JERUSALEM
or
ROMAN CATHOLIC APOSTASY σ
A Biblical and Historical Study of 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2
RON ABEL
THE MAN OF SIN
Typeset and Printed by
STALLARD & POTTER
2 Jervois Street, Torrensville
for the
CHRISTADELPHIAN SCRIPTURE STUDY SERVICE
17 Braemar Road, Torrens Park, 5062
South Australia
MARCH 1984
THE MAN OF SIN
FOREWORD
Although prepared originally for a Toronto Study Day, these notes have a
much wider value and for this reason the Scripture Study Service is pleased to pre-
sent this new edition.
The Apostle Paul wanted his brethren in Thessalonica to be informed that
Christ would not come until the prophetic forecasts had been fulfilled. A pom-
pous, powerful, blasphemous and deceitful system would arise to lure the shallow
minds of men. This religious system would exalt itself to God's authority and
although beginning to form even in Paul's day, it would yet prevail right through
the centuries until destroyed at the return of Christ.
A system of such immense importance is obviously the same as Daniel's ''little
horn that speaks great things and wears out the saints for 1260 years".
Could there be any chance that the Revelation is speaking of some entirely dif-
ferent system?
Paul had spent time with the Thessalonians to ensure they had these matters
very clear. The apostle John also had spoken of the Antichrist that 'it should
come' and he also affirms that 'even now already is it in the world' (1 John 4:3).
Paul and John are in precise accord and the reason for this is that 'the Spirit was
speaking expressly' concerning the Great Apostasy to come (1 Tim. 4:1).
Who should be deceived as to the true identity of this Man of Sin? Only those
who should perish; "because they received not the love of the Truth, that they
might be saved" (v.10).
The issues are very serious. We are very grateful to Bro. Abel for the many
hours of research which he has put into this valuable book. May every reader feel
the joy and value of the Truth of God and be stirred to defend it and to preach it.
"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father, who hath
loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through
grace, Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work."
(2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
The Committee
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j "LAWLESSNESS ' MAR. 10-9 P.M. r ~,f ΛΚί . Μ
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710 MARKHAMRD., 284-91
Ivryone Most We/com·
FAITH TEMPLE
"Behold I show you ι mystery We shall not all sleep tut •»
shjtt all b* changed. In a moment, m the twinkling of an <ητ* *
Π a.m. me last trump, lor ttw trempet shall sound, and the dead shai kc
"LOOSE THE BANDS raised mcorruptibie, and we shad be changed For this co/ruptiWe
must put w mcorruptiOfl. and tta mortal must put w immortality "'
OF WICKEDNESS" I CennttMiin IS 5'. <J
7 pm.
"FIVE ASPECTS Of The RAPTURE" Bible Prophecy.. ^
ίΛβ New Religious Appeal
THE VCMCE OF PROPHECY NEWS
- SyDONF. NEUFELD, η
Associate Editor ^
Review and Herald ν
Jesus Christ is returning to
this earth to judge men and na-
tions. So declared the scholars1 Churchill Heights 1//
assembled at the Jerusalem
Conference on Biblical Prophe- (BAPTIST CHURCHI
cy some time ago. -. ^ 'RUSSIA'/INVASION
oldTehre inh iPsrtootreicsatal nstcishmo.o lI t iiss tthhi;ee ι: SA^OCTtSAM REA»LROLEKISOHMUAEGMRHEI OR.O. SPOEFC IAISL RMAUESLI"C HEAR WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THIS WORLD
school to which the reformers
AFTER THE SOON RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST!
belonged who, m contrast to
futurism (defined above) and a commentary on Revelation in 11 A.M. REV. KENNETH BEESLEY
preterism (the view that the which he endeavored to deflect
prophecies of Revelation have the accusing finger of prophecy BIBLE WED. 6:30 P./M. LAURIE PRICE
lianr gtheely Rboemena nf uElfmillpeidre i)n, tbheeli epvaesdt ftnro~me~ rtehfeo rmpaeprsa cyh, adto wpaoridn tewdh iciht. PRESBYTERIAN L9IG 3H0T τ Owf TBHIBI LJEC PWR OINfM TCHCIY
the prophecies of Revelation The antichrist is not the papacy,
were meeting fulfillment in the he declared, but a single evil PLUS!
Christian Era. In other words, person yet to come. ': BIBLE
cording to the reformers and Modern evangelical scholars
subsequent historicists, the are aware of futurism's singular
revelator predicted future his- origin. One of them warned a PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FRI. 7:45 p.m.
tsotrroy nfgrolym dhidis dthaiys tvoie thwe beencdo.m Seo cfeowm ey eaasr sa asghoo: ck"I t tow imll apnryo bmaobdly- Rev. H. F. MacEwen, B.A., B.D. MARVIN SCHMIDT RALLY
entrenched in Protestantism ern futurists to be told that the MINISTER ! — One Nite Only1. — TEMPLE
that it became known as the first scholar in relatively modern
standard Protestant position. times who returned to the 'Paul's Pastoral Concerns' Witness the Holy Spirit in action at greater
By contra?1 f'jturism had its patristic futuristic interpretation Metro's Downtown spiritual workshop! 76DUNDASST.E.
origin was a Spanish Jesuit named ARAB. EGYPTIAN & JEW
Ribera ' — George Eil^r· Ladd.
