Bible Study 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-17

 

A Commentary of the Book of 2 Thessalonians 

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-17

Text: 

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Now we ask you, brothers, with regard to the [a]coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken in your mind or be alarmed whether by a spirit or a word or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it has not come unless the [b]apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above [c]every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the [d]sanctuary of God, exhibiting himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 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. 8 And then that lawless one will be revealed—whom the Lord [e]Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His [f]coming— 9 whose [g]coming is in accord with the working of Satan, with all power and [h]signs and false wonders, 10 and with [i]all the deception of unrighteousness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 And for this reason God sends upon them a [j]deluding influence so that they will believe [k]what is false, 12 in order that they all may be [l]judged who did not believe the truth, but [m]took pleasure in unrighteousness.

13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you [n]as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification [o]by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 [p]It was for this He called you through our gospel, [q]that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter [r]from us.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

Verse by verse commentary

Verse 1: “Now we ask you, brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,”

In this book, there is discussion about the rapture, second coming and future judgment. Candidly, all the verses that support a “rapture theory” could equally be used to support the second coming. For years, I have taught the “rapture theory” because the denominations I was a member in also believed in the rapture. By rapture, we refer to a removal of the saints, both dead and alive at His coming, to escape the seven year tribulation period. As I discuss these verses, I will do my best to remain neutral. I believe it is clear that there will be a 1000 year time of peace known as the millennium. Christ’s second coming will start this time of peace.

This is the fifth mention of Christ’s coming in the Thessalonian letters.The nature of His coming is identified by the next phrase “our gathering together,” which conveys the idea of all believers meeting together with the Lord Jesus, obviously referring to the rapture of the church described in 1 Thess. 4:13–18 and John 14:1–3. 

Verse 2: “that you not be quickly shaken in your mind or be alarmed whether by a spirit or a word or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.”

The term “quickly shaken,” has been used to describe an earthquake (Acts 16:26) and a ship at anchor slipping its mooring in the midst of a heavy wind. Along with the word “alarmed,” it describes the state of agitation and concern that had overtaken the Thessaloniians. They were fearful because they had expected the Rapture, the gathering together to the Lord, to take place before the day of the Lord. They had anticipated being taken to glory and heavenly rest, not left to persecution and tribulation. Paul must have taught them that they would miss the day of the Lord, i.e. day of judgment, but they had become confused by the persecution they were experiencing, thinking they may have been in the day of the Lord. The idea that the Day of the Lord had already come conflicted with what Paul had previously taught them about the Rapture. This error, which so upset the Thessalonians, is what Paul corrected in vv. 3–12, where he showed that the day hadn’t come and couldn’t until certain realities were in place, most especially “the man of sin”.

Verse 3: “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it has not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,”

Before the “day of the Lord” occurs, there will be a definite point of turning away from the faith. The day of the Lord will not occur until a deliberate abandonment of a former position, allegiance, or commitment occurs, (the term was used to refer to military, political, or religious rebellion). Some have suggested that this refers to the Rapture. However, reading the verse in context, points to a religious defection, which is further described in v. 4. The language indicates a specific event, not general apostasy which exists now and always will. This will be a definite falling away and not backsliding in a general sense. The “man of lawlessness” is the Antichrist. He is not Satan but he gets his power from him.

Verse 4: “who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the sanctuary of God, exhibiting himself as being God.”

One of the Antichrist’s claims will be that he is God. In Revelation 13, we find that the beast out of the sea (the Antichrist) brings together western Europe, and he will put it back together again. When he does this, he will present  himself to the world as God. He wants the world to think that he is Christ. Satan has had a consistent plan to have man doubt and question God (Garden of Eden) and supplant their wills for His will. Satan wants man to think that he is in charge, but Satan is wrong.

Verse 5: “Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?”

Paul hadn’t hesitated to talk about these things. Some say that a preacher shouldn’t speak on topics that might upset his congregation. We need to tell people what they need to hear and not necessarily what would make them like you. Well, Paul reminded the Thessalonians about his earlier messages. Paul says, “while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?”

Verse 6: “And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.”

What can restrain evil in the world? The only One is the Holy Spirit. Governments can’t do it and they never have. The Roman Empire couldn’t do it; it was an evil force itself and collasped. I believe the USA is headed in the same direction unless there is a national repentance. 

Verse 7: “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.”

