Ep. 334. 2 Thessalonians | Stand Firm

EPISODE 334

STAND FIRM: 2 THESSALONIANS

It is the second chapter of Second Thessalonians I find myself revisiting most often. Paul, again addressing the return of Jesus, focuses more on what (or who) will precede the coming of Jesus. The "man of lawlessness" will be revealed, "The son of destruction." We often call this individual "The Antichrist." He is certainly "an" antichrist. We see in 1 John that ALL who deny Jesus have the spirit of the antichrist. But this singular figure, sometimes called "The abomination of desolation" and "The Antichrist," will precede the coming of our Savior. The coming of this "lawless one" is by the power and work of Satan himself. He comes with deception for those who are perishing "because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." I think that the last part is key. "They REFUSED to love the truth and be saved" and therefore succumbed to the deception of the "lawless one" by the power of "Satan." Those who refuse to love the truth of God see that God then hands them over to further believe what is false. Be careful to see that this further delusion is in response to the individual's rejection of God. They refused to believe the truth so God handed them over to believe further what was false. They rejected God, and so God said, "If you want the lie, you can have it." These deceived ones took pleasure in unrighteousness and will, for that misplaced affection, be condemned.

Two thoughts about this passage:

First, let us be careful that we do not believe what is false.

Second, let us, like the Thessalonians, represent well what it looks like to put our faith in the person and work of Jesus.

ADDITIONAL READING: 2 Corinthians 4:3; Romans 1:28