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Bible expositors have taken the view that the man of sin is a contemporary
figure appearing in an eschatological setting just prior to the second
coming, thus ignoring the papacy.139
Some of these expositors equate the man of sin to: 1) the antichrist
referred to in the first and second epistles of John; 2) the little horn of
Daniel 7 and 8; 3) the beast of Revelation 13 (but these expositors such as
Ryrie ignore the papacy and also place the occurrence in an eschatological
setting).140 Both G.
Kittel141 and S. S.
Smalley142 associate
Paul’s man of lawlessness with the antichrist. Moreover, F. F. Bruce cites
evidence that the man of lawlessness would begin to appear after the fall of
Rome which also identifies the restraining power preventing the appearance
as pagan Rome. He also cites evidence that the antichrist, the man of
lawlessness and beast of Rev. 13 are all linked as one.143
While Bible expositors may disagree
with one another, the Bible alone interprets itself. Paul’s man of
lawlessness who opposes and exalts himself above God, making himself equal
with God, is parallel with both the description of the little horn in Dn.
7:8, 25; 8:11 who opposes God and changes times and laws, and also with the
picture of the beast in Rev. 13 who with a “mouth” speaks great pompous
words and “blasphemies” (Rev. 13:5). The evidence is unequivocal that
the beast, the little horn and the man of sin, all refer to the papacy.
Seventh-day Adventist expositors have taken this view consistently144
as well as the early Protestant reformers.145
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The Restrainer and the Daily |