2Thessalonians 2:3-12
The Power of the Anti-Christ
I. \\#1:1-12\\ Paul’s Encouragement in Persecution
A. \\#1:1-2\\ Introduction
B. \\#1:3-4\\ Encouragement by Prayer and Spiritual Bragging
C. \\#1:5-10\\ Encouragement by Describing The End of Their Persecution
D. \\#1:11, 12\\ Encouragement with An Offer of Spiritual Blessing
II. \\#2:1-17\\ Paul’s Explanation of the Day of the Lord
A. \\#2:1-2\\ The Comfort of Truth
B. \\#2:3-12\\ The Events Preceding the Day of the Lord
C. \\#2:3-12\\ The Power of the Anti-Christ
D. \\#2:13-17\\ The Comfort of the Believer on the Day of the Lord
III. \\#3:1-18\\ Paul’s Exhortation to the Church
A. \\#3:1-5\\ Wait Patiently for Christ
B. \\#3:6-15\\ Withdraw from the Disorderly
C. \\#3:16-18\\ Conclusion
This epistle is being written to correct the thought of some of the Thessalonians
that the Day of the Lord has begun already. While Paul’s main point is not to
teach on the topic of the tribulation in this epistle, he does give to us some
powerful truths.
1. \\#1:7-10\\ Paul revealed the major events of the single Day of the Lord.
a. I have mentioned that the Day of the Lord can be referred to in general
terms as the entire seven-year tribulation.
b. However, the seven years culminates in a single day at the end of
the seven years when the Lord returns.
c. Paul mentioned the major events which will occur on that day.
(1) \\#1:7\\ The Lord will be revealed (seen) on that day.
(2) He will come "with his mighty angels."
(3) \\#1:8\\ "…in a flaming fire…"
(4) To "take vengeance on them that know not God" and obeyed "not the
gospel of Jesus Christ."
(5) \\#1:10\\ And He will be "glorified in this saints" and "admired"
of them that believed.
2. \\#2:3-12\\ Paul establishes the order in which some major events leading
up to the Day of the Lord will occur.
a. \\#2:3\\ There will be a falling away first.
b. \\#2:6-7\\ That which has been holding back the "mystery of iniquity"
will be removed.
c. \\#2:3, 8\\ Then the wicked (anti-Christ) will be revealed.
d. IF the "withholder" is the Holy Ghost, He will be removed during the
rapture, so the order would be…
(1) A falling away—which we are experiencing today.
(2) The rapture—which we should be expecting today.
(3) The coming of the anti-Christ to power—which we want to escape
from today.
3. \\#2:3-12\\ Paul explains the person and power of the anti-Christ.
a. I know we looked at these verses last week, but we need to go back to
them again.
b. We looked at Paul’s description of the anti-Christ’s person very
quickly last week.
c. Let’s see more of the anti-Christ’s power tonight.
I. \\#2Thess 2:3-12\\ The Power of the Anti-Christ
A. \\#9-10\\ This man of sin will work in Satan’s power.
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs
and lying wonders,
1. We should remember that the anti-Christ is a man.
a. I know this person is going to be wicked, the most wicked
person who has ever lived. Because of that, most of us
despise him, and we don’t even know who he is yet.
b. What would make this human being so evil?
(1) As a boy, this man will likely have been abused.
My reasoning - Those who abuse are typically abused.
(2) Most likely, he will be reared in a ungodly but religious
home. My reasoning - Those who are involved religiously
are usually given that desire in their youth.
(3) Most likely, he will be reared in money, well educated and
spoiled. Those, at least from this country, who make
it in politics usually have wealth.
(4) Most likely, as a youth, this man will have gotten into
trouble but his family power and resources will get him
out. My reasoning - People do not become evil overnight.
(5) This person, although exposed to religion, will not have
trusted Christ. My reasoning - I do not believe the
anti-Christ will be saved.
(6) This person will be demon—if not devil—possessed. My
reasoning - The very names associated with the anti-
Christ in this section lead me to believe he will be
possessed.
(a) \\#3\\ the man of sin
(b) \\#3\\ son of perdition
(c) \\#8\\ that Wicked
c. This man will have been somebody’s son, somebody’s student,
lived near somebody’s church, probably attended somebody’s
VBS.
d. While we cannot stop this man from coming, it should be our
goal that no child in our area will become this man.
2. \\#9\\ Using the devil’s own power, this man will have the ability
to perform signs and wonders and deceive the world.
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because
they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
a. Satan is a powerful spiritual being and he has mighty powers.
(1) We can see today how powerful words can be in deceiving
people.
Da 11:21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not
give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the
kingdom by flatteries.
(2) Imagine what effect powerful words and miracles will have
on a lost world.
(3) As Christians, we must remember everything that is
supernatural is not necessarily God.
(a) To some any kind of unusual phenomena is a sign from
God.
(b) Every statue with a tear and every preacher with a
miracle is not of God.
b. The nature of his miracles is described.
(1) They will be "lying" wonders which means he will use the
signs to convince the world to believe that which is
not true.
(2) They will be deceitful which means he will use the
miracles to deceive the world.
