The Final Deception

Introduction:

The ploy of Satan from the beginning has been lies and deception. It is the main ingredient to Satan’s recipe for an attempted worldwide coup against the Lord. He tempts God’s children. He lies to them about God’s character. He seeks to ruin that which God is accomplishing for His kingdom and glory.

The ploy of Satan from the beginning has been lies and deception. It is the main ingredient to Satan’s recipe for an attempted worldwide coup against the Lord. He tempts God’s children. He lies to them about God’s character. He seeks to ruin that which God is accomplishing for His kingdom and glory.

When Satan asked Eve in the garden “Did God really say” his intention was to deceive Eve in believing that God was not really who he communicated himself to be. It is this ploy of Satan that reaches its final conclusion at the coming and the cutting down of the Anti-Christ. With his coming, the great deception comes, luring away many in the visible church who think he is the authentic Son of God.

What an impressive deception that in the end…those in the church is duped into believing a lie. When the Anti-Christ is revealed, it won’t be the 2nd coming of Jesus, it will be one of the last events in history before his true and genuine return.

As we look at this passage again, now we come to the meat of the text. We looked at the general warning to the church regarding False teachers who infiltrate the church and preach and teach lies and error. We looked at the results of that false teaching that which is apostasy now and a final apostasy of professing believers in the future. Let us be reminded from last week that apostasy in the visible church is merely a revealing of the unbelievers who gather with the true church but who are not truly a part of the church, God’s elect.

Lastly, we come to the topic today of the Anti-Christ and his end time antics. It is THE Anti-christ that is the subject of our study today. While THE anti-christ is not yet on the scene in the history of this world, the spirit or activity of anti-Christs are present and have been active throughout this worlds existence.

1 John 4:2–3 “2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.”

The description that we are about to see about the antichrist is simply a description of a spirit of rebellion and deception that has been present in this world his man’s rebellion against God in the garden. This spirit or influence as we might call it is all around us. We stand against it as the Bible instructs us. We expose it as a warning to the church. As we consider them, think about all the ways that these characteristics are present in our world and aimed squarely and intentionally at your life as a Christian.

Let’s spend some time now looking at the description of the antichrist

1. The Description of the Antichrist v.3-7

*** I capitalize antichrist only because it is a title. It kept kinda of wierd to do it.

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 “3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

We begin by looking at the titles that are given for this opponent of the Lord.

A. Characteristics:

A. A Man

First we begin by acknowledging that text teaches us to expect the Antichrist to be a human being. The wording in these and other verses imply very clearly that the Antichrist is not some impersonal force or some invisible spirit. Instead, we can say that Satan works in and through the Antichrist’s humanness to be a catalist for his global influence on other humans. More importantly, he is calles the “man of sin” so even the gender of this evil person is identified. Sorry to some of you who wanted to label your most despised female political opponents as the antichrist. Nope. He will be a man!

B. An Influential Man

One of the things that stands out in this text is that with the great apostasy of the church, we understand that the antichrist will be a man who originates from the church having a tremendous influence over the visible church of that day. We cannot know exactly how he will have this influence but it is assumed by many that he will be one already known well in the global collection of churches.

Paul describes him as a man of lawlessness. This means that he is against the law of God for the word used is anti-law. To be anti-law is to oppose the truths of God that have been established. In other words, he stands to oppose the Bible and deceive the churches into believing that they cannot trust what God has revealed in his word.

Can you see this type of influence today? I trust you have identified that this younger generation is being set up to lose confidence in the revealed word and to reject its authority. This will be a major layer of the influence of the Anti-christ. They are being taught to replace that authority with an authority that is subjective and led by personal emotions and self-authority.

