Sunday, April 7, 2019 Lesson: II Thessalonians 2:1-12; Time of Action: 51 A.D.; Place of Action: Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica from Corinth Golden Text: And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming (II Thessalonians 2:8). I. INTRODUCTION. During his visit with the believers in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul taught them many truths about the Day of the Lord; that period of history mentioned repeatedly in the Old Testament during which God will bring judgment and blessing on the people of the earth in a more direct, dramatic, and drastic way than ever before (see Isaiah 13:6, 9; Zechariah 1:14-16). The Thessalonian believers had been experiencing persecution and now they were confused. Were they in the Day of the Lord now? No doubt, false teachers had caused this confusion. However, as this church s spiritual parent, Paul in our lesson sought to set their thinking straight.
II. BACKGROUND FOR THE LESSON. The Thessalonians had learned about the second coming of Christ through the first letter from Paul (see I Thessalonians 4:13-18), and also from his personal teaching while he was with them (see I Thessalonians 2:1-2, 10-12). In his second letter to the Thessalonian Christians, Paul was trying to encourage them while they were experiencing a time of difficult persecution (see II Thessalonians 1:1-5). The persecution was so harsh that many believers thought the day of the Lord, the tribulation period and onward, had begun. They misinterpreted Paul s first letter to say that the second coming would be at any moment. In light of this misunderstanding, Paul wrote his second letter to correct that way of thinking. III. THE EXHORTATION TO STAND FIRM DESPITE FALSE TEACHING (II Thessalonians 2:1-7) A. Paul addresses the problem (II Thessalonians 2:1-2). 1. (vs. 1). As previously noted Paul s second letter to the church at Thessalonica helped to correct the misunderstanding in the church. He began this section by writing Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him. This was a tender appeal to his new brethren or fellow believers. The word beseech means to implore or to beg earnestly. Note: As an apostle, Paul could
have used his apostolic authority and spoken by command. But he considered himself as one of them; so instead, he besought or begged these believers (see II Corinthians 10:1-2). The proposal that Paul was about to make in the next verse was by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ which is a reference to the rapture. It will include our gathering together unto him. In other words, at the rapture, all saints, both living and dead will be gathered together with Christ in the air (see I Thessalonians 4:13-17). 2. (vs. 2). This verse goes on to say, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Here, Paul gives his purpose for writing this second letter. It seems that false teachers had so misled the church that the members were shaken in mind, or be troubled indicating that these believers were frightened that the Day of the Lord had already arrived (see Mark 13:7). Paul may not have known who or what was causing the trouble, but he suggested that it could be by spirit meaning prophecy; or by word meaning oral report. When Paul said by letter as from us he was referring to any written communication that was said to have come from him and his co-workers but didn t. At any rate, the Thessalonian believers were begged by Paul not to believe any of those things that told them that the day of Christ is at hand, meaning that the rapture had taken place and the tribulation had begun. B. What must come first (II Thessalonians 2:3-4).
1. (vs. 3). Paul went on to say Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. The phrase Let no man deceive you by any means suggests that there were false teachers among the Thessalonian believers. It also looks back to the three ways in verse 2 that these believers would be troubled by false teaching concerning the coming of the Day of the Lord. Paul said that before the day of the Lord came, two significant events had to take place. First, there would be a falling away. The use of the definite article a before the word translated falling indicates that Paul was referring to a specific, identifiable time. The term Paul used for falling away or the departure from God s revealed truth in His Word is literally translated the apostasy. New Testament writers anticipated that professing believers would depart from the faith (see I Timothy 4:1-3; II Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3-4; II Peter 2:1-22), but the falling away or apostasy Paul is referring to here is a specific departure from the faith. The second event to take place before the day of the Lord would be that man of sin be revealed. The term man of sin means man of lawlessness; he will act in a lawless manner. The man of sin is the antichrist and is also called the son of perdition meaning one doomed to destruction. This predicts the ultimate destruction of the antichrist (see Revelation 19:20; 20:10). Note: A study of the Bible reveals that the man of sin is the antichrist (see I John 2:18; 4:3), the little horn (see Daniel 7:8), the prince that shall come (see Daniel 9:26), the king (who) shall do according to his will (see Daniel 11:36)
