2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Paul will now discuss the return of Jesus Christ.

If you recall from 1 Thessalonians 5, it becomes quite clear, the Thessalonians assumed the return of Jesus was extremely close. Paul already provided them with instructions and details concerning this prophetic event (1 Thessalonians 4:15, 5:2-4). However, they still had questions and concerns, which Paul will address in this chapter.

We are left to wonder how Paul found out about their concerns. As with anything, word gets around, and they made it back to Paul through the church.

The Day Of Christ

2 Thessalonians 2:2
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

The Thessalonians were “shaken in mind,” and even “troubled” concerning the return of Jesus.

Why is the question?

It’s quite possible, there was outside interference.

Notice, Paul did not want the Thessalonians to be “shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us.” So we have three conditions that troubled the Thessalonians.

Let me address each of them.

• “Neither by spirit”

This could refer to a false spirit, a false prophet in Thessalonica who made unsubstantiated predictions of Christ’s return. There were many false prophets in the early days of our faith, not to mention attention seekers. Simon is one example, (Acts 8:9, 18).

• “Nor by word”

This could easily refer to the rumor mill, a word making its rounds about Christ’s return concerning something that was allegedly taught by Paul. In 2 Thessalonians 2:5, Paul will write, “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?”

• “Nor by letter as from us”

Now this is the big one…

Do not be “shaken in mind, or be troubled … by letter as from us.”

This indicates someone could have sent a letter, “as from us,” on behalf of Paul, Silas, and Timothy to the Thessalonians. We’re talking about a forged letter that provided false instructions to the church. This was very common in the early days of our faith.

It’s also possible, Paul was simply saying, ‘Do not be confused concerning the return of Jesus, for what I said in my last letter.’

Personally, I find this a bit doubtful, since we have three conditions of concern. In addition to the statement, “as from us,” which essentially means, “as supposed from us.” Not to mention what we’re about to read in the next verse.

So what’s our takeaway from this verse in the modern era?

Do not let outside influences pull you away from God’s Word. Stay rooted in Scripture, stay rooted with God, so you are not “shaken in mind” and “troubled.”

The Falling Away

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Do you see why I made the point about a possible forged letter, “as from us?”

Paul’s very next statement to the Thessalonians was, “Let no man deceive you by any means.” Not just the three conditions we had prior, but by any additional means deception may present itself.

This helps us understand, the Thessalonians were victims of deceivers who were trying to sway their beliefs. This essentially goes hand in hand with the persecution the church was already suffering from.

The End Times

All right, we’re now going to shift our mind to the End Times, specifically, the events that unfold before the return of Jesus. This fantastic chapter will lay out the order of events that must occur before Jesus can return.

First, there will be a great “falling away,” and the “man of sin” the same “son of perdition” must be revealed.

Now, I want you to understand, “falling away” means,

Defection from truth, apostasy, falling away, forsake.

Paul is telling the Thessalonians, Jesus will not return until the great apostasy overtakes the Christian faith. That means, Christians will ‘defect from the truth’ that is in Jesus Christ, before He will return.

It’s truly sad to grasp that concept, but we see it escalate with each passing day.

Unfortunately, Christianity has become a shell of its former self. Today, sin is promoted and accepted in the church, in order to “stay relevant” with the world. Jesus warned us against that, (Matthew 6:24).

Today, we see a massive defection from truth in younger generations, as they embrace the ways of the world.

Now, who is the “man of sin,” the “son of perdition?”

Note: Please visit the two links for an in-depth explanation.

This individual is none other than Satan as verse 9 will explain, and the apostasy will be complete when he appears on earth. Satan will be “revealed” to the world when he is cast from Heaven to earth, (Revelation 12:9). However, he will not claim to be Satan as we will learn in the next verse.

Shewing Himself That He Is God

2 Thessalonians 2:4
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

You want to remember what’s going on here.

Paul is revealing to the Thessalonians, the signs and events that precede the appearance of Jesus Christ. That means, Jesus cannot, and will not appear until these events have transpired.

Now, what’s being said in this verse?

