2 Thessalonians 2 - Beware of the Defection from the Truth!

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The Man of Lawlessness

2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting 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.

One of the misconceptions floating around in the church at Thessalonica was that Jesus had already returned. Paul teaches them that Jesus will not come until there is an unprecedented time of rebellion on earth orchestrated by a person he calls the "man of lawlessness".  Though this man is doomed to destruction, for a time he subverts God's authority, opposes everything God stands for. He also pretends to be God in the house of worship. 

The term for "rebellion" also is translated "falling away" or "apostasy". The word basically means that people have lost their faith or stopped trusting or following God. One dictionary characterizes this as "defecting from the truth". 

Does that sound familiar? Would you say as you look at society and many parts of the church that we are falling away from the truth as found in God's Word. 

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 how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness 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.

Though the man of lawlessness has not yet been revealed, the power and secrets of his ways are beginning to materialize in this culture. Though this man has not been revealed, the process of the apostasy of the church falling away from the truth has begun. One day this man will be revealed and then at the right time Jesus will destroy him with one breath. 

Paul’s point is clear: “You are worried that we are in the Great Tribulation and that you missed the rapture. But you can know that we are not in the Great Tribulation, because we have not yet seen the man of sin … revealed.” - Guzik

Paul says that when this man comes, he will come in accordance with the way Satan works. 

This great principle of evil is already present in the world. It will be ultimately unveiled in the man of sin, but he does not introduce a new wickedness into the world, only an intensity of prior wickedness.

Then he goes on to describe what he means. He will have some power and he will use that power to deceive those who are perishing. So question is are those people who are deceived already deceived, or are they Christians who are falling away? 

"However, the deception can only take root in those who do not receive the love of the truth. These people are ready for the deception of the Antichrist, because they want a lie, and God will send them a strong delusion." - Guzik

Notice that these people willingly walk into the evil one's deceptions and trap. These are not people God has deceived, but people who have steadfastly refused to believe the truth and be saved. God doesn't will for anyone to perish and that is why he sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Then it says it is for this reason that God sends them this delusion so that they will believe the lie. What does this mean? 

God will send them: In the end, the Antichrist is only God’s messenger. God has judgment to bring, and He will send … a strong delusion through the Antichrist. God will not force this delusion on anyone, but those who do not receive the love of the truth will receive this strong delusion. - Guzik

Stand Firm

13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

In contrast Paul gives thanks for them that they were chosen by God and saved by the power of the Holy Spirit and belief in the truth. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals God's truth to us. By believing in the truth through power of the Holy Spirit we become those who will share in the glory of Christ. Rather than being afraid of Jesus' return, we should look forward to his return. 

Paul also praised the sovereign choice of God in bringing the Thessalonians to salvation. God’s choice was from the beginning. Before they chose God, He chose them, and He chose them for salvation through sanctification. - Guzik

Paul's closing words were that Jesus himself would give them encouragement and strength in every good thing they did. Note the personal nature of our relationship with Jesus. Jesus himself strengthens and encourages us by His Holy Spirit who lives within us. 

Paul also praised the sovereign choice of God in bringing the Thessalonians to salvation. God’s choice was from the beginning. Before they chose God, He chose them, and He chose them for salvation through sanctification. -  Guzik