Is the Falling Away a false teaching ?

[brakelite]

Now we beseech you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of the Lord is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth 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. Remember ye not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what with-holdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way, and then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-10

 

The above verses are perhaps, alongside Daniel 7 and Revelation 13, the most significant texts in the entire word of God as to revealing the identity of the Antichrist of scripture. When reading Daniel 7 and Revelation 13, and in contemplating the above, the reader cannot help but be impressed with the detail and amount of information given regarding the nature, the thoughts, beliefs and practices of this entity who from the beginnings of the Christian faith to the present time, has shed such a dark forbidding cloud over the true church. In these few short verses the apostle Paul has given his readers a clear and unambiguous signpost pointing directly to the rise of the man of sin, the son perdition. A signpost that he first revealed to the Thessalonian church in person, and reaffirmed in this letter. Bible scholars for centuries have agreed that the reason Paul was less than forthcoming in his letter in naming the ‘restrainer’ directly as he is commonly known, was because there was a very real danger involved in so doing. That danger coming from the restrainer himself, the Roman pagan empire who ruled the then known world at that time, and who, if upon reading this letter and realizing that Paul was here saying that their power was about to be swept away to make way for another, Paul would have been immediately arrested and charged, tried, and executed for sedition. Also, because the Thessalonians already knew who Paul was talking about, it was not necessary for Paul to risk naming Rome again.

Practically all the early commentators and church fathers were unanimous in their belief that Paul was referring to the empire of Rome in general, and to the emperors in particular. Let me provide a few quotes from those early church statesmen from their comments on this matter.

Let me start with Tertullian (160-240 A. D.):

“‘For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now hinders must hinder, until he be taken out of the way.’ What obstacle is there but the Roman state, the falling away of which, by being scattered into ten kingdoms, shall introduce Antichrist upon (its own ruins)? ‘And then shall be revealed the wicked one.” “On the Resurrection of the Flesh,” chapter 24; Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. III, p. 563

(Author: There is some debate as to whether the ‘falling away’ referred to here is in reference to the empire, or the church. Some say one, some the other, while some would contend that it can apply equally to both. Either way, Tertullian was certain in his belief that the restrainer was the Roman Empire. That it was Rome itself that inhibited in some way the rise of the antichrist. This was generally accepted throughout the church at that time, and it was common for the church to pray to God that He would keep the Roman power intact in order to keep the antichrist to coming to power in their time. Interesting also is Tertullian’s reference to the ten kingdoms that would result from the break up of Rome. This is a direct reference to Daniel 7 and the ten horns that would grow from the 4^th beast, Rome. The Antichrist, according to Bible scholars, was the 11^th horn. Tertullian was using the historicist method of prophetic interpretation, that method which viewed prophecy as an historical unfolding throughout history from the time the prophecy was first given, and culminating at the second coming. This is significant when understanding Paul’s letter, because Paul is clear that the Antichrist would appear as soon as Rome moves aside, and that very same Antichrist would still be there to be judged at the second coming. Not futurist, not preterist, but a historicist approach, just like Tertullian.)

In yet another comment, Tertullian states: “The very end of all things threatening dreadful woes is only retarded by the continued existence of the Roman Empire.”

(“Apology,” chapter 32; Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. III, p. 43).

A little later Lactantius,. in the early fourth century wrote: “The subject itself declares that the fall and ruin of the world will shortly take place; except that while the city of Rome remains, it appears that nothing of this kind is to be feared. But when that capital of the world shall have fallen, and shall have begun to be a street, which the Sibyls say shall come to pass, who can doubt that the end has now arrived to the affairs of men and the whole world? It is that city, that only, which still sustains all things.” (“The Divine Institutes,” book 7, chapter 25; Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. VII, p. 220).

