2 Thessalonians 2:3

Text (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

3 let no man beguile you in any wise; for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,

Translation and Paraphrase

3.

Let no one deceive you (about this) by any method, because (that day shall not come) except (or until) the apostasy (a departure from the faith) come first, and the man of lawlessness be revealed, (he who is) the son of perdition (the man devoted to eternal misery).

Notes (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

1.

Have these two thingsthe falling away, and the man of sinyet happened? If they have not, then the Lord cannot come until they do. If they have already appeared, then we can look for the Lord at any time. We believe that these two things have long ago appeared.

2.

Paul's teaching in this verse does NOT indicate that he had changed his mind about the Lord's coming from views he had once held. Some allege that Paul had earlier said that Christ's coming was near, but that he had changed his mind by the time he wrote this to think that the second coming was far off. In 2 Thessalonians 2:5 Paul reminds them that even when he was with them he had told them the same things that he here writes about. Paul had not changed his teachings. The Thessalonians had simply forgotten what he said, or perhaps it never penetrated their minds in the first place.

3.

This falling away (Gr., apostasia) refers undoubtedly to a religious falling away. Another word for falling away is apostasy. Apostasia is always used in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) in the sense of a religious falling away. See Joshua 22:22. 2 Chronicles 29:19; 2 Chronicles 33:19; Jeremiah 2:19. Thayer defines apostasia as a falling away, defection, apostasy. The word is found elsewhere in the N.T. only in Acts 21:21, where it might be rendered apostasy from Moses. All of this causes us to think that the falling away predicted by Paul is a falling away from the faith as taught by Christ and the apostles.

4.

This verse speaks not of a falling away, but of the falling away, It is a particular apostasy which Paul has in mind.

Matthew 24:10-12 tells of a falling away which was to precede the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. See Matthew 24:15-16. But it is not the same apostasy to which Paul refers in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. We mention Matthew 24:1-51, because when some people read that chapter, they fail to observe carefully when Jesus spoke about the destruction of Jerusalem and when he talked about the end of the world. Because of this careless interpretation, they often take passages that clearly pertained to the destruction of Jerusalem (such as Matthew 24:6-12) and apply them to the conditions at the end of the world.

5.

The identification of the man of sin is probably as controversial a matter as anything in the Bible. Paul had given the Thessalonians teaching about the man of sin which we have not heard, and the matter may have been much clearer to them than to us.

6.

We prefer to call the man of sin the man of lawlessness, in accordance with the reading of the Greek text of both Nestle and Westcott and Hort. Both of these have anomia (lawlessness) in the text and hamartia (sin) in the margin.

The name, man of lawlessness, matches up with the phrase, mystery of lawlessness, in 2 Thessalonians 2:7. The man of lawlessness (Gr., anomia) is obviously the crowning height of the mystery of lawlessness (or mystery of iniquity as the King James text gives it).

7.

A man of lawlessness would be a man who was not subject to any law. The American Standard version of 1 John 3:4 says, Sin is lawlessness. This well describes the mind of the sinner. He refuses to be subject to any law, human or divine. Thus the man of lawlessness will be that person who, above all others, is not subject to the law of God, but obeys only his own desires.

8.

The expression, son of perdition, means (according to Thayer) a man doomed to eternal misery. This same description is applied to Judas in John 17:12. Perdition (apoleia) means destruction or waste (as in Mark 14:4). Like the word olethros used in 2 Thessalonians 1:9, it does not imply annihilation.

9.

When we speak of the man of lawlessness, our minds frequently connect him with antichrist mentioned in 1 John 2:18; 1 John 2:22; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7. However, the Bible does not specifically connect them, and any connection that we might make between the two would have to be regarded as only speculation. We hear lots of preaching about THE antichrist. But John makes it rather clear that antichrist is not one supremely evil person, but that anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ or that He came in the flesh is antichrist. There were antichrists even in John's time. Many modernist preachers and scholars who deny our Lord's deity should rightfully be called antichrist. But we stand on very shaky support when we teach that there will be some one particularly terrible ANTICHRIST in the future.

10.

There are several general schools of interpretation concerning what the falling away, the man of sin, and that which hinders are.

a.

Some just frankly disregard the whole business. In the Interpreter's Bible, in the exposition of this section, the view is given that as dwellers in the twentieth century, with its deliverance from much theological ignorance and medieval superstition, we feel superior to any such conception of antichrist as possessed Paul and the Thessalonians. Those who believe that Paul was an inspired apostle of Christ can not, of course, have any such opinions as this.

b.

