2 Thessalonians 2:1-5

Paul’s concern is that the Church in Thessalonica understand things that must first happen before the day of Christ comes.  These are things of concern to any church because we will live through them.  Again, he does not describe what goes on during the Day because we will not be there.

We need to say something about the day of Christ.  This is the NKJV translation and comes from their manuscript emphasis.  Your Bible may say day of the Lord.  I believe the same period of time is being spoken of whichever way you believe is the proper translation.  Some have tried to differentiate between the two, noting that the coming day of the Lord, promised in the Prophets (e.g. it is a major theme of Joel and Zephaniah) is the day of Christ because it is the time when He is exalted both in Israel and in the Nations (Eph. 1:9-10).  They would say he refers to it here as the day of Christ because he is talking to Christians, to the Church; whereas the day of the Lord is a term that speaks to Israel given its OT roots.  I would say that it’s not a major issue as both terms refer to the same time-frame.

What is critical is that Paul says two things must happen before that Day comes:

·        The falling away.  We get our word “apostacy” from this Greek term (apostasia).  While Paul does not use this particular term elsewhere in his writings he does speak of the event he is alluding to here.  1 Tim. 4:1-5 speaks of the latter times when some will depart from the faith.  2 Tim. 3:1-7 speaks of perilous times in the last days when many will have a form of godliness while denying its power.  2 Tim. 4:3-4 speaks of a coming time when they will not endure sound doctrine but will seek after teachers who say things that make them feel good, thus turning their ears away from the truth.  It is interesting the Paul warned the Thessalonians about this with one of his early letters while the passages we just noted are from some of his last letters.  In between much of Paul’s ministry was aimed at maintaining sound doctrine in the churches.  Paul sees this as a “Church problem” thus recognizing that it must happen before the day of the Lord when the Church is in heaven.

·        The man of sin is revealed.  This man of sin (or your Bible might say man of lawlessness) refers to the one we often call “the antichrist”.  He goes by many names including son of perdition (or destruction; also used of Judas in John 17:12).  Paul refers to him as the self-exalting one who claims to be God.  This description in v4 comes from Dan. 7:25; 8:23-25; 11:36-43.  Revelation 13 gives a description of him and his side-kick the false prophet. 

There is more said about him in the verses to follow.  But for now, there are two things of interest.  First is the fact that this man will appear before the Church is removed from earth.  We will know who he is and will apparently have to deal with him.  Second, Paul had taught the Thessalonian believers about this when he was there in Acts 17.  His stay had been brief, only a few weeks.  Yet he included eschatology in their foundational doctrines.  Today there are many, perhaps a large majority, in the evangelical churches in our country, who intentionally stay away from this topic.  This is sad.  As Paul understood, the church needs this teaching in the face of persecution, as did the Thessalonians.  God has given us some truth about the future and it is important that we know this truth.  It is fundamental to patience and faith (2 Th. 1:4).