2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
What is written? (ESV)
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
What does it say?
The lawless one’s coming is thanks to Satan’s wicked deception and activity demonstrated with power and false signs. His followers are perishing since they refuse to love the truth, which would save them.
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. He is assuring them that “the day of the Lord” has not come yet (vs 2), and won’t before two things happen: “the rebellion” and the revealing of the “man of lawlessness” (vs 3). More broadly, the Thessalonians in particular were being told by false teachers that Jesus had already returned and were afraid that they had somehow missed it and that those Christians they knew that had died would not be raised anew (1 Th 4:13ff).
How 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 is applied across Bible answers
What saves you eternally?
Connects loving truth (God's word) to being saved and the lack of loving truth to condemnation.
What would it mean if Satan was dead?
Who is the man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3)?
The man of lawlessness1 is by the direction/authority of Satan and will serve to [further] deceive all those who refuse God (e.g. other antichrists5) -- and those will die the second death as a result of their deception.
