WHO IS THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS?
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
There is a lot of difficulty in understanding this passage of Scripture. It is one of the most difficult. If not the most difficult in the entire Bible, it is at least one of the most difficult that Paul ever penned. No one (myself included) can be 100 % sure to have found who or what the man of lawlessness is.
There is just not enough information about. It is evident that we don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle. So, the best that can be done is to get the important things from it and move on. Like every other New Testament epistle, the Second Letter to the Thessalonians is an occasional letter (that means it was written with an occasion in mind) and was written to answer some problem that had risen.
Therefore, I will approach the text by setting forth the background of the Thessalonian Correspondence first, then by discussing who or what the man of lawlessness is.
“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 worshiped, 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.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, NIV).
THE CONTEXT
The Thessalonian church had its beginning during Paul’s second missionary tour. After Paul preached on Philippi of Macedonia for some time, he was thrown into prison there. Luke records in Acts 16:25 that while Paul and Silas were in prison "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." (Acts 16:25, NIV). They worship God, and their songs and courage becomes a means for the other prisoners to have a contact with the gospel. The Bible does not record neither the content of their prayers or that of their songs. But is does record that they were “singing hymns to God,” and soon after that God caused an earthquake that caused the prison to shake and them be set free. The city officials released Paul and Silas the next day, with their apologies, and they moved on to Thessalonica.
Luke records their time in Thessalonica in Acts 17:1-9. "When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go." (Acts 17:1-9, NIV). From this text there are several things we can note about the ministry of Paul and Silas in Thessalonica. First, there was a Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica. That means that there were at least 10 Jewish men in the city. Second, Paul according to his custom entered the synagogue there and preached Christ there for “three Sabbath days.” Third, as a result of his ministry “Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women” (v 4). Fourth, those who were not persuaded became jealous and caused a riot in the city. In order to do this, “they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: ‘These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.’” (5-7). Lastly, since the city was a free city and they did want to loose their status, they had “Jason and others post bond.” (9). The NASB says, “received pledge,” and the NET “received a bail.” That means that if Paul and Silas went back Jason and the others would loose this pledge, or bail. So Paul and Silas’ return would cause money to the new believers in Thessalonica. Paul and Silas went on to Berea. The Jews of Thessalonica were so messed up that they exposed the same attitude even there. They took a trip of over 60 Km to continue their opposition toward the missionaries. So we can see that under fierce opposition the new church was started in Thessalonica.
In Acts 16:1-3 Paul and Silas met and took along with them Timothy, a young man with a Jewish mother and Greek father. But his name is not again mentioned until Acts 17:14-15. It appears that the young apprentice was with them, but he seems to have stayed in shadow. Probably he was a little timid, and did allow people to intimidate him (2 Timothy 1:7). This might explain why Paul and Silas could send him to learn about the Thessalonians’ faith, but they could not go there themselves. His encouraging report caused the three missionaries to write the first letter. The first three chapters are encouraging as they speak positively about the Thessalonians’ faith. However, due to the short stay there they had not had enough time to teach them about the Second Coming of the Lord. Since some of their loved ones have died, they were not sure about their destiny when the Lord returns. The missionaries write and in essence say “Don’t worry, they don’t loose their salvation. But stay alert and continue to do some of the thing that you are lacking.” During the first and second epistle, apparently someone had gone there and told them that Christ had already come (2 Thess 2:1-2). They write a second letter to correct this false teaching, and to let them know that the Second Coming will not happen until some other events come first. Their focus is not on the time when this things will happen (because they have already told them in the first letter that you cannot know – 1 Thess 4:13-5:11), but on the fact that it has not happened yet. Therefore, the text limits the use of it, to predict the future, namely the time of the Lord’s Coming.
