Off the Shelf Sunday School--2 Thessalonians

The Man of Lawlessness (2:1-12)

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

?1.????There were rumors circulating in the church that the Lord Jesus had already returned to the earth. This would be unsettling to the Christians because they would have somehow missed being with Jesus at his return. Even worse was that this rumor reported that Paul was the source. Paul states that this rumor is false. He had previously taught them that they would be instantly gathered to Jesus at his return. (1 Th 4:13-18) What are some examples of false teachings and reports that unsettle Christians today?

2.????Paul reminds them of what he previously told them: that some obvious things must happen before the return of Jesus: (2 Th 2:5)

???????????A. There will be a world-wide rebellion or widespread falling away from???

????????????????Christianity which will set the stage for acceptance of a false messiah.

???????????B.?There will be an increase in lawlessness or rebellion against civil authorities

?????????????????instituted by God. (Rom 13:1-2)

???????????C.?A false Christ or messiah will appear who is the “man of lawlessness” or anti-

?????????????????Christ. This person will claim to be God and demand to be worshipped. (Mt

?????????????????24:10-16; Jn 5:43; 1 Jn 2:18-23) He will be the first world dictator.

3.????Paul says that there are forces holding back the progression of this evil rebellion that will be removed when the time comes. The Holy Spirit is likely the one restraining evil through his presence in born again Christians. This could also include civil and national authorities that will be eliminated in the world government.

4.????The “lawless one” or anti-Christ will perform many miracles to deceive the world and convince them to worship him. (Rev 13:1-10)

5.????The anti-Christ will be overthrown by the breath (command?) of Jesus when he returns. (Is 11:1-4; Rev 19:15)

6.????The people of the world will believe in the anti-Christ and embrace the one world system because they will be given a powerful series of deceptions that appeal to their minds. The minds of sinful men are blinded to the truth of the gospel and prefer to embrace science, technology, leaps of consciousness, space visitors or something else rather than Jesus. (2 Co 4:4) What are some examples of how people are abandoning faith in God??