Also early in the fourth century Cyril of Jerusalem (318-386 A. D.)had this to say: “But this aforesaid Antichrist is to come when the times of the Roman Empire shall have been fulfilled, and the end of the world is drawing near. There shall rise up together ten kings of the Romans, reigning in different parts perhaps, but all about the same time; and after those an eleventh, the Antichrist, who by his magical craft shall seize upon the Roman power; and of the kings who reigned before him, ‘three he shall humble,’ and the remaining seven he shall keep in subjection to himself.” (Catechetical Lectures,” section 15, on II Thessalonians 2:4; Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, vol. VII, p. 108 [New York: The Christian Literature Company, 1895]).

(Author: Much could be said about this quote; he also is clearly linking  the prophecy of Daniel to the text of Paul’s, agreeing with other eminent writers of his time that out of Rome would evolve ten kings, 3 of whom the antichrist would subdue. When the restrainer, Rome, was to be taken out of the way, and the horns of Daniel 7 arise, the antichrist would be revealed.)

Now I would present the testimony of Ambrose (died in 398): “After the falling or decay of the Roman Empire, Antichrist shall appear.” (Quoted in, Bishop Thomas Newton,

Dissertations on the Prophecies, p. 463)……

….and Chrysostom (died in 407): “When the Roman Empire is taken out of the way, then he [the Antichrist] shall come. And naturally. For as long as the fear of this empire lasts, no one will willingly exalt himself, but when that is dissolved, he will attack the anarchy, and endeavor to seize upon the government both of man and of God.”

“Homily IV on 2 Thessalonians 2:6-9,” Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, vol. XIII, p. 389

[New York: Charles Scribner’s and Sons, 1905]…..

…and finally Jerome (died 420): “He that letteth is taken out of the way, and yet we do not realize that Antichrist is near.”

(Letter to Ageruchia, written about 409A. D. Letter 123, section 16; Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, vol. VI, p. 236

Jerome’s testimony is interesting. He admits and agrees with other early church fathers of his era that Rome was the restrainer, and had been removed in his (Jerome’s) lifetime. Yet it had not yet been made apparent who the power was that could definitively be called the Antichrist. Why? Because from Jerome’s perspective, he could not see all the signs of the Antichrist’s coming, as they had yet to be revealed in history. The capital of the empire had been removed to Constantinople, and the Gothic barbarian kings* were already well entrenched in ongoing battles and wars to decide who would rule over the territories not long since vacated by Rome, but the three horns to be subdued were still in power. When they were subdued, it would then be known by whose power they were done away, and the identity of Antichrist would be revealed.

I think it would be very helpful if I here provided a quote from the eminent Catholic historian, Cardinal Manning.

“Now the abandonment of Rome was the liberation of the pontiffs. Whatsoever claims to obedience the emperors may have made, and whatsoever compliance the Pontiff may have yielded, the whole previous relation, anomalous, and annulled again and again by the vices and outrages of the emperors, was finally dissolved by a higher power. The providence  of God permitted a succession of irruptions, Gothic, Lombard, and Hungarian, to desolate Italy, and to efface from it every remnant of the empire.

The pontiffs found themselves alone, the sole fountains of order, peace, law, and safety. And from the hour of this providential liberation, when, by a divine intervention, the chains fell off from the hands of the successor of St. Peter, as once before from his own, no sovereign has ever reigned in Rome except the Vicar of Jesus Christ.”

(Henry Edward Manning, The Temporal Power of The Vicar of Jesus Christ, Preface, pp. xxviii, xxix. London: Burns and Lambert, 1862).

Manning has clearly given an excellent summary of history which directly correlates with the prophecies of Daniel and Paul. While attributing the fall of Rome to God and the rise of the papacy to Him also, Manning seems oblivious to the fact that he is revealing the perfect fulfillment of the prophecy of Paul and Daniel. That when Rome fell, the ten nations arose, three were subdued, and the ultimate victor was the papacy! It was the papacy itself that the empire of Rome was restraining. It was the papacy that arose after  the establishment of the ten horns. It was the papacy that had a major role in the subjugation of the 3 horns because being Arian in belief they were directly opposed to the rule of the pontiffs. It will be the papacy that will still be here at the second coming. Therefore it is the papacy which perfectly fulfils the criteria demanded of it in order to be identified as the Antichrist. And that my friends are precisely the reasons all non-Roman Bible commentators from the time of the 6^th century on were almost unanimous in identifying the papacy as the man of sin. The power who entered the church (the temple of God) and by claiming the power to forgive sin, and shut out of heaven whom he will, and claiming universal spiritual and temporal authority over all the earth, thus claiming the prerogatives of God,  “opposeth and exalteth 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.”

