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II Thessalonians
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Chapter Two
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By Peter Marshall McLewin
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The next phrase in verse three that we need to consider is the man of lawlessness. This is a reference to a coming world ruler who is described by many different terms in the Bible. Among the most common names from him are…
The “antichrist” used four times in the New Testament
I John 2:18 & 22
I John 4:3
II John 1:7
The “beast”
Daniel 7:11
Revelation 11:7
Revelation 13:2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 17, 18
Revelation 19:19-20
“There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.” Revelation 13:5-8
The next word we need to consider in verse three is revealed. It occurs not only in verse three but also in verses six and eight, and it is worth thinking about. This word has a specific meaning which we need to know:
Revealed: ho anthropos tes anomias. This revelation will be a distinctive act taking place in a definite moment in history. The “man of lawlessness” or the antichrist will not subtly take control of the world; he will come onto the world scene in a defining moment--some catastrophe to bring him into the focus of the world’s attention. Nations will one by one come under his authority as the price they are willing to pay for the solutions that he has to offer the world. After September 11, 2001, we realized that this is not as impossible as it once seemed. When Americans are asked to compare security with personal rights, we overwhelmingly say that we will give up personal rights for more security. That is the thinking that will bring the antichrist to world power.
In the verse four Paul tells us what the real goals of the antichrist are:
Vs. 4. “Who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
The antichrist believes that he is a god and demands to be worshiped as God. We need the help of Daniel and John’s Revelation to know more about what Paul was talking about in this verse.
Let's consider the phrase takes his seat in the temple.
What temple? The last temple in which the Jews worshiped was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The Dome of the Rock mosque currently stands on the site where the Solomon’s temple was built. In order for the antichrist to “take his seat in the temple,” the Jews must destroy the Muslim mosque and rebuild a temple on the same site as the original temple. Knowing the current tensions between the Jews and Arabs, it is difficult to imagine what the consequences of rebuilding the ancient temple would be.
There are two different words used in the Greek New Testament that are both translated into the English word “temple.” Understanding the difference between these two words adds to our understanding of this text. The first Greek word is hieros. Hieros refers to the temple complex and its surrounding courts and buildings. The second word translated as temple is naos. The naos of a Greek temple was the inner sanctuary, where the idol or god was housed. Paul says that the antichrist will take his seat in the naos. In order for this to be fulfilled, a new hieros (temple complex) will have to be built. Then the antichrist will violate the boundaries of the temple by entering the naos (holy of holies) and proclaiming himself to be God and demanding to be worshiped!
“Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” Daniel 9:26-27
Daniel was given a vision of seventy weeks. The weeks of Daniel’s vision were not seven days but seven years. For more information please visit my web page on Daniel chapter nine. Sixty-nine of those weeks have already been fulfilled in history. One final week remains.
John’s term for Daniel’s final week is the "tribulation." The term tribulation is found in Revelation 7:14. It is to this period of time that Paul is referring in verse four.
The antichrist begins his world rule by making an agreement with Israel, allowing them to continue to worship their god. He will even allow them to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem. But three and half years later, he will break his agreement. He will enter the new Jewish temple and go into the holy of holies, claiming that he himself is God and demanding to be worshiped.
Paul gives his readers a mental break by asking them the following question:
Vs. 5. “Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?”
Some of you are hearing teaching like this for the first time this morning. Do you think you could repeat my sermon next week for the congregation? If not, then you can understand verse five. Paul knew that his teaching on this subject was so deep that his hearers would need to get his sermon notes and study them before they would fully understand what he was saying. Quite often, I give away my sermon notes after a message. If any of you wish for my sermon notes after a sermon, please ask me for them, and I will gladly give them to you.
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Chapter Links
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
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Study Links
Thessalonica
First Missionary Journey
Second Missionary Journey
Third Missionary Journey
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Greece Report
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This site was written and produced by Peter McLewin, all rights reserved, 2001
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