When the “man of sin,” the same “son of perdition” appears, he will ‘exalt himself above God’ by “shewing himself that he is God.” That means, an entity will present himself on earth claiming to be God, before Jesus Christ ever appears or makes His presence felt on earth.

I want to make it clear, there is only one individual in Scripture who has ever ‘exalted himself above God,’ and that is Satan. What we are about to read occurred in the past, and it will occur again in the future.

In Ezekiel 28:2, it’s said of “the king of Tyrus,” who is symbolic of Satan, as he is the one who was in the ‘garden of Eden,’ not to mention “the anointed cherub,” (Ezekiel 28:13, Revelation 20:2).

• “I am a God.”
• “I sit in the seat of God.”
• “Thou set thine heart as the heart of God.”

In Isaiah 14:13, it’s said of Lucifer, which is another name for Satan.

• “I will be like the most High.”
• “I will ascend into heaven.”
• “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.”
• “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.”

This plainly tells us, Satan has always desired to replace God. That’s exactly what we just learned in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 as well. In fact, that verse is referenced in other Scriptures.

Let me show you an example:

Revelation 13:6
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

The subject concerns “the great dragon … that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, (Revelation 12:9).”

It is he that will “blaspheme” God by claiming to be Him, and by performing miracles in His name, just as we have in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, 9, (Revelation 13:13-14). Satan will also blaspheme God by making war against His Saints, (Revelation 13:7).

2 Thessalonians 2:5
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Paul pauses here to remind the Thessalonians, I told you all of this in the past. Those were apparently direct and personal conversations as Paul said, “I told you these things.”

Nevertheless, and thankfully, Paul continues to repeat these critical words.

2 Thessalonians 2:6
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

This tells us, something was holding back the “man of sin,” the “son of perdition” from being revealed.

The Mystery Of Iniquity

2 Thessalonians 2:7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

The translation is a bit tough to follow, so let’s break this down a bit.

“Letteth” simply means,

To hold down (fast), hold (fast), possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.

So we’re being told, “only he who now” holds down or restrains, will continue to do so, “until he be taken out of the way.” So the one restraining the “man of sin,” will continue to restrain him, until he ceases to do so.

We only have one match for this in the entire Bible.

Let me show you what I’m talking about.

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, … And the great dragon was cast out.

Revelation 12:7, 9

This tell us, it is Michael who restrains Satan, and it is Michael and his Angels who will cast Satan and his angels from Heaven to earth. Therefore, the reason Michael restrains Satan is so Revelation 7:2-3 can be fulfilled, the Sealing of God’s Saints.

Once they’re Sealed, then the Four Winds begin to blow, and Michael casts Satan from Heaven shortly after.

Now, let’s bring our minds back to the “mystery of iniquity.”

Even in the time of Paul, the wickedness of Satan was hard at work. Truly stated, Satan has been hard at work since the Garden of Eden. You want to think about that. For thousands of years, Satan has been plotting our demise. Therefore, we take comfort and refuge in Jesus.

That Wicked Be Revealed

2 Thessalonians 2:8
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Who is “that Wicked?”

Satan, the “man of sin,” the “son of perdition.”

When will “that Wicked be revealed?”

“… the day of Christ … shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition”

2 Thessalonians 2:2-3

Never ever forget it.

The return of Jesus will not come until there is a falling away, and the man of sin is revealed.

Then, and only then, will Jesus appear to “consume” and “destroy” the wicked one, being Satan. The appearance of Jesus ‘consumes’ and ‘destroys’ Satan and his kingdom on earth in the sense of making him “useless” and “of no effect.”

This is recorded in Revelation 19:16-21, when Jesus destroys this empire of iniquity from the earth. That’s the moment in time when “the Devil, and Satan” are bound for “a thousand years,” (Revelation 20:2).

That’s how Satan is ‘consumed’ and ‘destroyed,’ not literally, but figuratively. That is, until after the Millennium, when Satan is finally and permanently destroyed. The moment when God fulfills Ezekiel 28:18, by engulfing Satan in the Lake of Fire, which devours his very soul.

2 Thessalonians 2:9
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

“Even him” was added to our text.

In nearly all Bibles, the word “after” is translated “according to,” and refers us back to “the Wicked,” who is the man of sin and Satan. The coming of the Wicked one is according to the works of Satan, it pertains to him.

The works of Satan are always lies and deceit, and that’s exactly what we’re being told.

Let me break it down for you.

• “Signs” are “miracles.”
• “Lying” are “falsehoods.”

We’re being told, Satan will perform miracles and wonders before the people of the earth, but they’re nothing more than lying falsehoods. They will appear as righteous miracles of a magnitude we can only imagine, but they are not performed by God himself, though that will be the claim.

They will be performed by Satan, to convince the world that he is God.

Now, where have we read this before?

Revelation 13:13
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

Who performs great wonders?

The Dragon, the Devil, Satan.

He will perform great miracles before men, just as we were told in Thessalonians.

Why?

And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Revelation 13:14

The reason?

The man of sin, Satan will perform these miracles to deceive God’s children. To deceive the people into believing that Satan is God, as Thessalonians states, he will ‘shew himself that he is God.’

These verses bring Thessalonians and Revelation into perfect and complete harmony. This links together the man of sin, the son of perdition, the Wicked, and Satan together, as they are one and the same.

Strong Delusion

2 Thessalonians 2:10
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

What’s being said here?

In one regard, the miracles performed by Satan are the deceit that is sowed in order to bring about unrighteousness. To bring about the culmination of the “falling away” we read about earlier. This great apostasy will cause Christians to have a “defection from truth.”

• For some, the defection from worshipping the true Christ, to worshipping the false Christ.
• For others, the rejection of the Gospel, which could save their souls.

2 Thessalonians 2:11
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

For what cause?

Due to unrighteousness.

Due to rejecting the Gospel, our Heavenly Father will send the people strong delusion so they believe Satan’s lies. We even see this today on a very small scale. Righteousness is continually cast aside, to make way for sinful behavior.

Pleasure In Unrighteousness

2 Thessalonians 2:12
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

This is the biggie.

Those who take pleasure in unrighteous behavior, are damned to hell. We’re not talking about a sin here or there. We’re talking about flagrant sin without care or concern for God. In fact, even those who flaunt their sin in front of Him. They are no doubt, “damned” to hell.

That’s what we’re being told.

With that, Paul just concluded his discussion about the return of Jesus. Essentially, he explained to the Thessalonians, His return would be far into the future. Evident by the various events that must transpire before Christ’s return.

2,000 years later, we still await the fulfillment of these signs, and the return of our Savior.

Stand Firm

Paul will now change gears and remind the church, to continue to stand firm in our faith.

2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Notice the eloquent words Paul uses to address his brothers in Thessalonica. His goal and purpose are to establish them in the faith, to comfort them concerning the signs of Christ’s return, and to ensure their faith abounds.

I want you to notice a couple more things in this verse.

Let me break it down.

• “God hath from the beginning”

That is, the beginning of them hearing and obeying the Gospel.

• “Chosen you to salvation”

God pardoned them of their sin and accepted them into His family, into eternal salvation. In fact, if you recall from 1 Thessalonians 1:4, Paul told them they were the “election of God.”

• “Through sanctification of the Spirit”

Through the rejuvenation of their mind, as they became transformed into a new man of God.

• “And belief of the truth”

In their acceptance of Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, who the Father raised from the dead. How we can contrast this statement with that of 2 Thessalonians 2:10.

2 Thessalonians 2:14
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God called out to the Thessalonians through the Gospel that Paul, Silas, and Timothy brought forward. Since they accepted this Gospel, they obtained the glory of Jesus Christ, even eternal salvation inheriting the Kingdom of God, (John 17:22).

2 Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

“Stand fast” means to “persevere.”

Paul was urging the Thessalonians to continue in the traditions, words, and epistle that he, Silas, and Timothy brought forward. Paul did not want them to waiver or become deceived “by any means,” in order to preserve them blameless before God, (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Paul concludes by uplifting the Thessalonians who were enduring trials and hardships. He wanted them to “stand fast” in the faith, share the Gospel, and continually perform good works, so they can be presented blameless to God.