Tag: love of truth
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!
Satan is behind the lawless one
Scripture reading for November 22nd: 2nd Thessalonians 2, Psalm 83, Proverbs 16
2nd Thessalonians 2: 7-12 “And you know what is restraining him (the man of lawlessness) now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is taken 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 did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Paul carefully explains a final lawless ruler who will come on the world scene after the restraining influence of God through His Spirit-filled church is removed. Lawlessness is the mark of this leader and all that follow him. This is because Satan is the ultimate rebel and that evil spirit will be allowed to raise up a lawless leader. The mystery of lawlessness was already at work in Paul’s day! (How much more today!) But believers are not to live in fear because God has everything under His control. The Lord Jesus will destroy this ‘lawless one’ with the breath of His mouth at the glory of His return! Paul warns the church not to succumb to the false signs and wonders of this lawless one. Satan is a deceiver and only the Truth of Jesus Christ and God’s eternal Word will keep people from deception. Those deceived by this false leader will end up eternally punished because they refused the Good News of grace through Jesus.
Psalm 83:17-18 “Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever, let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that You Alone, Whose Name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.”
Prayer: Father God, it is comforting to know that You already know how Your plans will work out. Although You want none to perish, You have allowed the wicked to choose the day of destruction. Fill me with the Holy Spirit today in all wisdom and discernment. Empower me to avoid deception and to share the Good News with those in the grips of Satan and the lawlessness filling our world in this last time.
Proverbs 16:4 “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.”
The man of lawlessness!
Scripture reading for December 5th: 2nd Thessalonians 1-3
Because of Christ’s love He has warned the Church about one man who will come that will be known for terrible evil and lawlessness. This person will be called the ‘man of lawlessness’. We should know about him to motivate us to tell as many people as possible about the Lord and warn others.
“Concerning the coming of the 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 man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.” (2nd Thessalonians 2:1-3)
The coming of Jesus Christ will happen suddenly. (1st Thessalonians 5:2-3) According to Paul, this day will not come until this lawless man is revealed. Some in Paul’s day were saying that the day of the Lord had already come. He wrote this to address the concern that some had missed the rapture. We are still watching for this to happen today.
Paul goes on to describe the man of lawlessness as one who will opposes truth and set himself up as god. He will do this through Satan by counterfeit signs and wonders. (2nd Thessalonians 2:9-10) These signs will deceive people who have refused to know and love truth. They will be deluded and go to their destruction. (2nd Thessalonians 2:11)
We have a choice each day to read and believe God and His word. If we reject the truth, we have nothing left but a lie. Lies may sound good, but they lead to destruction. God chose us to be saved by the sanctifying work of the Spirit and belief of the truth. This is all a gift of God’s grace. Because of this grace will will share in the Lord’s glory when He comes.