2 Thessalonians 2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed,
the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the
temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 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 the lawless one will be revealed,
whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the
lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception
among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason
God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did
not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The context of 2 Thessalonians 2 is ongoing instruction following 2 Thessalonians 1 after Paul praised the Thessalonians for their
faith and endurance. Paul's continued instruction from chapter 1 is directed toward their relationship with God as Paul said
"that our God may count you worthy of this “Calling” The context of the first verses of 2 Thessalonians 2 quickly shifts into
reminding the Thessalonians of a specific way in which Jesus would return and specific context surrounding this event, as Paul writes in
verse 5 "Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?" I would imaging Paul would have spoken in depth
of these events, as one would when speaking/teaching face to face as appose to writing a letter.
For us looking back clearly God’s plan was for these letters to be saved to our benefit, as the relevance of detail and context in these writings
was unknown, like many of the scriptures until the appropriate time, whereby comparing scripture to events, detail and context become apparent,
or in other words it has taken about 2000 years to see evidence of this Mystery taking shape.
Paul seems to be correcting what the Thessalonians were thinking, or talking/debating about, where in that time followers would have been
expecting Jesus return at any time, (As we do) not knowing that God's timeframe for the Gentiles to come in was going to be over along
period of time. It would then make sense that there could have been plenty of speculation and discussion as to how Jesus would return?
Paul issues a warning, that if anyone comes who seems to have authority, which could be way of Spirit, Word, or Letter; meaning
if someone comes claiming to have a revelation, vision or can prove it in some way by scripture (Letter from an Apostle) that the
day of the Lord has come before many fall away, this is a deception, do not believe it, don’t change your mind if you hear it.
Paul knew in looking for the coming of Jesus claim's that Jesus has returned in some other way, other than by the way in which
Jesus left would be presented.
Paul describes what will happen before Jesus return in Verse 3
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
This scripture is of significance to the context of 2 Thessalonians 2 and is in part key to understanding context of relating prophecy.
To understand the context and purpose of what Paul was prophesying can be best understood by reading
Verse 12 “that they all may be condemned [i]who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
and Verse 11 “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie”
The end purpose and completion of this Mystery of Lawlessness is for sorting, or separating, as this plan of Mystery has been incubating
and growing for more than 2000 years, waiting for it's time when this egg matures and hatches. "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work"
At this point it’s important to define some questions which arise from reading these scriptures, like, who needs to be separated? And by being
separated become condemned? “and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth,
that they might be saved.” Verse 10 shows that those who become condemned (Judged) in this process have been deceived at the hatching of this Mystery.
So are we talking about people who know God? e.g. Christians? Or people who don’t want to know about God and Jesus?
The answer is revealed in this excerpt from 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8
“the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those
who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
From these scriptures we can see that when Jesus comes, or is revealed from heaven, there will be vengeance on those who do not know God and
those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, We also read in Verse 3 that the "falling away" is before the return of Jesus; therefore
confirming this separating event has already taken place for Jesus to know on whom to execute vengeance, which is those of the world who
reject the “Calling” to Jesus, and Christians who refuse to obey the commands of Jesus through his Gospel.
How could Christians be included in this vengeance? Aren’t all Christians forgiven for their sins?
This is the significance of Verse 3
“3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first”
The context of this "falling away" could not be those of the world who do not know God or Jesus, as what would they be falling away from?
This “falling away” is the separation of “Called” Christians, or in other words, the separation of those who know God and obey the Gospel/commands
of Jesus and those who will believe the “Lie” because they do not know God's Word or have God's Word in their heart, therefore they can not
see the difference between the truth of God's Word and the Lie.
The next question to consider, what is the context of Lawlessness? Is this someone who is against the laws of the land by which we all live?
The context of Lawlessness in question is identified as one who goes outside the law of God's Word. As we know the first example of Lawlessness
is the account of Adam and Eve, the disobeying of God’s Word, (Command) which was also sin.
1 John 3:4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
Here’s a good example which fits the context of Lawlessness we are discussing. Mathew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them,
‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!