Some think the man of sin is the papacy

c.

Some think the man of sin is the Roman emperor and the mystery of lawlessness is the Roman empire. It is a fact that some of the Roman emperors demanded worship and exalted themselves just as the man of sin was to do. 2 Thessalonians 2:4. Caligula in 39 or 40 A.D. tried to set up his statue in the temple in Jerusalem as an object of worship. But none of the Roman emperors perfectly fulfilled Paul's description of the man of sin. Hence, this interpretation does not seem to be the right one.

d.

Some think that the mystery of lawlessness is Judaism, and that the man of sin is some leader in that faith. By this view that which hinders would be the Roman empire.

e.

Some think that the man of sin is Antichrist, a future world dictator who will rule during a brief period between the taking of the saints out of the world and the thousand years of Revelation 20:3-4. We shall discuss this view more fully in the notes that follow.

f.

Some say he is (or was) Hitler, Stalin, Khrushchev, or some other person.

11.

The two interpretations held by most Bible-believers are the futurist (or pre-millennial) view and the historical view. We want to discuss these interpretations more fully.

I.

THE FUTURIST (or pre-millennial) view.

(This view is held by many devout Christians in our times.)
A.

View summarized.

1.

The falling away refers to the ungodly conditions to exist in the world shortly before the Lord returns. Many people consider that present world conditions are the fulfillment of this prophecy of the falling away.

2.

The man of sin is the Antichrist, one individual, who is to be a world dictator and rule AFTER Christ has taken the church out of the world at the rapture. He will be almost an incarnation of Satan. Some think he will be a Jew (basing this idea on Daniel 11:37, although the meaning of that verse is far from certain), He will supposedly rule the world during the great tribulation to last seven years after Christ had taken the church to himself.

3.

That which hinders the appearance of the man of sin is the Holy Spirit, It is argued that the Holy Spirit is he who restrains evil in this world, and that when Christ takes the church out of the world at the rapture that the Holy Spirit will no longer be in the world in the degree in which He is during the church age, and that evil will run almost unrestrained, and incredible suffering will result to mankind.

B.

Arguments for this view

1.

The fathers of the early church, for at least three centuries after the apostolic age, while differing on some minor details, seemed unanimous in understanding that the man of sin was not a system of deceit and wickedness, or a succession of individuals at the head of such a system, but some one man, the living personal Antichrist, the incarnation of Satan craft and energy, who should put forth his power to weaken and destroy the church. (Preacher's Homiletic Com.)

2.

We certainly are living in perilous times, a time when men have fallen away from the old-fashioned faith and virtues, a time like those described by Paul in 2Ti. 3:-5 where he describes the last days. In our times atheistic communism is laboring to the utmost to rule the world, by force if possible, and by subversion, infiltration, and propaganda if force cannot be used. As this book is written Communist governments rule nearly half of the world's population, and no country on earth has escaped the poison of Communist influence.

Religiously the world is also in a desperate state. Men have religions of every kind, but deny the power of true faith. Churchmen seem more interested in federating denominations than in the faith. They are more interested in this present life than in men's eternal salvation. The World Council of churches seems to be working toward forming a powerful super-church to include everyone who is religious, regardless of what he believes. Some think that this religious monster will join forces with Antichrist. Old-fashioned Bible believers are mocked in many churches and theological seminaries. But I am still proud to be one.
Christians must keep themselves informed about these things that are going on. Only if Christians know what is going on and stand up for Christ and his kingdom will our country, or even civilization, endure. Christians, God shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. But if you don-'t know anything about Satan's activities, and don-'t stand for anything, God won-'t be able to use you to bruise Satan, Romans 16:20.

C.

This view is not absolutely the only possible one.

1.

What we have said about world conditions is only a speck of the mountain of dirt that we could sweep up about our times. But it is still hotly debatable that conditions in our times are worse than they were in the early centuries of Christianity. Moral conditions were as bad then, or worse, than now. (See our notes on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3, and Introductory Section VI, par. 11.). Christianity was persecuted as much or more in the early centuries as it is now.

2.

Also the ungodly conditions which Paul said would exist in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-5) have existed ever since Paul wrote those words. For we have been living in the last days, or last dispensation, ever since the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:17.)

3.

Also it is not necessary to interpret the man of sin and the falling away as being events which are limited to a short period immediately before (and after) Christ returns. Certain Scriptures and facts almost compel me to think that the falling away and the man of sin have both been with us for a long time already.

II.

THE HISTORICAL view.

(This view is the one favored by the author of this book.)
A. View summarized.

