The Man of Lawlessness
The concept of the man of lawlessness—also called the man of sin, the antichrist, and the beast in Scripture—is deeply connected to apostasy, deception, and the counterfeit of true discipleship.
I. The Man of Lawlessness Prophesied
2 Thessalonians 2:3–4
“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.”
Paul warns that before the return of Messiah, there will be a great apostasy (falling away).
The man of lawlessness will appear, exalting himself in a religious context—“the temple of God.”
This figure mimics divine authority, but is in rebellion against God.
This shows us that apostasy and the rise of a false religious system go hand-in-hand with the revealing of this figure.
II. The Man of Lawlessness Creates an Apostate Christianity
This man does not come with outright atheism but rather corrupts true faith into a counterfeit religion, resembling the ekklesia but rooted in rebellion.
2 Thessalonians 2:9–10
“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth…”
He will perform signs and wonders that appear spiritual or godly.
He deceives people within a religious framework, using falsehood cloaked in spirituality.
This is not secular opposition—it's religious deception.
This false system is not paganism, but a twisted form of Christianity, marked by external appearance without truth.
III. The Book of Revelation’s Description: The Beast and the Harlot
Revelation 13:1–2
“Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea… The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.”
The beast represents a global, lawless power system.
It is empowered by the dragon, who is Satan (see Rev. 12:9).
It receives worship (Rev. 13:4), mimicking how worship should go to God.
Revelation 12:9
“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world…”
Satan is behind the beast.
He deceives the entire world through this system.
Revelation 13:11–14
“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth… He performs great signs… and deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs.”
This is the false prophet—the religious arm of the beast.
He uses miracles and false worship to deceive.
This aligns directly with 2 Thessalonians 2.
This false prophet looks like a lamb (i.e., resembles Christ) but speaks like a dragon—again, false Christianity in appearance but satanic in origin.
IV. The Great Harlot: The Apostate Religious System
Revelation 17:1–6
“Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters… With whom the kings of the earth committed fornication… I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints…”
The harlot represents a corrupt religious system that collaborates with political power (“kings of the earth”).
She is guilty of persecuting true disciples (“drunk with the blood of the saints”).
She is wealthy, powerful, influential (Rev. 17:4)—unlike the persecuted, humble followers of the Messiah.
Revelation 17:9 says she sits on seven hills, which is a historic reference to Rome, a clear pointer to how institutional Christianity began to form as early as the 4th century under Constantine and later became Roman Catholicism.
V. Satan Is Behind the Apostasy
Satan cannot create—he counterfeits. He sees that he cannot defeat the true disciples of Messiah by force (Rev. 12:17), so he joins them by creating a false version of the ekklesia.
2 Corinthians 11:13–15
“For such are false apostles… transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms into an angel of light… His ministers also transform as ministers of righteousness.”
Satan’s greatest deception is not paganism, but false Christianity.
He joins the ekklesia outwardly, introducing hierarchy, false doctrine, tradition, and counterfeit leadership.
This is the church that rose in the centuries after the apostles: structured like Rome, governed by men, filled with rituals and man-made creeds. It became an institution instead of a body, and tradition replaced truth.
VI. Summary of Key Scriptures
Man of Lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:3–10) -A figure of religious deception working by Satan
Beast (Rev. 13:1–8) -Political-religious empire empowered by Satan
False Prophet (Rev. 13:11–14) - Performs miracles to deceive through false religion
Dragon (Rev. 12:9) - Satan, who empowers the beast and deceives the world
Great Harlot (Rev. 17) -Apostate religious system, corrupted by wealth and politics
Satan's disguise (2 Cor. 11:13–15 ) -Satan poses as light and righteousness to deceive
VII. Why It Matters
Many are following morality, church systems, and Christian tradition—but not the Messiah Himself. They are part of a counterfeit system that looks like the Kingdom but is actually built by Satan.
People think they are “in the church,” but they are in Babylon.
They trust in sacraments, denominations, preachers, and rituals, but not in the resurrected King.
This is why Messiah said,
“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord…’ and I will declare, ‘I never knew you’” (Matthew 7:21–23).
The man of lawlessness, the beast, the false prophet, and the harlot are not separate entities—they are facets of the same apostate system designed by Satan to counterfeit the Kingdom of God and deceive the world.