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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, shewing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:1- 4). Paul was attempting to comfort the Christians in Thessalonica because they had heard a rumor that Jesus had already come a ‘a second time. In the letter he tells them that Jesus will 1 2 ome wom ea not come until two things occur. First there is to be a great "falling away" This falling away (apostasia in the Greek), according to the structure of the language, seems to suggest a sudden forsaking or defection from the Biblical world-view Regarding the coming apostasy Hal Lindsey states, "The first event which precedes the Day of the Lord is ‘the apostasy' This word (apostasia in Greek) means to deliberately forsake and rebel against known truth from and about God. The definite article before the term ‘apostasy’ clearly indicates that it is a definite event, not just a progressive rebellion. The article also points out that this fact had been taught to them before. There are many New Testament warnings about a progressive apostasy in the last days which would grow in intensity within professing Christendom.... But ‘the apostasy' is a reference to a climactic event when the professing church will completely revolt against the Bible and all of its historical truths. "This ultimate act of apostasy on the part of professing Christendom sets the stage for the second great sign, which apparently happens almost simul- taneously . . . the unveiling of the Antichrist.""? While the exact nature of this event is not revealed by the Apostle Paul, the result is that millions of ostensible Christians will be deceived into believing that the Biblical world- view is wrong. They will forsake God, the Bible, and faith in Jesus Christ. The second event that must occur before the return of Jesus Christ is the coming of the "man of sin ... the son of perdition." This Coming World Leader will be so powerful and so cunning that he will exalt himself above all that is worshiped. This is a remarkable statement. This includes Jehovah, Allah, Buddha, and Krishna, etc. Incredibly, he will be received and worshiped by the world as the savior—the one that is able to bridge the gulf that has separated religions, science, and philosophy for thousands of years. How will he accomplish the feat? After the great falling away, Paul tells us, the Coming World Leader will accomplish the deception with lying signs and wonders: "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. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned 157