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2Thessalonians Chapter Two The Man of Lawlessness ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) What was Paul writing to the church at Thessalonica about, what did he tell them not to become unsettled or alarmed by, what will happen before that day will come, and what is the man of lawlessness doomed to?
________________________________________________________________________________ Paul describes the end of the world and
Christ's second coming. He says that great suffering and trouble lie ahead, but
evil will not prevail, because Christ will return to judge all people. Although
Paul presents a few signs of the end times, his emphasis, like Jesus' (Mark 13),
is the need for each person to prepare for Christ's return by living rightly day
by day. If we are ready, we won't have to be concerned about the proceeding
events or the timing of Christ's return. God controls all events. 2) What will the man of lawlessness oppose and exalt himself over, where will he set himself up, and who will he proclaim to be?
________________________________________________________________________________ This individual "opposes and exalts himself over everything that is called God or worshipped." His direct and determined opposition to the true God will be a leading feature of the continuing apostasy. It will be especially marked by removal of the symbolic articles from the Jerusalem temple. The man of lawlessness will occupy the holy precincts in order to accept and even demand worship that is due God alone. This evidently is a Jewish temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem in the future. (NIV Bible Commentary, Zondervan, Publishers) 3) Why is the man of lawlessness being held back, what is already at work, how will the Lord Jesus overthrow the lawless one, and how will the lawless one be destroyed?
_______________________________________________________________________________ Who holds back the lawless one? We do not know
for certain. Three possibilities have been suggested: (1) government and law,
which help to curb evil; (2) the ministry and activity of the church and the
effects of the gospel; or (3) the Holy Spirit. The Bible is not clear on who
this restrainer is, only that he will not restrain forever. But we should not
fear this time when the restrainer is removed-God is far stronger than the man
of lawlessness, and God will save his people. 4) What will the coming of the lawless one be in accordance with?
_______________________________________________________________________________ This lawless one will use "counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders" to deceive and draw a following. Miracles from God can help strengthen our faith and lead people to Christ, but all miracles are not necessary from God. Christ's miracles were significant, not just because of their power, but because of their purpose-to help, to heal, and to point us to God. The man of lawlessness will have power to do amazing things, but his power will be from Satan. He will use this power to destroy and to lead people away from God and toward himself. If any so-called religious personality draws attention only to himself or herself, his or her work is not from God. 5) What will Satan display that deceives those who are perishing, why are they perishing, what will God send them so that they will believe a lie, and who will be condemned?
_______________________________________________________________________________ This man of lawlessness with his power and miracles will deceive those who have refused to believe God's truth. God gives people freedom to turn their backs on him and believe Satan's lies. If they say no to the truth, they will experience the consequences of their sin. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stand Firm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6) Why did Paul say they should always thank God for the church in Thessalonica, how did God chose them to be saved, and why did God call them through the gospel Paul taught?
_______________________________________________________________________________ Paul consistently taught that salvation begins
and ends with God. We can do nothing to be saved on our own merit-we must accept
God's gift of salvation. There is no other way to receive forgiveness from sin.
Paul is encouraging the Thessalonian believers by reminding them that they were
chosen by God from the beginning. Sanctification is the process of
Christian growth through which the Holy Spirit makes us like Christ (Romans
8:29). 7) How did Paul tell the church to stand, what did he tell them to hold on to, how did the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father give us eternal encouragement and good hope, what does Paul say to encourage, and what does he say to be strengthen in?
_______________________________________________________________________________ Paul knew that the Thessalonians would face pressure from persecutions, false teachers, worldliness, and apathy to waver from the truth and to leave the faith. So he urged them to "stand firm" and hold on to the truth they had been taught both through his letters and in person. We also may face persecution, false teachings, worldliness, and apathy. We should hold on to the truth of Christ's teachings because our lives depend on it. Never forget the reality of Christ's life and love! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Answers 2Thessalonians Chapter Two ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our
being gathered to him...by some prophecy, report, or letter that was suppose to
have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come...until the
rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed...destruction ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Taken from The NIV Life Application Study Bible, Zondervan Publishers |