THESSALONICA: EXCEL STILL MORE

The Man of Lawlessness – 2 Thes. 2:1-12

Thessalonica

Don’t Get Thrown!

2 Timothy 2:17b-18 -- “Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.”

Thessalonica Confused

• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 – Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed….

Confusion On Parousia Doctrine

• “…coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him…. Vs. 1”

• Not destruction of Jerusalem

• Second Coming

False Correspondence Verse 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.”

Coming Soon: APOSTASIA

• Verse 3: “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first….”

• A specific apostasy

Man Of Lawlessness To Be Revealed

Vs. 3 – “…and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction….”

Man Of Lawlessness Characterized

Vs. 3 – LAWLESSNESS

HAMARTIA – sin The man of sin

The Son of Destruction

APOLIA – ruin, perdition, loss

This agent will be known for sinfulness and ultimate destruction.

Opposes Others – Exalts Self

Verse 4 – “…who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship….”

Seats Himself In Temple Of God

Vs. 4 – “…so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God….”

Not the temple in Jerusalem – but the temple which is the church.

Exhibits False Powers/Wonders

Verse 9: “…that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders….”

Sent A Deluding Influence By God

• Verse 11: “For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false….”

• Those who follow the Lawless One will be deluded.

So Who Is This Man Of Sin? Satan himself – no, because he works in

accord with Satan (v.9) Pagan mythology – no, because that was

already with them and this was to come. Evil personified – so, communism,

fascism, Islam, etc. No, because this person was soon to be revealed and was associated with a specific apostasy.

Roman emperor – No. Man of lawlessness will continue until Christ’s return.

Who do we know who…

Opposes every other worship form?

Claims to be infallible and equal to or above God in authority?

Celebrates false signs and wonders – such as bleeding statues, Mary in a tortilla….

And, Who do we know who…

Has people fall down before him in worship?

Has people kiss his ring or his feet?

Introduced an apostasy that sought to change every aspect of simple Christianity?

And who do we know who…

Exercises power and authority over kings and world leaders?

Subverts Scripture with manmade laws? Takes upon himself/themselves matters

pertaining only to God.Such as forgiving sinsSuch as glorifying certain menSuch as claiming inerrancy and

infallibility?

The Papacy Of The Roman Catholic Church

Seeds of that great apostasy already planted by Paul’s time.

Colossians 2:18 – “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind….”

What Restrained Him?

Imperial Rome Catholic church

didn’t gain prominence until the collapse of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476.

How Long?

Until Christ comes again

Verse 8 – “Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming….”

Don’t Face That Judgment!

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

“…and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32