lawlessness and the coming of Christ

Good morning sisters and brothers,
This passage is sort of a strange one and can confuse us with images of "the lawless one." The gist of the passage is a warning not to think the final day of Christ's return is already here. There was a movement of Christians who believed that in the early years of the church. The writer warns the people not to believe it. Beyond that, he also warns them that before the end there will be a powerful movement of evil led by Satan through "the lawless one." In other words, they should expect evil in the world to be powerful but at they shouldn't loose heart at that because it is actually a sign of God's coming triumph. The call is to persevere through hardship, knowing that God is victorious in the end.

Blessings on your perseverance and ministry today,
Sam

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.

3Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. 4He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?

6And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming.

9The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, 10and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, 12so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.