Two Pivotal Events

Two events must occur before the Day of the Lord begins - The Apostasy and the unveiling of the Man of Lawlessness.

Men spreading false rumors about the future among the Thessalonians were raising false expectations about the imminence of the “Day of the Lord” and the “arrival” or ‘Parousia’ of Jesus. Paul warned the Assembly not to be alarmed by such rumors, especially reports of this kind claiming to be from him or his coworkers.

His warning not to be “deceived” parallels Christ’s opening exhortation in his ‘Olivet Discourse’ - “Let no man deceive you!” Paul issued this exhortation in a similar context of overheated prophetic expectations - (Matthew 24:4, Mark 13:5, Luke 21:8).

• (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) - “That no one may deceive you in any respect. Because that day will not set in, except the apostasy come first, and there be revealed the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself on high against everyone called God or any object of worship, so that he, within the sanctuary of God, will take his seat, showing himself that he is God.”

[Photo by Agê Barros on Unsplash]

That Great Day will not begin until, “first,” the “Apostasy” occurs, and second, the “Man of Lawlessness” is revealed when he “seats himself the Sanctuary of God.” The structure of the Greek clause could mean that the “Apostasy” precedes the unveiling of the “Man of Lawlessness” or both events occur concurrently. Both events must transpire before the “Day of the Lord” arrives regardless of which one takes place first.

The “Apostasy” and the unveiling of the “Man of Lawlessness” are inextricably linked. This figure will propagate the deceptions that cause believers to apostatize, and he will be characterized by “lawlessness” and “destruction.”

The term “apostasy” translates the Greek noun 'apostasia', meaning “falling away, apostasy, defection.” In both the New Testament and the Greek Septuagint, it is used for defection from the true faith - (Matthew 5:31, Acts 21:21, 1 Timothy 4:1, Hebrews 3:12).

The expectation of a final “Apostasy” is common in the New Testament and originated with Jesus, and he also linked “lawlessness” to a future time of apostasy:

• (Matthew 24:10-12) – “And, then, will many be caused to stumble and will deliver up one another and will hate one another; and many false prophets will arise and deceive, many; and because of lawlessness being brought to the full, the love of the many will grow cold” - (Compare 1 Timothy 4:1 – “ In later times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons”).

THE LAWLESS ONE

This “lawless” figure is given two designations, “Man of Lawlessness” and “Son of Destruction.” The latter is used only once in the chapter. The image of a man who causes “lawlessness” and “destruction” is based on the “Little Horn” in the Book of Daniel - (Daniel 7:24-25, 11:31-36, John 17:12).

The phrase, “he opposes and exalts himself on high,” echoes the related passage from Chapter 11 of Daniel, and the interpretation of the vision of the Ram and Goat in Chapter 8 - “And through his policy, he will cause craft to prosper in his hand, and he will magnify himself in his heart” - (Daniel 11:31-36, 8:25).

The passage in Daniel originally referred to Antiochus IV, the ruler of the Seleucid Empire who attempted to destroy the religion of Israel and caused many Israelites to compromise their faith through “his flatteries.” He desecrated the Sanctuary in Jerusalem and caused the cessation of the daily burnt offerings for over three years - (Daniel 8:9-13, 8:21-26, 9:26-27 11:1-4, 11:31-36).

• “The Little Horn became great as far as the host of the heavens and caused some of the host to fall to the earth, and some of the stars he trampled underfoot. Because of him, the continual burnt offering was removed, and the place of the Sanctuary was cast down… The Transgression that Desolates” – (Daniel 8:10-12).

Paul applies the term “Sanctuary of God” or ‘ton naon tou theou’ elsewhere to the Church, not to any building in old Jerusalem. This malevolent figure’s goal is to cause the downfall of believers, which is why Paul warned of his future appearance in the “Sanctuary of God.” He will be active in the Body of Christ - (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 2:21).

Throughout the discussion, Paul is focused on the spiritual well-being of the Thessalonian congregation. His goal is to keep its members safe from misinformation about Christ’s “arrival,” and to prepare them for the future onslaught by satanic forces hellbent on deceiving the disciples of Jesus.

Rather than provide a list of “signs” by which believers could determine the timing or nearness of the “Day of the Lord,” the Apostle pointed to missing events that proved it had not yet arrived. That day will not occur until the Apostasy and the revelation of the “Lawless One.”

[PDF Copy]

SEE ALSO:

• The Day of Christ - (Jesus will arrive on the Day of the Lord at which time the dead will be raised, the wicked judged, and death will cease)

• Disinformation - (Rumors about the Day of the Lord caused alarm and confusion in the Thessalonian congregation – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2)

• The Great Day - (Jesus will arrive to gather his people to himself on the Day of the Lord, and in the New Testament, this event becomes the Day of Christ)

• Rumeurs et Désinformation - (Les rumeurs sur le Jour du Seigneur ont semé l'inquiétude et la confusion dans la congrégation de Thessalonique – 2 Thessaloniciens 2: 1-2)