“Therefore when you see the`abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place ” (whoever reads, let him understand), (Matt. 24:15 NKJ)

Normally “holy place” would refer to the Temple area, that’s how Daniel would have understood it (Dan. 11:31). But Christ is speaking about a future event, and Daniel didn’t understand the prophecy as it applied to the end times because the words were “sealed”:

7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”
9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. (Dan. 12:7-9 NKJ)

The natural reason for words that describe the end time to be sealed is because they refer to different things in the end time. Christ’s sacrifice changed everything, the Temple of God became the Church. If Daniel had a vision of a NT church while hearing the words, he would be totally confused. To him the words were “sealed”.

Notice the Holy Spirit cautions the reader right after the words “holy place”, “let him understand.” We in the End Time are to understand the “Holy Place” is NOT the literal temple, its the new place where God’s Spirit indwells, the Church.

Therefore, the following is sound:

1. Redefinition of the Holy Place in the New Testament​

Under the Old Covenant, the τόπος ἅγιος (holy place) was primarily associated with the physical temple in Jerusalem, the locus of God’s presence. However, the New Testament frequently redefines “holy” spaces and practices in spiritual terms:

• Believers as God’s Temple:
  • “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, NKJV).
  • “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”(1 Peter 2:5, NKJV).
    • The shift from physical temple to spiritual community means that references to holy places can now be applied to the gathered Church, which is where God’s Spirit dwells.
• Jesus’ Redefinition of Worship:
  • “The hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father… God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”(John 4:21, 24, NKJV).
    • Jesus eliminates the necessity of physical locations like the temple, further supporting a spiritual understanding of the holy place.

2. Matthew’s Use of Symbolism​

Matthew often employs symbols and typological language to connect the Old Testament with its fulfillment in Christ and His Church:

• The Abomination of Desolation in Daniel:
  • In Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11, the abomination refers to sacrilegious acts desecrating sacred spaces. Historically, this included Antiochus IV Epiphanes’ desecration of the temple. However, in Matthew 24:15, Jesus points forward to events beyond the physical temple, as evidenced by His broader eschatological discourse.
  • Matthew 24 addresses the end times, suggesting that the “holy place” could symbolize the spiritual domain of God’s people, not merely a geographic location.

3. Paul’s Parallel in 2 Thessalonians 2​

Paul’s discussion of the “man of sin” provides a framework for interpreting Matthew 24:15:

• “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.”(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, NKJV).
  • Paul refers to the “temple of God,” but in the New Testament, this phrase often denotes the Church rather than a physical temple. For example:
    • “For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:17, NKJV).
  • The “man of sin” sitting in the temple symbolizes a spiritual corruption or apostasy within the Church, aligning with the broader New Testament theology.

4. The Church as the Covenant Community​

In the New Covenant, the Church replaces the physical temple as the locus of God’s presence:

• “You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” (Ephesians 2:19-21, NKJV).
• This new identity of the Church as God’s holy temple suggests that references to the “holy place” may also apply to the collective body of believers.

5. Spiritual Desecration in the Church​

The concept of the abomination standing in the holy place is consistent with warnings about apostasy and corruption within the Church:

• “For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”(Matthew 24:24, NKJV).
  • Spiritual defilement occurs when false teachings and leaders usurp the authority of Christ within the Church, metaphorically standing in the “holy place.”
• This aligns with warnings in Revelation about the infiltration of evil within the community of believers (Revelation 13:6-8).

6. Historical and Eschatological Applications​

While Matthew 24:15 may have had a historical fulfillment in events like the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70, its eschatological dimension points to broader spiritual realities:

• Just as the temple represented God’s presence in the Old Covenant, the Church represents His presence in the New Covenant. Thus, desecration of the “holy place” refers to the spiritual corruption of God’s people, consistent with the broader New Testament understanding.

Conclusion​

The phrase τόπῳ ἁγίῳ in Matthew 24:15 can refer to the Church, understood as the spiritual temple of God under the New Covenant. This interpretation is supported by:

1. The New Testament’s redefinition of holy places.
2. Matthew’s use of symbolic language.
3. Paul’s parallel reference to the “temple of God” in 2 Thessalonians 2.
4. The Church’s identity as the locus of God’s presence.

This perspective shifts the focus from a physical temple to the spiritual community of believers, emphasizing the New Covenant’s theological framework.