This is Jesus speaking to/about Christians. We can see even in this context that these professed followers of Jesus were doing many signs and
wonders in Jesus name, but in the end they were disqualified? why? Surly if they were doing these works
in Jesus name God would forgive them for wrongdoing?
Something to note about this scripture is they were able to prophesy, cast out demons and did many wonders/miracles in Jesus name but clearly
Jesus was not with them? What this shows is just because someone can prophesy, cast out demons and do wonders in Jesus name does not mean
they are approved by God based on possessing the ability to do these works, or that these are a sign of bearing true fruits from the spirit.
Basically what this scripture from Matthew shows is their intentions by which they were prophesying, casting out demons or doing any other
miracle was not of God, even though from their own perspective they thought because of the success of their works the works were of God,
therefore Jesus would know them. So what disqualified them? It was ongoing Lawlessness; they willingly exclude God’s Word in their works, how?
If Jesus did not know them because of lawlessness means Jesus did not know them because their works were outside the Law, or in other words
their works whether all or in part were sinning against God Word, where if their intention is of God they would have found their error from
God's Word and corrected their lawlessness. What is also note worthy is where Jesus said "Many will say to Me" sadly showing that many have
not taken up God's Word for truth. If we refer back to what Paul was saying to the Thessalonians; Paul said that he hoped they would be counted
worthy of their “Calling” also showing there is a position where we can be counted unworthy of our "Calling"
Matthew 24:23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will
rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you,
‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and
flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
We can see that Mathew 24:23-27 fits into the same context of 2 Thessalonians 2
with the ongoing false direction, where both Jesus and Paul were warning to be extremely careful that we are not lured into a false way of following
Jesus, or another Jesus, where through deception we end up apposing God’s Word. Matthew 7:21 and Matthew 24:23 correlate. Those doing signs and
wonders in Jesus name of Matthew 7:21 who Jesus does not know are the same as those in Matthew 24 where through their sings and wonders cause
people to believe God/the Spirit is with them. So why is this a problem? If someone does signs and wonders/works in Jesus name and fails to do them
within the Law? (God's Word) those who follow, follow Lawlessness, or in other words
they follow sin.
This is the same context of Lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2, which brings us to the man of Sin, the Lawless one, the Son of perdition. The first reference
to this person is found in Daniel at the end of the seventy sevens prophecy (Daniel 9:26) he is the prince who is to come. (Not Jesus, Satan’s prince)
His identity and timing of his coming is found within Revelation 17.
This Man of Lawlessness is a condemned man, who has one purpose.
John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the
son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Scripture was fulfilled by Judas, being the son of perdition in this case; this is also the case with the man of sin found in 2 Thessalonians 2 who is also
a son of perdition. Likewise this man's purpose is to fulfil scripture, to be the son of sin, Satan’s prince.
He is a second Judas, a betrayer, except in this case he is a betrayer of God's Word.
He has the "Power" over the greater number to uphold God's Word or to make God's Word worthless. His purpose is to deceive all who do not love
the truth of God, he causes the “Great Falling Away” by this "Power" and in causing the Falling Away reveals himself to be the man of sin, the lawlessness one.
“9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders”
When reading this scripture of 2 Thessalonians 2 we can get the impression that it will be easy to identify the coming and deception of the lawless one
by these works of "power", signs, and lying wonders in the same way Satan operates, as we can visualise that he may perform obvious miracles and
wonders to deceive? but is this how Satan goes about deception?
If we consider Satan’s ability in “cunning” his cunning is unprecedented, as the scriptures verify, Satan is the father of the lie. If we reflect on the lie
Satan presented to Eve, Satan presented Truth and Lie’s together, which means the one to whom the lie is presented is faced with verification of
truth that reinforces the validity of the lie part, and depending on what we have as knowledge we will see or not see the lie, and depending on our
desires/heart we will accept the lie knowing that it is a lie, or reject it because it is a lie.
