Worldwide Rebellion Against God

[2Thes 2:3-4,7-8]

The apostle Paul said that a rebellion against God and all things godly will emerge in the last days. Part of this demonic seduction taking place in the world is a state of lawlessness.

2Thes 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;

Christians who live in the end of the age will see the rejection of morals and truth. Worldwide rebellion against God and His Word will be obvious. An all-out assault against morality and godliness can be seen in society today.

The words “falling away” are translated from the Greek word apostasia, which depicts a falling away or a widespread revolt. It is a political revolt against authority. This word also occurs in the Septuagint (Gk. Translation of O.T.) in Joshua 22:22, where it also describes rebellion against God.

Paul called the Antichrist “that man of sin.” The word “sin” in this case is anomia, meaning without law or lawless – and it pictures people who possess no fixed moral standards. It describes those who live void of standards, without law, or in a state of lawlessness. It is used prophetically to indicate a last-days society that will throw out all moral standards and depart from God’s well-established laws at the end of the age.

The Bible tells us that society will construct a new world order that has few, if any, hard and fast rules of what is morally right and wrong. This will be a lawless world, free from the “outdated” Bible. Society will attempt to disconnect from most moral standards that were once held to be the common rule and view of society.

Since Paul used the word “sin” – the Greek word anomia – in connection with the Antichrist, we know that this individual will be void of standards and without law. He will not be just a person with a lawless attitude; he will be the man of lawlessness. This man will be Satan’s perfect political leader to lead a rebellious world that has rejected God and biblical values.

The current trend toward lawlessness will eventually produce a collective mindset in society that no longer feels the pain or conviction of sin, and is numb to its consequences. And according to Paul, that rebellious society will be prepared for the Antichrist to be “revealed.”

The word “revealed” referring to the man of sin, is the Greek word apokalupsis, a compound of apo and kalupsis. The word apo means away, and the word kalupsis refers to something that is veiled, covered, concealed, or hidden. But when these words are combined into apokalupsis the new word describes a veil that has been removed, exposing what was behind the veil and concealed or hidden from view. Paul used this word to inform us that a day is coming when the Antichrist, who until this time has been concealed and hidden from public view, will suddenly appear and step onto the world stage for all to see.

Paul also called the Antichrist the “son of perdition.” The word “perdition” is a translation of the Greek word apoleia, and it speaks of something doomed, rotten, ruinous, or decaying. Although the Antichrist will claim to lead the world into a more progressive future, what he will bring to the world is doom, destruction, rot, ruin, and decay. There will be absolutely no redeeming values in any of his mandates or programs.

It is also interesting to note that the Greek uses a definite article before this individual’s name, and this signals that he will be like none other before him. This is not simply an evil person; this is the son of destruction.

2Thes 2:4 (KJV) – 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.

The word “opposeth” is from the Greek word antikeimai. It is a compound of anti and keimai. The word anti means against, and keinai means to set or to lay in place. When the two words are put together, the new word describes an entrenched position against everything established. The Greek verb tense pictures a continual, unending, and perpetual resistance, revealing that rebellion is ingrained in this individual. He is antichrist – set against Christ and against everything that Christ represents.

If you add the name antichrist to the Greek word antikeimai – the Greek word translated “opposeth” in Second Thessalonians 2:4 – it tells us that the Antichrist will be totally against every previous godly way of thinking. He will lead a lawless world in an effort to pull down church doctrine, and destroy all education regarding morality. His goal will be to construct a new world order that is entirely godless.

The Antichrist will be one who “exalteth” himself. This word from the Greek word huperaino and means highly exalted. So, when the Antichrist finally appears on the world stage, he will quickly begin to exalt himself in the eyes of the world – to such an extent that he will even sit in the “temple.”

The Antichrist will “shew” himself as God. The word “shew” is the Greek word apodeiknumi, which means to vividly portray, to point out, to illustrate, to show off or to make a vivid presentation. In some way, the Antichrist will declare himself as God and will use all possible means to demonstrate his power to “shew” himself as God – including signs and lying wonders (see 2Thes 2:9).

