This question shows up in my e-mail box so often that I simply have to write a short article in explanation. Those of you who have read many of the other pages in this site know that I have very strong convictions that Maitreya is the Antichrist spoken so often in the Bible. To me, I find the best explanation in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 (KJV Bible) which states:

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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.
5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6) And now ye know what witholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

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You may have noticed that I rarely quote scripture references in my articles. This isn't because I make things up, but rather because I do not wish to sound authoritative by tossing around verses. I have scriptural reasons for virtually everything I write about, but I also find that many people these days quote scripture to mean what ever they need it to mean.

OK... now my answers, based on my personal understanding of the above passage (which I believe to be Holy Spirit inspired):

Verse 3 seems to say that Jesus Christ's Second Coming wouldn't happen until a very bad slide in Christian practice, leading up to the Antichrist's succession of the Church. We currently see horrible apostasy in the Church, so half of this might be accomplished already!

Verse 4, which is still the same sentence, describes AC as trying to be God, even sitting in God's own (as yet un-rebuilt) temple in Jerusalem.

Verses 6 and 7 speak of the restraint of the AC, which I believe is by the Holy Spirit, here now in all true Christians. I find this portion to be an excellent logic point to a Pre-trib Rapture, because God won't take His Holy Spirit from us. Instead, we also must go away (yee-haw!) when The Lord removes His Spirit from the world.

Verse 8 then shows in no uncertain terms who wins this power struggle: Jesus Christ, our living redeemer!

In 9 and 10, the AC is shown to have incredible powers of Satan, and deceit like we have never yet seen.

In 11, the moral result of rejecting God finally becomes a punishment to the world. They are deluded into believing the Lie, because they would not believe the Truth. I think this actually also leaves room for post-rapture repentance, because everyone will have to deal with the reality of millions of missing Christians. Some will surely realize the Truth at this point, and be spared from the delusion. Read the verses carefully and see if you don't agree.

Finally in verse 12, the foolish ones who still insist on believing the AC's explanation of the Rapture, despite evidence to the contrary, will receive their just reward for the rejection of God.

All that to say this: I have found no place yet that leads me to believe that it is impossible to guess AC's identity. Guess, I said, but an educated guess, perhaps even an inspired guess. I totally agree that this passage has AC hidden until after the Rapture... again, see verses 7 and 8. When it speaks of "revealed", I think that means to mankind as a whole. It has NOT been "revealed" to me, but I believe I have been shown enough to see the light (darkness?) in front of me.

My question then becomes: Why would God have given us so many descriptions of such an impending impostor if He didn't mean for some Christian detectives to find him and alert their fellow humans? Noah warned. Lot warned. Today, many Christian prophecy students are warning. God seems to always allow a "two minute warning" before the gun goes off!

However, I am very careful to NEVER claim that I am certain, or that God told me that "Maitreya is the Antichrist". I do not know. But I do feel that God specifically led me to somewhat hidden info (back then) about Maitreya, and has blessed my efforts with tons of new collaborating evidence. But I could be wrong. I don't think I am. At the least, I am very sure that Maitreya will play a large part in the coming tribulation.

If I am here to see Maitreya on TV in a "Day of Declaration", I will have to assume that he is simply another false christ. I think, however, that he continues to delay his appearance because of the Holy Spirit's restraint in verses 6 and 7.