Who is Paul discussing in 2 Thessalonians 2?

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JustThinking

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Mar 14, 2026
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In 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul gives us enough markers for identifying the term, "lawlessness," the "timing"of when this "lawlessness begins and ends," and the ability to identify the "man of lawlessness." If one can identify each of his marker's in Scripture and history, then the field of possible candidates becomes very narrow. Further, if one were to bring in the Book of Daniel, we will find we will find Daniel and Paul are identifying the same indiividual and time in history.


A. The chronological sequence Paul gives - (These are the time-order elements):​

  1. The Thessalonians are being deceived about the day of the Lord
    Paul begins with: “Let no one deceive you.” The whole issue is whether Christ’s return had already come or was immediately present.
  2. The falling away must come first
    Before the day of the Lord, there must be an apostasy — a departure from truth within the professed people of God.
  3. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work
    The principle is already operating in Paul’s day, but not yet fully visible.
  4. Something is restraining it
    The lawlessness is active, but prevented from reaching its full revealed form.
  5. The restraint must be removed
    Paul says the restrainer continues “until he is taken out of the way.”
  6. Then the lawless one is revealed
    The hidden principle becomes an identifiable power.
  7. This power continues until Christ destroys it at His coming
    That means it cannot be merely a first-century figure who came and went. It continues until the final return of Christ.

So, before we go on to discuss the characteristics (below) of the "man of lawlessness," can we use the above 7 markers to begin to discover this fellow?







B. The identifying characteristics of the power - (These describe what this lawless power is like):​

  1. Self-exaltation
    He “exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped.”
  2. Religious usurpation
    He “sits in the temple of God,” meaning he takes a position inside the sphere of God’s worship and people.
  3. Claim of divine authority
    He “shows himself that he is God,” meaning he claims authority that belongs only to God.
  4. Counterfeit spiritual power
    His coming is “according to the working of Satan,” with signs, lying wonders, and deception.
  5. Opposition to truth
    People are deceived because they do not receive the love of the truth.
 
Someone forged a counterfeit prophecy and sign Paul's name to it. Paul has to reassure using scriptures of old
Paul explains that while the dark spirit of lawlessness is already secretly working in the world, the Man of perdiction is currently trapped behind a divine dam.
He who now letteth will let": In 1611 King James English, the word "let" meant to hinder or restrain.
The Holy Spirit working through the Church) is holding back the full explosion of evil until the appointed time. Once the Restrainer steps out of the way, the floodgates open.
The Ruach Christ's Ultimate Victory (v. 8)
Tying back to the concept of God's breath (ruach) creating or altering life,
Paul provides the ultimate comfort regarding this terrible "Wicked" figure:
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:" — 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (KJV)
Just as God's breath brought life to dry bones in Ezekiel, Christ's breath will act as a weapon of absolute destruction to wipe out the Antichrist effortlessly when He returns.
 
The Antichrist does not establish his kingdom from a secular or explicitly atheistic throne. Instead, he executes an insider takeover, infiltrating the very center of divine worship to demand the devotion that belongs to God alone.
Son of perdiction take over from inside the church alter.this false prophecy is saying end came and they got left behind .
Best I can say as I've been saying is
The Ruach He will comfort & let you know real time the Word from the Throne.
thats the main deception not receiving and knowing the Anointing Holy Spirit ,The Rauch Seal
Of course one needd the wash Cleanse of sin then He can abide by Covenant Anointing Rauch Seal.
No more for me unless really needs answer to single question not multiple
glad to oblige
 
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Someone forged a counterfeit prophecy and sign Paul's name to it. Paul has to reassure using scriptures of old
Paul explains that while the dark spirit of lawlessness is already secretly working in the world, the Man of perdiction is currently trapped behind a divine dam.
He who now letteth will let": In 1611 King James English, the word "let" meant to hinder or restrain.
The Holy Spirit working through the Church) is holding back the full explosion of evil until the appointed time. Once the Restrainer steps out of the way, the floodgates open.
The Ruach Christ's Ultimate Victory (v. 8)
Tying back to the concept of God's breath (ruach) creating or altering life,
Paul provides the ultimate comfort regarding this terrible "Wicked" figure:

Just as God's breath brought life to dry bones in Ezekiel, Christ's breath will act as a weapon of absolute destruction to wipe out the Antichrist effortlessly when He returns.
Could the lawlessness one be the little horn of Daniel 7 and 8? Thanks
 