The Two Phases of The Antichrist: Man of Sin and Son of Destruction

Give no belief to false words: because there will first be a falling away from the faith, and the revelation of the man of sin (266 ἁμαρτία hamartia), the son of destruction (684 ἀπώλεια apoleia), (2 Thess. 2:3 BBE)

“Man of sin” (458 ἀνομία anomia). The Genitive construction describes him as “of sin”, sin characterizes him. As “sin is lawlessness” (1 Jn. 3:4), his “lying signs and wonders” (2 Th. 2:9) “teach the lie lawlessness has divine approval”, that God’s Word the Bible no longer applies (2 Th. 2:10).

The Holy Spirit likely chose the title “son of destruction” to allude to Judas a “son of the evil one” (BBE διάβολός ἐστιν Jn. 6:70; 17:12). Confirming this, Satan is called “Destruction” and “Apollyon” in Revelation 9:11. Like Judas he will be a miracle working Jewish Christian the apostate church receives as “The Christ (Mt. 24:4-5, 23-25).”

At mid-week the “man of sin false Christ” morphs into “the son of destruction” “seed of Satan” (Gen. 3:15), revealing he is a hybrid Elohim-human created by the Nephilim (Gen. 6:1-4) “extraterrestrial Designers”. His Pompous Mouth (Dan. 7:8, 20; Rev. 13:5) boastfully claims his hybrid nature is superior to all Elohim, all formerly called God but who actually were extraterrestrials. In this way he denies the Deity of Father and the Son (1 John 2:18-23), opposing all called God in history while exalting himself above them all.

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. (2 Thess. 2:4 NKJ)

The prophet Daniel also revealed the Desolator (Antichrist) comes in two phases, first as a friend to the world’s religions, but at mid-week he forbids their sacrifices and offerings to God:

And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week; and for half of the week he shall cause sacrifice and offering to cease; and upon the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” (Dan. 9:27 RSV)

John’s Revelation also reveals the two phases False Christ/Antichrist when the End Time Beast with a “lion’s mouth” (Rev. 13:2) gets a new “mouth speaking great things and blasphemies” for the remaining 42 months (Rev. 13:5; Dan. 7:8, 20, 25; 11:36).

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
…
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. (Rev. 13:1-5 NKJ)

ANTICHRIST
antichristos (ἀντίχριστος, 500) can mean either “against Christ” or “instead of Christ,” or perhaps, combining the two, “one who, assuming the guise of Christ, opposes Christ”-Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., White, W., Jr. (1996). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 30). T. Nelson.

So the Antichrist has two phases. For 3.5 years he is the “Man of Sin” “false Christ” speaking through a mouth “like a lion” (2Th. 2:3. Rev. 13:2), then he opposes the historic definitions of God speaking blasphemies (Rev. 13:5) pompously exalting himself above them all as the “Son of Destruction” (2Th. 2:3-4) “Seed of Satan” (Gen. 3:15) “Antichrist” denying the Father and the Son (1Jo. 2:18, 22).

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away (646 ἀποστασία apostasia) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 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. (2 Thess. 2:3-4 NKJ)

The great apostasy from God begins in the Christian church when it receives the “Man of Sin” as “the Christ”. That apostasy “takes away” (05493 סוּר cuwr, Dan. 12:11) the Daily offered to God in Christ, the sacrifice for our sins.[1] The religious apostasy goes global as the Man of Sin morphs into the Beast Son of Destruction. Then everything called God or formerly worshipped as God, is replaced by worship of Adonikam who claims his hybrid human-Elohim nature is superior to all Elohim, regardless what God is called on the earth. That is when he ends all sacrifice to God globally (Dan. 9:27), at “mid-week” or 3 ½ years into his seven year reign.

John saw the seven head ten-horn Grecian Roman Empire “Beast” rise from the sea in the end time “week of years” (Rev. 13:1-8). The entire Beast symbolizes both the “Kingdom” and the “King”, notice the personal pronoun “he” from Revelation 13:5 on. This also happens in the book of Daniel where the same ten-horn version of the Roman Empire appears in the end time (Dan. 7:17, 23).

For the first 3.5 years the mouth of the beast is “like a lion”. In Revelation 5:5 Jesus Christ is called the “lion of the tribe of Judah”. Therefore, as the “lion’s mouth” is on the Beast it is a “false Christ” that speaks through it.