They will continue to write: "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." (2 Thessalonians 2:5-6, NIV). The immediate context sets other limits on us. They had some information that we don’t have. They did understand it, and they were the ones that needed to understand it. Also the immediate context teaches by inference that there is some mystery in the letter. Why there is this mystery? Could it be because it was unsafe to travel on the first century roads with thieves and soldiers? Could the content of the letter endanger some if it was discovered? Let us not forget that “Jason and others” have been made to “post bond” or place a “pledge” and they would have financial loss if they are caught; let us not forget that Paul and Silas are accused of “defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” (Acts 17:7)
THE STUDY OF THE TEXT
With the background information that we have now we are ready to study the text verse by verse.
Verses 1-2
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.
It is clear from these two verses that between what we know as the 1st letter to the Thessalonians, and to this letter, another document has intruded their midst. I would say that there is a problem of discernment on their part. Paul did tell teach them in regard to the respect for prophecies on the first epistle (1 Thess 5:19-22), but they had forget the testing part of the so-called prophecies. Because of this they had allowed “some prophecy, report or letter” to make them “easily unsettled or alarmed.” The content of the “letter” had taken their reason for joy and hope, by “saying that the day of the Lord has already come.” Therefore, they need to write to them and un-teach them this falsity. For this reason Paul feels a need to share with his Christian friends “the distinguishing mark” for the letters he wrote "I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write." (2 Thessalonians 3:17; see also 1 Corinthians 16:21; Galatians 6:11; Colossians 4:18). It is if Paul wants to make sure to them that he did not actually write an in-between letter to them.
Verse 3
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.
The trinomial “Paul, Silas and Timothy” want to encourage them by telling take heart Jesus has not returned. In fact, in accordance with what they taught them before (verses 5-7) two things must come first: 1) rebellion needs to occur, and 2) the man of lawlessness needs to be revealed.
The word “rebellion” is in Greek “ἀποστασία apostasía; gen. apostasías, fem. noun from aphístēmi (868), to depart. Departure, apostasy. Occurs in Acts 21:21 translated “forsake” and in 2 Thess. 2:3, “a falling away”; Septuagint: 2 Chr. 29:19; Jer. 29:32. In Acts 21:21 the new Christian believers among the Jews, having departed from Moses and coming to Jesus Christ, decided that they should stay apart from Moses, i.e., their Judaistic practices, for they were in a new dispensation. They were not Judaizing Christians, but Christians standing apart from Moses...” So, they speak of general departure from faith that will precede the Second Coming.
The second item of assurance for them was the appearance of the man of lawlessness. As to who or what the man of lawlessness is there is a lot of mystery around. However, imbedded in the description itself is the designation of “lawlessness.” It means that it does not have the process or the characteristics of what is lawful. Throughout his ministry Paul is faced with lawless people, who are jealous of his preaching success. However, the men that cause disorder don’t know that they are fighting against God and not man. They have nothing personal with Paul, but they have it with the Message that Paul preaches. The Lord Jesus predicted a time when people would think that they have done God a favor by persecuting the followers of Jesus (John 16:1-4). Paul knows this full well, for he was once one those people until his encounter with the Risen Lord on the road to Damascus (Acts 7-9; 1 Timothy 1:12-14). Also in this verse, this “man” is doomed for destruction (3c). His destiny is ordained, because of his wicked behavior.
Verse 4
He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
“He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped…”
This “man” will oppose and will exalt himself in two directions: 1) over everything that is called God; 2) over everything that is worshiped. So we know that he will oppose and exalt himself over every type of worship, be that the worship of the True God, or of the false man-made gods.
“…so that he sets himself up in God’s temple…”
The question is what is the “God’s temple” referred about in this passage? The expression God’s temple or similar to it is used by Paul in reference to the church in whole (1 Cor 3:16-17; Eph 2:19-22), and to the individual Christian as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20). It is also used in Scriptures by the Lord Jesus in reference to the temple (Luke 21) and by the Chronicler to refer to the temple in Jerusalem (1 Chro 4:19; 5:1, etc.). So is Paul referring to the sitting of the man of lawlessness on the Church? On the individual Christian? Or on the temple of Jerusalem? Since he cannot sit on the church or on the individual, then it appears to say that he will erect himself on the temple of Jerusalem who was still standing at this time. The reason why I come at this conclusion is that according to verses 5-6 they had knowledge of this, and it appears that Paul is referring to common sense and knowledge in their part (things that we don’t know).