He will be like A Judas Son of perdiction I will add men Mind already operate on a lower level as I recall Paul saying in same scripts . I hear key words trigger from a preachers and I turn it off or just can't hear them.its mostly educated taught big fansy sounding words,mostly legal dictionary law meaning
example Hold a sigh We want our human Rights outside a court House. I could hear a attorney judge say sure u can have all human right u want .in the attorney judge education in their court All they see is you want Monster Rights crazy but true many other words and common sayings that seems harmless. Ithat's where I was taken shown years ago .
know who you are and not who they want you to be yes Christians saying to .Jesus himself did I just shared .they tried making him a judge lady caught in adultery. Jesus trial Jesus stay silent, then told them "you say who I Am"".so don't under estimate this damned down evil ,look around it's not pretty
need not look far either
 
The falling away must come first

This may simply be the rapture as the Greek word means "departure".

It might be possible that the Arab war against Israel described in Ezekiel 38-39 might happen after the rapture and the anti-Christ would take credit for saving Israel and be seen as their Messiah.
 
The Thessalonians are being deceived about the day of the Lord
Paul begins with: “Let no one deceive you.” The whole issue is whether Christ’s return had already come or was immediately present.

Jesus' return did not happen yet for the man of sin must be revealed first.

For the saints will not be gathered unto Christ until that happens.

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

When the resurrection happens then Jesus will put down the world.

If it happened beforehand then it would be over for the world but they still continue today.

Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Zec 14:5 and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

The first thing Jesus will do is gather the saints and then the wrath of God will be poured upon the world leading up to the battle of Armageddon where Jesus will come back with the saints and defeat the world and save Israel.

The falling away must come first
Before the day of the Lord, there must be an apostasy — a departure from truth within the professed people of God.

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

The new age christianity that interprets the Bible and religions according to the occult and evolution, and people are going to evolve to be spiritual, and greater, and Jesus became an ascended master among others, and there is no personal God, but they honor the God of forces the power of the Cosmos, and the New Age Christ is the next world teacher.

The time will come that people will not want to hear the truth of the Bible but want to hear it according to the new age.

The man of sin will be of the new age.

The falling away has nothing to do with the Church for the gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church.

And it is a great house despite the hypocrites.

And the hypocrites do not belong to Jesus.

Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

The falling away is the condition of the world in response to the Gospel and the belief in a personal God.

When the New Age Christ pushes the agenda of the new age the nations will come together to work for peace and they will stop the preaching of the truth.

3.5 years later is the falling away first when the transgressors have come to the full which is applied to the world not hypocrite Christians.

Then the man of sin will claim to be God and claim to have the solution for peace on earth and rule for 3.5 years.

United Nations Agenda 21 for the 21st century which is a sustainability act.

They want to move all people in to the cities, and no development can happen outside city limits, and the people are the police force.

They want to give the people a microchip under the skin linked to satellite like a GPS tracking system for humans.

They can watch the people, and know their location, and if a crime happens they will know who was in the area, and how close they were to the crime scene.

This will cut out judges, lawyers, and the now known police force.

All information about the person will be on the chip including finances for it is the one world economic system.

Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

chi xi stigma
khee xee stig'-ma
The 22nd, 14th and an obsolete letter (G4742 as a cross) of the Greek alphabet (intermediate between the 5th and 6th), used as numbers; denoting respectively 600, 60 and 6; 666 as a numeral: - six hundred threescore and six.

stigma
stig'-mah
From a primary word στίζω stizō (to “stick”, that is, prick); a mark incised or punched (for recognition of ownership), that is, (figuratively) scar of service: - mark.

The mark of the beast is something stuck under something and since it is given to a person it is stuck under their skin.

The New Age Christ's agenda is there is no personal God to help mankind but their technology can help them to deter crime, and have peace.

The new age is of the occult and the occult believes in the power of numbers and the timing, adding, and grouping of numbers which they believe will give them more power through nature.

6 is the number of a person, or the soul of a person, so the antichrist has the number 666, a triple 6, which he believes will give him more power to evolve to be spiritual, and establish his kingdom.

666 is the number that exalts people in the occult.

They want to convince the world if they embrace the number 666 they will have the power to evolve, and transform the world.

The mystery of lawlessness is already at work
The principle is already operating in Paul’s day, but not yet fully visible.