The “Man of Sin” is a miracle working Jewish Christian named Adonikam, who appears in the end time in the region of ancient Antioch. [1] He will work miracles and do signs and wonders that seem to authenticate his claim to be “the Christ”. But they lie (2Th. 2:7-12). He is called the “man of sin” because he condones sin for the sake of ecumenical unity. The already fallen away Christian church loves his Gospel of health and wealth and hail him as “the Christ” (2 Th. 2:3-4).

Sometime earlier God had stopped restraining the mystery of lawlessness, spiritism (2Th. 2:7-12) and there was a war in heaven. Satan and his angels were cast out and they appeared on earth (Rev. 12:7-12) claiming to be “the Elohim Creators” of life on earth. They lyingly pointed to the fossil record claiming it proved they designed life on planet earth. Now they had returned to ascend mankind to the next level, and gift it with immortality. The human race would become like the Elohim, and travel the universe also creating life on other planets as participants in the cycle of life. They demanded a NWO be created, and the seven head ten-horn Grecian Roman Empire was born.

The Man of Sin welcomed the arrival of the “Elohim”. He adopted their “scientific Atheism” and welcomed their arrival as the coming of the Kingdom of God. The Elohim therefore made Adonikam Chancellor of the New World Order. [2]

Ancient Babylon was rebuilt using fallen angel technology and supernatural character of the city so impressed those who dwell on the earth, they believed the Grecian Roman Empire invincible:

3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound [buried beneath desert sand], but its mortal wound was healed [Babylon rebuilt], and the whole earth marveled [at its supernatural character] as they followed the beast [Chancellor Adonikam].
4 And they worshiped the dragon [commander of the “ETs”], for he had given his authority to the beast [Adonikam], and they worshiped the beast [the concept of the NWO], saying, “Who is like the beast [NWO], and who can fight against it?” (Rev. 13:3-4 ESV)

As the rider on a white horse, “Chancellor” Adonikam the false Christ didn’t use any arrows to conquer the earth, globalist ecstasy swept the planet:

And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He [Adonikam] who sat on it had a bow; and a crown [Chancellorship] was given to him [by Satan], and he went out conquering and to conquer (Rev. 6:2 NKJ)

At mid-week the lion’s mouth stops talking, the Grecian Roman Empire is given a new Antichrist mouth that speaks “great things and blasphemies.” (Rev. 13:5. 1Jo. 2:18-22) He morphs into the “Son of Perdition” “opposing” all earthly definitions of God, and “exalting” himself above them all. His hybrid Elohim-human nature is claimed to be above the Extraterrestrial Elohim themselves. He proudly claims to be the “seed of Satan” (Gen. 3:15), claiming he is the source of the Elohim DNA in his genome (2Th. 2:3-4).

For five months before mid-week evil spirits tormented and terrorized the TARES in Christendom to convert to scientific atheism, to be loyal to Adonikam when he proclaims himself the “seed of Satan” “Son of Perdition” (2Th. 2:3-4). But Satan so hates God, anyone alive remotely connected to Christianity, even the apostates that converted to the Beast and accepted his Mark, were slain by the demonic Kings of the East and their demon Calvary (Rev. 9:13-19). The third of the earth’s population that once claimed to be Christian was slain.

Then the Beast Emperor Adonikam turns his attention to those all who refuse his mark. The Great Tribulation for the Church begins and most die a martyrs death (Rev. 13:5-7).

Now you know the two phases of Antichrist.

For more on the seven head ten-horn Grecian Roman Empire click here.
For more on the 666 allusion to the name Adonikam Click here.
For more on rebuilt religiopolitical Babylon Mother of Harlots click here

END NOTES
[1]
The “Man of Sin” is a miracle working Jewish Christian named Adonikam, who appears in the end time in the region of ancient Antioch.

That the “Lawless One” will be a miracle “lying” sign and wonder worker filled with the energy of Satan to deceive is explicit in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9.

I infer from Daniel 11:37-18 “God of his fathers” he is Jew. I infer from “son of perdition” (2 Th. 2:2-3. John 17:12) he is a Christian Jew like Judas.

I infer from Micah 5:5 (Isa. 14:25-27) he is “the Assyrian” which connects him to Nimrod founder of “Old Babylon” where the Harlot was born.

