Did you ever think of your life experience as overlapping two worlds: One plainly seen; and the other hidden, and seen only through eyes of faith? We might think about life in that way. Whether you like it or not, or whether you even choose to realize it or not, you are giving your power of existence to one of those worlds, or to the other. (Matthew 6:24 ; Matthew 13:16-23)
The Bible does not specifically mention "two worlds," but there is scriptural support for the concept. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) There is the physical world which appears to the eyes, and then, behind the scenes, we are embroiled in a war of "truth" against the lies perpetuated by the wicked one. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ; 2 Kings 6:15-17) Our part in this spiritual war is simply to speak truth with all persons; doing so out of love for what is good. (Ephesians 4:25 ; 1 Peter 2:17)

There is a "man of lawlessness" who is being revealed: The idea of an ongoing spiritual war which we don't see without looking behind the curtain, is synonymous with the Bible's prophecy that the "man of lawlessness" [or "man of sin"] would be revealed. (2 Thessalonians 2:3 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) Reading through second Thessalonians chapter two is a sobering read! What can relieve any fear however, is recognizing the simple warning and instruction tucked in at verse 10: "...they refused to love the truth and so be saved." That scripture implies: if we do love truth, we can be saved. Where though, can we even obtain truth? That's easy enough: From God's word the Bible. (John 17:17) Since this alarming warning about our need to recognize this "man of lawlessness" comes from the Bible, it seems reasonable the truth to expose him would be found there as well. How can we really know the Bible is truth though; and not just the dreams of men? If you invest in gaining some understanding of the Bible, you will quickly realize it is nothing men could have created. The Bible contains the perfect and only solution to all the problems confronting mankind [and those confronting the spirit realm as well]. (Job 1:6-7) [It is not nearly as hard to learn what the Bible teaches as many would have you believe. The Bible's entire content is summarized in the teachings of Jesus: Recorded in the small books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The rest of the Bible exists in large part to introduce, endorse, clarify, and support, the teachings of Christ. (John 12:12-16)] To recognize the spiritual war which surrounds us then, is simply a consideration of those who promote the Bible as truth; and a recognition of those who choose to war against any efforts to do so. In resisting the truth, such persons actually war against God as well. (Acts 5:39 ; Zechariah 2:8-9) Recognizing truth will include that YOU recognize the lawless individuals who try to substitute the teachings of men for the Bible. It also means of course, recognizing those who try to keep you from realizing or even considering Bible truth altogether: As they themselves consider it foolishness. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25) The "man of lawlessness" identified in the Bible, is a composite of all who stand against "truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8) [It is common for Jehovah to refer to a group of persons who manifest the same spirit as one person: As he refers to all Jews and Gentiles who place faith in Christ as being reconciled into one man. (Ephesians 2:15) Similarly, Jesus prayed to his Father that all his followers become one. (John 17:21)] All those who choose to be "noble minded" by following the teachings of Jesus Christ are sons and daughters of God; and those who make themselves part of the man of lawlessness are sons of the devil. (Romans 9:26 ; John 8:44) The sons of the devil comprising [the "man of lawlessness"] are easy enough to identify: They teach lies [the writings of men] in place of Bible truth. They are tricky though: As they almost always assert their doctrine actually does come from the Bible. You must simply compare what any person tells you, with what the Bible teaches. Just ask them to show you from the Bible! You can also recognize as ignorant or wicked, any who suggest you are not capable of making such a comparison: "Look at all the works we have done, and just trust us," they will say. Believe the Bible!!!

Amazingly, many people, even those who claim faith in the Bible, have not taken a stand on either side of the issue, but remain largely ignorant of this spiritual warfare. They want to believe all these religious groups are doing good; even though what comes out in the news about them identifies they are not. Realizing that many people are spiritually ignorant however, is important; because those who truly are ignorant, are not held accountable by God. (John 15:22 ; Romans 3:20) That is one thing Jesus came to do: To put away ignorance. (John 8:12) Attempting to choose to remain ignorant, or refusing to see the truth, likely indicates such a person is no longer ignorant at all.] Ignorance is not a term to hate or look down upon. We are all ignorant to some degree (except our Creator of course). (Matthew 24:36 ; Acts 1:7) We were all ignorant of truth until we were exposed to the Bible. The fact many people remain ignorant, and have not taken a side in this spiritual war, is no doubt why "the end" of this wicked system has not already come. (Matthew 24:14) Jesus came to lift people out of ignorance [and to provide the ransom for us all]. By talking with others about what we learn from the Bible; we join Christ in that work of educating people out of their ignorance. By that same effort, we continue to lift ourselves out as well. Learning truth is a project that will go on a very long time: Probably forever. Working to help others realize the truth is a powerful way we can demonstrate we are faithful followers of Christ. It is a demonstration of our love for others. We all must come to know: It is the truth of the Bible which can take away our ignorance and that of others; and set us all free from slavery due to fear of what is happening around us. (John 8:31-32) The knowledge given us by Christ truly sets us free. (Hebrews 2:14-16) The actions by those who follow Christ Jesus also serve to identify and make plain the man of lawlessness: Identifying him by their very refusal to go along with his lies. The revelation of the man of lawlessness, in turn, helps other faithful individuals among mankind break free of that one's attempt to influence us all away from the truth. By their very act of promoting their own organizational teachings above [or equal to] the Bible, the "man of lawlessness" exposes himself to sincere Bible students.

We do realize, for most of you, to recognize and speak openly about the "man of lawlessness" (2 Thessalonians 2:3) will mean abandoning the religious organization you have been associated with; Or rather, it will more accurately mean they will abandon you. They may cast you away as wicked. That is nothing new. Remember: In Jesus's day, it was his own religious leaders primarily responsible for persecuting him, and then for putting him to death. (John 18:28-32) For persons who were born Jews, and had lived all their lives inside that religious organization, faith in Jesus meant abandoning the Jewish law code in favor of obedience to the teachings of Christ Jesus. (Galatians 2:21) It meant being condemned by their own religious leaders. (John 12:42-43 ; Luke 6:22) Even though the Jews had been Jehovah's chosen nation for 1500 years, since the law code given them through Moses, they had to make the change to place faith in the new arrangement through faith in Christ. [That Jewish law code actually directed them to place their faith in the Christ; just as the completed Bible gives us instructions today.] Even Jesus's own family had to abandon Judaism: His mother, and siblings, and friends; had to suffer the ill will of their Jewish religious leaders and put faith in Christ. You also must accept as truth, and take your stand for, what Jesus Christ teaches through the Bible. Whoever may choose to raise themselves up to judge you wicked for such faith, will just have to be upset. They are having their reward in full. (Matthew 6:2)

There are some questions you can ask yourself to make plain if you remain "noble minded"; or if your thinking has been infected by the man of lawlessness: Do you have a personal relationship with our Creator through faith in his son Christ Jesus? (John 6:44 ; John 16:22-28 ; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28 ; Matthew 10:32-33 ; John 17:3 ; John 12:46-50) Are you certain your faith is based on your own personal knowledge of what the Bible really instructs? (Matthew 7:22-23 ; Acts 16:14 ; Mark 12:44) Do you depend on the approval of some man or group of men, in order to have faith you are in God's favor? (Mark 12:38-40 ; John 12:42-43) If you answer yes to that last question, you are in grave danger and should carefully examine your faith!!! It is YOUR faith in what the Bible actually teaches that can protect you; not the approval of imperfect and uninspired men! Since Jesus clearly stated this "man of lawlessness" would be revealed before " the end" of this wicked system, you should also be alarmed if you have been associated with any group who is not openly involved in exposing the "man of lawlessness." You should be alarmed if the religious group you associate with has not warned you from the Bible how developing a "Doeg" mentality leads to being a part of the lawless one.

We have all seen individuals and organizations set dates and times for the end of the system, even though Jesus taught no one knows the date. (Mark 13:32) When those dates came and went, rather than repent and make changes in their faith to bring it in line with the Bible, such groups usually set new dates; and/or pretended they didn't go beyond the things written in the Bible with their erroneous predictions. These groups often create new writings to support their own faith, thereby replacing the Bible as their source of truth. They encourage their sheep to immerse themselves in their organizational writings rather than Bible study: Even asserting it is one and the same thing. By such action they identify themselves as a part of the man of lawlessness. They are apostate. Jesus taught us to keep away from them. (Matthew 24:23-28 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3)

