The Second Coming of Jesus is the “Hope” of all Christians. The Bible tells us plainly in Acts 3 verse 20 that this happens when we place our faith in Christ. However some people have been misguided.
As Christians we are aware of the law by which God judges Christians. Not that we effect discipline or punishment, that is God’s domain.
Christians are not aware of the how God judges those “outside” the Church, 1 Cor 5:12-13.
The “Man of Sin” cannot be an unbeliever because “sin” is by definition, a violation of the Law, 1 Jn 3:4.
A person cannot violate a “Law” or “Covenant” and take themselves “out of the way” (2 Thess 2:7), unless they first commit themselves to obey that law.
The “Man of Sin” is described as having “fallen away” in 2 Thess 2:3. This phrase implies that He had previously tried to obey the Law.
They had to have previously been converted to Christ. In which case they are then considered to be “In” the law, Rm 2:12.
If they have sinned while “In” the law, they have placed themselves “Under” the law’s authority. They are then subject to the Law’s judgment upon their sin.
They will be disciplined accordingly. Just as a person who has violated a traffic law is “under” man’s law and will be prosecuted accordingly.
Ro 2:12 (KJV) For as many as have sinned without (outside) the law shall also perish without (outside) the law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
2 Thessalonians 2:3 KJV — Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Thess 2:3 shows us that the “Day of the Lord” will not happen unless a Christian individual falls away and sins. At that time they will be judged and corrected, 1 Cor 11:32.
Millions of Christians think that the Second Coming of Christ is when Jesus comes to discipline people.
They confuse the “Second Coming” with the “Day of the Lord”.
These are actually two separate occurrences.
Many sincerely wrong Christians have made millions of dollars by promoting this distortion of the Bible.
Unfortunately they have also succeeded in convincing many of their fellow Christians that this is the truth.
The Second Coming is for “salvation”, Heb 9:28. The “Day of the Lord” is for judgment, Zeph 1:14-15.
In 2 Thess 2:5 Paul says that He will remind them of what He said previously.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
In 2:6 He tells them that in the first 5 verses He has told them when the “Day” will occur.
The “Day” will occur when the Christian person no longer restrains Himself from sin.
Jesus reveals the same truth in His veiled statement in Matthew 24:28.
Mt 24:28 For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. The “Day” will occur when a Christian is involved with spiritual death or willful sin.
Continuing with 2 Thess 2:8 – The Christian had sinned and abandoned “the way ‘(Jesus is the Way).
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (KJV)
2 Th 2:8 describes what happens in 1 Thess 4:16 when the spiritually “dead rise” to join those who have remained faithful.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
The Lord descends in judgment and consumes the “carnal elements” that caused the Christian to “go out of the way” in the first place.
This does not speak of the Second coming, but the Lords coming in judgment, which is referred to as the “Day of the Lord”.
This is similar to Isaiah 19:1 when the Lords coming was through His enemies, to judge Egypt.
Isa 19:1 ¶ The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
The “Day” comes as a thief,1 Thess 5:2.
God uses the “thief” (His enemy) to judge and bring about the correction of His people, as well as His enemies.
This judgment/evaluation is referred to as the “Day of the Lord.”
Have you ever wondered why the “wicked” will be “consumed” in 2 Thess 2:8? This seems to be a strange use of the word, right? Why not just say “the wicked person” will be consumed?
The reason is because the Christian is not destroyed, just the wicked tendencies.
Paul referred to the carnal aspects or inclinations of a person as “elements” in Gal 4:3.
Ga 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Peter refers to these “elements melting” on the “Day of the Lord”, 2 Pet 3:10.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (KJV)
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
The reason 2 Thess 2:8 says that the “wicked” will be destroyed (rendered idle, Strong’s #2673) in the “Day of the Lord” is because the Christian person is not destroyed. Only the carnal or elemental activity is removed from their lives, just as silver is purified in fire.
Nu 31:23 everything that can stand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean. Nevertheless it shall also be purified with the water of impurity; and whatever cannot stand the fire, you shall pass through the water. (RSV)
Numbers 31:23 is similar in effect to 1 Cor 11:32.
A Christian is “saved as through fire” (1 Cor 3:15) so that they will not be condemned with the world, 1 Cor 11:32.
Continuing with 2 Thessalonians –
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
The “Man of sin” appears in them that are destroyed because they love not the truth that they might be saved.
This is similar to Heb 9:28, when a Christian sins willfully after they are aware of the truth, they will not “be saved” from God’s judgment upon their sinful behavior.
They will have to experience the judgment. Of course, the judgment will be designed to correct the sinful behavior, 1 Cor 11:32.
11 For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Very important in verse 12 is the fact that the Greek word translated as “damned” means to “decide” or “judge” and it is number 2919 in the Strong’s concordance.
These “Men of Lawlessness” will not be damned as we think of the concept. They will be “judged”.
Many Bible translations translate word number 2919 as “judged” and not damned.
God will send the Christian “Man of Sin”, (man who wilfully sins) a strong delusion.
End time theories similar to the “Rapture” are part of the delusion. God has allowed some leaders to believe these lies as judgment, (2 Thess 2:11).
He will do this so the person can be judged and corrected, as 1 Cor 11:32 suggests.
Misguided translation has also played a part in the “delusion” spoken of in this article.
13 ¶ But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 16 ¶ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Christians leaders have developed complicated scenarios in defense of this “Delusion”, and they will fight to defend it.
Their reaction to these truths will be similar to the idol makers reaction in Acts 19:27.
Ac 19:27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught. Also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised. Then her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.
God’s people are in slavery to incorrect doctrines, they expect Jesus to come back physically and “Rapture” them to Heaven.
Ex 1:14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick. In all manner of service in the field. All their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
Christians leaders must first see this distortion of scripture, and then pray.
Joe 2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?