SECTION III. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AT HAND

A FALLING AWAY AND REVELATION OF THE MAN OF SIN, BEFORE THE DAY OF THE LORD

The apostle Paul, in his second epistle to the Thessalonians, and second chapter, instructed his brethren concerning “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him.” He warned them not to be deceived by any means, nor to be troubled, as that the day of the Lord was then at hand. He then proceeded to assure them, that that day should not come until after “a falling away,” or an apostasy, and the revelation of “that man of sin.” “Now ye know,” he said, “what preventeth, that he (Christ) might be revealed in his time,”-the time foretold by Daniel, when he predicted the same man of sin, under the emblem of a little horn, chapters 7th and 8th of his prophecy.APEC 57.1

Although, in the apostle’s days, the mystery of iniquity already worked, yet there were circumstances which stood in the way of his full exaltation, and they would continue to hinder it until taken out of the way. Then, when the hinderance should be removed, “that wicked” should be revealed; who should be consumed “with the spirit of his (the Lord’s) mouth, (moral influence,) and be destroyed by the brightness of his coming.” When, then, it can be shown that what is predicted of “the man of sin” has been accomplished, with the exception of the last circumstance, viz. his destruction by the brightness of Christ’s coming, we shall have evidence of the near approach of that event. The apostle only brought forward the prediction of the man of sin to assure the world that that day was not at hand until those predictions were fulfilled; and the only just inference is, that when those predictions are accomplished, the day of the Lord is near.APEC 57.2

Allusion has been made, above, to the little horn of Daniel’s visions, as being identical with “the man of sin” of 2 Thessalonians 2nd chapter. That they are so, is evident from the fact, that the same character is ascribed to one which is given to the other.APEC 58.1

“That man of sin” was to “exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”APEC 58.2

The little horn, also, Daniel 7:25th, was to “speak great words against the Most High, and wear out the saints of the Most High,” etc. Again, Daniel 8:11th, it is said, “He magnified himself against the prince of the host.” Verse 25th: “He shall stand up against the prince of princes,” etc.APEC 58.3

Having thus identified “that man of sin” with “the little horn” of Daniel’s vision, I will now show that they are to come to an end by the same means, viz. the coming of Christ.APEC 58.4