(3) They will be unrighteous which means he will use the
miracles to lead the people away from God.
c. But the world will believe and follow him none-the-less.
B. \\#8\\ The Wicked One will be Destroyed by the Lord- This verse tells
us that not only will the wicked people be destroyed on the Day of
the Lord \\#1:7-10\\, but also their wicked worldly leader.
1. The Lord shall consume the wicked one, the anti-Christ.
a. The word "consume" means "to destroy."
b. However, the anti-Christ and his false prophet will not be
killed.
2. He will do it with the words of His mouth.
a. Spirit is not capitalized which means the translators did not
believe this to be a reference to the Holy Spirit.
b. They believed this was a reference to what came out of the
Lord’s mouth.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite
the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
c. So not only are the wicked lost being judged at this time, but
also their leader.
d. The Bible says that they are cast alive into the Lake of fire.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought
miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the
beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake
of fire burning with brimstone.
3. He will do it at the glory of His coming.
4. However, we should note that does not mean that Satan will be
destroyed at that time.
Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and
Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
C. \\#11-12\\ God gives us His purpose in giving the Wicked One his power.
1. These verses tell us that God is going to aid the Wicked One’s
acceptance in this world and why.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie:
a. \\#11\\ What God is going to do is clear. God is going to aid
in the acceptance of the delusion that the wicked one is god.
b. \\#11\\ What God wants is clear. That they might believe that
lie.
c. \\#12\\ To what end is clear. That they might all be damned
who believed not the truth.
d. By this time, God’s grace is all used up.
2. However, this is some question about the WHO of these verses.
a. For many years, I believed and expounded that the WHO are those
are presently "believing not."
b. I still believe there is possible that those who reject Jesus
today may not have opportunity to be saved after the rapture
of the church, mainly because the words RECEIVED NOT
\\#10\\ and BELIEVED NOT \\#12\\ are past tense, meaning
that it refers to decisions already made.
c. However, since 2003, I have seen and pointed out, that the
context for this section is post rapture.
(1) I believe that the only reference to the church age is
\\#3\\, the falling away period.
(2) It seems to be that the withholder being removed is the
removal of the Holy Spirit.
(3) That places the revealing of the anti-Christ, his power,
his destruction, and the effect of his power as all being
AFTER the rapture.
(4) So it is most logical to conclude that those who have
"believed not" and "received not" DURING THAT TIME PERIOD
are those to whom God will send a strong delusion and who
will believe a lie and who will all be damned.
d. The bottom line is that we are not certain WHEN God sends the
delusion or specifically WHO will be effected by it.
(1) Without doubt, those going into the tribulation are to
be deluded.
(2) Once the mark of the anti-Christ is accepted, there is no
more opportunity for salvation.
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man
worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his
hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out
without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with
fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the
Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have
no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever
receiveth the mark of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments
of God, and the faith of Jesus.
(3) But when does the delusion begin?
(a) When you receive the mark?
(b) Once you listen to the anti-Christ and are deceived
by him?
(c) When the anti-Christ proclaims himself god?
(d) When the anti-Christ is revealed?
(e) When the rapture begins?
e. With that in mind, the last time I taught through this section,
I pointed out that there is a possibility that those who have
rejected Christ in the dispensation of grace MIGHT have an
opportunity to be saved in the tribulation….
f. HOWEVER, I would not count on being saved after the rapture!
(1) I cannot see someone who rejected Jesus in grace accepting
Him in judgment.
(2) I do not know what event triggers the delusion and I don’t
suppose anyone else does either.
II. \\#2:13-17\\ The Comfort of the Believer on the Day of the Lord
A. \\#13\\ Paul’s purpose has been to confirm that the Day of the Lord had
not started and but now turns to comforting them in the truth.
B. Now that he has taught them, he comforts them by telling them:
1. God has chosen them to salvation.
a. In this context, it would seem that their salvation would
include being saved from the Day of the Lord.
b. This is the second verse to this church \\#1Thess 5:9\\
that strongly hints that Christians will not go through
the tribulation.
2. However, being chosen by God does not mean that we have no part in
accepting Christ, for he tells us two things must happen.
a. On our part, "belief in the truth." We must believe.
b. On God’s part, "sanctification of the Spirit."
(1) The Spirit must single us out by conviction and draw
us to God.
(3) \\#14\\ This is exactly what had happened to these
believers.
c. \\#14\\ Before these two things to happen, the gospel must
be presented.
C. \\#15\\ Instead of being disturbed, they should be steadfast, leaning
on the truths that they have been taught.
1. As we said last week, these truths will not only change the way we
believe.
2. They will also change our emotions.
3. Bible truth will calm disturbed minds.
D. \\#16-17\\ Paul’s prayer for these believers.
1. May the God loved us, gave us everlasting consolation, and a good
hope do the following for us. (If He has been good to us, He will
be good to us.)
2. Comfort you heart.
3. And establish your works.
Chapter two is the only section that Paul devotes to correcting the doctrinal
problem of this church. Having devoted only a few verses to explain such a
complex subject, Paul must have had great confidence that these believers would
grasp it with the aid of the Holy Spirit.
<Outline
Index> <Close Window>