Sin is already working in the world before the man of sin is revealed.

Something is restraining it
The lawlessness is active, but prevented from reaching its full revealed form.

The restraint must be removed
Paul says the restrainer continues “until he is taken out of the way.”

Then the lawless one is revealed
The hidden principle becomes an identifiable power.

The Holy Spirit is restraining the man of sin until the appointed time.

God is love and loves all people but one day He has to end sin on earth.

So He is giving the world 7 years to have their way and cause all people that do not love the truth to follow the antichrist.

So the Holy Spirit stops restraining the man of sin appearing to deceive the world and the devils can work in the world more than in the past.

When they take the mark of the beast salvation is no longer available to the world and God can end sin on earth.

The 7 years will start when the antichrist negotiates peace in the Middle East which will impact the world because of the condition of the world.

When the antichrist starts working in the world he will push his agenda which he will think to change times and laws.

For the first 3.5 years salvation is still available to the world.

Continued in next post
 
Continued from above post

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

The Bible says Babylon will never have physical dominion again but her life was prolonged for a time and a season.

So the beast kingdom is Babylon in spirit which she represents human religion, the occult, and the kingdom of man.

The Bible says the Roman Empire does not lose their dominion until Jesus puts down the world.

Which they shall become 10 horns the world divided in to 10 sections with a leader in each section.

Which they shall devour the whole world, tread it down, and break it in pieces.

Which is by way of the new age christianity that influences all people who do not love the truth.

The New Age Christ will be of the 10 horns and arms shall stand on his part and by peace shall destroy many.

2Th 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:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 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.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

At the end of the first 3.5 years the falling away happened when the transgressors have come to the full and the devils will be cast to earth and Satan will control the man of sin to deceive the world and the devils will deceive all people who do not love the truth which is the strong delusion.

The devil is off his leash for the last 3.5 years which represents him ascending out of the bottomless pit.

Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Dan 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

The saints will not be gathered unto Christ until the man of sin is revealed.

For the last 3.5 years the beast makes war against the saints and prevails against them.

And they are given in to his hands for 3.5 years.

And when he shall scatter the power of the saints all things are finished.

Which then Jesus will deliver up the kingdom and put down the world.

Since God is giving the world 7 years to have their way to go against the truth the saints will remain on earth to represent the truth.

For if the saints are not on earth how did the world go against the truth.

And the wrath of God would not be in the 7 years period but after it.

Self-exaltation
He “exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped.”

Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

The beast is of the new age and does not believe in a personal God which he will convince the world that he evolved to be spiritual, and greater, the most advanced human.

And the false prophet will do miracles to convince the world that the beast gave this power to the false prophet and will give this power to all people who follow him.

The next evolutionary step of the new age the 5th root race, 6th sub-race.

Religious usurpation
He “sits in the temple of God,” meaning he takes a position inside the sphere of God’s worship and people.

God said he is going to bring all Hebrews back to Israel and leave none of them in the nations anymore and they will know the LORD their God from that time forward and He will never hide His face from them again.

Which Israel is blinded in part until salvation is no longer available to the Gentiles and so all Israel shall be saved.

The New Age Christ will negotiate peace in the Middle East resulting in a 7 years peace treaty.

It will pave the way for all Hebrews to go to Israel for the Gentile nations will see to it.

Which the man of sin wants them all back on their land but God means it for good towards them.

The orthodox Hebrews will rebuild their temple which the man of sin will step in to it and claim to be their God and savior and claim that to the world.

Claim of divine authority
He “shows himself that he is God,” meaning he claims authority that belongs only to God.

Counterfeit spiritual power
His coming is “according to the working of Satan,” with signs, lying wonders, and deception.

Opposition to truth
People are deceived because they do not receive the love of the truth.

The man of sin will be the worse human in history known as the son of perdition.

Judas Iscariot was known as the son of perdition but not the man of sin.

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Isa 2:11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isa 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.

Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
Isa 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

After the saints are resurrected the day of the LORD will start with the wrath of God poured on the heathen until the end of the millennial reign where heaven and earth will pass away by fire.

Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Then a new heaven and earth.
 
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The falling away must come first

This may simply be the rapture as the Greek word means "departure".

