Saturday 11th October
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (NIVUK)
It should not be surprising, yet the consistency with which the New Testament describes the last days, even in language that to us, two thousand years later, is opaque, constantly amazes. Consider John’s description of the ‘beast from the earth’, one who rises from below and deceives those who are perishing.
“Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honour of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.” (Revelation 13:11-14) (NIVUK)
The lawless one will mimic, down to seeming resurrection, the One who is truly Lord and Judge and Risen. Signs and wonders and the call to obedience founded upon deception. Paul and John are describing the same moment on history. John’s insight demonstrates the centrality of the resurrection of Jesus in the life and faith of God’s people. Those who know the truth, who know Jesus is risen, will not be deceived because His life already enervates them. The lies and deception of the one who would usurp the Lord are completely transparent to those who share in their Lord’s life now.
