Tag Archives: 2 Thessalonians

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2023 Bible Study — The Man of Lawlessness and Christ’s Return

Today, I am reading and commenting on  2 Thessalonians 1-3.

Once again in writing to the Thessalonian Believers Paul writes about Christ’s return.  In his previous letter to them, Paul had written that Christ’s return would be like a thief in the night.  From what he writes here it appears that some were telling the Believers that they had missed it.  After all, if Christ would return like a thief in the night, then some might miss His coming.  Paul tells them that they should not let such teachers deceive them.  The day of Christ’s return will not come until the man of lawlessness is revealed.  Most people read what Paul writes here as referring to a specific singular individual, the Anti Christ.  However, every where in the New Testament where the term antichrist is used, it suggests that the antichrist is not specific individual, but instead is an attitude possessed by many people.  My personal opinion on this is that we should be watching for an individual who matches Paul’s description here, while at the same time applying this verse as if it refers to a more general attitude among people in general.

So, what does Paul tell us about the man of lawlessness who must be revealed before Christ’s return?  He writes that he is destined for destruction.  further, Paul writes that the man of lawlessness will oppose and exalt himself over everything which is worshiped or called God.  Indeed, the man of lawlessness will declare himself to be God.  On the one hand, as I read what Paul writes here, he seems to be speaking about a singular individual who will appear shortly before Christ’s return.  On the other hand, Paul’s description of the man of lawlessness sounds a lot like what our society today promotes.  Our culture today opposes everything which is called God, except in cases where people set themselves up as their own gods.  It certainly looks as if the one who holds back the man of lawlessness has been taken out of the way.  Does that mean that an individual will soon arise who will fulfill Paul’s prophecy?  Or, has his prophecy already been fulfilled by the rise of a society of lawlessness?  In either case, we should be prepared for Christ’s soon return.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2022 Bible Study — Those Who Refuse To Believe The Truth Embrace Wickedness

Today, I am reading and commenting on  2 Thessalonians 1-3.

In his second letter to the Thessalonian Believers, Paul begins by refuting the claim that Jesus had already returned.  Paul makes clear that there will be no doubt when Jesus has returned.  It will be clear to everyone.  Further, he writes that Christ’s return will be preceded by the rise of “the man of lawlessness”.  When I read what Paul writes here I go back and forth between believing that when Paul refers to “the man of lawlessness” that he is referring to a singular individual, or to society becoming lawless in its entirety.  In any case, Paul tells us that God will allow “the man of lawlessness” to spread delusion to those who choose to embrace wickedness rather than believe God’s truth.  If you look around at the people you know you can see how those who refuse the truth of the Gospel instead easily believe lies, often because they wish to embrace wickedness in one form or another.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2021 Bible Study –Idleness Will Lead Us Into Lawlessness

Today, I am reading and commenting on  2 Thessalonians 1-3.

I want to take note of Paul’s description of what will happen in eternity for those who reject the Gospel.  They will be shut out from the presence and glory of God.  So, what Paul tells us is that those who reject God will be punished for eternity by not being allowed to be in His presence.  When people ask why a loving God would damn people to Hell for refusing to do His will we need to remember that all of the other torments described result from them being separated from God.  And they have made it clear by the choices which they have made that they do not wish to be in God’s presence.

When I read what Paul writes about the man of lawlessness I go back and forth between thinking that it applies to a specific individual, the Antichrist, and thinking that it refers to a state of society in general.  If Paul means the latter then we must consider that the Day of Christ’s return is near, very near.  Paul tells us that the man of lawlessness will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God.  He will proclaim himself God.  When the lawless one comes displays of power will be used to serve the lie.  Those who refuse to love the truth will delight in wickedness and believe the lie.  So, if we look at our society today it is becoming ever more lawless, rebelling against the very idea of law.  Paul writes that we must stand firm in our belief in the Truth which comes from God and the traditions which contain it.  Further, he tells us that holding firm means that we must not allow ourselves to be idle.  We must seek work with which we can fill our time.  We must never tire of doing what is good.  This is yet another area, similar to when Paul writes about prayer, where I feel called out: I allow myself to be idle entirely too much of the time and I know that Satan uses such idleness to lead me into sin.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2019 Bible Study — Prayer vs Lawlessness

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Thessalonians 1-3

I keep writing about prayer because I am convicted that I need to improve the prayer in my life.  At the beginning of this letter, and of most of his letters, Paul writes about praying for those to whom he is writing..  Writing that gave me insight into improving my prayers.  I do not believe it has ever occurred to me before to pray for those of you reading this (although a few of you are otherwise among those for whom I pray).  So, starting today, I will strive to pray for those who read my writing.  Then at the end of this letter, Paul asks those reading it to pray for him.  So, I will ask those of you reading this to do the same for me.  Please pray that God will make me a better servant to Him.

However, central to this letter is Paul’s writing about Christ’s return.  Paul writes that that day has not yet happened and that everyone will know when it comes to pass.  Before the Day of Christ’s return will come a time of lawlessness, presided over by a man of lawlessness.  Paul’s writing here has elements which suggest that the “man of lawlessness” is a specific individual and elements which suggest that the “man of lawlessness” is a figurative being.   In either case, there will be a period of lawless rebellion against God.  This passage suggests that the period will culminate in the rise of an evil “Messiah” figure who will deceive many into a false, and evil, religion.  Speaking of prayer, I pray that God pour His Holy Spirit out on the people of this world, drawing them to Him, and delaying the arrival of the day of lawlessness.