2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
This passage is about the END TIMES not just the antichrist. It is talking about the people who are deceived. People who God has ALLOWED to be deceived for several reasons:
1. They did not love the truth, so they can be saved.
2. They did not believe the truth.
3. They took pleasure in unrighteousness.
You want to know why I think that includes people who look to other men for doctrine instead of the Bible?
Look at the context, 3AngelsMom. That is always a wise thing to do.
2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken 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.
--The context is, as it says in verse two, “the day of Christ is at hand,” which is explained also in verse one as “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.” In other words Paul is referring to the rapture, when all the believers will be gathered together or raptured when Christ comes for His own. When will the great even happen?
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
--Don’t be deceived he says. This day will not come until there is a great apostasy. That is what is meant by a “great falling away.” And a second sign: “that man of sin”, “the son of perdition” be revealed.” Now who is that? Those words can only refer to one person. The man of sin in the Bible is the anti-Christ. He is a specific person that will come to lead the entire world astray after the rapture (mentioned in verses 1 and 2 has occurred). When he comes what kind of things will he do?
He opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he as God sits in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Those are very specific and terrifying words. This man (the man of sin, the anti-christ) calls himself God, and will sit in the Temple of God (which isn’t built yet), and all the world will worship him as God. He will be a one-world leader, and all the world will worship him.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
--Paul reminds them that he had already explained these things to them. He explains that the mystery of iniquity is already working, in other words things are ripe for the coming of this man. Sin abounds. As soon as the rapture takes place the anti-christ is ready to show his face and declare himself as such. What is to prevent these things from taking place now? “He who now letts will let” “he who now restrains will restrain until he be taken out of the way.” The Holy Spirit is the great restraining influence in the world today. When the rapture occurs, the Holy Spirit, indwelling the hearts of all the believers, will be taken out of the way, and evil will have its way. The believers of this day, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, have a restraining influence on the wickedness of this world.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
--Then, after the rapture will have taken place, that Wicked (one), referring to the anti-christ, will be revealed, who after seven years of tribulation, at the Battle of Armeggedon, will be defeated.
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Even him, that is the anti-christ, who for seven years, with all of his power and lying wonders will have deceived the people of the world. However, the people of the world were easily deceived because they loved not the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
--It was for this reason (they loved not the truth) that God sent them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie. What was the lie? The lie was that the anti-christ was god. They actually believed it and followed him as god.
These verses have nothing to do with godly men who read commentaries and/or write them.
They did not love the truth. Then God sent a strong 'delusion' so they would believe a lie. Only someone who has taken their eyes away from the truth in the Bible can be taken by this delusion. Only someone who is 'looking' elsewhere for their doctrine can be deceived. It places you on dangerous ground when you are unsure of a specific doctrine and you seek the 'wisdom' of man to explain it for you. The Bible should be your only source of doctrine. If a passage is unclear to you, pray for clarity and the Holy Spirit will reveal it to you. Study the Bible for yourself and build sound doctrine 'precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little there a little' and always seek God for the truth.
As you can see I don’t need other commentaries. I have been studying the Bible now for thirty years, and teaching it for 25. I have written some of my own commentaries. I posted the writings of other men for your benefit. If you will not believe “my commentary” on the subject, maybe you would believe someone else. The passage is perfectly clear to me. It means: if your absent from the body you are present with the Lord. It is very simple isn’t it.
The delusion is here. This is not something that we are still 'waiting' for. John said that the power that IS antichrist was there with him when he wrote Revelation. Paul said in this very passage that 'the mystery of iniquity' is already at work. The main point of that passage is to warn the people of God that a deception is going to take place, and that a 'falling away' will occur before Jesus comes back. Through Paul, God is warning us that we need to look to God for our doctrine, and not to men. Even 'Godly' men. It says in Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Three times in the last chapter of the Book of Revelation does Jesus promise to come quickly. The promise means that His coming is imminent. He may come at any time. The believers of the first century, as we of the 21st century are to look for his coming with great expectation. That is the teaching of the Bible. There will always be false prophets like Charles Taze Russel, Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen G. White, and many others, who lead many astray. John said there were some false prophets in his day. This is nothing new. That is why we are to trust the Bible and use the Bible as our final authority. Notice I say the final authority. That doesn’t dispense with other teachers and teachers that have written books. We measure everything against God’s Word.
So the point is, you and I both and everyone else here, must always remain teachable. The Holy Spirit is the best teacher you could ever have, and He will NEVER lead you into false doctrine.
True enough, if you make sure that you have the Holy Spirit, that you are truly born again by God’s Holy Spirit, and not by baptism. If baptism has anything to do with your salvation I question if you have the Holy Spirit at all. Has Christ fully atoned for your sin. If you believe that Christ has not fully atoned for your sins, that he is still looking at the books, so to speak, then I would question your salvation. Christ paid the full penalty of our sins, fully atoned for our sins on the cross. He said it is finished. Do you believe that Christ has completely finished the work of salvation, and that there is nothing more for Christ to do, as far as one’s salvation is concerned?
The verse that you are having such a problem with in 2 Corinthians is something that a I have profound, Holy Spirit given, understanding of, but I fear that if I tell you, not only will you probably reject it, but again resort to saying I am in a cult and other such slams. So do you REALLY want me to explain it, and can you receive it with a teachable spirit?
I don’t have a problem with that verse; you do. And if you come to such a different meaning then maybe it is a different spirit that is teaching you. Make sure of your salvation.
DHK
[ January 28, 2003, 03:51 PM: Message edited by: DHK ]