* The ten kings who vied for power as the Roman Empire disintegrated before them and from which 7 nations of modern Europe can trace their descent are known by most historians as being the Anglo-Saxons (Britain), the Allamanni (Germany), the Franks (France), the Lombards (first around the Danube then Italy), Visigoths (Spain), Burgundians (Burgundy/Switzerland)) and the Suevi (Portugal).

These seven of the ten Barbarian kingdoms were converted to Christianity and submitted to the authority of the Bishop of Rome. However, three of the kingdoms converted to Christianity but embraced the heretical teachings of Arius. It is believed that Arius (who was presbyter in Alexandria around the year 320 A. D.) taught that ‘Christ was created out of nothing as the first and greatest of all creatures’, very similar to Jehovah Witness teachings of today, although there is some doubt as the precise teachings of this man as there is very little evidence remaining of his writings. Most were destroyed by the papacy itself, or perhaps kept preserved in its library.  The teachings of Arius were condemned in two great church councils, Nicea (325 A. D.) and Constantinople (381 A. D.). These three Arian kingdoms were a threat to the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome [later called the Pope]. To make a long story short, these three kingdoms eventually were uprooted by the imperial power acting under the influence of the Bishop of Rome. The Ostrogoths (originally from Yugoslavia), by order of the emperor, dealt the heretical Heruli a devastating defeat in 493 A. D. (The Ostrogoths, though also claimed as being 'Arian', were converted by the efforts of Wulfilas, an ex-slave who became a missionary to his own captors, much in the same vein as Patrick of Ireland. Yet we do have some writings of Wulfilas, and it is clear that his teachings bear very little similarity to those purported to be of Arius, although they both lay no claim to belief in the trinity.)

It happened like this: The Pope requested the emperor to do something about the unorthodox Heruli. In response, the emperor sent Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths to do battle with Odoacer, king of the Heruli. Odoacer was slain by Theodoric and the Heruli disappeared from history. Then the Vandals were crushed (in 534 A. D.) by Belisarius, general of emperor Justinian’s armies. But there was one remaining horn which needed to be uprooted, and it was the most formidable of all: the Ostrogoths. After the Ostrogoths conquered the Heruli, they became extremely powerful. They were also Arians, so the Bishop of Rome [the Pope] implored Justinian to uproot the Ostrogoths. There were several battles between Belisarius and the Ostrogoths. The decisive battle, however, was in February of the year 538. The armies of Justinian, as well as the ravages of disease, decimated the armies of the Ostrogoths, they were expelled from Rome and in short order, disappeared from the historical scene in Europe.

In conclusion then, the 'falling away', or divorce from the true Bridegroom, came when the church of Rome rose to secular power at the time of the void left at the removal of the empire from Rome to Constantinople (Istanbul). In gaining secular authority and thus forming relations with the kings of the earth, the Roman bishops were comitting spiritual adultery, and therefore had 'apostatised' from the true faith, and had fallen away. It was the restraining power of the pagan Roman empire that held in check the development of the Papal Antichrist. It was prophesied by Daniel that this Antichrist, or 'little horn' would rule for 1260 days...42 months....time, times, and half a time. All these are prophetic time periods amounting to 1260 years. Add 1260 to 538 and we arrive at 1798. It was in that precise year that Bertier, the General in Napoleons republican army, entered Rome, took the Pope captive and taking him into exile where he died 2 years later. He disbanded the college of cardinals, and declared all the papal states as a republic. As a secular power, or a union of church and state which character the Papacy had thus held for exactly 1260 years, was dead. The beast had received her deadly wound.

