The Man of Lawlessness

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-

Don’t be Shaken or Alarmed

Paul list at least three ways we can be led astray.

By a spirit

or a spoken word

or a letter seeming to be from an apostle

The enemy, satan, already attempted to disrupt the work of the Lord in Thessalonica by causing confusion about the day of the Lord.

Don’t Be Deceived

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 ESV

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.

2 Thess 2:3-4

A few things will occur before the day of the Lord

Three things must occur before the day of the Lord

The Rebellion or the great falling away

1 Timothy 4:1 ESV

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

Matthew 24:24 ESV

24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

2. The Man of Lawlessness Revealed

The son of destruction

who opposes and exalts himself

takes seat in the temple of God

Proclaims himself to be God.

Things to know concerning the Antichrist.

The man of sin has parallels to the Son of Man (Christ)

a. Both have a coming and a revealing

b. One proclaims the truth and the proclaims a lie

c. Both demonstrate power through signs, miracles, and wonders-one from truth and the other a counterfeit. (Satan mimics the power of God in order to deceive.)

d. Each will claim exclusive worship

e. Both are empowered- Christ by God and the Antichrist by Satan (2:9)

The lawless one lives in accordance with the work of Satan. Its a inward power.

Much like

Antichrist will use all these things for the purpose of authenticating his claims for worship and obedience.

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon 5. The Work of Antichrist (2:9–12)

Christ performed miracles, signs, and wonders, and the lawless one will also. The difference is that the Antichrist’s miracles and signs are designated pseudous, or false. The Antichrist’s miracles originate from the realm of falsehood and lies because they are empowered by the father of lies, Satan. Antichrist and Satan have no legitimate claim to authority or worship, so their super natural works are designed to entrap people and steal what rightfully belongs to God. In this way, everything they do is “pseudo” or false.

This is how the great falling away will occur, people will be deceived.

What is Restraining Him now?

2 Thessalonians 2:5–7 ESV

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.

The work of the Holy Spirit

John 16:8 ESV

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

Holman New Testament Commentary: I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon 3. Waiting the Proper Time (2:5–7)

The Holy Spirit works on his own, but he also works through the believer and the church to hold back Satan until his proper time.

God, through the work of the Holy Spirit here on earth through the church, are restraining Satan from releasing his fury and abominations. Once the church is raptured. It is unknown how much satan will have to completely unleash his power on the earth but it doesn’t seem to be long.

And the Church

2 Thessalonians 2:8 ESV

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.

How much time

Those Who are Perishing

2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 ESV

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.

Romans 1:25 ESV

25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

2 Thessalonians 2:13–15 ESV

13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

2 Thess 2:

Stand Firm

God Chose You as firstfruits to be saved

Sanctified by the Spirit and belief in the TRUTH

Hold to the traditions taught to us by the revealed Word of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 ESV

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.