xvii the man of lawlessness

XIX II Thessalonians 2

Apostasy Revelation Judgment

Pertinent Points

Pertinent Points

II Thess 2 represents Paul’s followup to earlier teaching about the Day of the Lord, the Rapture and the Resurrection.

Paul means to correct some misunderstandings he’s heard have lingered about the Day of the Lord.

Remember, Paul says this is elementary stuff!

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Paul Launches His Topic

1. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2. 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.

Paul announces a new topic . . .

Paul Launches His Topic

1. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,

2. 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.

Paul has something for the Thessalonians to do . . .

Paul Launches His Topic

1. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2. 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.

. . . regarding something having to do with the Rapture

and Resurrection . . .

1. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,

2. 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.

The Thessalonians must reject the notion that the Day of the Lord had already come.

The Thessalonians have not been left behind, as some of them must have thought.

Contact with the spirit world . . .

Contact with the spirit world . . .

3) . . . a forged letter bearing Paul’s

signature!

1. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2. 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.

Contact with the spirit world . . .

Contact with the spirit world . . .

3) . . . a forged letter bearing Paul’s

signature!

1. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2. 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.

Paul states three possible avenues of

their deception:

Contact with the spirit world . . .

Contact with the spirit world . . .

3) . . . a forged letter bearing Paul’s

signature!

1. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2. 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.

Paul states three possible avenues of

their deception:

1) Contact with the spirit world . . .

2) . . . A bogus message or even . . .

Contact with the spirit world . . .

Contact with the spirit world . . .

3) . . . a forged letter bearing Paul’s

signature!

1. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2. 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.

3. Let no one in any way deceive you . . . .

Whoa!!! This phrasing sounds

familiar!Contact with the spirit world . . .

Contact with the spirit world . . .

PLEASE tell me this warning reminds you of the steady stream of warnings

Christ gave us in the Olivet Discourse!

Question: Of all the dangers believers will face in the End Times, which danger ranks

numero uno according to Jesus in Mark 13??

PLEASE tell me this warning reminds you of the steady stream of warnings

Christ gave us in the Olivet Discourse!

Question: Of all the dangers believers will face in the End Times, which danger ranks

numero uno according to Jesus in Mark 13??

DECEPTION

1. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2. 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. 3. 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 . . .

1. “it” = ???

2. Unless how many events happen?

1. “it” = the Day of Lord- our ‘gathering’ to Him!

2. Unless TWO events happen first:

One) ‘The’ Apostasy

Two) A Revealing of ‘the’ man of lawlessness

‘The’ Apostasy:Definition: A falling away of something or someone seemingly known to the Thessalonian readers, for Paul refers to ‘ the’ apostasy and gives no other explanation.

Candidates For Apostasy: “Weak” uncommitted Christians “Weak” uncommitted orthodox Jews Rhino Republicans trying ‘to get something done’ A limiting influence on the man of lawlessness

EVENT #1:

1. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2. 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. 3. 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, 4. 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.

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.

“Do you not remember”: Paul refers them to a prior knowledge of what restrains the ‘Man of Lawlessness’, then and (presumably?) now!

“SO” indicates a cause-and-effect relationship between an ongoing restraint’s falling away and this ‘Man of Lawlessness’ being 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. Then that lawless one will be revealed.

“ALREADY” indicates that agents of ‘lawlessness’ try hard NOW to impose their will on the earth.

“HE” tells us that what restrains lawlessness exists as a person, not a mere force or principle or a weakness on Satan’s part.

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. Then that lawless one will be revealed

“UNTIL” further indicates a TIME relationship between a present restraint and a point in the future when the Restrainer is taken out of the way.

“THEN” deepens the cause-and-effect relationship between a present Restrainer’s falling away and the Man of Lawlessness being revealed!

The Restrainer:A person (“he”) strong enough to limit the evil influence of Hell on Earthly situations.

Candidates For Restrainer:(Known Guesses)

The Church ( favored by Pre/Mid Tribulationist) Holy Spirit ( favored by Pre/Mid Tribulationist) Archangel Michael (often favored by post-tribbers(?) and Marv Rosenthall) Another divine but unnamed spiritual agent

EVENT #1 (cont’d):

The Restrainer:A person (“he”) strong enough to limit the evil influence of hell.

