2.3 A METHODICAL ANSWER (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12)

2 Thessalonians 2:3 "Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first."

There will be before the day of the Lord "the falling away." Preceded by the definite article "the" it therefore refers to the apostasy well known to the Thessalonians, because of teaching Paul had given when present with them. Certainly Jesus prophesied such a time (Matthew 24:10 ).

Ryrie says of this falling away or apostasy: "An aggressive and climatic revolt against God which will prepare the way for the appearance of the man of sin (See 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)".

It will be a religious apostasy such as we see the shape of in the mixture of New Age, humanism - and occult inter-faith, that is being promoted today. The purpose of this religious monstrosity is to undermine the absolute truth and authority of God's Word and to deny the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ - and so pave the way for antichrist.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 "And the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition."

• He is to be destroyed by Christ at His coming, so the revelation of the "man of sin" must be before the day of the Lord.
• He is called "the man of sin" because he will be the embodiment of lawlessness or historical completion of rejection of God's rule.
• He will lead the great apostasy.
• He is called "the son of perdition" because of being destined to destruction by his rebellion, like Judas (2 Thessalonians 2:3 ).
• He will be the opposer of God (2 Thessalonians 2:4 ).
• He will exalt himself above God (2 Thessalonians 2:4 ).
• He will accept worship as God (2 Thessalonians 2:9 ).
• He will demand to be worshipped in the temple (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-21 ).
• He will claim to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4 ).

Paul had taught these truths before to them, now he refreshes their memories, that apostasy and the revelation of the man of sin precedes the day of the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:6,7 "And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 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."

"Antichrist is now being held back by a restrainer. Some understand this to be God indwelling His church by the Holy Spirit, while others see the human government as a restraint. According to the former view, the removal will be the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ). According to the latter, at the overthrow of human government by antichrist." Ryrie

Notice the following facts to arrive at an understanding as to who the hinderer is:-

• Something that is already known (2 Thessalonians 2:6 ).
• Something that now hinders lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 ).
• Something strong enough to prevent the revelation of antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 ).
• Something that, until it is removed from the earth will hinder lawlessness(2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 ).
• It is called "he" (2 Thessalonians 2:7 ).
• And will be removed from the earth before the day of the Lord (or commences the day of the Lord) (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 ).
• That the Spirit-indwelt church is called "the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13 ).
• That the Holy Spirit-filled church exerts a restraining power upon evil.
• That the church caught up (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ), the restrainer will then be out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7 ).
• The evil will be unchecked for a brief time, but enough for the revelation of the lawless one.

2 Thessalonians 2:11,12 "And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

That strong delusion is limited "to those who perish" (2 Thessalonians 2:10 ). It is a present principle - those who refuse the truth given to save them, believe the lie. Remember, God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7-8 ). A man reaps what he sows. To be compelled to believe the lie they chose to believe, is their punishment from God. In the reign of the lawless man of sin, when men's spiritual indifference will turn into God-defiance, and God's longsuffering into loathing and vengeance, the culmination will be:

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 "And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 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."

Those who have been dazzled and bewitched by the lying wonders of the satanic man, will see him destroyed - and they will share in the terrible consequences of the "brightness of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ."

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. What do you know of, that precedes the day of the Lord, that keeps you from deception?

2. Why is antichrist called the "man of sin"?
   • What do you know about his activities?
3. Antichrist is being held back by a restrainer. Whom do you believe the restrainer to be?

4. How would you explain "God will send a strong delusion"?