The “lawless one”
Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 2 Thessalonians 2:5
The next part of this chapter is very interesting and very relevant to us today. Paul reminds the Thessalonians what he had previously told them about what would be going on when Jesus returns. The interesting part is that we can use this scripture to identify the times we are living in today. We can identify that Jesus has not returned because these things have not happened.
Let’s take a look at what Paul described.
- The Holy Spirit is holding back the revealing of the “lawless one”
- The mystery of lawlessness is already at work;
- After the church/Holy Spirit is taken away, then the “lawless one” will be revealed.
- The coming of the “lawless one” is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
- Unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
- For this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
- Those who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.
This plainly explains that the Holy Sprit in the body of Christ, the church, is restraining the “anti-christ” from being revealed. When the church is taken up to heaven, then he will come. There is no point to be looking for him now and trying to figure out who he is. He will not be revealed until Jesus come to get us, therefore it is not for us as believers to know who he is. When he does come, it will be obvious who he is because he does signs and wonders like no one else can. Whether they are tricks or real, it just doesn’t matter because people will be deceived into believing that he is God in the flesh. All those who believe and fall for the lie will be condemned.
Paul finishes this part of his letter by telling the Thessalonians how thankful he is for them because they believed and that God has set the apart for His glory! He concludes by offering hope in grace, comfort for their hearts and that God would establish them in every good word and work. That is a great closing and excellent prayer for us, also.
Today I want to encourage you to not be looking for the “lawless one”. Don’t be wondering who it is or when he will be known. Instead, be looking to the eternal One, the One who can save your soul from destruction. Then pray the prayer of hope by grace, comfort for your heart and be grounded in every good word and work. We don’t know how much time we have left here, but we do know He is coming soon. Make every day count for eternity by sharing the love of God in the world you live in.
Today’s scripture reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:5-17
The Daily Dose 