It might be possible that the Arab war against Israel described in Ezekiel 38-39 might happen after the rapture and the anti-Christ would take credit for saving Israel and be seen as their Messiah.
You are correct--Greek allows for a physical departure
 
Continued from above post

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

The Bible says Babylon will never have physical dominion again but her life was prolonged for a time and a season.

So the beast kingdom is Babylon in spirit which she represents human religion, the occult, and the kingdom of man.

The Bible says the Roman Empire does not lose their dominion until Jesus puts down the world.

Which they shall become 10 horns the world divided in to 10 sections with a leader in each section.

Which they shall devour the whole world, tread it down, and break it in pieces.

Which is by way of the new age christianity that influences all people who do not love the truth.

The New Age Christ will be of the 10 horns and arms shall stand on his part and by peace shall destroy many.

2Th 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:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 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.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

At the end of the first 3.5 years the falling away happened when the transgressors have come to the full and the devils will be cast to earth and Satan will control the man of sin to deceive the world and the devils will deceive all people who do not love the truth which is the strong delusion.

The devil is off his leash for the last 3.5 years which represents him ascending out of the bottomless pit.

Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Dan 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

The saints will not be gathered unto Christ until the man of sin is revealed.

For the last 3.5 years the beast makes war against the saints and prevails against them.

And they are given in to his hands for 3.5 years.

And when he shall scatter the power of the saints all things are finished.

Which then Jesus will deliver up the kingdom and put down the world.

Since God is giving the world 7 years to have their way to go against the truth the saints will remain on earth to represent the truth.

For if the saints are not on earth how did the world go against the truth.

And the wrath of God would not be in the 7 years period but after it.

Self-exaltation
He “exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped.”

Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

The beast is of the new age and does not believe in a personal God which he will convince the world that he evolved to be spiritual, and greater, the most advanced human.

And the false prophet will do miracles to convince the world that the beast gave this power to the false prophet and will give this power to all people who follow him.

The next evolutionary step of the new age the 5th root race, 6th sub-race.

Religious usurpation
He “sits in the temple of God,” meaning he takes a position inside the sphere of God’s worship and people.

God said he is going to bring all Hebrews back to Israel and leave none of them in the nations anymore and they will know the LORD their God from that time forward and He will never hide His face from them again.

Which Israel is blinded in part until salvation is no longer available to the Gentiles and so all Israel shall be saved.

The New Age Christ will negotiate peace in the Middle East resulting in a 7 years peace treaty.

It will pave the way for all Hebrews to go to Israel for the Gentile nations will see to it.

Which the man of sin wants them all back on their land but God means it for good towards them.

The orthodox Hebrews will rebuild their temple which the man of sin will step in to it and claim to be their God and savior and claim that to the world.

Claim of divine authority
He “shows himself that he is God,” meaning he claims authority that belongs only to God.

Counterfeit spiritual power
His coming is “according to the working of Satan,” with signs, lying wonders, and deception.

Opposition to truth
People are deceived because they do not receive the love of the truth.

The man of sin will be the worse human in history known as the son of perdition.

Judas Iscariot was known as the son of perdition but not the man of sin.

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Isa 2:11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isa 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.

Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
Isa 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zec 14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

After the saints are resurrected the day of the LORD will start with the wrath of God poured on the heathen until the end of the millennial reign where heaven and earth will pass away by fire.

Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Then a new heaven and earth.

Could you be a little more specific 😅
 
Beside the man of sin and son of perdition He also is speaking of those who accept not the love of the Truth that they may be saved; whom God gives strong delusion so that they should believe a lie, and that they may be damned who believed not the Truth but instead have pleasure in unrighteousness: this also is a matter that ought to be mentioned.
 
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B. The identifying characteristics of the power - (These describe what this lawless power is like):​

