2 Thessalonians - Chapter 2

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The word on the street was that Paul had said the last days had already arrived.

Recently thousands of people bought into one man’s (Harold Camping) prediction that the “Rapture” was going to happen at a certain hour on a certain date (6pm on May 21, 2011). Many sold all they owned and gave it away to charity believing they would no longer need a home or their money.

This is exactly what was happening in Paul’s day and was the reason for this letter. Church members were quitting work and sitting around watching the heaven’s awaiting Christ’s return because they either misunderstood what Paul had said or because there were false teachers spreading rumors using Paul’s name.

NOTE:  Matthew 24:36 says “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  Not even Jesus knows when He will return, only the Father knows.

¹ Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. ³ Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness (or man of sin) is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Paul assures them the letter circulating with his name on it is a forgery. He also assures them the time has not yet come because before Jesus returns, there are several things which must occur including a rebellion and the revealing of the man of sin. Before Christ’s return, there will be a great rebellion against God led by the antichrist, or man of sin.

Throughout history there have been evil individuals, but it is dangerous for us to try to label them as the antichrist in order to try to predict when Christ will return. Paul mentions the antichrist so we might be ready for anything that tests our faith. If we remain strong in our faith, we won’t need to be fearful of what lies ahead because we know God is more powerful than this lawless man and has already defeated him. God has sealed the fate of all mankind and will be victorious in the end. It is our task to be prepared and spread the gospel so more people will be prepared.

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? ⁶ And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁷ For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.

The “secret” power of lawlessness is secret because no man can discover it. It can only be revealed by God. Scripture is not clear about who the restrainer is who holds back the lawless one, but only that he will not be restrained forever. However, we should not worry ourselves over the time when the restraint is lifted because God is far stronger than this man of sin and will save His people.

Although we have seen evil acts by many, we have never experienced the horror of complete lawlessness. This will happen when the “one who holds it back”, possibly the Holy Spirit, is removed from the equation.

Paul is sometimes difficult to understand because he refers to things he may have verbally told them, which are not written down anywhere for us, leaving us somewhat in the dark. Even Peter spoke of this in 2 Peter 3:15-16, one of the few instances where a New Testament writer mentions another New Testament writer. He says, “…and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

 ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie ¹² and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

The lawless one will use tricks and magic, false miracles, signs, and wonders to fool and deceive others to follow him. His powers will seem amazing, but his power comes from Satan. He will use his powers to destroy and lead people away from God. God’s miracles always have a purpose of healing or helping and pointing us toward God. This is the litmus test we must remember when observing miraculous things.

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you (from the beginning) as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul assures them they will know and share in the Lord’s return.

“God chose you”:  Salvation begins and ends with God. We cannot do anything to purchase our salvation. It is a gift God has offered us, but we must accept His gift.

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings (or traditions) we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

Paul asks them to stand firm in Christ’s truth.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Paul tells them to receive encouragement and hope from God.

We shouldn’t be afraid when we see the evil in this world increasing. God is still in control and guards us against Satan’s attacks. We will have victory over evil by remaining faithful to God. We need to stand firm, keep working, and look forward to Christ’s return. Being prepared for His return means spreading the gospel, reaching out to those in need, and building the Church. It is our responsibility to live for Him until the day of His return. If we are doing this, we will have no need to worry about the timing of that day because we will know and understand that God is still in control and will return when His time is right.