and also the beast in Revelation (see Revelation 13:1; 17:7-8; 19:19. As Satan s instrument (see II Thessalonians 2:9), he will be revealed after the church is raptured and will attempt to usurp or take over the place of God. The apostasy or falling away from the faith during the reign of the antichrist will be greater than any previous apostasy in history. 2. (vs. 4). This verse goes on to say Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Still describing the antichrist, Paul said that he will be the one Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped. This means that the antichrist will exalt himself proudly above anyone who calls themselves God as well as anything that is worshiped. Paul went on to say that the antichrist will exalt himself with such pride and arrogance so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. In other words, he will actually enter and sit down in the temple of God, shewing himself or publicly proclaiming that he is God. C. A reminder of earlier teaching (II Thessalonians 2:5). In this verse Paul said Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? Earlier when Paul visited Thessalonica, he taught the church there about these things. These Christians would not have become shaken and troubled (see verse 2) if they had remembered his words and examined the Old
Testament which Paul must have referred to in his teaching. D. A restraint placed on lawlessness (II Thessalonians 2:6-7). 1. (vs. 6). In this verse Paul said And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. The word now refers to the time in which Paul lived, the church age. The words now ye know what withholdeth are better understood to be now ye know who withholdeth or who restrains the antichrist from being revealed so that he might be revealed in his time or his appointed time. Scholars have different opinions as to who is the one that withholdeth or restrains the antichrist. Many seem to agree that it was the Roman Empire. But in the context of our lesson, I believe that the Restrainer or the One who withholdeth the antichrist from being revealed until his time is the Holy Spirit. 2. (vs. 7). This verse says For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. Paul now gives the reason why a restraining or holding back action is necessary in the church age. He said it was because the mystery of iniquity doth already work. The Greek word for mystery refers to something that was previously hidden but is now revealed (see Ephesians 3:3-5, 9). The Greek word for iniquity means lawlessness. Paul was saying that the spirit of lawlessness that will prevail during the Antichrist s rule has already started, but is being restrained for now by the Holy Spirit. This lawlessness will be identified
in its fullness in the form of a man when the antichrist or man of sin (see verse 3) is revealed. Paul also made it clear that only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. The use of the pronoun he indicates that the one who withholds the antichrist from being revealed is not the Roman Empire as some scholars suggest (see verse 6). It confirms that this is the Holy Spirit. He is the One who now letteth or allows lawlessness and will let or allow it until he be taken out of the way. Again, the pronoun he here refers to the Holy Spirit. Paul is saying that God is not allowing lawlessness to get out of hand by restraining or holding it back. The Holy Spirit will continue to act as a restrainer of lawlessness until He is taken out of the way or removed with the rapture of the church. Note: Only God has sufficient power to restrain the satanic power that is even now at work. Just think how much worse this world would be if God was not restraining or holding back satanic powers. Only after the Restrainer, the Holy Spirit is removed will Satan s power be fully revealed in the form of the antichrist or the man of sin (see Revelation 13:1-4). As noted earlier, Some Bible scholars don t accept that the Restrainer is God the Holy Spirit because of the words until he be taken out of the way. They insist that God cannot be removed. But since the Holy Spirit indwells all Christians (see I Corinthians 6:19-20), it is evident that He restrains sin through our lives. When believers are removed from the earth, God s restraint will be lifted and the antichrist will be revealed. The Holy Spirit s ministry of restraining sin through believers will end when we leave the earth at the rapture of the church (see I Thessalonians 4:13-17). The day of the Lord (see verse
2) will not come until the Restrainer, the Holy Spirit is taken away. This will allow the antichrist to unleash his lawlessness upon the world and allow apostasy or a falling away to run its course. IV. THE REVELATION OF THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS (II Thessalonians 2:8-10) A. The man of lawlessness will be controlled by Satan (II Thessalonians 2:8-9). 1. (vs. 8). Paul continues to say in this verse, And then shall that Wicked (one) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming The words And then refer to the tribulation period when that Wicked (one will) be revealed. The Greek word for Wicked means lawless and refers to the antichrist. The word revealed means uncovered or disclosed. When the tribulation begins the antichrist will be revealed or disclosed. When the restraining power of God (the Holy Spirit) departs from the earth with the rapture of the church, the tribulation period will begin and the antichrist will come to full power. He will be Satan s counterfeit of the true Christ (see II Corinthians 11:13-15) and Satan will give him the power that he offered to Jesus (see Matthew 4:8-9; Revelation 13:4). Paul also said that this Wicked one is the one whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his
