Devotional Thoughts: The Return of Jesus the Defeat of Lawlessness

Continuing on in a look see through 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12.

The Thessalonians were concerned that Jesus might have returned and they got left behind so Paul addressed that concern by telling them some things have to happen before Jesus returns:
(1) A rebellion occurs

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs

(2) The man of lawlessness is revealed

and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?

However, we have to remember, the Thessalonians probably received this teaching around AD 50-51. So it is possible that what was for them future is now in our past!

Anyway, Paul continued to remind them of what he had taught them.
(1) There was something restraining the lawlessness

And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 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. And then the lawless one will be revealed ...

Now, what is this restrainer?

Unfortunately, they knew but we don't. Too bad Paul didn't reiterate his teaching on this matter. If anyone claims to know what/who the restrainer is, I'd like to see their line of thought. My guess is that they are guessing. I've heard people say it is a powerful angel. Another said it is the church. I've heard some say it is the Holy Spirit. But it is all speculation.

But in spite of all this "build up" for this, Paul told them, Jesus is going to win.
(2) Jesus will overthrow the lawlessness at his coming

whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

Just like God brings about the universe in Genesis by saying so, Jesus is going to defeat evil just as easily.

Paul went on to elaborate more on this lawless one.

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

What I'd be really curious about is to what degree Paul was simply expounding on what Jesus taught in Matthew 24 which is very similar to what is here in this passage.

One wonders if in the oral traditions and in hypothetical earlier (but now lost) written compilations of Jesus teachings, there was more details than what we have in Matthew 24?

In any case, what we have is what we have and as for me it is enough to know that Jesus is going to win!

I know some authors and preachers have constructed very detailed pictures of how the Second Coming of Jesus will be like.

I think they are interesting but I tend to be skeptical because the Jews, familiar with their Scriptures, had various pictures in their heads of what the Messiah would be like. Jesus came along and many thought: nope, not the Messiah!

And so today, for us to be excessively confident about explicit details of Jesus Second Coming would be foolhardy.

As a small window into the realm of the Hebrew Scriptures taking into account Jesus and Christian interpretation, let's check out Daniel 9:20-27.

Imagine you are a dedicated Jewish person and you open up the scrolls to read Daniel and see the following:

Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.

It is generally believed that this was fulfilled when Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the Temple. But what does that Jewish person think when the Temple of Jerusalem is completely destroyed in AD 70? It would seem like deja vu all over again.

Indeed, Jesus used this kind of language in Matthew 24 when the disciples asked (1) when the Temple would be destroyed, (2) when Jesus would come back and (3) when the end of times would be.

In the mind of Jesus, it happened once before and it would happen again.

Will it happen a third time?

Lord, you spoke the universe into existence. In your wisdom you allowed us to have the freedom to choose to follow you or to rebel. You have sent Jesus to make restoration possible. The tide of your righteousness is rolling in and one day it will sweep away all lawlessness. But until that day, help me to fight the part of me that is disobedient. Help me to bring in peace and love and truth to the places and peoples around me. Amen.