Page 49 - Pauline Epistles Student Textbook

Study Section 10: Man of Lawlessness and Apostasy as Antecedences

to the Coming of the Lord.

10.1. Connect.

There are literally hundreds of books that are written over the topic of Biblical
prophecy. There are almost as many differing views about what is going to happen in
the future. But of greatest consensus is that a one-world leader will rise to power over
the entire earth and control buying and selling, and eventually cause the entire world
to worship himself. That person is called the Antichrist as he opposes Christ. He is also
called the “Man of Lawlessness” since he becomes the law for everyone on earth to obey, and
personally obeys no law. He is talked about in the passage we will consider today. His rise to power
sets a specific date that is important in Biblical prophecy. Let’s find out more about him….

10.2. Objectives.

1. We will come into grips with the context of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

2. We will also learn the nature of the man of lawlessness under the superintendence of
the analogy of faith.

3. Further, we will analyze the identity of the one who/which is holding back this man of lawlessness.

4. Finally, we will draw some principles that can help us to comfort those people who might be in
alarm because of any kind of false teaching.

10.3. Man of Lawlessness and Apostasy as Antecedences to the Coming of the Lord (2
Thess. 2:1-12).

Plausible Presence of False Teaching (2 Thess. 2:1-3)

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together
2
to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by
a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day
of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the
3
rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, (ESV)

Paul now shifts to a new idea or topic. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul changed the topic of discussion three
times. The use of a Greek conjunction “δὲ” (de [“and,” “but,” or “now”]), especially “now,” based on
the context suggests transition into something new. And we see again that conjunction in 2
Thessalonians 2:1.

The topic moves to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, our assembling with Him after His coming,
and the time when that was going to happen. Considering that, Paul urged them to not be easily
unsettled or alarmed by the false teaching that had allegedly to have come to them (v2a).
Remember that the eschatological message of 1 Thessalonians suggests the imminent return of our
Lord Jesus Christ. “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left
until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep” (2 Thess. 4:15).

48