2 Thessalonians 2:7-8
What is written? (ESV)
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
What does it say?
The mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but its personification will be revealed when the one restraining it is out of the way. Then he [man of lawlessness] will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth at his coming.
What is its immediate context?
Paul’s second letter to the church at Thessalonica sometime before for the First Jewish-Roman War when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. Between Paul’s first and second letters, it appears the people had begun to believe some teaching that Jesus had already returned (vss 1-2). He is assuring them that “the day of the Lord” has not come yet, and won’t before two things happen: “the rebellion” and the revealing of the “man of lawlessness” (vs 3). The reference here to Jesus conquering by the “breath of his mouth” would be understood as His words. Isaiah said, “he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.” (Is 11:4)
How 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 is applied across Bible answers
Who is the Antichrist?
This is a difficult by the fact that there are things that Paul had already shared with them about these two signs. We don't know exactly what the rebellion is/was that Paul was referring to. It could have been a general, spiritual rebellion against God or it could have been a physical, political rebellion. We also don't know who the man of lawlessness is - whether an actual individual or a metaphor. What/Who it was restraining is also a question.
Jumping to the conclusion that Paul must be speaking about the Antichrist is tenuous at best, since:
- We don't have answers from Paul in the immediate or broader context of his letters to the Thessalonians (which he addresses in a way by revealing that there were things he shared with them in person).
- It would be based on an uncertain interpretation of Revelation 13 of the same (putting us squarely into the realm of Presupposition Scripture Weighting).
- It would leave questions regarding how it really applied to the Thessalonians at all (remember, Paul is sharing two signs with them so they know that Jesus has not come already).
- Historical events of that time that might shed light on these things (e.g. the First Jewish-Roman War) and supply a very ready explanation to all of these questions.
Who is the man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3)?
Even though the man of lawlessness1 hasn't been revealed yet, the "lawlessness" that he brings about is already present. However, Jesus will conquer him in the end with His words that He speaks in judgment.
