2 Thessalonians 2
Plz note: I’m using the KJV, and applying Strong’s Concordance and the King James Bible dictionary* with certain words, to emphasize it’s meaning. I also highlighted the chapter to flow easily with the emphasized words. In doing this the meaning Paul was expressing comes alive in us. Be blessed…
2 Thessalonians 2:3-17
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
That ye be not soon shaken/disturb in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Let no man deceive/beguile you by any means/revolution for that day shall not come except there come a falling away/defection of truth first, and the man/human of sin/offense, trespass be revealed/disclosed, the son of perdition/ruin, lost, sin, Who opposeth/instead of, contrast to and exalteth/becomes haughty himself above/upon all/every manner of, means that is called/related to God, or that is worshipped/devotion, adored; so that/thus therefore he as/in the manner of God sitteth/sits down in the temple/sacred place of God shewing/to show off himself that he is God.
Remember/Recollect ye not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (v6) And now/Henceforth ye know/be aware, see what withholdeth/holds down, that he/self, might be revealed/disclosed in his time/season. For/A reason the mystery/secret of iniquity/illegality, violation of the law doth already/even now work/is active; only he who now letteth/posses, holds down, hinders will let/permit, to remain without intermeddling, until he be taken/removed out of the way.
In this context we see that the “he” could be the Holy Spirit, God Himself, (a ‘mighty power which can prevent the development of the great Antichrist’) that hinders this evil (satan’s influence, power in this man), until this evil is removed at Christ’s coming. But it can also be the Archangel Michael holding this evil down til its appointed time. Or a natural tendency, a civil/church power that prevents the antichrist to manifest itself until the appropriate time, or just maybe a combination of. Scripture’s doesn’t say who or what, only that we will know. “Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all powers and signs and lying wonders”.
And then shall that Wicked/transgressor be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him (the Antichrist), whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness/delusion, lies of unrighteousness/injustice and moral wrongness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned/condemned, judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Verse 6. – And now. The particle “now” has been variously interpreted. Some connect it with the restraining influence: “And ye know what now withholdeth;” but if so, there would have been a different arrangement of the words in the original. Others consider it as a mere particle of transition: “Now, to pass over to another subject;” but there is no transition, the apostle continues his description of the man of sin. It is rather to be considered as a particle of time: “Now ye know, because you have been instructed on this point.” Ye know; Paul having told them when he was at Thessalonica. What withholdeth; hindereth. The hindrance does not refer to the prevention of the apostle from speaking freely on this subject, lest he should involve himself in political difficulties; nor to any delay in the coming of Christ; but to a restraint upon the appearance of the man of sin: “Ye know what prevents his open manifestation.” That he; namely, the man of sin. Might be revealed in his time; literally, in his season; in his proper time, the time appointed by God. Events were not yet ripe for his appearance. Just as there was a “fulness of time” when Christ should appear (Galatians 4:4), so there was a “fulness of time” when the man of sin should be revealed; there was a series of events going on which would culminate in his revelation. The nature of this restraining or withholding influence will afterwards be considered; whatever it was, the Thessalonians were formerly explicitly informed.
2:5-12 Something hindered or withheld the man of sin. It is supposed to be the power of the Roman empire, which the apostle did not mention more plainly at that time. Corruption of doctrine and worship came in by degrees, and the usurping of power was gradual; thus the mystery of iniquity prevailed. Superstition and idolatry were advanced by pretended devotion, and bigotry and persecution were promoted by pretended zeal for God and his glory. This mystery of iniquity was even then begun; while the apostles were yet living, persons pretended zeal for Christ, but really opposed him. The fall or ruin of the antichristian state is declared. The pure word of God, with the Spirit of God, will discover this mystery of iniquity, and in due time it shall be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming. Signs and wonders, visions and miracles, are pretended; but they are false signs to support false doctrines; and lying wonders, or only pretended miracles, to cheat the people; and the diabolical deceits with which the antichristian state has been supported, are notorious. The persons are described, who are his willing subjects. Their sin is this; They did not love the truth, and therefore did not believe it; and they were pleased with false notions. God leaves them to themselves, then sin will follow of course, and spiritual judgments here, and eternal punishments hereafter. These prophecies have, in a great measure, come to pass, and confirm the truth of the Scriptures. This passage exactly agrees with the system of popery, as it prevails in the Roman-ish church, and under the Romanish popes. But though the son of perdition has been revealed, though he has opposed and exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; and has spoken and acted as if he were a god upon earth, and has proclaimed his insolent pride, and supported his delusions, by lying miracles and all kinds of frauds; still the Lord has not yet fully destroyed him with the brightness of his coming; that and other prophecies remain to be fulfilled before the end shall come.
(For more commentaries on this go to: 2 Thessalonians 2:6 Commentaries , or to elaborate more on the above commentaries hit their titles.)
Stand firm. Stay in God’s grace.
But we are bound/to be under obligation to give thanks/be grateful always to God for you, brethren/brother beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning [of time] chosen/taken for Himself you to salvation/rescue, deliver through sanctification/purification of the Spirit/Holy Spirit and belief of the truth:
Whereunto/At which He called you by our gospel/good message, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God knows our hearts and in hearing His Word we come to Him. I personally do not believe in predestined, I believe God knew which of His children would come around when His truth was presented to them/us. In this way we were destine, chosen to be His children. ‘He wants no one to perish but to come to Him.’ paraphrasing 2 Peter 3:9
Therefore, brethren, stand fast/abide, and hold/seize the traditions/precepts, ordinances, [God’s laws], which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle/written message.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even/also our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation/comfort and good hope/anticipate pleasure, confidence through grace/especially the Divine influence of the heart, and its reflection on life,
Comfort your hearts, and stablish/strengthen you in every good word and work/act, deed, doing, labor.
*******************************
Be at peace, He is always with you!
Thank you for visiting ????
Pray you found this entry intriguing enough to use Strong’s Concordance (if you aren’t already), when studying God’s inspired Word.
God bless!
sources and gratitude: https://www.biblegateway.com – KJV King James Version; *Strong’s Concordance – https://biblehub.com/strongs/a.htm ; e-Sword- https://www.e-sword.net/ ; http://kingjamesbibledictionary.com/Dictionary/letteth
Yorumlar
Yorum Gönder