2Thes 2:7 (NASB) – For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

Paul goes on to say in verse 7, “the mystery of lawlessness” is already at work. It is the strange secret of universal evil. What is it that makes it so difficult for people to correct the conditions that destroy them? Why is drug trafficking so impossible to stop when it is clear the terrible things it does to people? Why is it that alcoholics will return again and again to their habit when they see that it is destroying their homes and families, and even their own lives? It is a mystery; the mystery of lawlessness; the strange secret of human evil. Why is it that as the centuries go by we have made no progress in curing human wickedness? We are still wrestling with the problem just as people did five thousand years ago.

Why is it that Jews today are unable to build a temple upon Mt. Moriah? Many Jews in Jerusalem have committed themselves with all their lives and possessions to rebuilding the temple. Their efforts have been evident for years, yet they are totally frustrated. They cannot seem to get anywhere. Why is this? It is because something is restraining them! A temple will one day be built on the spot where the Dome of the Rock now stands, and that is the place where the Man of lawlessness will take his seat and proclaim himself to be God. Why has that temple not been built, even though there are Jews with powerful political connections who are completely dedicated to building it? It is because the time has not yet come. There is a force that is restraining it. Just as God would not destroy the earth until Noah and his family had entered the ark (a picture of being “with Christ”); and just as God would not rain judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, despite their terrible evil, until Lot and his family had first been removed; so God will not begin the last terrible judgment upon this earth until the church has been removed. The Spirit-indwelt church is the restraining force!

Spirit-filled Christians praying mysteries…. Could it be their praying in the spirit is what restrains the evil (1Cor 4:1; 13:2; 14:2; see also Eph 3)?

For years I have been trying to tell Christians about the power they could be using in the world today. If only they knew who they were in Christ. Christians have continued to live for themselves instead of for the Lord. They permit evil in the world when they refuse to obey God. That is why society eventually falls apart.

The Holy Spirit has been marginalized and treated as an “it.” Instead of being embraced as a powerful helping partner, He has been rejected and many “Christians” have learned to fear anything supernatural.

That phrase “out of the way,” when translated literally, is, “becomes out of the midst.” It does not say he is “taken out of the midst”; rather it says, “he becomes out of the midst.” It reminds us of Paul’s word in First Corinthians 15 where he says of the church, “We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” (1 Cor. 15:51-52). We will suddenly be removed – what we call the “rapture” happens – allowing the antichrist to be revealed.

When the church through whom the Holy Spirit works to restrain sin is removed – the Spirit is not removed, only his restraining instrument, the Spirit-filled believers. Then begins the work of the Lawless One.

2Thes 2:8 (NASB) – And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;

Verse 8 Shows us the beginning and the end of antichrist, the lawless one. This verse covers 7 years of tribulation. Paul gave the Thessalonians this summary statement to let them know that the rapture had not taken place yet.

“The appearance of his coming” actually says. It is “by the shining out of his presence.” Jesus, returns and destroys the antichrist. This powerful personification of the devil may control mankind, but he is no match for the Messiah. Our Lord will just speak a word and the Man of lawlessness will be destroyed. The glory of the Lord’s appearance will put an end to lawlessness.

Paul had instructed the Thessalonians from the Old Testament concerning the day of the Lord, when he preached to them in person. The day of the Lord is the period of history mentioned repeatedly in the Old Testament, during which God will bring judgment and blessing on the people of the earth in a more direct and drastic way than ever before (see Isa 13:6, 9; Zeph 1:14-16). From other New Testament revelation concerning this period of time it is believed that this will begin after the Rapture of the church, and will include the Tribulation and the Millennium.

What an awesome time to be alive! We are seeing the beginning of lawlessness, and the catching away of the church has never been so close. Stand firm in the faith, my friends. Hold fast to the truth and redeem the time. We have much work to do.

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond