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Bible Study notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (1-4-1981 Strandtown Baptist Church)
This is one of the most difficult passages in the New
Testament. Paul is using terms and pictures which were familiar to him and his
readers, but not to us. There are also allusions to his oral teaching, which is
unknown to us (2 Thessalonians 2:5). So there may have been no problems for
first readers, but there are many for us.
Recall the background to this letter – there was nervous hysteria waiting for the second coming among the Thessalonians. They had given up their jobs to wait. Paul had been misrepresented as saying the day of the Lord had come (2 Thessalonians 2:2). Paul explains there is much to happen before then. There will be an enormous rebellion against God, and a manifestation of evil which will be without precedent. Then evil will receive final defeat, and God’s triumph will be sure.
Paul begins by referring to the shock they had received – being told that the day of the Lord was “at hand”, i.e. had already come. He was anxious that they must not be too troubled or upset, either by spirit, i.e. report that Paul had had a supernatural revelation, or by letter – either a misunderstanding of his first letter or a forgery.
First of all there will be a
great rebellion (v3). The A.V. translation “a falling away” is inadequate
– it will be more than mere falling away. There will be an outstanding
manifestation of the power of evil arrayed against God. Satan will throw all his
forces into one last despairing effort.
This rebellion will be headed up
by “the man of sin” (AV), or “the man of lawlessness”(NIV). He will
assert evil against the law and the will of God. Who is he? There have been many
who have done Satan’s work throughout history. C.f. 1 John’s reference to
many anti-Christs, therefore it is dangerous to try to identify him. Paul hints
that this man will be the most famous of all, and will come in the last days. He
is not Satan, but he is Satan’s instrument and imbued with Satan’s spirit.
Paul describes him in v3 as the “son of perdition” (AV), i.e. the man
doomed to destruction (NIV). He opposes God and exalts himself over
everything to do with God (v4). He claims divine honours as he sits in the
temple of God. Paul pictures him attempting to overthrow and dethrone God.
And now you know what is
holding him back (2 Thessalonians 2:6). The Thessalonians may have known,
but we don’t. He is speaking of a restraining power at work, a power headed up
by a person – therefore probably a reference to the Roman Empire led by the
Emperor. But the Roman Empire has long since passed away. Therefore the
restraining power referred to is more likely the principle of law and
government, which was illustrated in the Roman Empire and is continuing in other
states. N.B. Roman law is perpetuated in legal systems of the states which have
succeeded the Empire. Dispensationalists take the restrainer to be the Holy
Spirit, since when the church is raptured (before the Tribulation), the Holy
Spirit will be removed, and lawlessness will be unleashed. Others suggest this
refers to the restraining effect of Paul’s missionary work. But the best
suggestion is the law and order of the Roman Empire.
So in this rebellion there will
be a collapse of the rule of law and all political order. Lawlessness will be
unrestrained. The last defences against the power of chaos will break down
completely. Then the church will enter into a brief period of evil, which will
end with the return of Christ. This evil power is already at work, but will not
reach its consummation till the restraining power has been removed (v7).
Then Paul turns to the
destruction of the man of lawlessness. There is an underlying note of God’s
unchallenged sovereignty. The Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of
his mouth (2 Thessalonians 2:8), suggesting the ease with which the Lord
will destroy the lawless one. He is also going to destroy him by the brightness
and splendour of His coming. The very appearance of the Lord means destruction
of the enemy.
Just as there will be the coming
of Jesus, so there will be the coming of this evil power. Many commentators from
earliest times have noted the parallels between the man of lawlessness and
Christ. He is the counterfeit Christ. He works in the power of Satan, as Christ
works in the power of God. He, like Christ, will perform miracles. The three
Greek words used here to describe his miracles in v9, dunamei, dhmeiois, and terasin, are
saturated with falsehood. Hence we must never be dazzled when a church or
movement claims to be proved right by its miracles.
Deceit is the method of the
lawless one (v10). The followers of the deceiver will perish because they do not
welcome the truth. Verse 11 brings the assurance of God’s sovereignty; His
hand is there in all that happens. God sends them a powerful delusion so that
they will believe the lie (2 Thessalonians 2:11). The powers of evil are
dependent on God. God makes the wrath of men to praise Him. His purposes are
being worked out even in the evil that men do. He uses the evil consequences of
sin as part of the punishment of the sinner. God gave them up (Romans
1:24,26,28) to the consequences of sin. God’s hand is in the process whereby
the sinner receives fitting recompense of his sin. Thus it is fitting that those
who reject God come to believe a lie. Men who reject the Gospel end up by
accepting evil as true. The result (v12) is they receive judgement. Rejecting
God leads to believing a lie, and this leads to judgement.
The unbeliever has two counts against him, (1) that he does not believe the truth, and (2) that he takes pleasure in unrighteousness. He is not only enslaved and immersed in sin, but also taking delight in it. We are made to enjoy God, but our sin leads us to enjoy sin instead.
(1) The Devil and his power are a dire reality, and it is folly to bury our heads in the sand to this fact.
(2) We should not be surprised at events around us, for it may be the end times. If this is not the end times, then the end time will be like this, or worse.
(3) God is in control over evil and chaos.
(4) God will ultimately triumph. He will say “Thus far, and no further” to evil.
