The mystery of lawlessness
Scripture reading for September 22: 2 Thessalonians 2
“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only He Who now restrains it will do so until He is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who do not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12
Paul wrote to encourage the church at Thessalonica to stand firm and gave them instructions concerning the time right before Jesus would return. One of the main things Paul explained about his end-time world view was the mystery of lawlessness. The Holy Spirit would be working through believers to draw people to Jesus Christ and bring conviction on the lost. Believers would be preaching and declaring the truth but Satan would use all manner of deception to hold mankind in darkness. Those refusing to accept the offer of forgiveness through repentance and faith would be given over by God to deceiving spirits to draw them to trust in lies. This rejection of truth would result in condemnation and eternal destruction for unbelievers.
At the center of this deception will be a man called ‘the lawless one’ who will be controlled by Satan and empowered with false signs and wonders in order to ensnare those who rejected Jesus Christ. When Jesus returns, He will destroy this ‘lawless one’ with the breath of His mouth. Paul wrote this instruction to the church there and to us in these last days that we would be informed and stand firm in our faith and continue believing the truth of Scripture. God’s Word will never fail and by faith in Jesus Christ we will overcome the deceptions of our enemies.
Have you studied what God has said concerning His return and the fate of believers and those rejecting Jesus Christ? How would you describe the ‘mystery of lawlessness’? Do you see what Paul described almost 2000 years ago as still relevant today in our world?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your clear instruction to Your people concerning the rise of lawlessness in the last days before Jesus returns. Use me as a prophetic voice to those rejecting truth in these last days that they may be saved from the deception of the evil one. I will cling to You and Truth! Amen!
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