"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS" Chapter Two OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER 1) To examine what is revealed about the "man of sin" whom the Lord will destroy at His coming 2) To consider how those who do not have a love for the truth are setting themselves up to be deceived by the man of sin 3) To discern why God will send a strong delusion to some that they will believe a lie SUMMARY Evidently Paul received word that some of the Thessalonians had the impression that the day of Christ had come, that is, it was near at hand. To reassure them such was not the case, he reminds them of those things he had told them while he was still with them. That is, Christ will not come until the falling away occurs, and the man of sin is revealed (1-3). Paul then describes this man of sin and explains that he is currently hindered from being revealed. When that which restrains him is removed, the man of sin will become apparent, whom the Lord will destroy with His coming (4-8). The coming of the lawless one is further described, whose coming will be according to the working with Satan. With all power, signs, and lying wonders, he will deceive those who do not have a love for the truth. Indeed, God will also send a strong delusion to those who do not love the truth, that they might believe the lie and be condemned for taking pleasure in unrighteousness instead of believing the truth (9-12). As for the Thessalonians themselves, Paul is ever thankful that God has chosen them for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, having called them by the gospel to obtain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (13-14). He therefore exhorts them to stand fast and hold to the traditions taught by word or epistle, and prays that Jesus and God the Father will comfort their hearts and establish them in every good word and work (15-17). OUTLINE I. ENLIGHTENMENT ABOUT THE COMING OF THE LORD (1-12) A. DO NOT BE TROUBLED (1-2) 1. Concerning the coming of the Lord, and our gathering to Him (1) 2. By false reports, as though the day of Christ has come (2) B. THE APOSTASY MUST COME FIRST (3-12) 1. The Day of Christ will not come until... a. A falling away comes first (3a) b. The man of sin (lawlessness) is revealed (3-4) 1) The son of perdition (3c) 2) Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God and that is worshipped (4a) 3) He sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (4b) -- As Paul told them while he was with them (5) 2. The man of sin is being restrained (6-7) a. They knew what it was that was restraining him (6a) b. He will be revealed in his own time (6b) c. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work (7a) d. But the one who restrains will do so until taken out of the way (7b) 3. When the lawless one is revealed (8-12) a. The Lord will... 1) Consume him with the breath of His mouth (8a) 2) Destroy him with the brightness of His coming (8b) b. The coming of the lawless one... 1) Will be according to the working of Satan (9a) 2) With all power, signs, and lying wonders (9b) 3) With all unrighteous deception among those who perish (10a) a) Because they did not receive the love of the truth (10b) b) That they might be saved (10c) c. For this reason... 1) God will send them a strong delusion (11a) a) That they should believe the lie (11b) b) That they may be condemned (12a) 2) Because they did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (12b) II. STEADFASTNESS ENCOURAGED (13-17) A. THANKSGIVING AND A CALL TO STEADFASTNESS (13-15) 1. Bound always to give thanks to God (13a) a. Who from the beginning chose them for salvation (13b) 1) Through sanctification by the Spirit (13c) 2) And belief in the truth (13d) b. To which He called them (14a) 1) By the gospel (14b) 2) For the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (14c) 2. Stand fast and hold the traditions which they were taught (15a) a. Whether by word (15b) b. Or by his epistle (15c) B. PAUL'S PRAYER FOR THE THESSALONIANS (16-17) 1. May the Lord Jesus Himself, and our God and Father (16a) a. Who loved us (16b) b. Who has given us... (16c) 1) Everlasting consolation 2) Good hope by grace 2. Comfort your hearts (17a) 3. Establish you in every good word and work (17b) REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER 1) What are the main points of this chapter? - Enlightenment about the coming of the Lord (1-12) - Steadfastness encouraged (13-17) 2) What two related things does Paul now address them? (1) - The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ - Our gathering together to Him 3) About what did he not want them to be troubled? (2) - As though the day of Christ had come 4) What two things must happen before that Day comes? (3) - The falling away - The man of sin is revealed 5) List the various descriptions of the "man of sin" (3a-4) - The son of perdition - Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped - He sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God 6) Had Paul told the Thessalonians of these things before? (5) - Yes 7) Did they know what was restraining the "man of sin" from being revealed? (6) - Yes 8) What was already at work at the time Paul wrote the Thessalonians? (7) - The mystery of lawlessness 9) How long would the one who restrains do so? (7) - Until he is taken out of the way 10) What will the Lord do to the lawless one? (8) - He will consume him with the breath of His mouth - He will destroy him with the brightness of His coming 11) According to what will the coming of the lawless one be? What will accompany his coming? (9-10) - According to the working of Satan - All power, signs and lying wonders; with unrighteous deception 12) Who will be deceived by this lawless one? Why? (10) - Those who perish - Because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved 13) What will God therefore send? (11) - A strong delusion 14) What two purposes does Paul give for God doing this? (11-12) - That they should believe the lie - That they may be condemned 15) Who is it that will suffer such things? (12) - Those who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness 16) How did God choose to save the Thessalonians? (13) - Through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth 17) How did God call them? For what purpose? (14) - He called them by the gospel - For the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 18) What two exhortations does Paul give them? (15) - Stand fast - Hold to the traditions which they were taught, whether by word or epistle 19) What two things does Paul mention that God and Jesus has given to us? (16) - Everlasting consolation - Good hope 20) For what does Paul pray that Jesus and God will do for the Thessalonians? (17) - Comfort their hearts - Establish them in every good word and work