In 1929 however this deadly wound was healed, when Mussolini reinstated the Pope to his secular/civil position, the Vatican City becoming an independent nation with the Pope as its King, and today the wound is now fully healed, with almost every nation on the planet having diplomatic relations with the Vatican thus "all the world wondering after the beast". That beast is now coming to power once again. Soon the NWO will be set in place, and the Pope is now currently being upheld by many as the only viable candidate to be its head. Soon this will be so, and the Antichrist power will rule the planet as prophesied. The second beast of Revel. 13, the beast with the horns like a Lamb but speaking as a dragon, is the USA. The US will form an image to the first beast, another union of church and state , a mirror image of the papacy of the dark ages. This image will enforce submission to Rome. The rest of the world under the UN will follow suit. The ten divisions (kings) of the world will give their power and sovereignty to the the Vatican, forming Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth, but it will only be for a short time. They will soon recognize their error, and turn on her and destroy her. Amid the judgements being poured out upon an apostate world, the true followers of Christ who rejected this counterfeit religious system, will be protected as they look forward to the soon coming of Christ, even while a counterfeit Christ (Satan) will emerge claiming the world as his. The elect will not be deceived.

[Revelation Man]

19 hours ago, seeking the lost said:

There is a huge difference between the two concepts of falling away and departing of the faithful.  If the word is departing it is departing from the faith and not departing of the faithful.  Revelation of the antichrist will be a revelation to the body of Christ.  It would be needless in my understanding to reveal this to the unbelievers.  That would be a revelation to unbelievers by divine revelation.

The Subject is the "Gathering together unto Christ Jesus" nowhere is it mentioned about any type of apostasy in the passage. So a Departing would be of the Church, departing and being with Jesus Christ. 

[Revelation Man]

19 hours ago, brakelite said:

The above verses are perhaps, alongside Daniel 7 and Revelation 13, the most significant texts in the entire word of God as to revealing the identity of the Antichrist of scripture. When reading Daniel 7 and Revelation 13, and in contemplating the above, the reader cannot help but be impressed with the detail and amount of information given regarding the nature, the thoughts, beliefs and practices of this entity who from the beginnings of the Christian faith to the present time, has shed such a dark forbidding cloud over the true church. In these few short verses the apostle Paul has given his readers a clear and unambiguous signpost pointing directly to the rise of the man of sin, the son perdition.

That's a little much, O skimmed through it at the bottom I saw a deadly would healed, I think that off kilter. Daniel 7 & 8 along with Rev. 13 and 17 are about the Anti-Christ.

[seeking the lost]

On 9/15/2016 at 9:50 PM, Revelation Man said:

I do not think this has anything to do with a Falling Away. It is the Church Departing before the Anti-Christ is brought forth. The King James Bible changed the known understanding that has been around for 1500 years.

There is a huge difference between the two concepts of falling away and departing of the faithful.  If the word is departing it is departing from the faith and not departing of the faithful.  Revelation of the antichrist will be a revelation to the body of Christ.  It would be needless in my understanding to reveal this to the unbelievers.  That would be a revelation to unbelievers by divine revelation.

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Thessalonians 2:3

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 

 

How could it be a departure of the faithful identified as a gathering unto Him?  That requires a resurrection.  There is not a resurrection until the beginning of the 1000 years.  Is it OK to add one here?

 

[brakelite]

6 hours ago, Revelation Man said:

That's a little much, O skimmed through it at the bottom I saw a deadly would healed, I think that off kilter. Daniel 7 & 8 along with Rev. 13 and 17 are about the Anti-Christ.

I am sorry if you find that post of mine a little long, but can anything be fully understood or appreciated with just 5 second reads? If you want to really understand something, you need to spend time at it. Make an effort. You skimmed thru and then passed judgement "that's off kilter"? No offense, but I suggest you read it again properly then we can discuss any objections.