  1. Self-exaltation
    He “exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped.”
  2. Religious usurpation
    He “sits in the temple of God,” meaning he takes a position inside the sphere of God’s worship and people.
  3. Claim of divine authority
    He “shows himself that he is God,” meaning he claims authority that belongs only to God.
  4. Counterfeit spiritual power
    His coming is “according to the working of Satan,” with signs, lying wonders, and deception.
  5. Opposition to truth
    People are deceived because they do not receive the love of the truth.
The literal Greek:
2:1 Ἐρωτῶμεν (we beseech) δὲ (but/now) ὑμᾶς (you pl.) ἀδελφοί (brothers) ὑπὲρ (over) τῆς παρουσίας (the coming) τοῦ κυρίου (of the Lord) ἡμῶν (of us) Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (Jesus Christ) καὶ (and) ἡμῶν (our) ἐπισυναγωγῆς (gathering together) ἐπ᾽ (onto) αὐτόν (Him, accusative singular masculine)
2:2 εἰς (to/for) τὸ (the purpose) μὴ (not) ταχέως (suddenly) σαλευθῆναι (to begin to be shaken) ὑμᾶς (you) ἀπὸ (away from) τοῦ νοὸς (the mind) μήτε (nor) θροεῖσθαι (to begin being troubled) μήτε (neither) διὰ (through) πνεύματος (a spirit) μήτε (nor) διὰ (through) λόγου (a word) μητὲ (nor) δι᾽ (through) ἐπιστολῆς (a letter) ὡς (as) δι᾽ἡμῶν (through us) ὡς (as) ὅτι (that) ἐνέστηκεν (has been inset) ἡ ἡμέρα (the day) τοῦ Χριστοῦ (of the Christ
2:3 μή τις (no one) ὑμᾶς (you pl.) ἐξαπατήσῃ (let confuse) κατὰ (by) μηδένα (any) τρόπον (manner) ὅτι (because) ἐὰν μὴ (if not ever/unless) ἔλθῃ (he/she/it should come) ἡ ἀποστασία ( the falling away) πρῶτον (first) καὶ (and/even) ἀποκαλυφθῇ (he/she/it should be revealed) ὁ ἄνθρωπος (the man) τῆς ἁμαρτίας (of the mark-missing), ὁ υἱὸς (the son) τῆς ἀπωλείας (of the perdition/utter destruction)
2:4 ὁ (the one) ἀντικείμενος (opposing) καὶ (and) (A)ὑπεραιρόμενος (being exalted/exalting himself) ἐπὶ (onto) πάντα (all things), (B) λεγόμενον (one being called, present passive participle accusative singular neuter) θεὸν (a god) ἢ (or) σέβασμα (an object of worship) ὥστε (in this way therefore) αὐτὸν (he/it) εἰς (into) τὸν ναὸν (the temple) τοῦ θεοῦ (of the God) ὡς (as) Θεὸν (a god) καθίσαι (to be set down/to set himself down) (C) ἀποδεικνύντα (showing) ἑαυτὸν (himself/itself) ὅτι (that) ἔστιν (he/it is) θεός (a god).

My own interpretation of the sense of the literal Greek:
2:1-4 Now, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we beseech you (pl.), brothers, for the purpose that you not suddenly begin to be shaken loose from the mind (of Christ) nor begin to be troubled, neither by some spirit nor by some statement, nor by some letter (presented) as from us, as stating that the day of Christ has taken place.
Let no one confuse you (pl.) by any means, because it won’t unless first the falling away should come, and the man of the sin should come, the son of perdition, the one opposing Christ, and (A) exalting himself over all things, (B) the one being called a god or an object of worship, in this way - as a god sitting himself down in the temple of God, (C) presenting himself as a god.


A. He exalts himself above all things.
B. He is called a god, or an objet of worship.
C. He presents himself in the church as a god.
He does not claim to be the one true God, but claims to be a god.
 
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the man of the sin should come, the son of perdition, the one opposing Christ, and (A) exalting himself over all things, (B) the one being called a god or an object of worship, in this way - as a god sitting himself down in the temple of God, (C) presenting himself as a god.

Here's a question I wonder about, particularly in light of the fact that no building can now be the temple of God. Does God consider all bodies, of believers and unbelievers alike, temples (the latter being defiled temples), or should that text be read as the temple of the gods, instead of the temple of God?
 
Here's a question I wonder about, particularly in light of the fact that no building can now be the temple of God. Does God consider all bodies, of believers and unbelievers alike, temples (the latter being defiled temples), or should that text be read as the temple of the gods, instead of the temple of God?

I know its hard for you as well as some that a 3rd temple will be built again. But according to my understanding a 3rd temple will be built. Its just a matter of time. This has been in the planning for many years and for some jews the reason they came to Israel.
 
I know its hard for you as well as some that a 3rd temple will be built again. But according to my understanding a 3rd temple will be built. Its just a matter of time. This has been in the planning for many years and for some jews the reason they came to Israel.

Of course satan will energize unbelievers to build a temple, but that won't make it the temple of God.
 
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