As I was in the process of writing today’s first devotion, titled, “The Temple of The Living God,” which was based off 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 and 7:1, I was then struck in my mind with some parallels between what the Lord was having me write on the subject of not being unequally yoked together with the ungodly, and what this passage of Scripture is teaching. So, I am going to share my observations with you, for your prayerful consideration.

Now, first of all, “the temple of God” is not a physical building, and it will never again be a physical building. For God does not live in buildings built by human hands (Acts 17:24). Ever since Jesus Christ died on that cross in taking upon himself the sins of the world, and he was resurrected from the dead, the temple of God has been the people of God who have, by faith in Jesus Christ, died with Christ to sin, and who are walking in obedience to him and to his commands, by God’s grace, in the power of God within them.

So, we need to translate this passage in 2 Thessalonians in that light. This is speaking about the “man of lawlessness” taking his seat in the hearts and minds of the people of God who by faith believe in Jesus Christ. Collectively we are the church, so the man of lawlessness is taking his seat in the gatherings of the church, the body of Christ, the temple of God, God’s only temple. And this man of lawlessness is displaying himself as being God, to be worshiped as though he is a god. And he is deceiving many people.

When I was a young child in the 1950s, those who professed faith in Jesus Christ (plus family) met together in a building which they called “the church.” There was a large room in this building which was then called “the sanctuary,” which is where the church services were held. And we were taught that coming into that building meant that we were now entering “the house of God.” And the room called “the sanctuary” was regarded as “holy ground.” So there were some definite carryovers from the Jewish temple.

So, here is where it gets interesting. In “the sanctuary,” at the very front of the room, largely displayed on one side of the platform (from where the preacher taught his sermon), was the flag of the United States of America. And in some of these gatherings we were taught to put hand over heart and to pledge (vow) our allegiance (loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness) to the US government, as though they were a god to be worshiped. And we were taught to sing patriotic songs of worship of the government and to honor our military as though they were our saviors who protected us from evil.

And as I was contemplating this, then in my mind I heard these words, “the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” And then I remembered that, in such gatherings where we pledged our allegiance to the flag, that there was another flag on display, and it was called “the Christian flag.” But we always vowed our fidelity first and foremost to the government, and the Christian flag second. And all this took place in the gatherings of “the temple of God.”

Then, also in the 1950’s, the church at large (not every congregation) in the USA was talked into incorporating (merging, combining, uniting, partnering) with the state (with the government, with the world) via the 501c3 tax exempt nonprofit organization status, which puts them underneath the rule of the government and answerable to the US government for what they do or don’t do. So, overall, there has been no more separation of church and state, as a general rule. And the government was now put in a position of authority over the church (“he takes his seat in the temple of God”).

And then today we have a president of our nation, who, if you pay close attention to the words he speaks and the things that he does and his general character, you should see that this man is not a godly man, by practice. But he now professes to believe in Jesus Christ, and many Christians are following the man almost as though he is a god to be worshipped. And the man, himself, does share at least some of this description of the man of lawlessness. And there are people who are posting videos describing him as this man of lawlessness. So this is just for your prayerful consideration.

And then when I was growing up, and even to today, not only was/is government worship being pushed within the gatherings of the church, but so was/is worship of the political nation of Israel, which is antichrist because, as a nation, they do not believe in Jesus. And since they do not believe in Jesus Christ, they also do not believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who is God – Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. So, as a nation, they are godless, and they are antichrist, so they are not biblical Israel. The Israel of God is all who believe in Jesus Christ (Jew and Gentile).

[Genesis 17:7-9; Genesis 18:19; John 8:18-19,38-47; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 9:4-8,25-28; Romans 11:1-36; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 4:22-31; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 3:6; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-16; Hebrews 8:6-13;1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:22; Jude 1:5; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9]

And the apostasy has already come, for it appears that the majority of those professing faith in Jesus Christ do not believe that faith in Jesus Christ requires that they die to sin, not just once, but daily, and that they walk (in conduct) in obedience to our Lord and to his commands. So many of them are buying into a false gospel which is teaching them that all they have to do is make a profession of faith in Jesus and now forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God are guaranteed. But Jesus Christ and his New Testament apostles taught the opposite of that. Read them in context!

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

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Man of Lawlessness
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