I infer from Scripture’s powerful allusion to the Greek Syrian Antiochus Epiphanes (Dan. 8:8-17; 11:31) who failed to fulfill all the parameters of the Antichrist—as it is expressly said the prophecy pertains “to the time of the end”, that much true concerning Antiochus and his dwelling in Antioch, is predictive about the coming “King of the North” (Dan. 11:40-43) 666 Adonikam Jewish Christian Assyrian. Of the tribe of Dan (Gen. 49:17)

666 is Biblical allusion to Adonikam’s name, the double entendre “number OF a man” is literally true, Adonikam generated 666 children (Ezra 2:13).

This is not an exhaustive list, there are other texts consistent with these inferences, I at the moment can’t recall them precisely.

I am not a prophet, none of this is prophecy in the classic sense. Its inference only and as such any part or all of it except what is required by sound exegesis, can be wrong.

16 Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait on the LORD, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him.
18 Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the LORD of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion.
19 And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?
20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isa. 8:16-20 NKJ)

[2]

Again, this is not prophecy, its abductive logic, inference. Scripture depicts the Devil as intelligent and strategic. Recent events prove there is something to the reports of UFO’s. Persons of impeccable character and specifically trained to observe and report what they see (astronauts, military pilots etc) saw and experienced UFOs. Added to this is the massive delusion reshaping the public perception of reality to accept “ancient astronaut theory”. Therefore, as UFO spectacle and massive indoctrination exist, its clear something or someone is causing it to exist. It is certainly affecting the church causing many to fall away (2 Thess. 2:3-4).

It would be strategic genius to convince mankind extraterrestrial (Designers) have created mankind, all life on planet earth. It would appropriate creationist intelligent design arguments, efficiently incorporating the facts of the fossil record and all known physics to destroy the mass delusion of evolution. There is only one being who would benefit from such events. Satan. Its ironic, only after YHWH God is removed as the Intelligent Designer, will “intelligent design” arguments convince mankind.

Its reasonable to infer the UFO deception being preached today is part of the Satan’s strong delusion to convince mankind join the Great Revolt against all called God or worshiped (2 Th. 2:3-4). If we take scripture literally, when the Devil and his fallen angels are cast out of heaven it is truly WOE to the earth. It follows they appear physically on earth and in our skies (Rev. 12:7-12), perhaps as they did in the Days of Noah (Gen. 6:1-4).

Although I have not surveyed all the UFO cults existing today, its seems very likely what Satan taught a former automobile journalist and race car driver Claude Vorilhon (now Rael) will be basic deception he uses in the end time. “Scientific Atheism” is abductively the likely gist of the strong delusion Satan will use to convince the earth to fight God at Armageddon (Rev. 16:13-14). “Flying frogs” are symbolic of UFOs, out of the mouths of the evil trinity, the “inspired” “BIG LIE” YHWH God can be defeated by men and fallen angel. Just as happened in Nimrod’s revolt at the Tower of Babel. Or before that, when men conspired with the Nephilim to seduce the angelic sons of God into apostasy. This Demonic-Human rebellion against God has happened before, it will happen again (Rev. 20:7-10).

Again, I am NOT a prophet. The LORD has not spoken to me. I am inferring what will be, assembling pieces of the puzzle that is before us, to arrive at a picture consistent with Bible revelation. Its inference. Not prophecy. It certainly is a leap over vast chasms of the unknown. It seems elegant to me, parsimonous to the facts available. Only time will tell if I assembled the pieces correctly.

If assembled correctly perspicuity of scripture and sola scriptura alone account for it. If not, the blame is mine alone. Scripture is always 100% correct.

May the generation alive suffering the Great Tribulation keep looking up for Jesus their Redeemer, He is surely near. Maranatha! Amen and Amen, Come LORD Jesus!

END NOTES
[1]The Daily Sacrifice today is offered up by the priesthood of the Church. That is consistent with the NT applying Temple language to the church (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:19-21). Peter identifies the church as a spiritual house “a holy priesthood, to offer up “spiritual sacrifices” (πνευματικὰς θυσίας) acceptable to God” (1 Pet. 2:5). In Hebrews we are admonished to “offer (399 ἀναφέρω anaphero) sacrifice (2378 θυσία thusia)” and that word is used in the Greek Septuagint to offer (399 ἀναφέρω anaphero) the whole burnt offering that in Hebrew is the “daily” (08548 תָּמִיד tamiyd) 1 Ch. 16:40; 23:31; 2 Ch. 2:3; 24:14.

Our sacrifice of praise is to be offered “continually” (1275 διαπαντός) to God. In Hebrews 13:1-17 the ethical exhortations being an expansion of the acceptable duties priests offer God daily (Heb. 12:28 λατρεύωμεν εὐαρέστως τῷ θεῷ).