We also have to keep in mind how long this Mystery of Lawlessness has been incubating and what it would mean if Satan used supernatural signs
and wonders in the world scene? he only gets one shot at this, an egg only hatches once or not at all. The tricky thing is Satan has to find a way to
deceive Christians without confirming to the world that God exists before Jesus return. As we know Satan has already convinced the world that
God is but a story and that we came to exist by evolution; therefore God does not exist to these people. Satan wouldn't want these people to then
start considering a relationship with God.
Paul describes the man of sin's objective in Verse 4 "who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits
as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
Based on Verse 4 his objective is to be God to all e.g. exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped. This is the "Deception", the "Lie"
that will be believed because of the lying wonders he does to show that he is God by bringing all who worship a God or that is called God together.
This is what "exalts himself" means, it is the going forth to convince all who worship God or any other God to join with him.
Because of the context of verse 11 and 12 the main focus of unity is toward Christian denominations, especially since lawlessness is to do with
God's Word, where he causes those who should know God's Word to believe in him and his word instead of God's Word.
This is the "working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders"
Another aspect to the birth of this deception to consider is at the same time God will deliver a strong delusion so that all who have pleasure
in unrighteousness (sin) will believe the lie that is rolled out. Therefore the lie will not be easily identified, unless one can see it through God's Word.
The context of righteousness in this case is those who seek God's Word and hold true
to the Word. Therefore those who have pleasure in unrighteousness are those who give up/reject or are deceived away from the truth of
God's Word and accept a version acceptable by other standards.
What other clues do these scriptures present as to verify the concept that the man of sin will be God to all, or everything that is worshiped ?
“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”
So who is restraining? And how will he who has the power to restrain be taken out of the way? if it's God who restrains, who can take God out of the way.......?
Let's see who and how this restraining is taking place.
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life
Jesus is the Light of the World; it is this light that has always and is now restraining/holding back the Darkness, (Sin, Lawlessness)
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
“And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.”
How then can Jesus be taken out of the way?
The only thing standing in the way of Lawlessness (Man of sin) is God's Word. How then can God's Word be taken away?
This is where "Intention" of how following God's Word is paramount. If the "Called" are primed into following Doctrine that
morphs into acceptance of World standards and ways, the "Called" have then "Fallen Away" to Lawlessness and probably
won't even realize they don't follow Jesus anymore because they have been deceived into what sounds like God's Love,
which is not God's Word, where from the World's perspective is to accept everything! as we are who we are and we are what we are,
no change no struggle no repentance, God loves us as we are. Doe's God's Word support this? are we forgiven for on going wilful sin?
are we forgiven for choosing Satan over God? are we forgiven for Lawlessness?
If we refer to verse 4 where the scripture says "who opposes" The man of sin opposes God's Word through his position by nullifying
God's Word; compromising God's commandments so that those who believe these lie's choose sin and therefore become condemned,
they like the idea that repentance is not necessary or that we will not be judged for what we do, Grace covers it all!
So how does the whole World fit into all this?
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
Paul is talking about the unexpected day Jesus returns, If we consider what happens when a thief comes in the night, the realization when we wake is
not only a shocking surprise but a realization something is missing, which in this context for those who wake is the realization that they have no
relationship with God, or the realization they have been deceived.
We can also see the World agenda “Peace and safety!” What currently stands in the way of Peace and safety? Predominantly it would have
to be difference of religious beliefs and belief systems.
So what stands in the way of religious and some social differences?
Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
The only way the World will achieve "Peace and safety" will be to convince those who believe in God or a God to compromise and accept change.
What would be easer? unite/compromise or remove? If we consider what Jesus is saying in Matthew 10:34, Jesus is saying "the sword stands
in the way of Peace" or in other words "God's Word stands in the way of achieving World Peace"
God's Word stands in the way of the Lawless one, World Peace is the result of removing God's Word. (nullifying God's Word)
Satan's deception of manipulating the world, incrementally changing mankind's thinking, side by side with the advancement of technology has
laid the ultimate trap, not only for non believers but for Christians to compromise God's Word so we can all live in “Peace and safety!”
forgetting that we are not of this world and that we are a testimony to the world by holding true to God's Word.
