2 Thessalonians 2:3-12
The Man of Lawlessness
3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, Paul implicitly describes how he is encouraging the church of Thessalonica so that God may make them worthy of their calling and fulfill the good works of faith by his power. God does this so that the name of Jesus will be glorified in the believers and the believers may be glorified in Him. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, Paul now encourages them by explaining, in more detail, that the Day of the Lord will not come until three events happen. They should not be worried, but they need to be prepared! This teaching by Paul is quite similar to the Olivet Discourse of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24. The Lord is telling His disciples what needs to happen before his return. In fact, the events were already happening and that was just the beginning; more tragedies will happen. So, they must be prepared.
In verse three, Paul says that day will not come until after the rebellion or apostasy. This sound ambiguous and vague. But according to commentators, since Paul is writing to the church, it is the church that will experience the rebellion; for the unbelievers are already at enmity with God. However, Jesus said in John 18:1, “Of those whom you gave me, I have lost not one.” So we are assured that there will be those in the church who are not believers, but imitators; professors, but not possessors. We need to take this as a serious warning and examine ourselves, making sure we are of faith. Additionally, we, as faithful members of the church, need to stand fast in our faith in the gospel, and not allow anyone to defame or desecrate the message of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 1:3-4). The errors of “Post Modernism” theology and the “Prosperity Gospel” is causing a falling away: they promise an easy life with no trials and afflictions, and that message is contrary to Christ’s Gospel where we must walk by faith and give glory to God.
Secondly, Paul also says in verse three, that day will not happen until the man of lawlessness is revealed. John Calvin says, “… the day of Christ will not come until the world has fallen into apostasy, and the reign of Antichrist has obtained a footing in the Church.” This is tragic news for the church of Jesus Christ, who promised in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” We as believers in God our Savior must be prepared for the time, and it is happening now, when lawlessness and all who oppose Christ, shall be revealed. The system of lawlessness does exist today as it did when those who opposed Christ and crucified our Lord. This same opposition has grown even more. We, as followers of Jesus Christ, must stand fast and defend the faith that was once delivered to the saints (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Jude 1:3-4).
And finally, in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7, Paul gives us hope and tells the believers that there is a restraining power that holds back the working of the lawless one. Verses 6-7 say, “And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.” These verses describe the sovereignty and the omniscience of God. God who is in control of all things and nothing will happen until it’s time. Only God knows when He will return and when the man of lawlessness will be revealed. Additionally, only God is powerful and able to restrain and order events. God is God and in Him we trust. May Jesus Christ be praised!
Therefore, since these events have not happened, the church in Thessalonica should not be anxious, but be encouraged because the Lord Jesus Christ is in control of all things. The opposition to Christ is at work even today. Yet, when the lawless one is revealed, the Lord Jesus will destroy at His appearing. We must be mindful, the lawless one is the activity of Satan who works to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10) those who do not believe; therefore, God sends a strong delusion so those who do not believe may be condemned. In the same way, in the Prologue of the Gospel of John the Beloved in John 1:11-13, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Our God is a just and merciful God. He will punish those who rebel and oppose on that great dreadful day when He will judge the wicked.
In regards to the world to come, my church’s Confession of Faith says, “We believe that the end of the world is approaching; that at the last day Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous to endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness.”
Christian Hymn by Isaac Watts in 1719, Joy to the World