Christ is our perpetual sacrifice for sin (Heb. 10:11-18), it follows “that the daily sacrifice “shall be taken away” (05493 סוּר cuwr; 868 ἀφίστημι) is taken away by the church’s apostasy when it receives the false Christ man of sin, which occurs at the commencement of the seven years.

Not taking up the cross daily for Christ, doing service to the false Christ, is the apostasy that removes the daily sacrifice of praise and offerings to God and that marks the beginning of the end time week as does the arrival of Moses and Elijah to prophesy in Jerusalem (Rev. 11:3-7)

The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed
The Little Horn in Daniel with the Big Mouth
Adonikam is the Name of the Beast having 666 meaning
Antichrist will sit in the Temple of God: Third Temple or the Church?
The Antichrist: His Names Titles and Descriptions
What did the apostle John reveal when he said: “It is the last hour”?
The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed

Will the Temple in Jerusalem be rebuilt, a “third Temple” or will the Antichrist sit in the Church the Temple of God?

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:3-4) KJV

 

 

 

Arguments for the Temple of God being the Church:

1) As Matt. 24:2-3 associates the destroyed Temple with the time of Christ’s coming, therefore it won’t be rebuilt before He comes.

2)In John 4:21 Christ likens the fate of the Temple in Jerusalem to that of the Samaritan Temple that lay in ruins as He spoke, saying the time would come (about 40 years later) when the Father would never again be worshiped in either Temple. Therefore, even if the Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt by unbelieving Jews or antichrists, it would not be a “temple of God”.

3)Paul speaks elsewhere of a coming Christian apostasy (1 Tim. 4:1–3; 2 Tim. 3:1–5; 4:3–4) as do other apostles (2 Peter 2:1; 3:3; Jude 1:18; 1 John 2:18-19; 4:3-6). Therefore, this is a Christian apostasy that permits the “man of sin be revealed…and sit as God” among them. As a Christian apostasy is irrelevant to who rises up in Judaism or sits in their Temple, the “Temple of God” in 2 Thess. 2:4 must be the Church consistent with Paul’s teaching elsewhere (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21).

4) Only the literal temple in Jerusalem could be God’s Dwelling (naos) to “Pharisee Paul” (Acts 23:6), but he consistently calls the Church the “Temple of God” (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21). This implies “Apostle Paul” has undergone a deep and permanent change in perspective that would prevent any casual switch in reference, with no explanation.

The only other times Paul spoke about a physical temple were in 1 Corinthians 9:13, Acts 25:8 and Acts 17:24. In 1 Corinthians 9:13 and Acts 25:8 he uses the word “hieron” (G2411) specifically to refer to the physical temple in Jerusalem. In Acts 17:24, however, he is quoted as using the word “naos” to refer to physical temples in general, however his entire point was that it was no longer a physical temple in which God dwells. Why? Because the Church was now that temple. In these instances where Paul spoke about a physical temple he never referred to it as “the temple of God” or an equivalent expression.-ICA (David Wood) 03/13/2011, MidnightWatcher’s Blogspot.
https://midnightwatcher.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/2-thessalonians-24-a-rebuilt-jewish-temple-or-something-else/

5) Paul’s references to the Holy Spirit among the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 1:5-6; 4:8; 5:19; 2 Thess. 2:13) strongly imply they understood the Church is the peculiar “dwelling naos of God” (1 Peter 2:4-10) and not the literal Temple in Jerusalem.

6) Thessalonica was populated by Macedonians and Romans, gentiles (1 Thess. 1:9) who had little awareness of events in faraway Jerusalem. Yet Paul speaks of an apostasy leading up to events in the Temple as though the Thessalonians would have full awareness as these occur. Therefore, the “temple of God” must be the Church for it alone has the required property of Thessalonian “awareness.”

7) He is a “man of sin”: Man teaching aberration from God’s truth in parody of Christ (cp sin versus truth, John 8:46). False teaching defiles “God’s building” the “temple of God” (1 Cor. 3:9-10, 16-20) which temple the church is.

