Free Bible Commentary
“2 Thessalonians 2:1-12”
Categories: 2 Thessalonians“Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, 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 was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”
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Paul had stressed the certainty and imminence of the Lord’s return in his first letter, and the Thessalonians really took it to heart. It is important for Christians to have a wholehearted belief and expectation in Christ’s Second Coming, and that He could return at literally any moment. But Paul told the brethren who lived in the first century that, even though no one knows for certain when Jesus will come back, there were some notable events that had to transpire before that astounding day would come that will end all days.
Rumors were flying around that Jesus would either return immediately or that He had already returned and that they had missed His coming. Paul set the record straight that this (mis)information had not come from himself or his companions. Paul encouraged them to not be shaken up or upset about this false teaching, and if they had heard or read something in this regard, it did not have divine origin (verse 2).
Don’t let the “religious prognosticators” distress you or deceive you with their predictions of the end of the world. They do not speak for God. There is even one large religious group that teaches that Jesus already returned years ago in secret. They do not teach the truth. The Lord is coming at a time, that could be anytime, but it will be a time that people least expect—like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2). But, unlike a thief, the Lord’s coming will be blatant and blaring (1 Corinthians 15:52, Revelation 1:7).
Paul said two things must first happen (which were future events for them, but past events for us) before the Lord comes to gather His disciples together to Him. First “the apostasy” must take place. The word “apostasy” means “falling away,” and it signifies a departure from the faith by deviation from the truth. The second event that must transpire is the revealing of “the man of lawlessness” (verse 3). Lord willing we will go into the details of the apostasy and “the son of destruction” over the next couple of days.
Please read these verses again for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
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