Daily Bread 2011 - 2 Thessalonians 2
The Man of Lawlessness
1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
What Does This Mean?
As Paul describes some of the conditions that will happen surrounding Jesus’ second coming, thus refuting the belief that He had already come back, he teaches about the man of lawlessness. This is a term not used anywhere else in the bible. It appears to be someone other than Satan himself as it says, “in accordance with the work of Satan”. This is similar to the work of the “anti-Christ” in 1 John and the book of Revelation.
Then Paul mentions that this secret (lit. mystery) power is already at work, but is being held back by a great power, the Lord. In God’s timing when this man will be revealed and then overthrown by the Lord Jesus. The general work of the lawless one is described, and for those who are perishing and have refused to believe the truth (an intentional act of rejection), they will be deluded into believing in this person. Paul concludes by noting that those who are called by God and who believe in the truth in the power of the Spirit will not be subject to this man or his delusional powers.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Although the time for this man to be revealed has not yet come, the passage reminds us that his power is already at work in the world. This is a fact that is confirmed by other passages that the world and its ways are under the evil one’s sway. But the promise is that as a believer in Jesus, “Greater is He that is in You than He that is in the world”. But that doesn’t mean as a believer in Christ you don’t need to be aware of the spiritual powers that exist and naïve as to their prevalence in the world.
The bible tells us to be wise and discerning and to stay close to Christ through our relationship with Him in prayer, being in His Word and in close fellowship with other believers. As Paul concludes on a positive note, “So then, brothers (and sisters), stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you whether by word or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Jesus we live in a world often opposed to what you want to do in and through us. Encourage us, protect us and strengthen us, as we carry out Your will and testify to your goodness in all we say and do, Amen.
1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
What Does This Mean?
As Paul describes some of the conditions that will happen surrounding Jesus’ second coming, thus refuting the belief that He had already come back, he teaches about the man of lawlessness. This is a term not used anywhere else in the bible. It appears to be someone other than Satan himself as it says, “in accordance with the work of Satan”. This is similar to the work of the “anti-Christ” in 1 John and the book of Revelation.
Then Paul mentions that this secret (lit. mystery) power is already at work, but is being held back by a great power, the Lord. In God’s timing when this man will be revealed and then overthrown by the Lord Jesus. The general work of the lawless one is described, and for those who are perishing and have refused to believe the truth (an intentional act of rejection), they will be deluded into believing in this person. Paul concludes by noting that those who are called by God and who believe in the truth in the power of the Spirit will not be subject to this man or his delusional powers.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Although the time for this man to be revealed has not yet come, the passage reminds us that his power is already at work in the world. This is a fact that is confirmed by other passages that the world and its ways are under the evil one’s sway. But the promise is that as a believer in Jesus, “Greater is He that is in You than He that is in the world”. But that doesn’t mean as a believer in Christ you don’t need to be aware of the spiritual powers that exist and naïve as to their prevalence in the world.
The bible tells us to be wise and discerning and to stay close to Christ through our relationship with Him in prayer, being in His Word and in close fellowship with other believers. As Paul concludes on a positive note, “So then, brothers (and sisters), stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you whether by word or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Jesus we live in a world often opposed to what you want to do in and through us. Encourage us, protect us and strengthen us, as we carry out Your will and testify to your goodness in all we say and do, Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment