Originally published in "The Lord's Coming Herald & Wesleyan Bible Prophecy Advocate," Winter Edition 2004
The Man Of Lawlessness Revealed
Many professed Christians today live in
the old covenant dispensation in which their church building is constantly being
referred to as "the house of God."
Friends, according to the New Testament, the physical
building that we meet to worship in every Sunday is not the "house of God"
properly so called. The New Testament, rather, clearly teaches that our physical
body, indwelt by the Holy Ghost, is the only true and proper "house" or "temple"
of God in this dispensation (I Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20; Ephesians 3:19-22;
Hebrews 3:6).
The difference between the physical building being the house
of God, and our bodies being the house of God, is the difference between the old
and the new covenants, and between Judaism and Christianity.
Apparently some among us do not yet fully understand or
appreciate that difference. If we all did, then we would have a different
concept that would lead to a different result.
When the building is the house of God the "Sunday-only" brand
of religion, or "Christian-only-in-name" develops. When our body is the temple
of the Holy Ghost, we live holy lives and worship God in spirit and in truth
seven days a week. Big difference.
The Bible teaches that at the end-time the man of
lawlessness, or antinomianism, will be revealed "sitting in the temple of
God" (II Thessalonians 2:4). Paul is talking about the apostasy among
professed believers in the last days. He is saying that lawlessness will replace
the Holy Ghost as the rule of life for those who claim to belong to God. Is this
not true today among the masses that believe "once saved always saved," and have
departed from the Bible standards of life-style holiness?
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