Paul seems to have in view false teachers who deviated from apostolic truth teaching their own doctrines. Hence they lost all reward for their works, when the fire of God’s judgment inspects them they barely escape the flame as if from a burning house, stripped of everything that might have merited reward (1 Cor. 3:15.) But Paul’s object changes, from plural men to a single man as though he has someone in particular in mind: “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Cor. 3:17)

Clearly he has in view the “man of sin”, the miracle working False Christ Man defiling the Temple of God, “which temple ye are” with aberrant Christianity. The “destruction” threatened confirms this, in 2 Thess. 2:3 the “man of sin” is named the “son of destruction” because he will merit everlasting destruction in the lake of fire (cp John 17:12).

This “man of sin” “son of destruction” connection is manifest in the Old Testament:

Ἄνθρωπος τῆς ἁμαρτίας [man of sin]answers to the Hebrew אִישׁ אָוֶן, [unrighteous man] Isaiah 55:7; Prov. 6:12, υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας [son of destruction]to the יֶלֶד פֶשַׁע [children of transgression], Isaiah 57:4, which the LXX. translate by τέκνον ἀπωλείας [children of destruction]. –Biblical Commentary on the New Testament by Dr. Hermann Olshausen. (A. C. Kendrick & D. Fosdick Jr., Trans.) (Vol. 5, p. 315). New York: Sheldon, Blakeman, & Co.

In Isaiah 57:4 the “children of transgression” are also ‎ זֶ֥רַע שָֽׁקֶר “seed of falsehood” (KJV); “offspring of liars” (NIV); “a lying race” (NJB)

Therefore, “temple of God” in 2 Thess. 2:4 is the church the miracle working man of sin will defile with his aberrant Christianity. A literal temple in Jerusalem cannot be similarly defiled.

Arguments why temple of God cannot be the church.

1)

An objection fatal to interpreting the temple of God here as the Church (1 Co 3:16, 17; 6:19) is, the apostle would never designate the apostate anti-Christian Church “the temple of God.”-Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 396). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Ad Hominem, circular, begging the question. Its educational the opposing side uses the same argument:

As God’s residence of old was in the temple of Jerusalem, so he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God: not that temple that was built by Solomon, and afterwards rebuilt, and to be built again, as the popish doctors speak: for it is now destroyed, and if it be built again by this man of sin, as they say, at his coming, would the apostle call that the temple of God? 2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 3:12, &c.-Poole, M. (1853). Annotations Upon The Holy Bible (Vol. 3, p. 760). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.

Paul calls the “revelation” (ἀποκαλύπτω) of the “lawless one” a “coming” (παρουσία), this is a parody of Christ’s coming to His church, “False Christ in parody of True Christ” therefore calling an apostate Church “the temple of God” is in keeping with OT usage of “Israel, Zion” etc. where a fallen away people did not lose their “title” even though apostate. The presence of TARES in the church does not change its identity as “God’s field” even when both grow together until the harvest (Matt. 13:30, 36-42).

Arguments 1-8 below are from Professor John Eadie’s Commentary on the Greek Text of the Epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians. (W. Young, Ed.) (pp. 271–272). London: Macmillan and Co.

(1) There is no allusion in the context to believers as being God’s temple, but in the text quoted believers are directly asserted to constitute it.

Incorrect, Paul asks: “Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?” (2 Thess. 2:5) NKJ “These things” necessarily include the transition that began in the gospels where Jesus’ Body is the Temple (Mat. 26:61 comp. John 2:21) and the Church is the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 4:12 cp. 1 Peter 2:4-10).

And if so, καθίσαι makes no difficulty. Its figurative sense, as holding a place of power, sitting as judge or ruler, is more frequent still: see in St. Paul, 1 Cor. 6:4: and Matt. 23:2: Rev. 20:4: to which indeed we might add the many places where our Lord is said καθίσαι on the right hand of God, e.g. Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; Rev. 3:21.-Alford, H. (1976). Alford’s Greek Testament: An Exegetical And Critical Commentary (Vol. 3, p. 290). Grand Rapids, MI: Guardian Press.

(2) The sitting in the temple does not harmonize so fully with the notion of an ideal or spiritual structure. The citations adduced by Alford are scarcely in point, as 1 Cor. 6:4 where, ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ occurring, the meaning is evident, and the clause signifies, set them as judges for a definite purpose; Matt. 23:2, where sitting in Moses’ chair is without ambiguity; and the image is as evident in Rev. 20:4. The places where Jesus is said to sit on the right hand of God are not in analogy; his royal seat is the symbol of highest exaltation and of universal dominion.

