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The Man of Lawlessness

Next Part The Day of the Lord

2 Thessalonians 2:1-10

We request you, brethren, for the sake of the coming (presence) of the Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, That you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message (logos) or a letter as if from us that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way; for it will not come unless the apostasy (falling away) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, Who opposes and exalts himself above everything that is called God or worshipped, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you I said these things to you? And now you know what restrains him, so that in his time he may be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working; only he who restrains will do so until he becomes out of the midst (literal translation). And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath (spirit) of his mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of his coming (presence); whose presence (coming) is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs (miracles) and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

Introduction

This writing is a study of part of the second chapter of Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians quoted above. In it Paul writes prophetically about the man of lawlessness who will one day be revealed.

Students of prophecy have identified the man of lawlessness with the Antichrist spoken of by the apostle John.

Much of what he wrote has already been fulfilled in history, and continues to be fulfilled up to the present. Its greatest fulfilment, however, is probably in the near future. Now is the time of preparation. If we can understand the past and the present, we will be better prepared for what is to come.

We must recognise the man of lawlessness now before he is revealed, and not be caught unready in the future. Even more, we must recognise Jesus now, that we may not be ashamed before him at his appearing.

The Context

2 Thes 2:1 gives a context for the discussion that follows: 'the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to Him.'

There are two interesting words in this sentence. The first is the Greek word (parousia) translated coming. Literally it means being beside or presence. In most places in the New Testament it is translated coming as in the verse we are considering. In many passages, as in this one, we can substitute the word presence for the word coming. This gives it both a present and a future aspect. In God, both are one. If we enjoy the presence of Jesus now, we will be ready for his future coming, whenever and however it may take place.

The second interesting word in verse 1 is the Greek (episynagogee) meaning assembling upon. We can easily recognise the English word synagogue in it. This also has a present and a future application. There is a present assembling whenever and wherever two or three people meet in the name of Jesus. There is a future application when he will send out his angels and gather his elect from the four corners of the earth.

Underlying both present and future aspects of assembling there is a spiritual aspect. The assembling is not just assembling. It is assembling to him. A physical assembling of God's people is simply an outward manifestation of a spiritual coming together to Jesus. If we are spiritually assembling ourselves to Jesus in the heavenly realm, we will automatically find an outward expression of that assembly on earth. If there is no assembly in heaven, the assembly on earth is valueless. The vital thing is that each one of us obeys his instruction, Come to me. More on this later.

We will therefore find it possible to study this passage in two ways. We can regard it as a prophecy yet to be fulfilled, or we can see in it present realities affecting our current walk with God. The same is true of many other passages in Scripture. Both aspects, I believe, can be edifying, but the all-important thing is an understanding of the present. If we learn to walk with God now, we will find ourselves prepared automatically for whatever is to come.

The Pharisees were keen students of scriptural prophecy, but because they knew that the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem they rejected Jesus of Nazareth. They thought they had the future worked out, but they got it all wrong because they did not know God in the present. If they had been able to recognise Jesus by spiritual discernment, their minor errors of mental understanding would soon have been sorted out.

To seek to understand Bible prophecies of the future, without a proper spiritual understanding of the present, is a pathway along which many have followed the Pharisees. The results are blindness, sectarianism and pride. If we do not learn to worship God in spirit and in truth it is far better not to increase our damnation by studying the scriptures! It is better to put the Book away and let it gather dust on the shelf.

Next Part The Day of the Lord