3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul, along with Silas and Timothy discovered there was confusion among the Thessalonian believers concerning the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was a doctrine Paul previously examined in his first letter to this particular church (I Thiess. 4:13-5:11). There was also speculation another spirit, a spoken word or even another letter supposedly from the three missionaries taught the day of the Lord had already occurred (2 Thess. 2:1-2). This was upsetting, not only to Paul and his companions, but also to the believers.
Therefore, Paul did not want any believer in Christ deceived in any way. To deceive (ἐξαπατήσῃ; exapatese) is an active verb concerning a future possibility. It refers to being misled and cheated from the truth and led into error. False teachers seek to do this in any way (μηδένα τρόπον; medena tropon) they can. Since the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1-5), deceivers have always posed the question
“Has God said?”
Having discovered that there was some confusion in the first-century Thessalonian church regarding whether the return of Christ and the final resurrection had already happened or were beginning to happen, Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians to correct the misunderstanding (2:1–2). His argument, we will see, is based on the fact that several things must happen before the end comes, and these things had not yet occurred when he wrote 2 Thessalonians. In today’s passage, he begins to outline the events that will precede the Lord’s return,” explains one commentator.
Paul stated two events must first occur prior to the day of the Lord. What are these two particular occurrences? First, an event known as the rebellion. Second, the revealing of the man of lawlessness. Let’s examine both.
What is the rebellion? Rebellion (ἀποστασία; apostasia) refers to an abandonment, revolt and/or an insurrection. This literally means a “falling away” or “apostasy.” Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “This might refer to a falling away of many within the church (I Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-9; Jude 17-19), to an apostasy of the Jewish people, or a worldwide rebellion against God.” Coupled with the definite article “the” this is not just a general apostasy or falling away from the truth. Rather, Paul referred to a particular and specific worldwide event. John Calvin comments that the Apostle “predicts a certain general revolt of the visible Church.”
“The fact that the day of the Lord would be preceded by the apostasy (falling away, rebellion)—an apostasy about which the readers had received previous instruction (see on verse 5)—had been clearly predicted by the Lord while he was still on earth (Matt. 24:10–13). During the old dispensation the predicted final apostasy had been foreshadowed again and again by defection of Israel from the living God. A most striking instance of apostasy occurred during the reign of that cruel and wicked forerunner of the Antichrist, namely, Antiochus Epiphanes (who ruled from 175–164 b.c.). He was determined to wipe out the religion of Israel root and branch,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.[1]
“What the apostle Paul is now saying, here in 2 Thess. 2:3, amount to this: Just like the first coming of Christ was preceded by a period of apostasy, so also the second coming will not occur until a similar apostasy has taken place. In this case, however, the apostasy will be a falling away from (yes, and open rebellion against) the God who climaxed his love by a deed of infinite sacrifice in the interest of sinners, namely, the giving of his only-begotten Son”[2]
“It will be a defection on the part of those who have been reached by the gospel (cf. 1 Peter 4:17; Ezek. 9:6), and it will be on a large scale: “many shall stumble … many false prophets shall arise and shall lead many astray … the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:10–13). The use of the term apostasy here in 2 Thess. 2:3 without an accompanying adjective, points to the fact that, by and large, the visible Church will forsake the true faith” [3]
However, there should not be speculation these were, or are, true believers in Jesus Christ who will depart from the Faith. Rather, these are professing believers who the Holy Spirit had not truly regenerated resulting in true repentance and faith in Christ; conversion.
The Apostle John referred to these individuals in his first epistle. 1 John 2:18–23 (ESV) says, “18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”
Regardless of whether there is one final rebellion coming before Jesus returns, the “spirit of antichrist” has been in the church since the first century. John warned about this in 1 John 4:3. Therefore, believers in Christ must not think opposition to the Lord will exist only at the last day. At the present time, there are some who try to infiltrate the visible church and lead it astray. These are they who follow the spirit of antichrist and must be confronted and opposed. Truth matters.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of I-II Thessalonians, vol. 3, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 169.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
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