“Lawlessness” will continue to get worse and worse, but the Holy Spirit will not let Satan go all the way in this age. Satan operates within the world according to the limits God sets on him. Never forget that. Satan is not all powerful. When the Holy Spirit is removed, it will be like taking the stopper out of the bottle and the liquid of lawlessness will pour out all over the world on that day.

Verse 8: “And then that lawless one will be revealed—whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming—”

“That lawless one” is the Antichrist, the Man of Sin. He will be a world dictator. Nobody can stop him. No power on earth—only the second coming of Christ will stop him. As God’s people in Egypt were helpless and hopeless until God delivered them, so the believers during the Tribulation will be helpless under the power of the Antichrist until the Lord Jesus Christ comes to the earth to establish His kingdom. 

Verse 9: “whose coming is in accord with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,”

This is the Antichrist, Satan’s son, the Man of Sin, the lawless one. He will come “in accord with the working of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,” “Power” here is dunamis in Greek. It means a physical power whose source is out of this world. He will be a healer and a miracle worker. “Signs” means tokens. They have the purpose of appealing to the understanding. This man will have signs which will appeal to the scientific and educated world of that day as well as to politicians and the religious world. “False wonders” will produce an effect upon observers. On that day, people all over the world will be talking about the Man of Sin, saying, “My, in this world ruler we have a great leader who will be our savior.”

Verse 10: “and with all the deception of unrighteousness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”

He will do this “with all the deception of unrighteousness for those who perish.” Why? It is because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.” The general call of the gospel is given to all. However, the inward call that gives you a new heart only comes from God Almighty. That inward call will be responded to by man repenting of his sins and placing his faith in the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ for his sins.

Verse 11: “And for this reason God sends upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,”

God will let the world believe a lie because they want to believe the lie. Why does He do that? Isn’t that unjust? No, it is just like it was when God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. God didn’t make Pharaoh do anything he didn’t already want to do. There is an old saying: the same sun that melts the butter hardens the clay. God is not the author of evil. He allows evil for His purposes, but He doesn’t create it. God is separating the sheep from the goats. God uses the best way in the world to do it. If people will not receive the love of the truth, then God sends them a “strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” What is the “lie”? The lie of Antichrist is that Jesus Christ is not the Lord, that He is not who He says He is. Jesus Christ is Lord and any teaching that takes His Sovereignty away from Him is heretical. Know the truth.

Verse 12: “in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness.”

God is going to judge those who have rejected the truth of the Gospel. If you can sit and read the Word of God in this book and continue to reject Jesus Christ, then you have placed yourself in a horrific situation. Once the Gospel is rejected, the delusion comes. Just like Pharaoh, God will not force something on you that you do not desire. If you turn your back on the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are wide open for delusion and you are a subject for judgment. 

Verse 13: “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”

Just as there were specific elements in the character of the Antichrist, so there are characteristics of the Lord’s chosen. Paul summarizes the features of true salvation, noting that believers are “beloved by the Lord,” chosen for salvation from eternity past, set apart from sin by the Spirit in sanctification, and called to eternal glory. Paul’s point was to remind the Thessalonians that there was no need to be worried thinking they had missed the rapture and thus were in the Day of the Lord judgment. 

Verse 14: “It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The purpose of your receiving God’s call to salvation is that you obtain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. The purpose of the call is to get you to salvation. The call you received was an effectual calling, which means it worked. The Gospel is the message of the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ to save those He came to save. To “obtain the glory” means the salvation that you have been called to. 

Verse 15: “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”

Paul is referring to what he had taught them when he was with them. It is the Word of God which enables the believer to stand and be stable. This is one reason why the doctrine of sola scriptura is so important. We don’t need a “God told me” to hang onto. Rather, we need a “Thus saith the Lord” from His complete, inerrant, Word of God contained in Genesis through Revelation. 

Verse 16: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,” 

This is one of many benedictions Paul has given in his letters. In it, he invoked God’s power based on His love and grace, as the true source of encouragement and strength. We are saved by grace, preserved by grace and one day will be glorified by grace. That grace gives us the most comfort you can find in this world.

Verse 17: “encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.”

Not only will the Word of God “encourage” us, but it will also edify us. “Strengthen them” means we are to be rooted and grounded in the Word of God so that we are not carried away by every wind of false doctrine. Our minds and hearts will be centered on Him as we focus on His Word. That will keep us from going out after every fad or trend of the day and reading every new book that comes off the press. We need to be established in the faith and we will as we focus on the Word.