Why they are called signs and lying wonders [in 2 Thess. 2:8-13], we shall then be more likely to know when the time itself arrives. But whatever be the reason of the name, they shall be such signs and wonders as shall seduce those who shall deserve to be seduced, "because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved." Neither did the apostle scruple to go on to say, "For this cause God shall send upon them the working of error that they should believe a lie." For God shall send, because God shall permit the devil to do these things, the permission being by His own just judgment, though the doing of them is in pursuance of the devil's unrighteous and malignant purpose, "that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Therefore, being judged, they shall be seduced, and, being seduced, they shall be judged. But, being judged, they shall be seduced by those secretly just and justly secret judgments of God, with which He has never ceased to judge since the first sin of the rational creatures; and, being seduced, they shall be judged in that last and manifest judgment administered by Jesus Christ, who was Himself most unjustly judged and shall most justly judge.
See Augustine's City of God (De Civitate Dei), Chapter 19.
2 comments:
Greetings Brother! I am happy to have found your blog, and am sure I will enjoy reading your posts. Just wanted to say hi. While I don't hold any degrees, I am a fellow bibliophile, and am currently studying Greek in my free time.
Your Brother in Faith and Love,
Matthew
magnifyjehovah.com
Greetings Brother Matthew!
Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm happy to hear from you, regardless of your station in life. :) And it is always good to meet a fellow bibliophile. I wish you all the best on your study of Greek.
Your brother and fellow servant,
Edgar
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