2 Thessalonians 2:1
CONCERNING THE COMING. He had written about this in his first letter to them. See the introduction to First Thessalonians.... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCERNING THE COMING. He had written about this in his first letter to them. See the introduction to First Thessalonians.... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT BE SO EASILY CONFUSED. They were not thinking things through with care. OR UPSET BY THE CLAIM. Some had made the claim that the "countdown" for the end of the world had already begun. The Thessalonian church was afraid of what they thought was going to happen! PERHAPS THIS WAS SAID. Someone h... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE DAY WILL NOT COME UNTIL. Paul had already told them about this (_see_ 2 Thessalonians 2:5). But no one has any way of knowing just what Paul said to them. THE FINAL REBELLION TAKES PLACE. Protestant churchmen have traditionally identified this Rebellion as an _apostasy_ to be identified with... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL OPPOSE EVERYTHING WHICH MEN WORSHIP. _Lipscomb_ says: "I doubt if any organization is the man of sin' [the Wicked One]. A principle was at work that would set aside God's order and establish one of its own in its stead. It leads to ruin and perdition [doom] - is called the son of perdition ... [ Continue Reading ]
DON'T YOU REMEMBER? No one has any way of knowing just what Paul did tell them. But it is very unlikely that he gave them any secret information. The New Testament gives us Paul's _"understanding of the secret of Christ"_ (Ephesians 3:4).... [ Continue Reading ]
YET THERE IS SOMETHING THAT KEEPS THIS FROM HAPPENING NOW. They knew what it is [or was], because Paul had told them. _Johnson_ thinks [along with many of the Christian fathers] that the _"something"_ was the Roman Empire. _Lipscomb_ [and many others] think it was Paul himself. The attitude which le... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE WICKED ONE WILL APPEAR. When the one who holds back this Mysterious Wickedness is taken out of the way, the forces of change and distortion can take over. This may be the primary meaning here. But it must refer as well to the time when Satan is set loose for a little while, because in this... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE POWER OF SATAN. Satan will work through this Wicked One to fool people. See notes on Revelation 13:11-14. MIRACLES AND FALSE SIGNS AND WONDERS. Things that seem to be from God. This will also include _counterfeit_ "outpourings of the Holy Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THOSE WHO WILL PERISH. Note that this is really not directed against _the faithful believer,_ but the _"nominal church member."_ These are not ignorant of Truth, but they do not love it and welcome it!... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS REASON. Those whom God cannot _convince,_ he _confuses!_ If you _know_ the truth and _will not obey it,_ you are in effect, calling God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit a liar! Compare Isaiah 66:3-4. THE RESULT IS. Only Truth can make you free (John 8:32). Those who believe the Truth will seize... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD CHOSE YOU. In contrast to the victims of the Mysterious Wickedness, the Thessalonian Christians had been chosen to be saved! See note on 1 Thessalonians 1:4. God's Plan included the Gentiles from the very beginning! See notes _o_n Acts 15:15-18; Romans 9:30-33. BY THE SPIRIT'S POWER. See not... [ Continue Reading ]