Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 edition. Excerpt: ... 16 THE GREAT APOSTACY. shall consume with tltc 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. 1 Timothy Iv. 1-3.--Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in tlie latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy: having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats. Daniel m. 25.--And Ite shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and tliink to clmnge times and laws. It appears to have been the opinion of at least a part of the primitive church, that the end of the world was at hand. It is a matter of no consequence to us, in the present discussion, whence this opinion arose. It is evident that Paul felt it to be important that this mistaken notion should be rectified, and in that portion of the text selected from his second epistle to the Thessalonians, he assures these ancient believers that an event of great moment was first to take place, which was a great apostacy from the church, and the revelation of "that man of sin," "that wicked" whom the Lord would eventually and signally destroy. It is generally and very properly agreed, that, in this passage, the apostle refers to a previous prediction of the same event in the Old Testament scriptures. He speaks of the man of sin, or as our translation emphatically renders it, that man of sin; as if of a person or a power which had already occupied the minds of the prophets, and which it had long since been foretold should be revealed to oppose the purposes of the Most High. The...