Fallacy of accent. “He as God sitteth in the temple of God” (kjv) therefore Alford is correct, its figurative of Divine authority:

“The primitive religious idea expressed in the image of the enthroned God, which has Canaanite roots, is strongly represented in the OT (cf. 1 Sam 4:4; 2 Sam 6:2; 1 Kgs 22:19; 2 Kgs 19:15; 1 Chr 13:6; Pss 9:8; 11:4; 47:9; 80:2; 99:1; 103:19; Isa 6:1; 37:16; 66:1; Jer 3:17; 14:21; Ezek 1:26; 10:1; Dan 3:55, etc.)-Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. (1990–). Exegetical Dictionary Of The New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 225). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.”

(3) If the temple of God be the church, what is meant by the Man of Sin entering and seating himself in it, what is the position which he thus occupies, what is his locality? for he is no ideal usurper, no personified evil influence, but a man with human conditions.

See #2 directly above, same Fallacy of accent. He sits as God figuratively in the figurative Temple of God the Church. Neither are literal.

(4) Could those for whom the epistle was written easily understand by the phrase the Church of Christ; or would not their first and most natural conclusion be that the Man of Sin was to intrude into some actual edifice, set apart to God as His shrine, like that at Jerusalem, and appropriate it.

Circular Argument begging the question entirely as its clear from Paul’s consistent application of “Temple (naos) of God” to the church proves.

(5) The next clause, “Showing that He is God,” leads to the same conclusion—he that sits in God’s temple takes God’s place and prerogative, for the temple is His dwelling—a conclusion which could not have the same force and evident connection with the premises, if the temple were the church so symbolized, for the usurpation would in that be more directed against Christ, the Head of the Church, or the Holy Spirit who fills it.

Hasty Generalization Fallacy Ignoring surrounding context. The man of sin appears to an already fallen away church with all power signs and wonders that serve the lie he is the Christ. The energy of Satan inworking is an energy of error that deludes the apostate church to descend into even more lawlessness. As they do not love God’s truth Holy Scripture they have no means of discerning the spirits. At mid-week he casts off all trappings of Christianity and morphs into the Son of Destruction, denying the Father and the Son (1 John 2:18-23) elevating himself above all called God. He continues to work signs and wonders that serve that lie. A Jewish Temple is foreign to this context.

(6) Were the Church to permit such intrusion, and such impious self-assumed exaltation on the part of the Man of Sin above all divine persons and worship, it would cease to merit the appellation of the temple of God, and also on account of the previous apostacy which made such self-deification possible.

False Cause Fallacy. Self-deification isn’t dependent upon the fallen away church. Its dependent upon the unrestrained working of Satan in all power, signs and wonders serving the lie the man of sin is the Christ and his gospel of lawlessness divinely approved. Then at mid-week casting off all trappings of religion he declares himself above everything called God or worshiped becoming the Son of Destruction Beast Antichrist, denying the Father and the Son (1 John 2:18-23).

(7) The entire prophecy is distinct and personal, of prosaic and plain directness in its description of a man possessing a certain character, bringing on himself a certain destiny, and as he is at length to be consumed by the Lord at His Second Advent; may it not therefore be said that it would be out of harmony with this literal style of prediction, if in the midst of it should occur an unfamiliar image as the name of a place which is the scene of a usurpation without parallel?

Fallacy of Misleading Context. That is a distorted view of the text which does not mention an image, it speaks of a man who figuratively sits down as God in the church working signs and wonders that serve that lie.

(8) This is also the earliest interpretation. Irenæus says expressly, “Besides he has also pointed out, which in many ways I have shown, that the temple in Jerusalem was made by the direction of the true God. For the apostle himself, speaking in his own person, distinctly calls it the temple of God … in which temple the adversary shall sit, trying to show himself off as Christ.

Argumentum Ad Verecundiam appeal to authority and hasty generalization fallacy as the “earliest interpretation” necessarily dates from the 1st century, not the second century. Alas, those early writings are mostly lost to us.

That ends Professor JOHN EADIE’S arguments. There are others which I will treat at a later time.

The Third Temple: Does scripture anticipate a future Jewish Temple?
The Two Phases of Antichrist: Man of Sin & Son of Destruction
The Daily Sacrifice shall be taken away—Daniel 12:11
The Seventy Weeks in Daniel 9 Explained
The Antichrist: His Names Titles and Descriptions
What did the apostle John reveal when he said: “It is the last hour”?
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?
Do Ancient Aliens Appear in the Bible?
The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed