2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

Written ~ 10-18-2024

Read 2 Thessalonians Chapter Two

2 Thessalonians 2

In our chapter for today, Paul must clarify some false news spreading around that they were living in the very last days. Instead of continuing to work diligently, people were quitting their jobs and becoming quite lazy while they waited for Jesus to come back for them. Because the Thessalonian believers were under such harsh persecution they were desperate for Christ to return and rescue them. It was the perfect climate for false teachers to swoop in and assure these believers that the end of the world or the “day of the Lord” had already begun.

Let’s look at the first four verses of chapter two…

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4…

1 “Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet Him. 2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed – the one who brings destruction. 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.”

Let’s look at the few things Paul had to clarify…

  • The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the day of the Lord)
  • How we will be gathered to meet Him
  • Who is the “man of lawlessness”

First off, the news was traveling swiftly that the “day of the Lord” had already begun by way of false prophecies, visions, revelations and even the convincing attempt of saying Paul had said such things in a letter. Paul says in verses 2:2-3, “Don’t believe them…Don’t be fooled by what they say…”

In 1 Thessalonians chapters four and five Paul writes about the coming of the Lord and how we will be gathered to meet Him. It is important that we don’t try to guess when this will happen, our responsibility is to be ready for the Lord to return. Even Jesus talked about the end of days in Mark 13, in that chapter Jesus warns us not to be deceived, but instead be aware, watch out, be prepared.

2 Thessalonians 2:3b…

3b “For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed – the one who brings destruction.”

In the Life Application Bible footnotes, it says this about the “man of lawlessness:”

  • “Throughout history there have been individuals who epitomized evil and who were hostile to everything Christ stands for. These people, sometimes referred to as “antichrists,” have lived in every generation and will continue to work their evil. Then just before Christ’s second coming, “the man of lawlessness…the one who brings destruction,” will arise. He will be Satan’s tool, equipped with satanic power. This lawless man will be the Antichrist.”

In each generation people have speculated who the Antichrist might be, when a powerful ruler rises up and causes great destruction; fingers are pointed that he must be the Antichrist. Evil is going to become more and more rampant, and an antichrist attitude will seem to prevail in every scenario, this “man of lawlessness” is going to bring a deception unlike anything the world has ever seen. But what does Jesus say for us to do? Do we panic? No, He said to be ready, to be watchful and to continue with great diligence to get the Good News message out to all people. The Thessalonian believers had gotten caught up in the desperation of being rescued that they put aside the passion of spreading the Good News of Jesus.

Paul continues to explain this “man of lawlessness…”

2 Thessalonians 2:5-8…

5 “Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by the splendor of His coming.”

Ok, with the help of the Life Application Bible, let’s dive into what Paul is telling us in these verses…

Before the “man of lawlessness” can step forward, whatever or whoever must step aside, here is what the Life Application Bible footnotes have to say about that:

  • What or who holds back the lawless one? We do not know for certain. Three possibilities have been suggested:
  • Government and law, which help to curb evil
  • The ministry and activity of the church and the effects of the Good News
  • God Himself
  • The Bible does not clearly identify this restrainer, only that the restraint will not last forever. But we should not fear this time when the restraint is removed – God is far stronger than the “man of lawlessness,” and God will save His people.

In verse 2:7 it says “…this lawlessness is already at work secretly…” With what we see going on in our world today, in the 21st century, it doesn’t seem like lawlessness is being done in secret anymore. But what is still secret is who this “man of lawlessness” will be and the incomprehensible deception he will pour out onto this world.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10…

9 “This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.” 

Look at the description Paul gives us of who this man will be…

  • He will come doing the work of Satan
  • He will have counterfeit power
  • He will do signs and miracles with that counterfeit power
  • He will use every kind of evil deception to fool unbelievers

Knowing that this kind of person will come into power is all the more reason to speak the Name of Jesus to everyone you come in contact with. There needs to be an outpouring of the Gospel message, and if you are a believer, a follower of Jesus Christ, it is your responsibility to turn people to the Lord before it’s too late! If you and I, as believers, are not standing firm in our faith, we too could easily get duped and believe the message this Antichrist spews. But for the non-believer who does not have the Holy Spirit living within them, they will be deceived. They will look upon this man as their savior, their messiah.

It says in verse 2:10, “The “man of lawlessness” will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.” “Those on their way to destruction” is anyone who has not received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, this is the person who refuses to believe in the Name of Jesus, this is the person who regards themselves as a “good person” but does not accept the truth of Jesus, and yes, they too, will be deceived.

Sometimes it might seem a little hopeless! But don’t forget to read verse 2:8, “Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by the splendor of His coming.” We have a Savior, King Jesus, and it is the One we call Lord who will conquer this foe with a single breath! When you belong to Christ you must have confidence that you walk in this victory as well.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12…

11 “So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.”

Now let’s not be confused about what Paul says here in verse 2:11, God does not go out of His way to cause someone to be deceived. Because of our sinful nature we do that all on our own. But there comes a point in every person’s life in which they can completely cut themselves off from accepting the truth of Jesus. Basically, they have reached the point of no return, though God does not wish ANYONE to perish, He will at that point cause them to be greatly deceived. When someone has gone as far as completely denouncing who Christ is and will not open their heart to the Will of God, then “they will believe these lies.” What lies? The evil deception that the Antichrist is going bring when he rises to power. When someone denies Christ and turns to the world and all of its evil ways rather than believing in the truth of the Scriptures, they will be condemned and sentenced to an eternity in Hell.

Knowing this, after reading the warnings from Paul and also from Jesus in Mark 13, to be aware, to watch and be prepared, the urgency on every believer’s heart must be to get the message of Salvation out to everyone you know! Especially if you have family members who do not know the Lord. You do not want them to be swept up into the evil of this world, the twisting of God’s Word and the deceptive lies of the Antichrist. If it were to come to that, it could quite possibly be too late, and God will cause them to be greatly deceived because of their disobedience to His Word.

At the end of this chapter Paul gives a few words of encouragement… after hearing the harsh reality of the things to come, we must remain steadfast in our walk with the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17…

13 “As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation – a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 14 He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, 17 comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.”

All of us from time to time need to be reminded that through our Salvation we have been called to share in the glory of Jesus. We have been made holy through our belief in the truth of Jesus. We need to hold onto that truth with a “strong grip” and “stand firm” on what we know to be the truth. If you don’t feel you have a strong grip or you don’t feel like you are standing firm, that can change today. By devoting yourself wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus Christ, by learning from the Scriptures, by sharing the Gospel message these few things will instill deep within your soul the ability to stand firm. But if you choose not to do these things, and your heart wavers, you are setting yourself up for disaster and being fooled by the deception of the world.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who gives us eternal comfort, it is through Him that we have a wonderful hope. Jesus is the one who gives us comfort. And it is the Messiah, our Savior who strengthens us. In everything we do or say will become increasingly more like Christ if it is His truth you are focusing on throughout your day.

We have an abundance of wisdom and knowledge at our fingertips, open your Bible and soak it in, be diligent in your study of the Scriptures so you can stand firm in the days ahead as they become more evil.

Be Aware

Watch

Be Prepared

~AMEN~