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own.
Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed,
the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the
temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 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 the lawless one will be revealed,
whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the
lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception
among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason
God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did
not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The context of 2 Thessalonians 2 is ongoing instruction following 2 Thessalonians 1 after Paul praised the Thessalonians for their
faith and endurance. Paul's continued instruction from chapter 1 is directed toward their relationship with God as Paul said
"that our God may count you worthy of this “Calling” The context of the first verses of 2 Thessalonians 2 quickly shifts into
reminding the Thessalonians of a specific way in which Jesus would return and specific context surrounding this event, as Paul writes in
verse 5 "Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?" I would imaging Paul would have spoken in depth
of these events, as one would when speaking/teaching face to face as appose to writing a letter.
For us looking back clearly God’s plan was for these letters to be saved to our benefit, as the relevance of detail and context in these writings
was unknown, like many of the scriptures until the appropriate time, whereby comparing scripture to events, detail and context become apparent,
or in other words it has taken about 2000 years to see evidence of this Mystery taking shape.
Paul seems to be correcting what the Thessalonians were thinking, or talking/debating about, where in that time followers would have been
expecting Jesus return at any time, (As we do) not knowing that God's timeframe for the Gentiles to come in was going to be over along
period of time. It would then make sense that there could have been plenty of speculation and discussion as to how Jesus would return?
Paul issues a warning, that if anyone comes who seems to have authority, which could be way of Spirit, Word, or Letter; meaning
if someone comes claiming to have a revelation, vision or can prove it in some way by scripture (Letter from an Apostle) that the
day of the Lord has come before many fall away, this is a deception, do not believe it, don’t change your mind if you hear it.
Paul knew in looking for the coming of Jesus claim's that Jesus has returned in some other way, other than by the way in which
Jesus left would be presented.
Paul describes what will happen before Jesus return in Verse 3
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
This scripture is of significance to the context of 2 Thessalonians 2 and is in part key to understanding context of relating prophecy.
To understand the context and purpose of what Paul was prophesying can be best understood by reading
Verse 12 “that they all may be condemned [i]who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
and Verse 11 “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie”
The end purpose and completion of this Mystery of Lawlessness is for sorting, or separating, as this plan of Mystery has been incubating
and growing for more than 2000 years, waiting for it's time when this egg matures and hatches. "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work"
At this point it’s important to define some questions which arise from reading these scriptures, like, who needs to be separated? And by being
separated become condemned? “and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth,
that they might be saved.” Verse 10 shows that those who become condemned (Judged) in this process have been deceived at the hatching of this Mystery.
So are we talking about people who know God? e.g. Christians? Or people who don’t want to know about God and Jesus?
The answer is revealed in this excerpt from 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8
“the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those
who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
From these scriptures we can see that when Jesus comes, or is revealed from heaven, there will be vengeance on those who do not know God and
those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, We also read in Verse 3 that the "falling away" is before the return of Jesus; therefore
confirming this separating event has already taken place for Jesus to know on whom to execute vengeance, which is those of the world who
reject the “Calling” to Jesus, and Christians who refuse to obey the commands of Jesus through his Gospel.
How could Christians be included in this vengeance? Aren’t all Christians forgiven for their sins?
This is the significance of Verse 3
“3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first”
The context of this "falling away" could not be those of the world who do not know God or Jesus, as what would they be falling away from?
This “falling away” is the separation of “Called” Christians, or in other words, the separation of those who know God and obey the Gospel/commands
of Jesus and those who will believe the “Lie” because they do not know God's Word or have God's Word in their heart, therefore they can not
see the difference between the truth of God's Word and the Lie.
The next question to consider, what is the context of Lawlessness? Is this someone who is against the laws of the land by which we all live?
The context of Lawlessness in question is identified as one who goes outside the law of God's Word. As we know the first example of Lawlessness
is the account of Adam and Eve, the disobeying of God’s Word, (Command) which was also sin.
1 John 3:4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
Here’s a good example which fits the context of Lawlessness we are discussing. Mathew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them,
‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!
