2 Thessalonians 2 - The Man of Lawlessness
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[a] 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.
Paul continues to teach on Jesus' coming and how all believers will be gathered to him. Again this points to a pre-tribulation rapture. Paul also needs to expose a false teaching in the church that Jesus had already come. It seems strange that anyone who knew anything about Jesus' second coming would have believed that lie, but people have believed even stranger things over the years.
Many people in the 20th century have also posited a post-millennial theology that Jesus had returned and the 1,000 millennial reign of Christ had already begun. Obvious that was wrong. False teaching is always exposed in time but we need to be ready for it at anytime. By the time World War II was over any thought that Jesus' reign had come was complete nonsense.
Paul then says that the day of the Lord will not come before the "man of lawlessness" is revealed. This is the "antichrist" described in the book of Revelation. He deceives people into believing he is God, and even accepts worship. He even takes control of the temple, which in Paul's day was the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.
It will be obvious to any mature Christian this man is not the real God, but in our society the concept of God has been so watered down to mean whatever each person wants Him to be, that people will be easily deceived. I am sure this antichrist will try to be the designer god that we have perpetuated today. He will appeal to all people and his message will cater to people's flesh and ego.
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.
Paul had already taught them about this, but he needed to revisit it because the church had been confused. Lawlessness was already at work in the culture, just as it is today. We know the devil is the ruler of this world. We see it every day when we watch the news. But the man of lawlessness has been held back because it will only be in God's timing that the end will come.
God waits for this final act in history for more to come to know Him. When the antichrist comes, he will do all kinds of signs and wonders, mimicking the signs and wonders Jesus had done. All of these Paul says, "serve the lie". The devil is the father of all lies. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Those who belong to the truth will see the antichrist for who he is.
Those who worship the antichrist have already rejected the truth which God revealed when He sent Jesus to the world. But the people in Jesus' day rejected him as well, though he fulfilled all the prophecies which the Jewish people should have recognized.
It is interesting that Paul says that "God sends t,hem a powerful allusion so they will believe the lie."
Why would God do that?
First, we need to step back affirm the unchangeable aspects of God's nature. God is all loving, all knowing, all powerful, and all wise. God doesn't want anyone to perish but for everyone to come to a knowledge of the truth. We know God's deepest desire is to be in relationship with those whom he created. We know God's so loved the world that He sent Jesus into the world not to condemn the world but to save it.
So this passage is more about the judgement of God once they have chosen to believe in the lie and reject Him.
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
God is sending to them the working of delusion in order that they should believe the falsehood. (Alford)
“They were first deluded, which was their sin; and God sends them strong delusion, and that is their punishment.” (Poole)
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.
While we don't always know why some come to faith and others don't, you can give thanks if you believe in Jesus. Though you came to believe in Jesus, God chose you first. This letter to the Thessalonians was one of the earliest letters written around 49-51 A.D.. Literally this was the first generation of believers. Therefore, this is why they were the first fruits to be saved.
Specifically they were saved through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who calls us, enlightens us, and sanctifies in the one, true, faith. We cannot by our own effort come to know Jesus as Lord, but the Holy Spirit creates saving faith in us through the preaching of the gospel. Ultimately by coming to Christ, we will one day share in His glory.
"This is the same glory John wrote of in 1 John 3:2 – we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."
It is for all these reasons Paul tells the Thessalonians that they should hold fast to the faith and be encouraged and hold on to the everlasting hope they have in Christ!
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