1.

The falling away refers to that corruption of the apostles-' teaching by heathenism which occurred during the early centuries of the church and resulted in the development of the Roman Catholic religion. This apostasy is still in progress, as Rome is still adding new doctrines to its creed. And the false doctrines developed during the falling away have been adopted by many Protestants, as well as by the Roman church.

2.

The man of sin probably refers to the papacy, the visible, personal head of the falling away.

3.

That which hinders the appearance of the man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7) probably was the Roman government. For several centuries the Roman government held in check the attempts of power-hungry Roman bishops to take control of both the spiritual affairs of men and the political authority as well.

We do not expect you to accept our opinions about these matters just because we have stated them bluntly. But we do ask you to study seriously the reasons for holding these views.

B.

Arguments for this view.

1.

The mystery of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:7) which resulted in the falling away and the appearance of the man of sin, was already at work in Paul's time.

That being so, surely then Paul could not have been referring to things that would not happen until the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when he spoke of the falling away.

There are numerous references in the New Testament which show that false doctrines, unauthorized power grabs, etc. were already developing. See Jude 1:4, 3 John 1:9, Acts 20:29-30, 2 Peter 2:1, Colossians 2:8. These seem to be a part of the developing mystery of lawlessness.

2.

In 1 Timothy 4:1-3 Paul told how some would depart from the faith. They would forbid to marry, and command to abstain from meats, etc. This is a clear prophecy of such things as the Roman church practices when it forbids its priests and nuns to marry and forbids its members to eat meat at certain times.

In describing this departure from the faith, Paul used the verb form apostesontai. This is a form very similar to the word apostasia, the word translated falling away in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. This similarity of language causes us to associate the falling away with Romanism and not with twentieth century Communism or other evils of our times.

3.

In Daniel chapter two, Daniel prophesied about four great world empiresthe Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman. After those empires the God of heaven would set up a kingdom (which we understand to be the church. See Special Study V.) Gods kingdom would never be destroyed, nor should the sovereignty of it be left to another people. (Daniel 2:44 R.V.)

It appears to us that if some Antichrist is going to rule the world, that Daniel's prophecy would have to be wrong in indicating that there would only be four empires before God's kingdom should prevail and fill the earth. (Daniel 2:35)

4.

Note that the falling away and the man of sin are associated with the mystery of iniquity in 2 Thessalonians 2:7. The use of this term mystery suggests that there may be a connection with Revelation 17:5, where the great harlot is given the name MYSTERY. This mystery woman in Revelation is ROME. For she is identified as that city that sits on seven mountains (or hills) and rules over the kings of the earth. Revelation 17:9; Revelation 17:18). Rome is the only city on earth that fulfills those descriptions.

5.

The falling away which occurred over the years and produced the Roman Catholic religion is the greatest falling away of all ages. We list here a few of the many departures from the New Testament faith, which, when all taken together, surely must be THE falling away:

(1)

Bishops take authority over elders (Presbyters) Second century.

(2)

Infant baptism first mentionedAbout 150 A.D.

(3)

Many heathen ritualscandles, incense, robes, etc.added to Christian worshipthird century.

(4)

First human creed (Nicene)325 A.D.

(5)

Christianity made the sole state religion394 A.D.

(6)

Mary entitled Mother of God431 A.D.

(7)

Confession of sins to a human priestAbout 457 A.D. Made compulsory in 1215 A.D.

(8)

Lord's supper became a mass (sacrifice) and masses for the dead became frequentSixth century.

(9)

The pope gains universal authorityAbout 606 A.D.

(10)

Transubstantiation1215 A.D.

(11)

IndulgencesAbout 1164 A.D.

(12)

Adoration of images legalizedAbout 800 A.D.

(13)

Tradition made equal to the ScripturesAbout 1545 A.D.

(14)

Apocryphal books added to Bible1546 A.D.

(15)

PurgatoryOriginated in the tenth century. Made official 1438.

(16)

People deprived of the cup in communionAbout 1414.

(17)

Celibacy promoted (405 A.D.) and enforced (1123 A.D.)

(18)

Sprinkling authorized1311.

(19)

Immaculate conception of Mary1854.

(20)

Infallibility of the pope1870.

(21)

Assumption of Mary into heaven1950.

6.

The papacy fulfills the descriptions of the man of sin. He sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. The papacy consists of one official man. He came into power as a result of the falling away from the New Testament faith. (For more about how the papacy fulfills the description of the man of sin, see notes on the verses that follow, 2 Thessalonians 2:4-7.)