Wednesday 8th October
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (NIVUK)
The key to understanding Paul’s words and responding correctly, as he hopes the Thessalonians will also do, is to grasp fully the teaching of Daniel (Chapters 7-12) and Jesus (Matthew 23-25). Paul has reflected on both fully and sees, in small part, many precursors to the final end. When Paul writes of the one who ‘sets himself up in God’s temple’ he is thinking of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, two centuries before Jesus. He would also see it, if he lived long enough, in the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in 70AD, precipitated by Roman disregard for the temple precinct.
What Paul understands from Jesus and Daniel is that the Saviour will come also as Judge – and that the time of His arrival will be when the fullness of sin has been expressed. No longer will there be time for discipline and repentance – only judgement. The time for repentance, of gathering in God’s people, has not yet ended and must reach the ends of the earth – so Jesus will not finally congregate His people. The full rebellion against the good news of Jesus will be championed by someone who will lead others astray completely with no hope for turning. When you see that person, then you will know that the time is near. Imitators and false prophets will continue to arise until that time – but the true end is not until after they have all come and gone.
Paul is seeking to correct, using the words of scripture and Jesus’ own words, with which he was clear familiar, any misunderstandings concerning the time when Jesus will finally join His people. A future hope for which we all should long.
