Second Thessalonians 2 Part 5 Lying Wonders Of Antichrist & Damnation Of All Christ Rejecters

We must learn the distinct truths about rapture and future judgment.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-7  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2)  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3)  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; 4)  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5)  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6)  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7)  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

Paul was guided by the Spirit of God to make a clear distinction between the timing of Christ's return. 

First will be the rapture of the church that will take place in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Jesus will not physically descend to the earth at that time but  the physical coming of Christ to the earth will be to judge the wicked. 

After seven years of tribulation on earth when the marriage supper of the Lamb happens in heaven, Christ will physically return to the earth in flaming fire to judge the wicked.

Paul shows us how the Holy Spirit of God is a direct restraining force against the Devil's evil schemes. 

The Holy Spirit also works through Christians to produce His fruit in us, conforming us to the image of Christ. 

Thus, we become bright gospel lights exposing the darkness, and strong, pure salt that slows down the process of cultural decay and depravity. 

When the church is gone, the Holy Spirit's retraining influence through the church will be gone from the earth, and the evil will explode everywhere.

The mystery of iniquity has been working evil for millennia. 

2 Thessalonians 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

When the Holy Spirit no longer works through the church because Christ's bride has been taken home, the antichrist, the beast and the false prophet shall be fully revealed.

This is called the mystery of iniquity, and it has been at work from the day that Satan seduced Eve and Adam to sin.

The thread of this mystery runs throughout the whole of scripture and we must be aware of it, but not obsessed with it.

Our mission is still the Great Commission and this is what we must actively pursue until Jesus calls us home. 

God is in full control and Satan cannot do any more than what God permits him to do. Every detail of the book of Revelation will come to pass exactly as God said.

The reign of antichrist will be undone by Jesus Christ. 

2 Thessalonians 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: 

The future one world government will be governed by a leader who is called that wicked one. He will be a lawless, godless tyrant who reigns in opposition to the things of God. 

His policies and power will be guided by a hatred for God's Word, hatred for God's people and hatred for God. He will be a cruel, ruthless dictator whom none but our Lord Jesus can stop.

Paul assures the Thessalonians that Jesus will consume and destroy the antichrist by speaking His Word. 

He will say "Be undone" and the antichrist will be undone by the brightness of Christ's coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 

The antichrist will be possessed by Satan and capable of performing signs and lying wonders. 

Paul used the term "lying wonders" because the antichrist is going to fool everyone into thinking that he is God. 

The purpose of false signs is to deceive people so that they believe a lie of the Devil.

There will be all kinds of miracles, like the Egyptian magicians did (See Exodus 3-12).  They will be lying miracles, lying signs, and lying wonders. 

They will have only appearance of what is real, and will be done to prop up Satan's blasphemy. 

Whereas God always sent His messengers with real miracles, real signs, and real wonders, designed to bring the wayward back to God and the lost to salvation.

Jesus warned about false Christs and lying wonders.

Matthew 24:23-24  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24)  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  

Jesus warned His disciples about the end times and great tribulation. 

The antichrist will be so convincing that the ones who believe God in that day (Mostly Jews and some Gentiles) will be fooled. 

He will work the same way Satan works, by attacking the deity of Christ, the authority of the scriptures and changing truth into a lie.

Satan is a the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning of time (John 8:44). The antichrist will be just like him.

2 Thessalonians 2:10  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 Holy Spirit guided Paul to show us the true motivation behind all the lying signs and wonders of the antichrist.

The antichrist will promote lying wonders that will be readily embraced by all the Christ rejectors in the world. 

God tells us that they will be destroyed and perish because they would not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

So they perish by obstinately refusing the gospel call to be saved. They will embrace and receive a lie while rejecting God's truth.  

Take heed what God says. Hear and heed the gospel now!

2 Thessalonians  2:11-12  And 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.

Their sin is this. They believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. They did not love the truth, and therefore they did not believe it. 

Instead, they had pleasure in unrighteousness, in depravity as they embraced false teaching. 

Notice that acceptance of false teaching and a life of transgression often go together hand in hand.  

God will send them a strong delusion so that they are predisposed to believe a lie. 

God will punish them for their unbelief, and for rejecting the truth and loving sin and wickedness. 

God will withdraw His grace from such sinners and give them over to Satan, to be deluded by his lies. 

God will give them up to their own lusts and the worst of wickedness that will end in eternal damnation.

Today is the right time to respond to the gospel. Do not put it off!

2 Corinthians 6:1-2  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2)  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

There is always a sense of urgency when the apostles preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost. 

We tend to make many plans for the future, but the reality is that we only have this day, this moment in time when we are alive. 

No one is guaranteed another day of life, another moment of life beyond the present moment.

Paul cites Isaiah 49:8 in urging unbelievers to respond by repenting of their sins and turning to Jesus Christ to save them.

All who die in their sins will suffer eternal damnation. 

All who repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ shall receive full forgiveness and eternal life. 

Pastors, parents, church leaders and Christians, think about this truth. Look at your loved ones, your children, family and friends.

Do you wish any or them to die and spend eternity in Hell? Of course not!

This is why you must recognize that the day of salvation and that this moment is the accepted time before God to repent and be born again.

This is the accepted day and time for us to share the gospel of Christ with other people so that the Spirit of God may bring them to repentant faith in Christ. 

Read and heed the warnings of the writer of Hebrews. 

Bob

Hebrews 3:12-15  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13)  But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14)  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15)  While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.