On Choosing A Candidate Paul never tells us who restrains. Known guesses each and all suffer from some

biblical defects and challenges Known guesses seem crafted to serve each

guesser’s view of the Rapture’s timing I’m not dogmatic about it, though I’m drawn to

the Archangel Michael as a candidate!

EVENT #1 (cont’d):

IMO, nobody short of the event is going to truly nail down the identity of The Restrainer. As of now, I am enamored of Rosenthal’s analysis in

support of the notion that it’s Michael, the Archangel. And there’s a contrary analysis you can

sample, as well.

Click on either of the two hyperlinks above and go get down in the weeds if you’ve a mind to. You’ll

learn lots and suffer no harm!

Here’s a brief pause in the analysis for a suggestion:

IMO, nobody short of the event is going to truly nail down the identity of The Restrainer. As of now, I am enamored of Rosenthal’s analysis in

support of the notion that it’s Michael, the Archangel. And there’s a contrary analysis you can

sample, as well.

Click on either of the two hyperlinks above and go get down in the weeds if you’ve a mind to. You’ll

learn lots and suffer no harm!

Here’s a brief pause in the analysis for a suggestion:

IMO, nobody short of the event is going to truly nail down the identity of The Restrainer. As of now, I am enamored of Rosenthal’s analysis in

support of the notion that it’s Michael, the Archangel. And there’s a contrary analysis you can

sample, as well.

Click on either of the two hyperlinks above and go get down in the weeds if you’ve a mind to. You’ll

learn lots and suffer no harm!

Here’s a brief pause in the analysis for a suggestion:

Now, back to business . . .

3. 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, 4. 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.

EVENT #2:After the Apostasy

Someone referred to as “the man of lawlessness” gets revealed . . .

Hmmmmm . . . Wonder who could fit that description?

The Revealing:The Man of Lawlessness: Son of Destruction Exalts himself above God Demands worship in a rebuilt temple Presents himself as God Almighty Works in accord with activity of Satan Has all power, signs and false wonders Uses all the deception of wickedness for those

who perish

EVENT #2:

In Daniel, we meet this ‘man of lawlessness’ under names like ‘the Little Horn,’ ‘ the Despicable Person’

In John’s epistles and in his Revelation, we encounter him under the name: The AntiChrist!

Satan’s Followers: Doomed

10. and with all the deception of wickedness . . .

A deadly snare

. . . because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

. . . for those who perish . . For a specific group

With a specific failing

Satan’s Followers: Doomed

10 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. 11. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

Consider God’sJustice and Mercy:

God seals believers,honoring our embrace of the Truth.

God blinds those whohave rejected the Truth, honoring their choice, too: Satan and thelawless Antichrist.

Satan’s Followers: Doomed

12. in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

Consider the seriousness of the end times:

A prior rejection of Christgains an early judgment

God binds them–heart and soul– to an unbreakable allegiance to Satan’s final manifestation of wickedness, the Antichrist. What an awful judgment.

Full Disclosure

The KJV translates II Thessalonians 2’s opening differently than my NASB does . . .

Now we beseech you, brethren, BY the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

In the KJV, the Rapture and Resurrection become the BASIS of Paul’s request.

Full Disclosure

The KJV translates II Thessalonians 2’s opening differently than my NASB does . . .

Now we beseech you, brethren, BY the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

In the KJV, the Rapture and Resurrection become the BASIS of Paul’s request.

The NASB opens Chapter 2 this way:

“Now we request you, brethren, WITH REGARD TO the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering to Him . . .”

In the NASB, the Rapture and the Resurrection become the SUBJECT of Paul’s request, not its BASIS.!

Full Disclosure

Why, oh why, does this matter?Well, if the Rapture and Resurrection form

Paul’s SUBJECT in Chapter 2, then Paul’s subsequent narrative CLEARLY locates both these events deep

in the Tribulation/70th Week .

If the Rapture and Resurrection form only the BASIS of Paul’s request in Chapter

2, their time location becomes, not pretribulational, exactly, only less

immediately obvious.

Full Disclosure

Same original Greek wording for both KJV and ‘modern’ translations

KJV translators used Classical Greek interpretation rules-that’s all they knew in 1600!

Modern translators use actual 1st Century Greek interpretation rules-they’d learned these language ‘upgrades’ by 1900 and can now correct ‘by’ to ‘with regard to’.

The Background of This Difference:

NEXT:XX: APOSTASY IN THE CHURCH:

Paul warns Timothy about the winnowing of the Church

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