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When will the lawless one be revealed? The answer to this question matters plenty, as documented at length in Part 1 of The Sign for the Bride. If you haven't read that recently and thoroughly, I recommend doing so before proceeding.
So, how do we know when? Students of history have long observed that events with similar themes tend to occur on anniversaries of the same day, as accounted on the Lord's calendar. In keeping with this trend, the revealing of the lawless one is foreshadowed in biblical events that occurred on the thirteenth day of the first month! As we keep vigilant watch according to the Lord's commands we see signs validating this insight into the timing and our confidence is encouraged. Our faith is built in the Lord's faithfulness as He attends to our growing need.
At the appointed time, what this knowledge represents will provide for those who are not deceived to be a special witness to others. Those beneficiaries will have an epiphany about the baptism that reveals, about the identity of the impostor and through that, the genuine! (What Will Their Acceptance be but Life from the Dead?)
Barabbas
This first type of the lawless one I'd like to introduce is rather obscure. Barabbas is introduced in the Gospels where Jesus was delivered up before Pontius Pilate and the Jews had just been given one final opportunity to receive him as their King. A choice was offered to them according to the custom of releasing one prisoner to the Jews at Passover time.
All four Gospels record this event, which is a notable feature. (Matthew 27:11-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:28-19:16 )
Although Pilate was highly motivated to release Jesus, the Jews demanded another. They rejected Jesus who is called Christ and accepted one Barabbas, a robber, murderer and insurrectionist. To understand this prophetic model it helps to know an obscure fact. According to some of the manuscripts used by Origen, several of the Caesarean manuscripts, the Sinaitic palimpsest, and the Palestinian Syriac lectionaries, this man Barabbas was actually named in Matthew's gospel record as Jesus Barabbas. (see Jesus Barabbas) The name, Jesus Barabbas, further translates to Jesus “son of the father.” Think about how the choice they were offered was between two men who could both be identified as Jesus “son of the father.”
Barabbas was involved in political insurrection, in robbery, murder and rebellion. Who is this man's father? The deeds of Barabbas betray his father as the same one who fathered the chief priests who stirred up the crowd to receive him, according to our Lord's declaration in John 8.
Forget about what you've seen on TV and heard in the pulpits and seminaries about this character. Jesus Barabbas represents an antithesis of the Jesus who was rejected, the sinless only begotten son of the Heavenly father. Pilate's offering is a prophetic model of what is to come. “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” Antichrist, or Christ, which will it be? Jesus Barabbas was demanded and received by the crowd. As it was, so it will be in the appointed day.
Now, here's the key insight. Careful study will reveal that these two men were offered to the crowd on the day before Jesus was crucified. He was crucified as the Passover Lamb, sacrificed according to tradition on the 14th day of the 1st month. Jesus Barabbas, an alternate “Jesus son of the father” identity, was therefore presented for release, demanded and received on the 13th day of the 1st month. When you realize the significance of these historical modelings you will understand how the sacrifice of the Passover lamb and the custom of releasing one prisoner at the people's request were ordained so that we might have such a testimony as this, where attention given to the dates really matters!
Note that Jesus Barabbas had been a prisoner, restrained by the authorities, and consider well how this relates to the following revelation about the antitype.
In Part 1, I wrote the following about this verse. “The point being made about keeping pneuma antichristos in check is that there is a set time for this. There is a season for restraining and a fit moment appointed for its release.” Pilate knew the appointed time for releasing a prisoner from his restraints was the time of the Feast. The chief priests and elders of the people also knew the time appointed for the release of a prisoner, and they probably had this custom in mind when planning the set-up, making the arrangement with Judas to betray Jesus to them. Do you perceive how the knowing of the time of the prisoner's release in advance is being illustrated? Some of us understand about appointed times, and when the lawless one is revealed on the 13th day of the 1st month, we will not be taken by surprise.
There's more links between the account of Barabbas and 2 Thessalonians 2 to be found in the conversation between Jesus and Pilate. In 2 Thessalonians 2:10 and 12 we read about receiving the love of the truth and believing the truth, in the context of being saved and of judgment. Compare this pertinent exchange on the subject of truth, and how a flipped “Barabbas” variant is coming soon.
The other realm is referenced, where my Lord's kingdom or authority still is. The realm of pneuma antichristos authority is by contrast the underworld, and it is even now of this world, of this present kosmos.
Another cryptic time element embedded in the context of the Barabbas prophecy is the Shemitah count pattern that identifies this present season to us as the pivot of the age. I explain this at length in the blog series, To Number Our Days Aright. The pattern is where 3 things of a kind are followed by a 4th of a similar kind, but something notable happens in the 4th that distinguishes it from the first 3. This pattern represents weeks of years counted off from the celestial sign of Yom Teruah, 1991. I received it by revelation insight about Peter and his 3 instances of denial followed by a rooster crowing. You can see this pattern in the way the account of John 18 is given. In verses 25 to 27, Peter is denying the Lord, then he hears the rooster crow. In this context, it's a prophetic signal that we're in the season of the harvest. What follows is the account where Barabbas is going to be demanded and released.
That's one example, and here's another of the same Shemitah count pattern.
Three times Pilate appeals to the crowd, but there is no change. Then he makes one more appeal, for absolution, with a token gesture, washing his hands of the matter. According to pattern, in that 4th instance in series, he releases the prisoner they demand, Jesus “son of the father.”
The Lord speaks to us through the subtle language of patterns about times and seasons so we are prepared in advance for the critical transitions of the ages. That's His habit, and He is consistent and faithful.
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More to follow, Lord willing.