Who is the Man of Lawlessness?

Who is the Man of Lawlessness?
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Review – I Thessalonians
• Thanksgiving
• Teaching about the end
Review – II Thessalonians
• The Apostasy
• Revelation of the
Man of Lawlessness
Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
- II Thessalonians 2:1-2
Before the “day of the Lord” comes, other significant events must take place first.
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
- II Thessalonians 2:3-4
Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
- II Thessalonians 2:5-7
Key Terms
• Apostasy = “…to fall away”
• Man of lawlessness
• Son of perdition
• Son of destruction
Key Terms
• Restraining influence
• Mystery of lawlessness
• Breath of His mouth
• Appearance of His coming
• Prophecy
We know what.
We know the sequence.
We don’t know the time frame.
Sequence of Events
• The Apostasy – vs. 3a
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
-Acts 20:28
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
- Acts 20:29-30
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
- II Tim. 4:3-4
Sequence of Events
• The Apostasy
• The Man of Lawlessness Revealed – vs. 3b-7

“What is he like?”
One of a kind
Opposes every god
Influence manifested before he is
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
- II Thessalonians 2:8-10
For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
- II Thessalonians 2:11-12
“What will he do?”
Deceive People
Use False Power
Lie on Purpose
“What will he cause to happen?”
Seduce people to believe the lie
Completely seduce the deluded
Cause judgment and punishment
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
- II Thessalonians 2:8
“What will happen to him?”
God will destroy him with…
The Word
The return of Christ
Man of Lawlessness – 4 Views
• Roman Empire
Man of Lawlessness – 4 Views
• Roman Empire
• Satan
Man of Lawlessness – 4 Views
• Roman Empire
• Satan
• Catholicism
Separation of clergy and laity
Change in church organization
Change in hierarchy
Change in doctrine & practice

Change in Doctrine & Practice
Infant Baptism – 3rd century
Confessional – 4th century
Transubstantiation – 9th century
Indulgences – 15th century
Infallibility – 19th century
Mary – Co-Redemptor – 20th century
Man of Lawlessness – 4 Views
• Roman Empire
• Satan
• Catholicism
Pope doesn’t claim deity
Promotes belief in Christ
Papacy/R.C. is a result of Apostasy NOT
the actual Man of Lawlessness.
Man of Lawlessness – 4 Views
• Roman Empire
• Satan
• The Papacy
• A Principle of Lawlessness
Present in government movements.
Present in various philosophies.
New Face every generation
Materialism
Humanism
Post-Modernism
Religious Fanaticism
Jesus doesn’t return until the Man of Lawlessness is revealed – to Christians!
The “restraining power” could be the opposing principle of “law & order” in the world.
Historical Pattern
God’s word produces law & order.
Principle of evil opposes law & order.
Apostasy weakens law & order.
Final surge of evil as Man of Lawlessness is revealed.
Return of Christ.
Arguments for 4th Theory
• Emperors of Rome are gone.
• Satan cannot be divided.
• The Papacy fails the complete description.
• The 4th theory explains the past, present and future without violating any of the facts about the Man of Lawlessness.

Responding to the influence of evil:
• Stay close to the Word
• Struggle against evil
Who is the Man of Lawlessness?
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12