The Biesoco nupe vibJu/ ' \H BIBLE PROPHESY
·• Visitors Cordially Welromr I
THE MAN OF SIN
PREFACE
There was a time, perhaps, when it was easier in the Toronto area to be a
4'specialist" in areas of Bible Study. But this is no longer possible to the same ex-
tent. The brother who restricts himself to the delightful work of first principle in-
struction today finds that prophecy can no longer be left to the rather exclusive
domain of the ''experts". In fact, the very effectiveness of first principle instruc-
tion might relate directly to knowledgeability about prophetical themes.
In recent years many interested friends have had their initial interest in Bible
Study whetted through attractive prophetical appeals of the "Plain Truth"
magazine, Evangelical and Pentecostal tracts and paperbacks, and films on Israel,
Russia, Egypt and the Arab lands. The clippings from the religious section of the
"Toronto Daily Star" (see opp. page) indicate the diversity of the prophetical ap-
peal.
As a result of the public exposure to prophecies in Daniel, Ezekiel and Revela-
tion, many of the questions asked in first principle classes relate specifically to the
events of the time of the end. Perhaps one of the most widely accepted prophetical
interpretations is set out in the best-seller "The Late Great Planet Earth"
(2,000,000 printed). In this paperback the reader is presented with the following
interpretations:
"The time is ripe and getting riper for the Great Dictator, the one we call the
Tuture Fuehrer'. This is the one who is predicted in the Scriptures very
clearly and called the 'Antichrist'."1
"The Antichrist will deify himself — just like the Caesars did. He will pro-
claim himself to be God. He will demand that he be worshipped and
establish himself in the Temple of God (II Thessalonians 2:4). There is only
one place where this temple of God can be and that is on Mount Moriah in
Jerusalem".2
"The Antichrist, who is called by many names in the Bible, but in II Thessalo-
nians is called the 'lawless one', will come in on a wave of anarchy. This is
why the world will be ready to receive him."3
"This period of time will make the regimes of Hitler, Mao and Stalin look like
Girl Scouts weaving a daisy chain by comparison. The Antichrist is going to
be given absolute authority to act with the power of Satan."4
Similarly, David Wilkerson in "Jesus Christ: Solid Rock" writes:
"The Jew is to rebuild the temple again in old Jerusalem. He has to. In
II Thess. 2 Paul speaks of the great world dictator ... an electrifying
leader: I call him the future Fuehrer; some call him the Antichrist. There is a
great deal given in the Scriptures about this person . . . Paul speaks of this
man taking a seat in the temple of God and declaring himself to be God. The
temple of God can only be the temple in old Jerusalem . . . Documents
discovered last year, after the repossession of the temple area, gave the exact
methodology of cutting the stones for the temple. They had been buried for
THE MAN OF SIN
centuries near the Wailing Wall. Now the temple can be prefabricated in
about six months."5
It is the purpose of these notes to evaluate this interpretation through a Biblical
and historical examination. It is the conclusion of this study that the strong delu-
sion which has encompassed the Roman Apostasy is now sweeping the
Pentecostal-Evangelical communions. This conclusion, if supported, is in itself a
remarkable sign in the religious sphere which might otherwise have gone unnotic-
ed. "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev. 19:10).
May these notes serve to assist the Christadelphian teacher to be better equipped
to quench the fiery darts of the wicked, to put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men, and to be a more effective angler in the sea of men.
Ron Abel
Toronto, June, 1974
1 Hal Lindsey with C.C. Carlson, The Late Great Planet Earth, (New York: Bantam Books, 1973), p.92.
2 Ibid., p. 98
3 Ibid., p. 98
4 Ibid., p. 99
5 David Wilkerson, Jesus Christ: Solid Rock, (Dallas, Texas: Jesus Restoration Movement, 1973), p. 5,6,8.
THE MAN OF SIN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
Foreword 3
Bible Prophecy — the new religious appeal 4
Preface 5
An old Jesuit interpretation of a new guise 9
Prophecy Schools 10
The histories of the two prophetical interpretations 11
Protestant minorities protest 14
Why the "about turn" by Protestants? 17
Interpreting prophecy — establishing the criteria 19
The man of sin prophecy — an amplified paraphrase..... 20
The man of sin: his identifying characteristics 22
A closer examination of the clues 23
Antiquity — not a proof of authenticity 25
The apostasy — began in the 1st century and continues today 26
The Roman Catholic apostasy — the historical development 27
Sources for historical documentation 30
A verse by verse exposition of 2 Thessalonians 2 31
Reasons for the "man of sin" prophecy 32
Quotations worthy of reflection 89
The Christadelphian witness 92
Guide questions on 2 Thessalonians 2 93
Appendix: The tragedy of recent Christadelphian confusion 97
Bibliography 100
neumon wiw nome
Ecumenical Festival of Faith
long-term aim
at CNE grandstand
The program is being
planned by representatives of
Anglican, Baptist, Disciples of
of united Church Christ, Lutheran,
Presbyterian, Roman This attitude can be seen in both
Catholic Churches, the
Salvation Army and United England and the United States in
GUELPH (CP-Special) - church's 26th general coun- Church of Canada The Car the recent publication of the Com- Eastern
The United Church of Cana- cil. dinals drum and bugle corps mon Bible. This is the first English-
da resolved yesterday to The United Church now is of Precious Blood Church will
w"baergdi n rethuen iolonn g wjoiuthrn eyt htoe- Alonogkliincga ni nCtoh uurnchio no f wCitahn atdhae, psletraaogdve id. ethdTe h ebp yrop creethlsuseid oen S awltviolal t itohbnee mlanugtuuaaglley Bsiabnlec titoexnte dt habty haRs obmeaenn churches
Church of Rome." but the resolution was the Army Jesus Folk orchestra Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox
The move came without first indication of a move and chorus. The folk group Churches.
