Will Christians See The Antichrist?

When I was 6, I asked the Lord to save me. I was very blessed to have a godly home. We went to church at least 3 times per week. We would regularly have visiting teachers or evangelists come to teach. Often, the teachings were about the rapture of the church before the tribulation. I would leave the services very excited and thinking Jesus might return at any moment. 

When I would get home I would get out my bible and go to the concordance to read about the pre-tribulation rapture. The only problem was I would find myself reading 2 Thessalonians 2. Paul makes it crystal clear that Christians will see the antichrist. 

We have forgotten to be salt and light. Instead we have congregated in large church buildings waiting for the "imminent return of Christ" and our escape, just in time. This in not what Paul taught. He also tells us God calls us "so that you would obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah". There is a race to finish. 

2 Thessalonians 2 ISV

1Now we ask you, brothers, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,a and our gathering together to him, 2not to be so quickly upsetb or alarmed when someone claims that we said,ceither by some spirit, conversation, or letter that the Day of the Lord has already come. 

3Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for it will not come unless the rebelliond takes place first and the man of sin,e who is destined for destruction,f is revealed. 4He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship. As a result, he seats himself in the sanctuaryg of God and himself declares that he is God.

5Don’t you remember that I repeatedly told you about these things when I was still with you? 6You know what it is that is now holding him back, so that he will be revealed when his time comes. 7For the secret of this lawlessness is already at work, but only until the person now holding it back gets out of the way. 8Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lordh will destroy with the breath of his mouth, rendering him powerless by the manifestation of his coming.

9The coming of the lawless onei will be accompanied by the power of Satan. He will use every kindj of power, including miraculous signs, lying wonders, 10and every type of evil to deceivek those who are dying, those who refused to love the truth that would save them.l 

11For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie. 12Then all who have not believed the truth but have taken pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.

13At all times we are obligated to thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you to be the first fruitsm for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through faith in the truth. 

• 14With this purpose in mind, he called you through our proclamation of then gospel so that you would obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.o 
• 15So then, brothers, stand firm, and cling to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouthp or by our letter. 
• 16May our Lord Jesus, the Messiahq himself, and may God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfortr and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good action and word.