Now
concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together
to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in
mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be
from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one
deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes
first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who
opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so
that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do
you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And
you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For
the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it
will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will
be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and
bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming
of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs
and wonders, 10 and with all wicked
deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth
and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a
strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order
that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for
you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to
be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To
this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our
Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand
firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our
spoken word or by our letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God
our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through
grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every
good work and word.
Are you the firstfruits to be saved? Did the LORD really say
to you? Who is this man of Lawlessness? Well I guess it is all pretty simple.
The man of lawlessness is a sinful person who has been placed within the people
of God. Satan raises up his own
minions. These people will lead
Christians away from the truth. They
will manipulate and deceive many people into following false teachings.
Is there only one man of Lawlessness? Well it kind of sounds like it, but there are
many deceivers. There are many people who teach falsely. But don’t fool
yourselves, God allows these delusions “so that they may believe what is false,
in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had
pleasure in unrighteousness.” Many people love the way of lawlessness.
All the Lawless ones will be revealed on the Last Day. Do
not fear the coming of the Day of the LORD! Do not think it will come without
you knowing it. Jesus Christ has died for people consumed by the law, and
offers the atoning sacrifice for laws broken.
Therefore, we live with the Law of God in its fullness and with the
sweet taste of Victory in Christ’s Body and Blood.
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