Let's refresh our memory about two points presented in the article "God's Spoiled Americans." First, "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Cor. 3:17). And second, we find in Luke 17. "And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the Days of the Son of Man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed" (Luke 17:26-30). I wanted to plant fresh those two seeds in your mind before examining 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4. The Apostle Paul was inspired to write these prophetic words about the lawless spirit that would creep in at this end time.

We are going to look at and expound more on these verses than perhaps we have done in the past. "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that you 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. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away [from truth, an act of rebellion] first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thes. 2:1- 4). Statistics confirm that the American people have become the world's most immoral people, even though we are a nation that has two or more Bibles in most homes. Americans no longer have a fear of sinning. The freedom to openly commit sin is a reflection on American churches. They have come to reflect so much of the world's attitudes, that they don't convict the American people of sin in their lives anymore. Satan has successfully conducted one of the greatest attacks of deception ever on God's people in America. He, and his world's system, have challenged America and our spiritual walk of righteousness as never before. Every ounce of God's spiritual authority is being challenged by His enemy, Satan the devil, in these last days. This is why we are told, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Eph 6:10-13).

Satan is out to destroy every good thing with which God has blessed us. One of the key prophetic scriptures about the end time that reveals the nature of Satan's development of lawlessness in our nation is found in the verses we read earlier. The Apostle Paul gives us this challenging and different perspective: Paul's opening statement in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 says, "Now we beseech you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul is clearly talking about the last days, the times in which we now live. Paul continues to say in verse three, two things must happen before Christ returns. First – a falling away from truth or rebellion must occur. And second, the man of lawlessness must be revealed. The Greek word Paul uses in this verse for falling away or rebellion is: "Apostasia" – Strong's number 646. It means: 1. to defect; 2. to abandon; 3. or renounce a belief in following the Biblical standards.

People may wrap themselves up in an act of religious service, but their lifestyles and actions reveal they are no longer committed to the standards of God [the laws of God]. This fits the type of falling away or rebellion Paul is talking about. He is warning that in the last days many who go by the name of "Christian," will fall away from being committed to following true Biblical standards or laws!

Paul continues his prophetic warning in verse three of 2 Thess. 2, by calling those who fall away or rebel against following the laws of God "the man of sin." In modern English, a more suitable phrase might be to call such a person a "lawless man" or "lawless mankind." The reason Paul uses the phrase "man of lawlessness" is because from a Biblical viewpoint, any one who does not respect the law of God is a person with a lawless spirit. Looking back to the article titled "God's Spoiled Americans" we see our country was established on many of the Christian principles found in the Bible. Our constitution was based on Christian standards. In the past, we were referred to as a "Christian" nation. "In God We Trust" is written on our money. The majority of American people used Christian standards to live by until recent years.

People in America today have the attitude that they have the right to decide right from wrong for themselves! Where have we read and seen this kind of attitude before? Turn the clock back with me to Genesis 2:15. This is where Adam and Eve were given one commandment to obey and keep! "And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shalt not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shalt surely die" (Gen. 2:15-17). We are instructed in Matthew 4:4, "To live by every word of God." But is that what Adam and Eve did? The answer is clearly NO! Is this what America is doing? The answer is again, clearly NO!

In verse 4 of 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul tells us how Satan develops this spirit of rebellion or lawlessness against God's standards in the minds of the American people. "Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." This verse reveals the spiritual reason why the people of our society have developed a spirit of lawlessness against God's Laws in this last generation. This attitude has swept across our nation like a flood. It has been a process of man setting himself up. "Good ole me," "Me, Myself and I." I - will decide right from wrong, good from evil. I will serve my thoughts and actions as though I were a god!

God's word shows us Satan has this same attitude and this is why God cast him out of heaven. "For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High" (Isa. 14:13-14). I, I, I, I, – I will do this – I will do that – I will be my own god. Mankind is guilty of following Satan's example, and doing the same thing Satan did by saying, "I will make myself like the most High." This is rebellion that is called lawlessness!

This is how Paul in verse 4, describes the "man of sin," - the man of lawlessness! Paul is not talking about just one man, he is talking about men of sin – men of lawlessness! There is more than just one person who rebels and falls away from God's truth. Paul is talking about a general state of apostasy from a country that has chosen for themselves what is right and what is wrong - what is good and what is evil! This warning from Paul is powerful! In essence, Paul is saying in verse 4, "He [which refers to the lawless man in verse 3] opposes and exalts self [his own being] over every thing that is called God or is worshiped and even sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God!

Where does Paul say man sets himself up? In the temple of God!! Where is the temple of God in the eyes of the Church of God today ? Scripture tells them and us, that the temple of God is in the body of the man with God's Holy Spirit. "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1Cor. 3:16). "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness" (1 Cor. 3:19). "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (2 Cor. 6:16). In all three of these verses the Greek word for temple is "naos." Christ used this same word "naos," in John 2:19, 21: "Jesus answered and said unto them, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. But He spake of the temple of His body" (John 2:19-21).

Paul, as we have read, uses this same word naos, when speaking in 2 Thes. 2:4. Paul, inspired by God is saying, "We, the American people have placed our own self interest above our regard for God's law, so our personal desires can be secured. Right from wrong - good from evil, has become a matter of personal taste. Americans have set themselves - their body and mind, up to be the temple of God - by the way they serve themselves before serving God's Biblical instructions and standards.

The Apostle Paul gives a perfect description of the religion of "humanism" and the "new age" generation and movement. Satan's powerful influence has developed a selfish Me-- me – me – get – get – get attitude in man. This is a trick and deception Satan is using to dupe us into serving ourselves as though we were a god above the true God. This fits Paul's description of "the man of sin" - "the man of lawlessness."

Jesus Christ gave us our clue on this self serving subject in His warning about the last days. As you remember, Christ compared Noah and Lot's days to our day. "And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even as it shall be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed" (Luke 17:26-30).

We are reminded again, that there is not one sin on that list. It is not a sin to eat, drink, marry, buy, sell, plant or build. These are all good, legitimate things. Why does Christ focus only on the good, legitimate things people were doing in Noah and Lot's day? Why did He not mention in this prophetic statement, our present day sins of immorality, crime, violence, drug epidemic, over crowded jails, homosexuality or abortion? To answer that: Christ had a greater concern, because He saw, as did Noah and Lot, the greater weakness: The people got so caught up and became so engrossed in those things that pertain to their every day life, that they began to serve only themselves. Get, get - not, give, give. The people then, as now neglected God's life giving instructions!!

The book of Revelation shows how far away from God we have become. "These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see" (Rev. 3:14-18 NIV).

American's commitment to self interest has caused the people's heart to grow cold and hard. Serving ourselves – like we are a god. Then we become bait for the enemy – Satan! One of the greatest ways we can dishonor God is to put Him in a secondary place in our life. It is a slap in our Father's face to allow the things of this world to become more important to us than being obedient in carrying out His will and seeking to follow His ways!

God has equipped us with the power of His Holy Spirt. He trusts us to fulfill our responsibility in faith to His laws of truth. In closing, here are three encouraging verses from God's faithful word to help us persevere: "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Rom 8:37). "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).