With the man of lawlessness, the antichrist is also one who is the son of perdition. This title has only been given to one other figure in all of scripture- Judas. Why are these two the sons of perdition and how are they similar. Perdition simply means destruction and being called the “son of” speaks of an ordination and affixed place in history. Judas was the son of destruction because he rebelled against and sold Jesus out for money. Yet is was Judas who God used in his soverignly to be the one to be the catalyst for Jesus’ arrest. Of course we know Judas fulfilled prophecies about the Messiah that even his friends would lift his heel against the Lord (Ps 41:9).

The Antichrist is similarly one whom the Lord will use to expose in the end those in the church who are truly not of the elect. When he spews his lies and error, God is NOT forcing those to unbelief and rebellion, he is simply revealing their unbelief in his sovereign work.

C. A Blaspheming Man

We also read in v 4 that the Antichrist or the man of sin will publicly declare that He is God in the flesh. This is why we label him as the counterfeit Jesus. It is not clear if he is going to identify as Jesus coming again like many false messiah’s or if he will decare himself as God. Now, what is clear is the absolute nature of his declaration. He will state he is the only true God who has come.

With his declaration, the world will be witness to miracles that accompany this declaration:

2 Thessalonians 2:9 “9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,”

Notice that his power is a power that is given by Satan. In would seem that the Antichrist is simply a pawn of Satan to do his evil bidding. His ability to amaze the masses with signs and wonders are a way that many will be deceived by him.

Revelation 13:13–14 “13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.”

The description of the second beast in Rev 13 says very similar things, such as making fire come down from heaven and even deceiving those who dwell on the earth. It is the declaration that he is god and the accompanying signs that identify him with the activity of Satan. Remember with me that Satan attempted to get the Lord Jesus to divert his Messianic mission by giving false promises of what kingdoms that already belonged to the God.

Similarly, the antichrist will conjure up false signs and wonders so that some of the church will fall for his revisionist magic show and disbelieve that which has previously been said about the expectant Lord Jesus and his return.

One note that draws alot of attention about this passage is v 4 “he takes his seat in the temple of God.” Now when Paul wrote this letter in 51-52 AD, he was speaking of a future. We know that the history of the Jerusalem shows us that the temple was destroyed in 70 AD and to this day, there is not a temple for the Antichrist to sit in. In Paul’s day there was still a temple but it was not associated with the NT church. A new temple had been erected, a temple of the heart.

In all his letters throughout the NT, Paul’s use of the term “temple” refers figuratively to the heart of the believer where the Holy Spirit resides.

Ephesians 2:19–22 NASB95

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

I know that the dispensational view of eschatology teaches that a physical temple is going to be rebuilt in Jerusalem and the antichrist will occupy a literal throne in the Holy City but its clear in Paul’s theology that he would not have thought this way. Instead, the Antichrist taking his seat in the temple means that he have a great influence in the church during his time of deception. This works perfectly inline with the great apostasy of the visible church in the end times.

B. History:

2 Thessalonians 2:3 “3 Let no one in any way deceive you

The warning of Paul for the church is that while the church will face such temptation, we have all been warned this will happen. Although we cannot know the date or time as some might say, we can identify the future events when they occur. Let us be viglient to the wiles of the devil and his agents of deception, whether they come in small form like false teachers, or while they come in large form, the Antichrist. Either way, like we saw last week, those who truly belong to Christ by faith will overcome these deceptions.

Philippians 1:6 “6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

The day of Jesus Christ is his 2nd coming and the promise of Paul is that true church will be perfected in the end. Our faith will grow, our love will flourish, and our faithfulness to Jesus will endure until the end.

We have no reason to fear the Antichrist…because our Lord Jesus is the overcomer of all evil and he is OUR overcomer.

2. The Destruction of the AntiChrist v.8-12

A. Judgment on The Rebel

Now while Paul describes the evil of the Antichrist, he assures the church of the final victory of our Lord. He does not lead the church to fear but to faith in our Warrior King’s victory over evil.

First, notice how Paul uses the term “revealed” in these verses of Scripture.