The subject of the Antichrist is one of the most misunderstood subjects in Christendom. The vast majority of people who call themselves Christian is already deceived by the Antichrist, because they reject Biblical evidence proving he has been here for a long time, and has himself deceived everyone into believing he is yet to come. That was the whole crux of my post. Everyone on this topic page all agreed that that the restrainer was some power that would/is restraining the future Antichrist, yet I showed that the restrainer was pulled away 1500 years ago, and the Antichrist was then revealed! And all Bible scholars of that time and afterward, recognized him.  In this all modern Christians reject not only Biblical evidence, but also the unanimous testimony of many of the early church leaders and all the reformers, and many in between. Looking to the distant horizon in expectation of some great ogre entering the scene with all guns blazing destroying Christians and everything to do with Christianity, the church is cosying up to the real Antichrist who has been posing as one of them since it began to form as far back as the 3rd century. 

The church today is mesmerized, deceived, and asleep and will happily receive the mark of the beast when it is made mandatory because they have no idea who the beast is, let alone its mark. They take the word of the writers of novels and movies, of their Televangelists and false prophets, who all have been sucked in by the perverted teachings of the Jesuits of the 16th century who turned the reformers collective accusations away from the true Antichrist, and made of modern Christians clairvoyants and prognosticators of the future. The greatest and most dire warning in all scripture is cried out against those who receive the name, mark, or number of the Antichrist, yet modern Christians reject all the clear evidence God has provided in His love as to the real identity of that Antichrist. Rather than accept the word and history, they pick and choose scripture to fit with their imaginations concerning what they believe will take place in the future, while turning away from the reality of the past which will repeat.

What modern Christians are doing and perpetuating in forums such as this is rejecting testimony for which 100s of thousands have died to preserve, and accepting the word of the Antichrist HIMSELF that he is yet to come. Wake up church!

[Revelation Man]

6 hours ago, seeking the lost said:

There is a huge difference between the two concepts of falling away and departing of the faithful.  If the word is departing it is departing from the faith and not departing of the faithful.  Revelation of the antichrist will be a revelation to the body of Christ.  It would be needless in my understanding to reveal this to the unbelievers.  That would be a revelation to unbelievers by divine revelation.

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Thessalonians 2:3

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 

 

How could it be a departure of the faithful identified as a gathering unto Him?  That requires a resurrection.  There is not a resurrection until the beginning of the 1000 years.  Is it OK to add one here?

 

Like I have ALREADY STATED, people will depart from the faith, that is the SUBJECT in 1 Timothy, isn't it ? GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS and DOCTRINES OF DEVILS...............This is the Subject. Now show me ANYWHERE in 2 Thessalonians 2 where the Subject is about people turning from the Faith.........Hold on, I will paste it............

 

2 Thessalonians 2King James Version (KJV)

2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, (The Day of The Lords WRATH WILL NOT COME) except there come a falling away first, (Until the Church Departs, NOT FROM THE FAITH, but from the EARTH in the TWINKLING OF AN EYE) and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things ?

6 And now ye know what withholdeth (The Holy Spirit keeps Satan from bringing forth the Anti-Christ until it is TIME for the Anti-Christ, which is AFTER the Gospel has been preached unto ALL THE EARTH, like Jesus stated.)  that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

 

Please show me anywhere in these scriptures where the Subject of the passage is the Departing of the Faith ?  It is not to be found. The passage is all about the Gathering unto Christ (Rapture) Happening BEFORE THE DAY OF THE LORD or Gods Time of Wrath. BUT, BUT, BUT....Someone was scaring the Thessalonians, no doubt telling them that that they were in Gods Wrath or that the Day of the Lord was UPON THEM.......Paul says, DON'T WORRY, don't be deceived,  didn't I tell you this before, when we were together ? THAT DAY (Day of the Lord/Gods Wrath), will not come until the Church Departs or their is a DEPARTING.... ( In the Twinkling of an Eye, we shall be Changed !! ) then and only then will the Anti-Christ be Revealed. 

 

Now show me where in any of these verses, in the passage anywhere, where it is speaking about a departure of the Faith ? ANYWHERE !! The passage is about the Rapture (Gathering unto the Lord) the Day of the Lord or Gods Wrath, NOT COMING, until the Church Departs, and the the Anti-Christ is Revealed. 