This is Jesus speaking to/about Christians. We can see even in this context that these professed followers of Jesus were doing many signs and
wonders in Jesus name, but in the end they were disqualified? why? Surly if they were doing these works
in Jesus name God would forgive them for wrongdoing?
Something to note about this scripture is they were able to prophesy, cast out demons and did many wonders/miracles in Jesus name but clearly
Jesus was not with them? What this shows is just because someone can prophesy, cast out demons and do wonders in Jesus name does not mean
they are approved by God based on possessing the ability to do these works, or that these are a sign of bearing true fruits from the spirit.
Basically what this scripture from Matthew shows is their intentions by which they were prophesying, casting out demons or doing any other
miracle was not of God, even though from their own perspective they thought because of the success of their works the works were of God,
therefore Jesus would know them. So what disqualified them? It was ongoing Lawlessness; they willingly exclude God’s Word in their works, how?
If Jesus did not know them because of lawlessness means Jesus did not know them because their works were outside the Law, or in other words
their works whether all or in part were sinning against God Word, where if their intention is of God they would have found their error from
God's Word and corrected their lawlessness. What is also note worthy is where Jesus said "Many will say to Me" sadly showing that many have
not taken up God's Word for truth. If we refer back to what Paul was saying to the Thessalonians; Paul said that he hoped they would be counted
worthy of their “Calling” also showing there is a position where we can be counted unworthy of our "Calling"
Matthew 24:23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will
rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you,
‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and
flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
We can see that Mathew 24:23-27 fits into the same context of 2 Thessalonians 2
with the ongoing false direction, where both Jesus and Paul were warning to be extremely careful that we are not lured into a false way of following
Jesus, or another Jesus, where through deception we end up apposing God’s Word. Matthew 7:21 and Matthew 24:23 correlate. Those doing signs and
wonders in Jesus name of Matthew 7:21 who Jesus does not know are the same as those in Matthew 24 where through their sings and wonders cause
people to believe God/the Spirit is with them. So why is this a problem? If someone does signs and wonders/works in Jesus name and fails to do them
within the Law? (God's Word) those who follow, follow Lawlessness, or in other words
they follow sin.
This is the same context of Lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2, which brings us to the man of Sin, the Lawless one, the Son of perdition. The first reference
to this person is found in Daniel at the end of the seventy sevens prophecy (Daniel 9:26) he is the prince who is to come. (Not Jesus, Satan’s prince)
His identity and timing of his coming is found within Revelation 17.
This Man of Lawlessness is a condemned man, who has one purpose.
John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the
son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Scripture was fulfilled by Judas, being the son of perdition in this case; this is also the case with the man of sin found in 2 Thessalonians 2 who is also
a son of perdition. Likewise this man's purpose is to fulfil scripture, to be the son of sin, Satan’s prince.
He is a second Judas, a betrayer, except in this case he is a betrayer of God's Word.
He has the "Power" over the greater number to uphold God's Word or to make God's Word worthless. His purpose is to deceive all who do not love
the truth of God, he causes the “Great Falling Away” by this "Power" and in causing the Falling Away reveals himself to be the man of sin, the lawlessness one.
“9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders”
When reading this scripture of 2 Thessalonians 2 we can get the impression that it will be easy to identify the coming and deception of the lawless one
by these works of "power", signs, and lying wonders in the same way Satan operates, as we can visualise that he may perform obvious miracles and
wonders to deceive? but is this how Satan goes about deception?
If we consider Satan’s ability in “cunning” his cunning is unprecedented, as the scriptures verify, Satan is the father of the lie. If we reflect on the lie
Satan presented to Eve, Satan presented Truth and Lie’s together, which means the one to whom the lie is presented is faced with verification of
truth that reinforces the validity of the lie part, and depending on what we have as knowledge we will see or not see the lie, and depending on our
desires/heart we will accept the lie knowing that it is a lie, or reject it because it is a lie.