2 Thessalonians 2:6–8 “6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;”

These verbs are written in such a way to imply that the revealing of the Antichrist is not a power that he possess. Someone is revealing him to the world. Paul even uses the term “his time” in v 6. There is an appointed time for the Antichrist to come upon the scene and bring his deception with him.

Paul even says, “he is being restrained and that restraint will be taken out of the way.” Commentator wrestle with what or who is the restrainer of the Antichrist. Some say the church and the gospel going forth. Others say the Holy Spirit but do not like “taken out of the way.” Whatever the restraint is, it appears that Paul had instructed the Thessalonians about it but it is a mystery to the church today.

That identity of the restrainer is not important because what we do have is the clear teaching that an appointed time for the Antichrist cannot and does not fall outside of the Soverrign governor of time, our omnipotent God. God is the creator and administrator of time. He created the appointment for the Antichrist to come upon the scene as an evaluative tool for the visible church in the same way he appointed the pagan nations like the Egyptians and Romans to take captive the people of God. His judgments are always precisely the time he ordained them.

The Antichrist then can be viewed in the lens as a form of God’s judgment against those in the church who claim to follow Christ, but whose time is coming where their lack of genuine faith will be revealed in judgment.

Paul then encourages the true church that the Lord reigns. He is in control of the revealing of the Antichrist and his destruction.

2 Thessalonians 2:8–10 “8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”

A common term used of the Lord’s second coming is “execution of the wicked.” The verb means to do away with by violence. The Lord is not taking out the trash but violently bringing fierce judgement on the Antichrist for his blasphemies and his evil. Notice also that the destruction comes from the “breath of his mouth” which is an imagery to powerful spoken word of God. This word of God is powerful enough to bring judgement upon his enemies and comfort for his people. It is a soothing word and a slaying word.

For the Antichrist, his revelation will quickly be met by his utter destruction from the earth.

All of this points us back to the cross. Remember that in the death and resurrection of Jesus, the enemies of God received the firstfruits of their utter demise.

Luke 13:17 “17 As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.”

Colossians 2:15 “15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”

Revelation 19:11–21 “11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.”

Jesus is the Warrior King who comes to finish his victory march against all His enemies. We have no reason to fear and every reason to rejoice in our Lord for His power is great and His judgment are sure.

B. Judgment on the Rebellion

Notice finally the judgment on all the false converts of the church. These are the ones who fall from their public professions of faith and they follow after lies and deceit of the Antichrist. They do not endure until the end. They do not overcome the trials and temptations. They fall away because there were not truly saved to begin with.

2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 “10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”

Notice that Paul places on them the burden of responsibility…”they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”

V 12….who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in wickedness.

John 3:18 “18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

The burden is on every person to believe the gospel. I have actually heard people say that they cannot believe the gospel because they are not of the elect. That is foolish talk. No one is prohibiting them from their belief in Christ. They are using a false understanding of the doctrine of election as an excuse to continue to live in their sin.

2 Peter 3:6–9 “6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Peter refutes such foolish ideas by saying that while there is a reserved judgment for the wicked, it has not yet come. Therefore, until it comes, the Lord is patient with evildoers with a heart that longs for people to love and follow him. He desires to see your repentance and faith in HIm.

But he will not wait forever. For those in the church, the Antichrist will come and deceive many. Those who are deceived by Him will run out of time. Paul promises in v 10 that the Lord will send them a deluding influence which means that there is a point that the judgment of God upon those in the church is to allow them to believe the lies of the Antichrist to the point of their utter destruction. Out of judgment, the Lord eventually ends his patience, completes his waiting, and allows wickedness to bear fruit of destruction and death.

Romans 1:26 “26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions;

Romans 1:28 “28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,”

In the end, God judges the wicked both physically and eternally. He will allow their disobedience and rebellion against him to manifest the consequences of their evil. No one can escape the awesome and swift judgment of God.

Conclusion:

Read Joel 2:1-13