coming This refers to the end of the tribulation period when Jesus returns to the earth for the Battle of Armageddon where He will consume and destroy the antichrist or the Wicked one (see Revelation 19:11-21). 2. (vs. 9). Now in this verse, Paul continued to talk about the man of sin or the antichrist whom Christ will destroy saying Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. The word translated coming in this verse is the same word used of the coming of Christ in verse 8 indicating that people will be deceived by Satan into thinking that the man of sin is Jesus Christ. The phrase after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders means that the antichrist will be able to perform miracles through Satan s power. As a result, the world will stand in awe of him as he claims divine power and demands worship (see II Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:3-4). Note: The ability to perform miracles does not necessarily mean that a person is God sent or is preaching the truth. This is true of the antichrist or any other false teacher (see Matthew 7:21-23). B. The man of lawlessness and his deception (II Thessalonians 2:10). Paul continued to say that the man of sin would not only demonstrate the works of Satan with lying wonders, but also with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. The words with all deceivableness of unrighteousness reveal the strategy of the antichrist. Part
of his purpose is to mislead and deceive. The phrase in them that perish refers to those who follow the antichrist and will make up the majority of the people on earth during the tribulation. They will perish or die. Note: The Bible gives two reasons why unsaved people will die during the tribulation. One reason is that a series of divine judgments will devastate the earth (see Revelation 6:7-8; 8:11; 9:18; 11:13). Another reason the unsaved will die is that they will destroy themselves. Entire armies will be wiped out as Gentiles converge on Palestine (see Ezekiel 38:11-39:29; Daniel 11:40-45; Revelation 16:12-14; 19:17-21). Any unsaved people who survive the tribulation will be judged by Christ before His millennial reign begins (see Matthew 25:31-46). Paul also said that the unsaved would perish because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. In other words, the deceived followers of the antichrist will perish because they refuse to accept the love of the truth which would save them. The phrase the love of the truth refers to Jesus love. Since Jesus is the Truth (see John 14:6) and God s Word is truth (see John 17:17), not receiving both God s Son and His Word will lead to eternal death. V. THE RESPONSE OF GOD TO UNBELIEF (II Thessalonians 2:11-12) A. God sends strong delusion to unbelievers (II Thessalonians 2:11). In this verse Paul writes And for
this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. The phrase for this cause refers back to verse 10 and the fact that the unsaved will not receive the truth. Since they will not receive the truth, God shall send them strong delusion. This simply means that God will allow the unsaved to be deceived or led astray. The fact that God will send this strong deception does not mean that these unbelievers will not have the choice not to be deceived, because they will. When Paul says God shall send them strong delusion he is presenting a principle of divine justice that when a person turns away from the truth, God allows that person to go his or her own way. He doesn t force them to choose to be deceived, that is their choice whether through ignorance or not. During the tribulation, God will give the unsaved over to their own lusts and desires (see Romans 1:24, 26, 28). Having been deluded or deceived by the antichrist, unbelievers will believe a lie. The word lie is preceded by the definite article a which indicates that Paul is referring to a specific lie. Most likely the lie the unsaved will believe will be the self-deification (calling himself God) of the antichrist, who is controlled by Satan (see II Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:4). B. The results of God s strong delusion (II Thessalonians 2:12). Our final verse reveals that God will allow unbelievers to believe a lie so That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. This is further confirmation of what will happen to the unsaved during the tribulation. They all will be damned or condemned. This is the ultimate result of denying the truth. All the unbelievers will stand
condemned because they had pleasure in unrighteousness which is the opposite of God s will (see Colossians 1:10; I Peter 1:15-16). What Paul describes here is a people who have rejected the light that God has given them and turned their backs on the love of the truth. When this happens, you better believe that there are consequences. And trust me, they aren t good! VI. Conclusion. The focus of this week s lesson was to reestablish wavering believers in God s truth and to reassure Christians that God holds the future of the world in His hands. We need to have the confidence that what God has promised He is able to perform (see Romans 4:21). Paul gave the Thessalonians believers a warning that is appropriate for us today. The spirit of antichrist or lawlessness is currently active in our world even though the ultimate antichrist may not yet be on the scene. Therefore, as Christians, we are called to be aware that the spirit of antichrist works by deception and lies. Those who fall prey to his lies will perish. The church is the only stronghold in the world for the truth. Let us not allow anything to shake our faith in Jesus Christ. We must be aware that troubles will come, but we know that we can trust the Lord and His plan. ***Union Gospel Press Sunday School Curriculum, The
Bible Expositor and Illuminator***