- Sep 12, 2016
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As a backslider, someone who knows what it means to taste the heavenly gifts and fall away, I am beginning the suspect the possibility that that christian eschatology is as wrong concerning the "antichrist" as pre-christian eschatology was concerning the future "King of Israel", at least as it pertains to a literal understanding of prophecy. That perhaps the battle isn't between a literal antichrist, but a spiritual battle that takes place within the hearts and lives of the elect. Perhaps revelation is allegory for the apostasy of the saints - the falling away. And maybe this is because God wills it?
"And it was given unto him (the Man of Sin) to make war with the saints, and to overcome them" - Revelation 13:7
So could it be that the man of sin is metaphorical - referring to apostasy - saying that true salvation, true deliverance - final salvation, cannot come about until the man of sin be revealed in us?
After all, Pauls said "Hand this man over so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord..." - 1 Corinthians 5
Of all the disciples of Jesus, it was Judas alone who had his hand in the cup with Jesus - Judas alone, the backslider, who did the perfect will of God. Perhaps Judas, whose suicide preempted the death of Christ, was saved after all? - 1 Peter 3:19
Is this heresy? The idea that the Man of Sin is revealed in backsliders? Possibly. But it's still something I find intriguing. I may not be correct, but I'm probably not all the way wrong on this. I see way too many things in end-times scripture that make me question whether or not the the struggle of the saints with some "antichrist" or "man of sin" is simply allegory for personal struggle, complete apostasy, and ultimately redemption.
"Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction" 2 Thessalonians 2:3
It's the old man that is doomed to destruction - not the new man.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires...to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self ..created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness - Ephesians 4:22-24
"And it was given unto him (the Man of Sin) to make war with the saints, and to overcome them" - Revelation 13:7
So could it be that the man of sin is metaphorical - referring to apostasy - saying that true salvation, true deliverance - final salvation, cannot come about until the man of sin be revealed in us?
After all, Pauls said "Hand this man over so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord..." - 1 Corinthians 5
Of all the disciples of Jesus, it was Judas alone who had his hand in the cup with Jesus - Judas alone, the backslider, who did the perfect will of God. Perhaps Judas, whose suicide preempted the death of Christ, was saved after all? - 1 Peter 3:19
Is this heresy? The idea that the Man of Sin is revealed in backsliders? Possibly. But it's still something I find intriguing. I may not be correct, but I'm probably not all the way wrong on this. I see way too many things in end-times scripture that make me question whether or not the the struggle of the saints with some "antichrist" or "man of sin" is simply allegory for personal struggle, complete apostasy, and ultimately redemption.
"Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction" 2 Thessalonians 2:3
It's the old man that is doomed to destruction - not the new man.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires...to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self ..created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness - Ephesians 4:22-24
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