Daily Text for Saturday, March 20, 2010

 
Saturday, March 20

From among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.—Acts 20:30.

While Jesus’ apostles were living, they acted as “a restraint” against such apostasy, but after they died, many false Christian sects developed. Today, there are hundreds of conflicting religions in the realm of Christendom. The Bible pointed to the rise of Christendom’s clergy, describing them collectively as “the man of lawlessness” and “the son of destruction . . . whom the Lord Jesus will do away with . . . and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence.” (2 Thess. 2:3, 6-8) Christendom’s clergy are lawless in that they have misled millions by promoting teachings, holidays, and behavior contrary to the Bible. Like the religious leaders whom Jesus condemned, the modern-day worshippers who are part of “the son of destruction” face destruction with no hope of a resurrection.—2 Thess. 1:6-9. w08 6/15 1:6, 7.


According to the apostle Paul, “the man of lawlessness” and “the son of destruction. . . whom the Lord Jesus will do away with. . . and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence,” “sits down in the temple of The God, publicly showing himself to be a god.” —2 Thessalonians 2:3,4.

What is the temple of God where the "man of lawlessness," also called the “son of destruction,” is sitting and has elevated himself over everyone within this temple? Is it Christendom? Explaining what the temple of God is, the Watchtower article Do You Share Jehovah’s View of Sacred Things? (Nov. 1, 2006) said the following:

A Holy People

10 The Christian congregation of anointed ones is sacred in Jehovah’s eyes. (1 Corinthians 1:2) In fact, the entire group of anointed Christians on earth at any one time is likened to a holy temple, although they do not constitute Jehovah’s great spiritual temple. Jehovah inhabits that temple by means of his holy spirit. The apostle Paul wrote: “In union with [Christ Jesus] the whole building, being harmoniously joined together, is growing into a holy temple for Jehovah. In union with him you, too, are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit.”—Ephesians 2:21, 22; 1 Peter 2:5, 9.

11 Paul further wrote to anointed Christians: “Do you not know that you people are God’s temple, and that the spirit of God dwells in you? . . . The temple of God is holy, which temple you people are.” (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17) By means of his spirit, Jehovah ‘resides’ among the anointed and ‘walks among them.’ (2 Corinthians 6:16) He continually guides his faithful “slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47) The “other sheep” cherish their privilege of being associated with the “temple” class.—John 10:16; Matthew 25:37-40. w06 11/1 pp. 23-24 Do You Share Jehovah’s View of Sacred Things? (Bold added)

If, as they claim, the Christian congregation of anointed ones makes up God’s holy temple, and are the “temple” class, then, according to the apostle Paul, that is where the man of lawlessness is located and exercising authority over everyone. Accordingly, the man of lawlessness cannot refer to the clergy of Christendom, unless we are to believe that they are God’s temple and God’s spirit resides among them and their fellow worshipers. Please note, the Daily Text comments above warns that “modern-day worshippers who are part of 'the son of destruction' face destruction with no hope of a resurrection.” They should take that warning to heart for it involves them personally.