2 Thessalonians 2:3 – 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…
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, Paul teaches about the “man of lawlessness”. Before Jesus returns, this fully Satanic possessed world leader will rise up, seeking to rule the earth in place of Christ: “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.”
Combining politics, religion, and celebrity status, people from the nations of the earth will worship him as the hope of the planet and love him because he preaches celebration of sin instead of repentance of sin to those who take “pleasure in unrighteousness.”
In every age, the lawless anti-Christ has longed to rule the world, but we are told through Paul that he has been restrained by God, proving that even though Satan rules the earth, Jesus Christ still rules over the Devil.
Where is history going? Paul is clear the progressive myth that people are good, and civilizations improve over time is a lie. The storyline of the Bible is that people are sinners, the world is cursed, Satan and demons are real, and evildoers are everywhere.
A Bible commentary says, “To convince the Thessalonians that the Day of the Lord had not yet arrived, in 2 Thess 2:1–12 Paul asserts that two events must first occur: the arrival of the man of lawlessness and ‘the rebellion’ (hē apostasia). Typically translated as ‘rebellion’ or ‘apostasy’ in English…” (1)
The last days delusion will be so powerful that even some who profess to be Christians but do not possess saving faith will fall away and join the man of lawlessness. Some churches, pulpits, and even entire denominations will get caught up in the frenzy of worshipping a counterfeit Christ.
The only hope for everyone and everything is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at the final moment in history when the anti-Christ man of lawlessness rises up: “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.” (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
How incredible is this scene! The most powerful person ruled by Satan in the history of the earth is brought to nothing by one single breath from the mouth of our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Have you seen other believers “fall away” from faith and become apostate? Pray for them to see the truth.
- Derek R. Brown, 2 Thessalonians, ed. Douglas Mangum, Lexham Research Commentaries (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013), 2 Th 2:1–17.
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