A man is coming who will pretend to be the Christ (the Savior of the world), but we would not refer to this as “the first of two Christ’s coming.” He is the infamous “Antichrist” that the apostle John spoke of in 1st John 2:18, “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.” The word “anti” can mean either “against” or “in place of” and this man will be both. He will surely be AGAINST the true Christ, but he will also pass himself off as the true Christ so in that sense he is IN PLACE OF Christ. This can be seen in a detailed description of him in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2. Verses 3-4 read, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and THE MAN OF SIN is revealed, THE SON OF PERDITION, WHO OPPOSES AND EXALTS HIMSELF above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that HE SITS AS GOD in the temple of God, SHOWING HIMSELF THAT HE IS GOD.” You referred to this one as “Satan himself,” but as we just saw, he is only a man. Yet he will be energized by Satan and this is seen in verse 9, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” You are right in saying he “will deceive many,” for verse 10 goes on to say, “And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

In connection with the true “second coming of Christ,” it is important to see that there are “two stages” to His Second Coming. There is the “Rapture” when Christ comes to take believers home to heaven (see John 14:2-3; 1st Thessalonians 4:15-17 and 1st Corinthians 15:51-57) and then seven years later there is the “Revelation” when Christ comes to earth to set up His Millennial Kingdom (see Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:30; 2nd Thessalonians 1:7-9 and Revelation 19:11-20:3). I would like to show you some contrasts between the Rapture and the Revelation. The Rapture will be indicated by “A” and the Revelation by “B”.

(A) A sign less, imminent event—Philippians 3:20 and 1st Thessalonians 1:10

(B) Preceded by many signs—Matthew 24:3-30 and 2nd Thessalonians 2:2-8

 

(A) He comes FOR His saints—John 14:3; 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 2nd Thessalonians 2:1

(B) He comes WITH His saints—Jude 14 and Revelation 19:7-8, 14

 

(A) He comes as the MORNING STAR—Revelation 22:16 and 2nd Peter 1:19

(B) He comes as the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS—Malachi 4:2

 

(A) Unseen by the world—1st Corinthians 15:52

(B) Seen by everyone—Revelation 1:7

 

(A) Source of COMFORT—1st Thessalonians 4:18

(B) Source of FEAR—Luke 21:25-27

 

(A) The DAY OF CHRIST—Philippians 1:6, 10; 2:16; 1st Corinthians 1:8; 2nd Corinthians 1:14

(B) The DAY OF THE LORD—1st Thessalonians 5:2-4; Malachi 4:1-3, 5 (235.3) (DO)