The Sovereign Unveiling of The Man of Lawlessness
October 20, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 2 Thessalonians 2:6–12
Introduction:
What Paul and the other apostles taught the infant churches about the antichrist was not new.
The Lord Jesus had spoken about these things in the Olivet discourse.
And what Jesus spoke about it in the Olivet discourse, was spoken of long ago in the book of Daniel.
What Daniel, during the Babylonian captivity, wrote about was still in the future when our Lord spoke of it.
ESV Matthew 24:15 "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
What Daniel wrote about, and what our Lord spoke of, was still future as Paul and the other apostles wrote about it.
Where did Daniel speak of it?
Our Lord talked about the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15) and said that Daniel spoke of it.
ESV Daniel 9:27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."
Paul describes what any Jew would consider a desecration of the temple in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
It seems clear that Paul has the same man, and the same activity in mind.
What was previewed by the actions of Antiochus IV (Epiphanes — god manifest; king of Syria, desecrated the temple in 167 BC, led to the Maccabean Revolt), and described in Daniel 11, finds a GREATER EVIL EXPRESSION in someone GREATER who is coming.
ESV Daniel 11:31 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.
John MacArthur — “Antiochus’ soldiers, no doubt working with apostate Jews, guarded the temple, halting all worship, while others attacked the city on the Sabbath slaughtering men, women, and children. Soldiers desecrated Israel’s temple, banned circumcision and daily sacrifices (1 Macc. 1:44–54), and sacrificed a pig on the altar. The Syrians on Chislev (Dec. 15, 167 b.c.), even imposed an idol statue in honor of the Olympian god Zeus into the temple. Jews called it “the abomination of desolation,” i.e., emptying or ruining for Jewish worship. abomination of desolation. Antiochus’ soldiers profaned God’s temple by spreading sow’s broth on the altar and banning daily sacrifices (cf. 8:14 and see note there) as described in 1 Macc. 1:44–54. Both Daniel and Jesus said this atrocity was only a preview of the abomination that would happen later under the final Antichrist (9:27; Mt 24:15).”#_ftn1
This man of sin whom Jesus said was coming — that Paul and the apostles said was coming — Paul ALSO SAYS WILL BE ALIVE WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN.
SO, HE REMAINS FUTURE UNTIL THE TIME WHEN JESUS WILL RETURN FROM HEAVEN.
The man that Daniel wrote about remains future until the Day of the Lord. He will be alive on the earth when Jesus returns from Heaven and destroys him.
ESV 2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
His destruction in described in Revelation chapter 19.
ESV Revelation 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
#_ftnref1 John F. MacArthur Jr., https://ref.ly/logosres/macartsbnasb?ref=bible.da11.31&off=31&ctx=rate+the+sanctuary.+~antiochus%e2%80%99+soldiers%2c (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Da 11:31.