debate, on a show of hands, toward the Roman Catholic from St. Cecilia's Roman may help
during a session of t h e Church. Catholic church also will
perform.
Jesus People
elect Pope
Protestantism caught in the
VATICAN CITY (Reuter)
D - Pope Paul has decided to
KUGS are out, Jesus is In Metro, there were Jesus rallil Ecumenical Embrace of expand the conclave which
in. That was the watch- In the parks, baptisms in the chill will elect his successor to
word early in 1971 as the waters of Lake Ontario, and eage mliKte patriarchs of the
Jesus People movement swept out Street evangelists everywhere. Roman Catholicism tern rite churches, Vati-
pf California and triggered a reli- rnuncs sprang up like mushrooms ran sources say.
gious "youth explosion" destined to After rain, while church members The Pope hae completed
reverberate in every major city and outsiders slike looked on in work on a document setting
around the world. ftaggered disbelief. out his proposals, which
also gives representatives
The leader of the House of Em- of bishops membership in
maus, a former Jesus People com- the conclave. He is expect-
mune of about a dozen persons, told The PLAIN TRUTH ed to publish it within the
The Star that his followers have next few weeks, the sources
become "an evangelical, Roman September, 1968 Dr. Ramsey has been foremost among added.
Catholic lay community." Protestants in seeking to bring about
bcaeRncoa'tm beecr to mVCpealletlhitceokllyi, c s4 c2u, bt seacyiadou ushresi se lfg "ryoooufupf peaTtheed ly Rospmeaank s Coaft holhice rseClfh uracsh trhee- trheel igioAuns gliucnainty . aHned haRs omtriaend tCo atbhroinligc dthiev ingera cpeu ropfo sGe obdy enoaubr lem uese ttion gs earnvde Heni-s
from the history and tradition of "Mother" of the Protestant movement. Churches closer together. able Christians everywhere to feel the
the church." "The MOTHER CHURCH of Christen- In early 1966, the Archbishop of pain of their DIVISIONS and seek UNITY
hiAs nm aiinnt epllreocbtuleaml hwimhislee lfp,a rht eo f stahied dom lovingly invites the descendants of Canterbury went to Rome to meet Pope and truth and holiness."
street movement was that he "had all the CHILDREN torn from her bosom Paul Vl· in order to further the cause of In replying to the Archbishop of
Ho roots." He explained that while by irrelevant issues to return to the Christian unity. Canterbury, the Pope responded: "You
ί musical group from the house on practice of their forebears [meaning the
Keele St. and some of the others At that historic meeting with the rebuild a bridge, which for centuries
Roman Catholic Church] .. ." (90 Com-
Hill engage in street evangelism, Pope, he said "I have come [to Rome] has lain fallen between the Church of
tthreu ly mCahinri stciaonn cceormn misu n1iσty d.evelop a mbyo nJ oQhune sOti'oBnrsi eAn,b opu.t 1th1e) .Catholic Faith, with, the longing in my heart. . . May Rome and tfie [Anglican] Church of
THE MAN OF SIN
AN OLD JESUIT INTERPRETATION IN A NEW GUISE
It is apparent from the history of futurism that the Future Fuehrer ideas of Hal
Lindsey did not begin with him. 'The Late Great Planet Earth" is a recent presen-
tation of the teaching of the Jesuits Ribera and Lacunza which dates back to the
1500's. The ironical part is that evangelicals — Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist
(in denomination) have left the continuous historical position of their founding
fathers who identified the Man of Sin with the Papacy, and have rather adopted
the Roman Catholic interpretation set out by the Jesuits. The lapwing design of
Lacunza's 'The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty" has successfully
diverted Protestant attention away from the real Man of Sin — the Roman
Catholic apostasy. The Counter Reformation mounted by the Roman Church in-
filtrated the Church of England in the U.K. through Maitland, Newman and the
Oxford Movement, and from them throughout Christendom generally.
The position of present-day Christendom is summarized pictorially by a Protes-
tant of the Continuous-Historical school:
THE BIG NOISE TODAY IN FUNDAMENTALISM
THE FABULOUS FUTURE ANTICHRIST
1973 NIGHTMARE!
FUTWRZ AAJT/CHRIST