I have noticed, those who can't get the timing of the Rapture right, usually miss many other events, because it throws everything else out of Kilter.

[Revelation Man]

God is our Blessed Hope, Amen.

Edited October 6, 2016 by Revelation Man

[Revelation Man]

1 hour ago, brakelite said:

I am sorry if you find that post of mine a little long, but can anything be fully understood or appreciated with just 5 second reads? If you want to really understand something, you need to spend time at it. Make an effort. You skimmed thru and then passed judgement "that's off kilter"? No offense, but I suggest you read it again properly then we can discuss any objections.

 

I explained all of Revelation, in my own words in 10-12 Chapters.... On this site in Prophecy....See Below.

See Above.....................................................Revelation 6 thru 22............................................................................

1 hour ago, brakelite said:

The subject of the Antichrist is one of the most misunderstood subjects in Christendom. The vast majority of people who call themselves Christian is already deceived by the Antichrist, because they reject Biblical evidence proving he has been here for a long time, and has himself deceived everyone into believing he is yet to come. That was the whole crux of my post. Everyone on this topic page all agreed that that the restrainer was some power that would/is restraining the future Antichrist, yet I showed that the restrainer was pulled away 1500 years ago, and the Antichrist was then revealed! And all Bible scholars of that time and afterward, recognized him.  In this all modern Christians reject not only Biblical evidence, but also the unanimous testimony of many of the early church leaders and all the reformers, and many in between. Looking to the distant horizon in expectation of some great ogre entering the scene with all guns blazing destroying Christians and everything to do with Christianity, the church is cosying up to the real Antichrist who has been posing as one of them since it began to form as far back as the 3rd century. 

The Anti-Christ is a Man, I think he is here today but only like 40-50 years Old. He has not been here for centuries. 

 

1 hour ago, brakelite said:

The church today is mesmerized, deceived, and asleep and will happily receive the mark of the beast when it is made mandatory because they have no idea who the beast is, let alone its mark. They take the word of the writers of novels and movies, of their Televangelists and false prophets, who all have been sucked in by the perverted teachings of the Jesuits of the 16th century who turned the reformers collective accusations away from the true Antichrist, and made of modern Christians clairvoyants and prognosticators of the future. The greatest and most dire warning in all scripture is cried out against those who receive the name, mark, or number of the Antichrist, yet modern Christians reject all the clear evidence God has provided in His love as to the real identity of that Antichrist. Rather than accept the word and history, they pick and choose scripture to fit with their imaginations concerning what they believe will take place in the future, while turning away from the reality of the past which will repeat.

What modern Christians are doing and perpetuating in forums such as this is rejecting testimony for which 100s of thousands have died to preserve, and accepting the word of the Antichrist HIMSELF that he is yet to come. Wake up church!

The Church does not go through the Tribulation.

[Ezra]

2 hours ago, Revelation Man said:

The Church does not go through the Tribulation.

Correct.  The Tribulation and the Great Tribulation are for the unbelieving and the ungodly.

[brakelite]

5 hours ago, Ezra said:

Correct.  The Tribulation and the Great Tribulation are for the unbelieving and the ungodly.

That would be nice, but no where in scripture is such a thing suggested. Those in expectation of being taken off the planet before the global reign of Antichrist, will throughout his reign not only not recognize him, but accept his mark. I say "his", as a figure of speech. The beast is not an individual man. All beasts in prophetic scripture are political powers...in this case, a union of church and state...aka Vatican. Not only has this power been here for centuries, along with 10 others grew out of the 4th beast of Rome as a little horn, uprooted three of the other ten, ruled for 1260 years and then recovered, speaks blasphemies, persecutes the saints, changed times and laws, but also sits in the temple of God (the church) believing himself to be God by forgiving sin and "creating his Creator"! And you think all this evidence insufficient to indict him as the only true Antichrist? What more could you want?