2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

Antichrist?

Paul apparently wrote this letter because the church at Thessalonica was being disturbed by some weird teaching about the coming of the Lord. Sound familiar? It seems that throughout church history there has been some weirdness going on somewhere with regard to this doctrine. It makes sense because this is a very attractive point of interest for believers and a point on which the Bible tends to be fairly cryptic. Of course it is cryptic about the second coming, just as it was cryptic about Christ’s first coming.

There are a few things that we do know. The problems come when we try to extrapolate our information and complete the puzzle. Nowhere are we instructed to do this. Several places it is made pretty clear that we are not supposed to do this. But we really can’t seem to help ourselves, can we?

Still, what we do know is quite revealing if we will just stick with it. Christ has not yet returned and the Day of the Lord has not yet happened. (Some cults teach otherwise.) Jesus Himself told us that when He does return it will not be in secret but as the lightening which flashes from east to west, it will be seen by all. 

Before christ returns there will be a man, a great leader, who will be so popular that he can demand to be worshiped. (Yes, Adolph Hitler almost fit this description but there were a few things not quite in place.) It may be possible that this “man” could be a metaphor for the spirit of the age but it seems more likely that it will be an actual person. When that person is revealed and when signs and wonders start to herald his claims and when seemingly the whole world becomes convinced that he is indeed the answer, then the stage will be set for the Real Answer to appear.

That’s pretty clear. We haven’t seem him yet, but at the speed with which things can happen these days he could certainly be just on the other side of the datebook. Until then, don’t be deceived.  And when he is revealed, you will know, you will understand what is really happening. The appropriate response is to look up, for your redemption draw near.