“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.” (Mt. 24:4). “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (v. 24).

In the past centuries, the impending Return of Christ was not a subject of concern in the churches. In recent times, however, they are all talking about it; they even use the word “Parousia,” — from the Vatican to the very last denomination.

When holding his general audience on November 12, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI chose the subject “Marana tha = Come, Lord Jesus” and repeatedly referred to what Paul wrote in 1. Cor. 16:22, saying “Marana tha.” These days biblical terminology like “Body of Christ,” “Bride of the Lamb,” and “Church of Jesus Christ” is part of the common vocabulary of the church of Rome and all the other churches. Benedict XVI even mentioned that the Apostle Paul emphasised in 2. Ths. 2 that before the Return of Christ there would be an “apostasy,” meaning a falling away from faith. The church of Rome and all the other churches have long since unknowingly fallen victim to that apostasy. The Roman church has only been in existence since the time of Constantine and has nothing in common with the Church of Jesus Christ and does not correspond with anything in the Bible, be it in doctrine or in practice. Likewise, not one of the other churches can pass the test of the Word. What is the use of speaking about “apostasy” if one does not actually recognise it in one’s own life? Very revealing was the next statement of the current pope, when he said that Paul did not sufficiently explain the figure whom the Christian tradition later called “the Antichrist.”

Actually, the description is quite clear if one can see it. The main statement about the Antichrist in 2. Ths. 2 is that he makes his entrance in connection with the apostasy as the “man of sin,” the “son of perdition,” the direct opponent of Christ who exalts himself above everything that is God and worship of God; he calls himself the representative of Christ. This is where we find the distinguishing mark: The Antichrist is “the lawless,” which means he is a man from the nations, not a Jew, because the Jews are “the people of the law” — the Torah.

In Acts 2:23 the Apostle Peter addressed the liable Jews in view of the crucifixion of the Messiah with these words: “Him … ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain …” He was referring to the Romans, to Pilate, who pronounced the verdict, and to the Roman soldiers who executed the crucifixion and later parted His garments among each other (Jn. 19:23).

The people of Israel are the people of the law. The Lord God Himself came down on Mount Sinai and at first gave the ten commandments to Moses and then the entire law. Many biblical references could be given for this subject. In no way can the Antichrist be a Jew; he is a man from the nations, the lawless, who will go so far as to sit in the Temple of God and present himself as His representative (2. Ths. 2:4).

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.” (Mt. 24:4). “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (v. 24).

In the past centuries, the impending Return of Christ was not a subject of concern in the churches. In recent times, however, they are all talking about it; they even use the word “Parousia,” — from the Vatican to the very last denomination.

When holding his general audience on November 12, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI chose the subject “Marana tha = Come, Lord Jesus” and repeatedly referred to what Paul wrote in 1. Cor. 16:22, saying “Marana tha.” These days biblical terminology like “Body of Christ,” “Bride of the Lamb,” and “Church of Jesus Christ” is part of the common vocabulary of the church of Rome and all the other churches. Benedict XVI even mentioned that the Apostle Paul emphasised in 2. Ths. 2 that before the Return of Christ there would be an “apostasy,” meaning a falling away from faith. The church of Rome and all the other churches have long since unknowingly fallen victim to that apostasy. The Roman church has only been in existence since the time of Constantine and has nothing in common with the Church of Jesus Christ and does not correspond with anything in the Bible, be it in doctrine or in practice. Likewise, not one of the other churches can pass the test of the Word. What is the use of speaking about “apostasy” if one does not actually recognise it in one’s own life? Very revealing was the next statement of the current pope, when he said that Paul did not sufficiently explain the figure whom the Christian tradition later called “the Antichrist.” 

Actually, the description is quite clear if one can see it. The main statement about the Antichrist in 2. Ths. 2 is that he makes his entrance in connection with the apostasy as the “man of sin,” the “son of perdition,” the direct opponent of Christ who exalts himself above everything that is God and worship of God; he calls himself the representative of Christ. This is where we find the distinguishing mark: The Antichrist is “the lawless,” which means he is a man from the nations, not a Jew, because the Jews are “the people of the law” — the Torah.

In Acts 2:23 the Apostle Peter addressed the liable Jews in view of the crucifixion of the Messiah with these words: “Him … ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain …” He was referring to the Romans, to Pilate, who pronounced the verdict, and to the Roman soldiers who executed the crucifixion and later parted His garments among each other (Jn. 19:23).

The people of Israel are the people of the law. The Lord God Himself came down on Mount Sinai and at first gave the ten commandments to Moses and then the entire law. Many biblical references could be given for this subject. In no way can the Antichrist be a Jew; he is a man from the nations, the lawless, who will go so far as to sit in the Temple of God and present himself as His representative (2. Ths. 2:4).