The Signs

The Lawless One

The text speaks of a specific figure—the man of lawlessness—and of an antichrist spirit that has been at work since the first century. The beast system of Revelation 13 is the political and economic architecture that enables his rule. These are not the same thing, but they converge.

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

The spirit is already present. John writes to a first-century church and tells them it is already at work.

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.1 John 2:18

Daniel saw the same figure centuries earlier. A horn speaking great things, waging war against the saints, changing the times and the law.

I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.Daniel 7:8

John sees the system that supports him. A beast with authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. An economic system where no one can buy or sell without the mark. The consolidation is total.

And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.Revelation 13:7-8