We also have to keep in mind how long this Mystery of Lawlessness has been incubating and what it would mean if Satan used supernatural signs
and wonders in the world scene? he only gets one shot at this, an egg only hatches once or not at all. The tricky thing is Satan has to find a way to
deceive Christians without confirming to the world that God exists before Jesus return. As we know Satan has already convinced the world that
God is but a story and that we came to exist by evolution; therefore God does not exist to these people. Satan wouldn't want these people to then
start considering a relationship with God.
Paul describes the man of sin's objective in Verse 4 "who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits
as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
Based on Verse 4 his objective is to be God to all e.g. exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped. This is the "Deception", the "Lie"
that will be believed because of the lying wonders he does to show that he is God by bringing all who worship a God or that is called God together.
This is what "exalts himself" means, it is the going forth to convince all who worship God or any other God to join with him.
Because of the context of verse 11 and 12 the main focus of unity is toward Christian denominations, especially since lawlessness is to do with
God's Word, where he causes those who should know God's Word to believe in him and his word instead of God's Word.
This is the "working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders"
Another aspect to the birth of this deception to consider is at the same time God will deliver a strong delusion so that all who have pleasure
in unrighteousness (sin) will believe the lie that is rolled out. Therefore the lie will not be easily identified, unless one can see it through God's Word.
The context of righteousness in this case is those who seek God's Word and hold true
to the Word. Therefore those who have pleasure in unrighteousness are those who give up/reject or are deceived away from the truth of
God's Word and accept a version acceptable by other standards.
What other clues do these scriptures present as to verify the concept that the man of sin will be God to all, or everything that is worshiped ?
“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”
So who is restraining? And how will he who has the power to restrain be taken out of the way? if it's God who restrains, who can take God out of the way.......?
Let's see who and how this restraining is taking place.
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life
Jesus is the Light of the World; it is this light that has always and is now restraining/holding back the Darkness, (Sin, Lawlessness)
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
“And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.”
How then can Jesus be taken out of the way?
The only thing standing in the way of Lawlessness (Man of sin) is God's Word. How then can God's Word be taken away?
This is where "Intention" of how following God's Word is paramount. If the "Called" are primed into following Doctrine that
morphs into acceptance of World standards and ways, the "Called" have then "Fallen Away" to Lawlessness and probably
won't even realize they don't follow Jesus anymore because they have been deceived into what sounds like God's Love,
which is not God's Word, where from the World's perspective is to accept everything! as we are who we are and we are what we are,
no change no struggle no repentance, God loves us as we are. Doe's God's Word support this? are we forgiven for on going wilful sin?
are we forgiven for choosing Satan over God? are we forgiven for Lawlessness?
If we refer to verse 4 where the scripture says "who opposes" The man of sin opposes God's Word through his position by nullifying
God's Word; compromising God's commandments so that those who believe these lie's choose sin and therefore become condemned,
they like the idea that repentance is not necessary or that we will not be judged for what we do, Grace covers it all!
So how does the whole World fit into all this?
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
Paul is talking about the unexpected day Jesus returns, If we consider what happens when a thief comes in the night, the realization when we wake is
not only a shocking surprise but a realization something is missing, which in this context for those who wake is the realization that they have no
relationship with God, or the realization they have been deceived.
We can also see the World agenda “Peace and safety!” What currently stands in the way of Peace and safety? Predominantly it would have
to be difference of religious beliefs and belief systems.
So what stands in the way of religious and some social differences?
Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
The only way the World will achieve "Peace and safety" will be to convince those who believe in God or a God to compromise and accept change.
What would be easer? unite/compromise or remove? If we consider what Jesus is saying in Matthew 10:34, Jesus is saying "the sword stands
in the way of Peace" or in other words "God's Word stands in the way of achieving World Peace"
God's Word stands in the way of the Lawless one, World Peace is the result of removing God's Word. (nullifying God's Word)
Satan's deception of manipulating the world, incrementally changing mankind's thinking, side by side with the advancement of technology has
laid the ultimate trap, not only for non believers but for Christians to compromise God's Word so we can all live in “Peace and safety!”
forgetting that we are not of this world and that we are a testimony to the world by holding true to God's Word.
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own.
Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.