2 Thessalonians 2:6-12 says,...
Today's verses are 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12, which read,
v.6, 7 - And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 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 continues on his instruction about the end of times and the topic of the antichrist. At this time the antichrist is restrained. Something or someone is restraining the antichrist and ultimately Satan from being fully revealed although he is at work. There are many thoughts about this restraining agent: human government; preaching of the gospel; the binding of Satan; the providence of God; the Jewish state; the church; the Holy Spirit; and Michael the archangel.
Without going into those thoughts, the point is that something or someone is restraining Satan's full revealing himself through the antichrist. Satan is at work now but something or someone is going directly against him at this time. Satan does not have free reign. He has opposition originating from the holiness of God.
v.8-10 - Then the 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; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
These are verses of great comfort but also verses of great distress. We have comfort in knowing that our Lord will ultimately defeat Satan by just the breath of His mouth. We may feel distress that those who did not receive the love of the truth will also perish from following the ways of Satan. Satan will use power and signs and false wonders along with deception to lure people to himself. How important is it for us to know and love the truth of God's word. As it is assaulted by Satan, we need to stand firm on what God has given.
This is a reality in our day. The Bible is being attacked from every side. People and our courts are in the process of redefining what the Bible says. They are basing the change on opinion polls of the people and how the people are living in general in our country. The people or some people decide instead of God deciding because He is God. All this is work of Satan that we know from these verses is still being restrained from what it could be. I think I need to be praying for that restraining force to continue to hold fast so others can hear the truth of the gospel in the midst of all of Satan's lies and deceptions.
v.11, 12 - For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
Even though there will be deception and lies coming from Satan and the antichrist, God will make it clear that a decision is to be made between Himself and the false god. This will not be a hidden decision. This will be an open decision once the antichrist appears if you are following God or you are following him. The restraining force is there so truth will be proclaimed alongside of the falsehoods of the antichrist. The sad part is that many will follow the pleasure of wickedness; many will believe what is false; many will not believe the truth. It is not that the truth is not presented but they will have followed Satan rather than God.
Paul is instructing the Christians in Thessalonica of these things again because they are in the midst of false teaching about the coming of Christ. They are being tempted to follow the ways of the world and Satan rather than the way of the Lord given through Scripture. Paul brings them back to Scripture. This is where we need to land today. Satan is at work in our world and his influence is being felt by Christians and the church and the only safe place for us to be is in the hands of Jesus through the following of the Word of God that has been given to us by Him.
"Lord, as You make our world more black and white in terms of following You and not following You may we see it more clearly so that we can follow You more diligently. May we see Satan's schemes for what they are through the pages of Scripture and continue to point people to the truth of God. May we be so thankful for the restraining agent and realize this is our time to act out the Great Commission. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.6, 7 - And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 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 continues on his instruction about the end of times and the topic of the antichrist. At this time the antichrist is restrained. Something or someone is restraining the antichrist and ultimately Satan from being fully revealed although he is at work. There are many thoughts about this restraining agent: human government; preaching of the gospel; the binding of Satan; the providence of God; the Jewish state; the church; the Holy Spirit; and Michael the archangel.
Without going into those thoughts, the point is that something or someone is restraining Satan's full revealing himself through the antichrist. Satan is at work now but something or someone is going directly against him at this time. Satan does not have free reign. He has opposition originating from the holiness of God.
v.8-10 - Then the 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; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
These are verses of great comfort but also verses of great distress. We have comfort in knowing that our Lord will ultimately defeat Satan by just the breath of His mouth. We may feel distress that those who did not receive the love of the truth will also perish from following the ways of Satan. Satan will use power and signs and false wonders along with deception to lure people to himself. How important is it for us to know and love the truth of God's word. As it is assaulted by Satan, we need to stand firm on what God has given.
This is a reality in our day. The Bible is being attacked from every side. People and our courts are in the process of redefining what the Bible says. They are basing the change on opinion polls of the people and how the people are living in general in our country. The people or some people decide instead of God deciding because He is God. All this is work of Satan that we know from these verses is still being restrained from what it could be. I think I need to be praying for that restraining force to continue to hold fast so others can hear the truth of the gospel in the midst of all of Satan's lies and deceptions.
v.11, 12 - For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
Even though there will be deception and lies coming from Satan and the antichrist, God will make it clear that a decision is to be made between Himself and the false god. This will not be a hidden decision. This will be an open decision once the antichrist appears if you are following God or you are following him. The restraining force is there so truth will be proclaimed alongside of the falsehoods of the antichrist. The sad part is that many will follow the pleasure of wickedness; many will believe what is false; many will not believe the truth. It is not that the truth is not presented but they will have followed Satan rather than God.
Paul is instructing the Christians in Thessalonica of these things again because they are in the midst of false teaching about the coming of Christ. They are being tempted to follow the ways of the world and Satan rather than the way of the Lord given through Scripture. Paul brings them back to Scripture. This is where we need to land today. Satan is at work in our world and his influence is being felt by Christians and the church and the only safe place for us to be is in the hands of Jesus through the following of the Word of God that has been given to us by Him.
"Lord, as You make our world more black and white in terms of following You and not following You may we see it more clearly so that we can follow You more diligently. May we see Satan's schemes for what they are through the pages of Scripture and continue to point people to the truth of God. May we be so thankful for the restraining agent and realize this is our time to act out the Great Commission. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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