There are three historical moments that need to be highlighted in regard to the temple of Jerusalem. First it was built by Solomon (1 Kings 6) and was destroyed by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:8-17). Second, it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel and Joshua along with the remnant from the Babylonian exile – under the encouragement of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah – and became an abomination as Antiochus Epiphanies sacrificed pigs on the altar (the cleansing of the temple resulted in the establishment of the Feast of Dedication, John 10:22ff). Finally, it was enlarged by Herod, it was being built at the time of Jesus, it was prophesized by Jesus to be destroyed (Luke 21:6ff), and it would be destroyed by the Roman armies in 70 AD. The house of the Lord had become various times in the history of its existence a place of abomination by wicked kings, and was destroyed never to be rebuilt again by the Romans. To this day only one wall of the temple exists.
“…proclaiming himself to be God.”
This man will proclaim himself to be God, i.e. he will assume the worship of, the identity of, and the authority of God. We do know that the early Christians were going to be persecuted by Caesars who assumed to be divine. For this reason, another apostle, John, will write in apocalyptic language to a persecuted church the book of Revelation. The message of hope that the book conveys is intended for the followers of Jesus to be understood as hope that the Son has overcome the Satan and his power, and they don’t need to bow down to imperial worship.
Verses 5-7
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.
Here knowledge that we don’t possess is being hidden purposefully. They had information that we don’t and we are not revealed. I believe that it is done for security reasons. Let’s not forget the security on travel and the “post bond” of Jason and others at Thessalonica.
“For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work…”
It was already active at their time. The power of man of lawlessness was already at work.
And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time…but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
Even though, the power of lawlessness was already at work there was a “restrainer” defined as a “what” and as a “who.” The use of “what” demands a concept or a power, while the use of “who” asks for a being. Could it be the power of the Holy Spirit active in the world? And if so, why is the Holy Spirit restraining it? When is the proper time to be taken out of the way?
The church of Thessalonica was established under fierce persecution, and it was undergoing persecution, but if that fierce persecution came now they would be broken. The persecution could be political or religious.
Verses 8-12
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.
“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.”
Jesus is stronger. He has already won, so there is no reason to be afraid. At his coming he will give an ultimate end to the Satan and his work.
“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.”
There was going to be satanic power available, who would work “counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.” Paul was aware of that. He had faced in Philippi, and it caused him and Silas imprisonment (Acts 16). He would later face it in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20).
Jesus spoke of such things in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. He predicted a far-future event (His return) by comparing it to a near-future event (the destruction of the temple). The language used is very similar to that of Paul here. In the Matthew record of that prediction (Matthew was eye-witness) the Bible writes: "At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time." (Matthew 24:23-25).
“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.”
Now the bottom line is that the destruction of those who follow the man of lawlessness is “…they refused to love the truth and so be saved…” God gave them opportunity after opportunity after opportunity, but they would not listen to or obey to God. “For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion…” The language here is a lot like Paul’s language in Romans 1, that when the Gentiles refused the evidence of God, “God gave them over” (Romans 1:24, 26, 28) to whatever their wicked hearts wanted to. They go to eternal condemnation not because they are not loved by God (for hell was “prepared for the devil and his angels” Matthew 25:41), but because they refuse to obey God’s truth.
CONCLUSION
Given the data of the text, of other biblical texts and of the history the events appear to point out to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in AD 70, while his father Vespanian (69-79) is back to Rome to claim the imperial crown. If this is true than the man of lawlessness appears to be Titus, who succeeded his father on the throne (79-81).
Good thoughts…
