The Future According to Godනියැදිය

2 THESSALONIANS 2: The Man of Lawlessness, the Antichrist

In 2 Thessalonians 2. Paul answers questions about the day of the Lord. He reminds us not to be quickly shaken or alarmed. The day of the Lord cannot come until the son of destruction exalts himself. Will you recognize him, or be deceived? Please read or listen to 2 Thessalonians 2.

COMMENTS

In 1992, I read 2 Thessalonians 2 and 3 (NASB) on the same day. Concerning chapter 2, I wrote, “Jesus will slay the lawless one with the breath of his mouth. That’s power. There will be no fight, no struggle. Jesus by his word will end Satan.” Then I wrote, “stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught” (2 Thess 2:15 NASB).

In 1993, at that men’s retreat, I read all of 2 Thessalonians on one day. I summarized it yesterday, but I will summarize it again today. Concerning 2 Thessalonians, I wrote, “‘stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught’ (2 Thess 2:15 NASB) because there will be ‘a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false’ (2 Thess 2:11 NASB). Work so we won’t be a burden to others.”

In 1994, the third year in a row, I read 2 Thessalonians 2. I wrote, “The Thessalonians thought they had missed the second coming. Paul says it can’t happen until Antichrist sits in the temple. Jesus ‘will slay him with the breath of his mouth’ (2 Thess 2:8 NASB). The power of the word of God. Why do people perish? ‘Because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved’” (2 Thess 2:10 NASB). Then I wrote, “stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught’” (2 Thess 2:15 NASB).

In chapter 2, Paul addresses the concern the Thessalonians raised about missing the day of the Lord. First, he calms them down. He says, “Do not be ‘quickly shaken or alarmed’” (2 Thess 2:2 ESV) by either what you heard or read. Then he says, “Let no one deceive you for that day will not come” (2 Thess 2:3 ESV). Then he describes when and why they have not missed the day of the Lord.

Paul refers to the “man of lawlessness” (2 Thess 2:3 ESV) who was also referred to in other places as “antichrist.” This lawless one has to appear first before the day of the Lord. Paul is saying that it has not occurred yet. He tells him what this antichrist will be like. He will exalt 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 2:4 ESV).

Paul reminds them he talked about this with them when he was there, and that the antichrist cannot reign because there is a restrainer right now. He cannot reign until the restrainer releases him for his time. My English Standard Version Study Bible footnote says this about the restrainer, “Scholarly theories on the identity of this restrainer include the Roman Empire/Emperor, the Holy Spirit, and the archangel Michael” (ESV Study Bible, Crossway Bibles 2008, 2318). I am going with the Holy Spirit.

The footnote goes on to say, “The restrainer functions to make sure that the man of lawlessness is revealed in his time and not before” (ESV Study Bible, Crossway Bibles 2008, 2318). Again, I am going with the Holy Spirit on this. I believe the Holy Spirit is restraining the lawless one from taking power and claiming to be God. Praise God for the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, the restrainer, was promised by Jesus. Go to John 14, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17 ESV). Dropping down the page, John continues, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26 ESV).

The promise of this restrainer is again mentioned in Acts 1:

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8 ESV).

It is the power of the Holy Spirit in our world today that restrains the lawless one, the antichrist, from assuming power and taking over the temple of God. But let’s not be confused. The lawless one is working in our world today. In this chapter, verse 7 tells us that, “The mystery of lawlessness is already at work” (2 Thess 2:7 ESV). He just is not bold enough to proclaim himself as God yet.

Paul warns the Thessalonians, and he warns us, we need to be on guard against the powers of the enemy:

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thess 2:9-12 ESV).

If you think this refers only to unbelievers, let’s think again. Jesus warns us, even the elect can be deceived by the power of delusion of the lawless one. Matthew 24 says, “And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matt 24:22-24 ESV). Let’s not cut Satan short. He comes with power, false signs and wonders, wicked deception, and strong delusion.

DIGGING DEEPER

How do you shield yourself from the enemy’s attacks, from these delusions, from wicked deception? Paul tells us right here, “love the truth” (2 Thess 2:10 ESV). Believe in the truth. Those who refuse to love the truth are the ones who are going to have a problem.

And where do we find truth? John says, “Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth” (John 17:17 ESV). Stay in the Word, stay close to the Word of God. It is always our defense against the attacks of the enemy.

Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV, “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 what? “Through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thess 2:13 ESV).

When these attacks come, this wicked deception, strong delusion, “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 2:15 ESV). Those letters make up the Bible today, so hang on to the truth. “Stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught” (2 Thess 2:15 ESV) through the scriptures.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for the scriptures that remind us the day of the Lord has not yet come, but it will. We thank You for the restrainer, the Holy Spirit, keeping Satan away from his time of proclaiming himself as God. That day will come. If it comes in our day, Lord, may we be strong enough to stand on your truth and not be deceived by the enemy.

Thank You for Your truth, Your Word is truth. Holy Spirit, continue to stir in us a desire for Your truth. We ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.