As Jesus's faithful follower John recorded for us in 1 John 2:18-20: . . .Young children, it is the last hour, and, just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there have come to be many antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us. But [they went out] that it might be shown up that not all are of our sort. 20 And you have an anointing from the holy one; all of you have knowledge. Here Jesus clearly indicates those who abandon his Bible teachings are the ones making up this "man of lawlessness" [or antichrist]. They are the ones going away from the simple and clear Bible teachings of the Christ, and then judging others wicked because they will not follow in their badness. (John 16:1-2) Jesus also said his followers had an anointing from the holy one: They received knowledge. We today gain that same knowledge Jesus gave his first century followers through our study of the Bible. Bible knowledge both identifies the "man of lawlessness," and enables us to avoid believing his lies. Jesus's spirit anointed followers said the "last hour" for this wicked system was starting even in the first century. [Remember; it is the "last hour" from God's perspective. (2 Peter 3:8-10)] The Bible indicates the "last hour" has nearly run it's course today. Hallelujah! (Revelation 19:6) It is now the last hour from God's perspective, and from ours as well. Praise Jah you people! (Psalm 104:35) It is the judgments of Jehovah that have made it so! (Matthew 12:36-37 ; Romans 2:5-6)

Many choose to abuse drugs or alcohol in an attempt to escape reality. It is sad when reality is so bitter as to drive people toward such hopeless solutions to their problems. We must confess: The world we see around us, the one in front of our eyes, certainly is one needing to be escaped. The stark reality of life in this world is this: We are born dying. We see our loved ones die all around us as we grow up; and any sensible person very quickly recognizes that is the fate of us all. If we are fortunate to be warm and well fed, reasonable people must recognize most of the world is not among those so fortunate. One in four people in the earth suffer starvation or malnutrition. [As the world is rapidly deteriorating, it is probably more than one in four starving.] After that insight, we must add disease, war, death or suffering of those we love, and on the list goes. We soon recognize the number of our days are short and "glutted with agitation". (Job 14:2) Humble followers of Christ are not able to judge themselves more righteous than those who suffer. So... We try to hide from knowledge of our fate in the happiness we might find through "everyday life": We marry, or we seek after wealth or power, or what ever else we might think of to look to for an escape; And sadly for some, that includes alcohol and drugs. The actual truth is, we are caught in a war for our faith, and there is no escape from that war. (Ecclesiastes 8:8) We must always remember that our Father did not start the war we are caught in; His enemy did! We can however, choose to be on the side of truth and right. (Isaiah 32:14-18) We can choose to be on the winning side: We can choose to be on our Righteous Father's side. (Zechariah 8:12 ; Zephaniah 2:3)

The world we see with our eyes: That is where we exist and what tends to be real to us. While there is no immediate escape from that reality, there can be peace and hope while awaiting the end of suffering. (Romans 8:22 ; 2 Peter 3:12-13) Knowing and understanding what is happening in the spirit realm; that knowledge is what is most important. Our response to truth defines our physical reality for the future; It defines our reality even now in our faith. Making people aware is the purpose of this website. To try and hide from what is truth, or to choose to ignore it, is not a solution; It is not one that will benefit us at any rate. If you embrace truth, and recognize the happy outcome for the righteous, that will bring you peace and hope and happiness. (Proverbs 22:4 ; Proverbs 3:13-18 ; Romans 8:21) Recognizing nothing else will make us truly happy will keep us from chasing empty and useless sources of meaning for life. An important part of "knowing truth," includes recognizing the modern day revelation of the "man of lawlessness." (2 Thessalonians 2:3) As Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, "True, the mystery of this lawlessness is already at work; but only till he who is right now acting as a restraint gets to be out of the way. 8 Then, indeed, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence." Put very simply then; knowledge of Bible truth reveals to sincere Bible students this composite lawless one, or man of lawlessness: Consisting of those who try to hide or obscure the truth. (Romans 1:18 ; John 14:6 ; John 8:44 ; John 1:17)

What of those making an effort to be faithful to truth? We strive to carry on life as best we are able in the face of so many problems. We try to be productive and to care for others. We marry and have children; and we work and strive to care for and protect them as they grow up. We support and enjoy the arts or have hobbies; and we take vacations and enjoy family and group activities. All of that happens in the world which appears to our eyes. There is nothing wrong with any of that of course. Those good things make up much of our life, and they are wonderful. The hidden world of spiritual reality though, is the world that is even more important. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31) Knowledge of the attack by God's enemy helps us understand it is that attack which is causing so many suffer; and most importantly, we can understand what God is doing to correct that suffering. Truth helps us realize our loving Father is not responsible for the problems we face; He is correcting them. (1 John 3:8b) If we have children, teaching them the truth will help set their mind at ease and can give them hope. The outworking of that solution by God goes on largely hidden, and seen only through eyes of faith, by those willing to see. (2 Kings 6:15-17 ; Hebrews 11:27 ; 2 Chronicles 16:9) Which of these worlds then, do you recognize as most important? What commands your attention and affection? In which does your hope lie? Are you able to recognize the man of lawlessness Jesus taught would be revealed in the last days? (2 Thessalonians 2:3 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12) He is not hard to identify! The man of lawlessness is not one individual, but a composite man made of all those who follow satan (the great liar). (John 8:44) Since individuals making up the man of lawlessness have no faith or dedication to follow the truth of God's word, they are liable to say or do anything. What ever they choose to say however, can be summed up in one category: Lies - but they are lies being exposed in the light of truth! Those who wish to be faithful to our Father, simply must recognize the wicked individuals who comprise the man of lawlessness.

