Thursday 9th October
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:5-7
“Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.” (NIVUK)
How many movies have you watched where the character is not sure the person they are talking to is really who they say they are and devises some question that ‘only the real ‘x’ would know’? One can’t help but feel in the same position when reading Paul’s correspondence with the Thessalonians!
Paul clearly spoke about the return of Jesus with them whilst he was there (v5). He reminds them of the conversations they had about it (which challenges us to recall the last time we chatted about it…). Then he goes on to refer in, what is for us, the most cryptic way possible why the return of Jesus could not possibly have happened yet (v6-7). Something is holding back the lawless one, and until he is unleashed upon the world, they know that Jesus will not return.
Unfortunately, we would not be able to answer that suspicious person’s question in the movie. We were simply not there. So many theories have been proposed as to ‘what is holding him back’, all of which have many weaknesses, that it would be remarkably foolish to even speculate.
Perhaps this is what it feels like to not be included in gossip? It improves our ability to be patient?
