Thriving in A Chaotic World: The Man of Lawlessness: II Thess. 2:1-12

I. Don’t Be Deceived vs. 1-3

A. Because some false teacher had forged a letter saying he was Paul, he had confused the Thessalonians, and had them thinking once again that they had missed Christ’s return.

B. Paul lovingly warns them to not be quickly shaken. That is hold onto what they had been taught. Remember, the New Testament had not been completed, so for us we must stick to what the Bible clearly states. There will be those who will try to persuade you from what the Bible says, and often will appeal to your emotions by doing so.

C. The second coming will not happen until apostasy comes first. This is within the church. Apostasy is always a danger in the church. We look around and see that today. So what is Paul referring to? As we will see there will come a day when sound faith will be downplayed by that I mean, those of real faith will be underground, ridiculed, and persecuted, and those who call themselves “Christians” will be so liberal and loose that you won’t be able to tell the difference between a “Christian” or a Buddhist, Mormon or anybody else. This will come to full fruition after the rapture.

D. Many have been accused of being the Antichrist, but one will come that all but those who are being saved will follow.

II. The Man of Lawlessness Will Come vs. 3-10

A. The Antichrist will be an actual person, who will exalt himself, above Yahweh and ever so-called god. To the Buddhist, he will be the reincarnated Buddha. To the Scientologist he will be the reincarnated L. Ron Hubbard, and etc. (Reincarnated ex).

B. At that point (3 1/2 years into the tribulation, after the rapture) there will be a temple, and he will claim to be god.

C. Right now the Holy Spirit restrains Satan, and his activity, but when He is taken out of the way, it means He will no longer restrain Satan, and his activity.

D. This is when the Antichrist and the false prophet will be revealed. This means that they will come on the scene, but 3 1/2 years later their true identities will be revealed. (Rev. 13)

III. Believers of Deception vs. 11-12

A. Those who have heard the true gospel, that are left behind after the rapture, will be given over to a reprobate mind. Why? They had hardened their hearts to the point that Yahweh gives them over to their own desires, just like He did with Pharoah.

Exodus 8:15 NASB95

But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.

Exodus 9:12 NASB95

And the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

B. People who have not heard the true gospel will have an opportunity to be saved, but many will.

C. Those who have been deceived will worship the Antichrist. They will do so blindly believing everything is great. All while suffering through the tribulation, and the world literally goes to hell around them. (Worship of Obama ex).

D. This is a warning to us to not let apostasy slip into our own hearts and not be a diluting influence to those around us, because it always starts with a slow drift of affections, and before you know it your faith is shaken by every news report or fad that comes along!