Chapter # 2 Paragraph # 1 Study # 3
November 29, 2015
Dayton, Texas
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Thesis: The man of the lawlessness will be revealed.
Introduction: In our last study we looked into the two events that must take place before the commencement of the dark period of the Day of the Lord. We spent most of our time considering whether the translation of the word apostasia should be translated "falling away" or "apostasy". It was my opinion that Paul's focus was upon two specific coming events (our gathering together unto Christ and the commencement of the Day of the Lord; both under the general theme of "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ"). From there, it stands to reason from my perspective that those two coming events are still his focus when he declares that the Day of the Lord will not commence until two things happen: "the disappearance" and the "revelation" of the man of the lawlessness. Since it is his burden to keep the Thessalonians from confusion about whether they will be subject to the dark period of the Day of the Lord, or not, it stands to reason that "our gathering together unto Him" is the same thing as "the disappearance", which he specifically taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
This evening we are going to focus upon the second of the "happenings": the revelation of the man of the lawlessness.
- I. Paul's Focus: The Actions of The Man of the Lawlessness.
- A. These descriptive terms may be the means of the revelation of the man.
- 1. In Daniel 9, the seventieth week of the prophecy of the Seventy "Sevens" is a return to the time line, but, to my knowledge, the Day of the Lord is not specifically tied to that seventieth week.
- a. However, the function of the two witnesses (Revelation 11:3) is given the specific duration of 1260 days, the first of two such periods in the seventieth week, and it is marked by a period of drought, turning of the waters to blood, and the imposition of all manner of plagues upon the earth.
- b. The implication is that they signal the beginning of the events of the Day of the Lord.
- 2. The Revelation of John indicates that there are two divisions of 1260 days, or 42 months, within that "week" with Israel coming under the heavy darkness of the Day after the first division has run its course.
- 3. The "revelation" of the man of the lawlessness has two possible "revealing" events: the covenant with the many to begin the "week", or the actual events outlined in our text by Paul, which occur at the mid point.
- a. Daniel identifies the covenant as the beginning of the seventieth week, but we do not know if it will be widely known or not.
- b. Once the desecration of the temple occurs there will be no doubt as to who this man is.
- B. The descriptions.
- 1. He is referred to by two designations.
- a. He is identified as "The Man of the Lawlessness".
- 1) The same word is used in 2:7 in the phrase "the mystery of the lawlessness".
- 2) The issue is the "mystery" of how the world is turned into an absolute tyranny in which there is a total rejection of any concept of absolute standards.
- a) The idea of absolute standards is derived from the immutability of the character of The God.
- b) The wholesale rejection of such standards is the ultimate rejection of God, which has to result, at some point, in a divine reaction of judgment unto the purging of such nonsense and wickedness.
- b. He is also identified as "The Son of the Destruction".
- 1) The seems to be a parallel to Daniel's "desolations and the desolater" (Daniel 9:26-27).
- 2) The implications are two: the desolater will make desolate; and the desolater will be made desolate.
- 3) As "The Son of the Destruction", The Man of The Lawlessness will not only create destructions on a wide stage of history, but he will be made desolate by God Himself by means of the coming of the Son from heaven.
- 2. He is then described as to what he does.
- a. His actions in the world as to those living in it are not addressed.
- b. His actions are specifically restricted to what he does in respect to "The God".
- 1) He very specifically "opposes" (Satan).
- 2) He very specifically "exalts himself" over every "god" or "object of worship".
- 3) He very specifically targets "The God" by seating himself in "the Temple of The God".
- 4) He very specifically presents himself as "god".