The Greek says “the temple of the God”. When a being is introduced into a context to as “god” with the definite article, that is because it is uniquely the God. We introduce reference to “the Eiffel Tower” by using the definite article because there is only one Eiffel Tower. In Greek, scripture introduces a reference to almighty God as “the God’ because there is only one almighty God.
Who is Paul discussing in 2 Thessalonians 2?
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It seems that this deceiver will come from within the church, the body of believers, in Jerusalem, and seek to persuade Christians and Jews in Jerusalem that he is worthy of worship. It is also possible that his claim may also be broadcast beyond Jerusalem and he may also convince many others around the world that he is a god worthy of worship.
The jews will build the Temple of God and will call it as such
They can't build the temple of God because the temple of God is made without hands. Jesus is building his temple, and anything built by man to take his place would be an abomination.
4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
You are opposing scripture
No, I'm not. Somebody is interpreting that verse incorrectly. It's just ridiculous to think that unbelievers can build the temple of God, or that God would dwell in a building.
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Acts 7:48-49
Those days ended when the glory of God left the temple in Ezekiel 11:23
And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city. Ezekiel 11:23
and it never came back until Jesus appeared in the temple
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. John 4:21
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23
Like i'm talking to a child who is quite reckless
Every english version agrees that it says Temple of God
Every english version agrees that it says Temple of God
He will not be a christian and he will not be a gentile
In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul carefully distinguishes between the mystery of lawlessness, the man of lawlessness, and the satanic manner in which this lawless power operates.
First, Paul says, “the mystery of lawlessness is already at work” (2 Thessalonians 2:7). This means lawlessness was already active in Paul’s day, but not yet fully revealed. It was present in seed form — hidden, developing, and restrained. This lawlessness was not merely ordinary sin in the world. It was a religious rebellion against God’s truth, already moving within the professed sphere of faith, but not yet matured into its final visible form.
The term “lawlessness” itself requires something to be violated. There can be no lawlessness unless there is a law, command, truth, or divine order being rejected. In Paul’s context, this lawlessness is not simply rebellion against civil law, but rebellion against the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth delivered through the apostles. This means that even in Paul’s day, there were already people teaching, receiving, or following a distorted form of the Gospel. They may have appeared to belong within the growing Christian movement, but their teaching and spirit were not in harmony with the true Gospel of Jesus.
As the Christian church grew over the next few centuries, this mystery of lawlessness would also grow within it. What began in seed form during the apostolic age would slowly develop through compromise, false teaching, and the increasing adoption of Roman and pagan patterns. By the time of Constantine, the church had moved from persecution to imperial acceptance, but with that acceptance came serious danger. Pagan practices, images, altered worship patterns, and Roman structures of hierarchy began to find a place within the visible church. The lawlessness that Paul said was already working did not disappear; it matured.
Second, Paul speaks of the man of lawlessness who would later be revealed. This shows that the hidden mystery would eventually take shape in an identifiable power. The man of lawlessness is the visible embodiment of the mystery that had already begun. He exalts himself, sits in the temple of God, and claims authority that belongs only to God. In this sense, the man of lawlessness corresponds closely with Daniel’s little horn — a religious-political power arising from the Roman world, corrupting truth, opposing God’s authority, and placing itself within the visible church.
This is why the papacy fits Paul’s description so strongly. After the demise of pagan Rome in 476 AD, the strongest bishop within the Christian church — the bishop of Rome — would rise into the vacuum left by the fallen Western Empire. In Daniel’s language, the little horn rises from within the fourth beast kingdom. In Paul’s language, the man of lawlessness takes his seat in the temple of God. These are not two unrelated ideas. They describe the same kind of power: a religious authority arising from within the Roman world, claiming a place within God’s church, and assuming authority that belongs only to Christ. The hidden lawlessness had now become exceedingly great in visible form.
Finally, Paul says the coming of this lawless one is “according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10). This does not mean Satan himself is the man of lawlessness. Satan is the power behind the deception, but he is not the visible earthly office or system Paul is identifying. The lawless one follows Satan’s pattern by using counterfeit spiritual authority, religious deception, false signs, and a rejection of the love of the truth.
So the sequence is important: the mystery of lawlessness is the hidden principle already working; the man of lawlessness is the later revealed system; and the working of Satan describes the deceptive power behind that system. Satan is the source and energizing force, but the lawless one revealed in history is the papal system that rose within the church, claimed divine authority, and cast truth to the ground.
The restrainer has been removed. It's only a matter of time now till the lawless one is revealed. It may not happen overnight but I believe we're entering a time of rapid acceleration.
...and has been corrupting the truth ever since. No modern church is without its leaven.
I submit to you that there has never been a restrainer. The passage was always referring to the subject Paul established: the son of perdition.
1. Pronouns follow the establishment of nouns.
2. There's no reason why Paul wouldn't first identify this "restrainer" (whom many then believe to be the Holy Spirit) by name in his letter to fellow believers.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-8
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;
4 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.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
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:
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"The Son of Perdition, who opposeth and exalts himself...so that he...showing himself that he...that he might be revealed in his time...only he who now lets will let until he is taken out of the way and then that wicked (will) be revealed..."
[Focus then changes to the new noun, as well as subsequent use of the pronoun "he"]
"The Lord...His mouth...the brightness of His coming."
Paul was explaining what was holding up (i.e., "what withholdeth") the coming of the Lord. The son of perdition is the "he", that Wicked One, who was "letting" the secret iniquity do its work as early as the 1st century. And he was prophesied to continue to "let" (i.e., advance) that secret iniquity until he, the son of perdition, is taken out of the way. Only then will the son of perdition be revealed and then be destroyed by the Lord at His (the Lord's) coming. Paul continues in context...
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2 Thessalonians 2:8-11
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:
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
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.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
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STICKING WITH THE RULES OF PRONOUNS AND CONTEXT, verse 9 continues the point about the timing of the Lord's coming established in verse 8, saying the Lord comes after satan has had his time to deceive as many as possible who do not and would not love the truth anyhow and who would rather take pleasure in unrighteousness. So by the time the Lord comes, all those who would never have believed in the truth anyhow will be steeped in religious lies.
The son of perdition will be revealed (i.e., has been here since the 1st century working iniquity but is hidden).
The Lord comes (i.e., is not here yet and only appears after satan has completed his work through the son of perdition).