2 Thessalonians 2:6-12

Whatever is going on “now” (the mystery of lawlessness is at work but is being restrained) this only happens until the time when the man of lawlessness is revealed (2:3).  Paul is saying that this revelation will take place while the Church is still here. 

You are probably aware that many people have been called “The Antichrist” including a variety of dictators and religious leaders.  It is true that the Bible says there will be many antichrists and that eventually there will be one “The Antichrist” (1 John 2:18).  To this day this person has not been revealed.  And God did not give Paul a name to give to us.  But He did give Paul some things to say about “how” this person will reveal himself.  I find it quite instructive.  When the restrainer is removed then …

·        The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.  Paul uses similar words to those he (or someone) used in Heb. 2:4 when he spoke of God’s confirmation of the ministry of the Apostles through signs and wonders, with various miracles ad gifts of the Holy Spirit.  The miracles of Christ and the Apostles and, for that matter, of Moses, were signs (they pointed to the important person and their message, telling people this person was to be believed), wonders (they were amazing and wonderful events), and miracles (the Greek term is the word for powers; these events were powerful).  In the future there will be a time when the antichrist will do miracles, or at least seem to do miracles, and will call people to follow him because of the miracles.  There is such an important message in this for us today: just because someone claims to do a miracle of some sort does not mean that person is worthy to be obeyed and followed.  We cannot be like so many people who are mesmerized by this sort of things. 

·        And with all unrighteous deception.  Deception is a primary theme in this passage.  Here is what it will mean with the antichrist.  First, he will have a following among unbelievers (v10: those who perish).  He will have a following among those who do not have the love of the truth, by which we mean they do not have a love for the word of God, the Bible!  Remember: you cannot be saved apart from the Bible (2 Tim. 3:15; Rom. 1:16-17).  Third, those who follow him will be so deceived they will believe the lie.  I used to think that “the lie” was the one from the beginning, when Satan told Eve she could be like God (Gen. 3:5).  But in the context, I wonder if “the lie” is not the one Jesus referred to in Matt. 24:5: Many will come in My name, saying ‘I an the Christ,’ and will deceive many.  People will follow this man as if he were the Messiah, the Son of God.  Lastly the deception will be seen in the followers of this man in that they find their pleasure in unrighteousness.  May I direct you again to Rom. 13:11-14.  The followers of Christ and the followers of the antichrist must be markedly different.  One enjoys the works of darkness; one walks properly as in the day.  Don’t be deceived!  To side with this man of sin is to side with the one who will be consumed with the breath of the mouth of the Lord Jesus and destroyed with the brightness of His coming.