9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 (ESV)
While discussion among believers in Christ continues regarding the identity of the Antichrist, and when he will appear on the world stage, the power behind him is biblically unquestionable. His power and authority are from Satan, which is a delegated power and authority from God Almighty (Job 1-2).
The Apostle Paul acknowledged to the Thessalonian believers the coming (παρουσία; parousia) or advent of the lawless one would be presently and actively by the activity (ἐνέργειαν; energeian) working and functioning of Satan (Σατανᾶ; Satana) the believers adversary. The is an indisputable truth or fact. Satan is a real being and so is the Antichrist.
Satan’s working through the lawless one will be with all power (δυνάμει; dynamei) ability and might. This power will be displayed by false (ψεύδους pseudos) or lying signs (σημείοις; semeiois) or miracles. His power will also feature false wonders (τέρασιν; terasin) or miracles (Mark 13:22; Acts 2:19, 22; Rom. 15:19; 2 Cor. 12:12; 2 Thess. 2:9; Heb. 2:4).[1]
Accompanying these false signs and wonders will be all kinds of wicked deception (ἀδικίας ἀπάτῃ; adikias apate) meaning unrighteous deceit from the truth of God. Those who will follow this are those who are spiritually perishing (ἀπολλυμένοις; apollymenois). These are they who are lost and dead in their trespasses and sin and following the world, their sinful desires and the devil (Eph. 2:1-3). They are objects of God’s wrath and judgment.
Paul said these individuals refuse to love the truth. To refuse (ἐδέξαντο; edexanto) means to decisively, personally and collectively reject and repudiate “an object or benefit for which the initiative rests with the giver.[2] They have no love for the truth of God. Therefore, they are not saved from the penalty, power and eventual presence of sin. What a tragedy. Professing to be wise, they reveal themselves to be fools (Rom. 1:18-23).
“Second Thessalonians 2:9–10 reveals that the man of lawlessness, the “lawless one,” will be a counterfeit Messiah. He will perform false signs and wonders that will confirm the reprobate in their hatred of the truth,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
John Calvin writes, “Christ puts forth the power of his Spirit for salvation, and seals his gospel by miracles; the adversary, by the efficacy of Satan, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, and by his enchantments confirms miserable men in error.”
“Now this coming of the final antagonist, with his lying power, signs, and wonders, though observed by both believers and unbelievers, has the effect of deceiving those who are perishing (i.e., those who then will be perishing); cf. 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15; 4:3. The cause of their perishing lies not in God but in themselves. They are perishing because they did not accept (past tense from the aspect of the days just before the final judgment) the love for the truth,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
“But what is meant by the expression “the love for the truth”? We answer as follows: When the Gospel is proclaimed, the hearers are urged to accept Christ and all his benefits. These benefits are not only objective, such as heaven, the resurrection-body, etc., but also subjective, such as love and hope. Those hearers who perish do so because they have rejected what they have been urged to accept, in this case: “the love for the truth” (objective genitive) as it is in Christ (the Gospel-truth). The purpose of their accepting it would have been “that they might be saved.” It is true that in his own power no man can accept “the love for the truth.” That, however, is not the emphasis here. Here what is stressed is man’s guilt. When man is lost, it is ever his own fault, never God’s.[3]
Satan loves to disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Therefore, believers in Christ should expect he will present himself as a counterfeit savior and even as one who can perform signs and wonders. Dr. Sproul concludes, “The true messenger of God is not one who claims to be able to do miracles but is one who loves God’s gospel, teaches God’s Word faithfully, and does not practice deception.”
God’s commands sinners to repent and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
[2] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 571.
[3] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of I-II Thessalonians, vol. 3, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 185.
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