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rendered `appearing', to set forth the new hope of the Body of Christ which is connected
not with the air, but with the glory of the highest heaven where the Lord is now
enthroned, and this church is seen positionally in Him (Eph. 2: 6). II Thess. 2: 8 is the
only occurrence of epiphaneia before Acts 28:, and then it is not used in a parallel
way, but as an adjective describing the magnificence of the Lord's Second Advent as He
descends to the earth. The wonder of the revelation of His glory in heaven's holiest of all
to which the hope of the Body is linked, is beyond the power of words to adequately
describe. It needs the illumination of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1: 17, 18), for it is far beyond
all things earthly.
We note that Paul, under the guidance of the same Holy Spirit, does not hesitate to use
parousia for the coming of the lawless one.
"Even he, whose coming (parousia) is according to the working of Satan, with all
power, and signs and wonders of a lie (literally)."
Satan is no creator, but he is a marvelous imitator. It could appear that he copies or
travesties the basic truths of Christianity to ensnare and deceive the whole world at the
time of the end. Christ's death, resurrection and coming again are copied by Satan acting
through the Beast:
"And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death
stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast" (Rev. 13: 3 R.V.).
"The beast that thou sawest, was and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss
. . . . . and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, they whose name hath not been
written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast,
how that he was, and is not, and shall come" (Rev. 17: 8 R.V.).
Even the word of II Thess. 2: 9 describing the advent of the lawless one are used
directly of the Holy Spirit and His miraculous gifts:
"God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders and with divers
miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will" (Heb. 2: 4).
All these Satanic happenings are the climax of the evil system described in the Word
of God as the lie, originating from the Deceiver at his fall, and in direct conflict with God
and the truth as personified in Christ. The great battle of the ages now leaves its
`mystery' form or secret working and comes right out into the open. There are two
mysteries or secrets allied to these opposing forces and both are resolved in a person.
The Beast, when manifested on the earth in his appointed time, is Satan personified
(Rev. 13:), or Satan's Messiah, or the mystery of lawlessness revealed. In opposition to
this we have the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Mystery or Secret of God (Col. 2: 2 R.V.).
Those who think that miracles are necessarily a proof that a deed is of Divine origin are
going to fare very badly at this period of history. Satan, to a certain point, can work
miracles, but they are lying miracles with one object--to deceive. How great this
deception will be can now be appreciated and the need realized, of the Lord's warning
when He was dealing with this very time:
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and
wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect" (Matt. 24: 24 R.V.).