the son of
perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God,
or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with
you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he
might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already
work: only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way.
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 workings of Satan with all
power and signs and lying wonders." 2 Thes. 2:3-9.

This is indeed a wonderful and an awful prophecy. Surely a dark image or
power called a "man of sin" and "son of perdition" shall arise and eclipse
the sun (Christ) and the moon (the church) and cause the stars (the holy
ministry) to fall. "There shall come a falling away first." This has
direct reference to the corruption of God's professed people led by an
exalted, selfish, greedy and blinded ministry. "The falling away" is
translated from the Greek _apostasia_, and means a departure.
Lexicographers define the word as meaning "an abandonment of what one has
professed." In this text it means an abandonment of the true principles
and doctrines of Christianity.

That "man of sin," "son of perdition," or, as in Rotherham's translation,
"man of lawlessness," and "son of destruction," is what arose and obscured
the sunlight. This epithet is given to Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of
Christ, in John 17:12, this "man of sin" is a betrayer of Christ and his
pure doctrine. This "man of lawlessness," no doubt, has reference directly
to the pope of Rome as the prime factor in the apostasy; but in its
broadest sense it includes the whole of the beast religion, both Romanism
and Protestantism. This "man of sin" is a manism, or a power under the
government of man, and is identical with the beast power of Rev. 13. This
"son of destruction" "opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is
called God." He opposes or denies, and perverts the doctrines of God that
are not congenial to his desires. He denies in a measure the divine
authority, and forms creeds and laws for the government of God's people,
thus arrogating to himself what properly belongs to God. They take upon
themselves such titles as "Father," "Holy Father," "Vicegerent of t