To summarize then: The man of lawlessness may be identified in anyone who tries to supplant Christ by acting as a priest or mediator between you and God. He is comprised of all who assert they have new truth, to replace or extend the Bible. He includes those who raise themselves up as lords over your faith, and then imagine themselves judges over who is righteous and who is wicked. Your protection from being destroyed because of going along with this composite lawless man, and your knowledge to recognize him, lies in your personal knowledge of the teachings of Jesus. (Matthew 7:21-23) Jesus's teachings are clear and simple. All it takes to understand is a little effort invested in reading your Bible. It is up to every one of us to learn what Jesus taught, and then to look to him as our great high priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and as our lord and savior. (2 Peter 3:17-18) What we personally show we believe in by our actions, that becomes witness for or against us as to whether we have faith. (Matthew 12:36-37) The message Jesus brought is clear and simple: Learn what the Bible teaches, and talk about it with others. (Matthew 10:27) Obedience to Christ demonstrates what our true love is. That is what the love of God means: That we obey. (1 John 5:3) In referencing the faith of Moses, Paul recounted at Hebrews 11:28 how Moses instructed the Jews to sprinkle blood on the door post of their houses to protect them from the angel of destruction. That instruction to them prefigured Christ Jesus pouring out his life blood in our behalf. No doubt many of the Egyptians thought it an act of insanity to put lambs blood over their door. Maybe some Jews did too. Those with eyes of faith to see the true reality did not hesitate. The sprinkling of blood over their door post was their simple act of faith. Learning what Jesus teaches, and then exercising faith in his teachings by talking with others about it, that is our simple act of faith today. That act by us shows in which world our hope lies, and which we give our energy to. Those who hinder spreading Bible truth, or willfully refuse to recognize it, constitute themselves a part of the "man of lawlessness."

It is no credit to him, but the man of lawlessness is actually used by Jehovah to accomplish some good: There is a revealing of God's righteousness through his judgment against that wicked man of lawlessness. (Romans 1:16-18 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12) At Romans 1:16-32, we read how God's righteousness is revealed in those who choose to have faith in his goodness and promises; and also in his judgment against those who choose to place faith in lies. Simply and beautifully, God holds out the gift of life to any who want it; without forcing any to be obedient. Of course, those who will not abide by the law of love, and are thus willing to do harm to others, will die because of their sin: Simply because they refused to accept the remedy for their problems. We are all born in a sinful state, and so we are all dying. Life is a gift we must accept by our faith. We are not responsible for being born in sin, but we are responsible if we refuse the gift of life through faith in Christ Jesus. The terrible conditions of this world of these last days is the direct result of those who refuse to obey the perfect standards of our Creator. The evidence is thus clear as to why all must be obedient; or must be allowed to cease to exist by their refusing to accept truth.

Recognizing the man of lawlessness is also helped by having some understanding of the Dark Ages and the Great Apostasy.

Make no mistake, you are either among [or joining] those exposing the man of lawlessness, or you are part of him; there is no in-between. There is no exemption from the war! (Ecclesiastes 8:8) If you are part of the man of lawlessness through ignorance, the good news of the Bible can set you free. Accepting Bible truth is the gift of life. (John 12:50) It is your free will choice, and choosing wisely is choosing life: (Deuteronomy 30:19)

'Now we speak wisdom among those who are mature, but not the wisdom of this system of things nor that of the rulers of this system of things, who are to come to nothing. But we speak God's wisdom in a sacred secret, the hidden wisdom, which God foreordained before the systems of things for our glory. This [wisdom] not one of the rulers of this system of things came to know, for if they had known [it] they would not have impaled the glorious Lord. But just as it is written: "Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, neither have there been conceived in the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him." For it is to us God has revealed them through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God.' (1 Corinthians 2:6-10)

Know the truth and the truth will set you free! (John 8:32)

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