Chapter # 2 Paragraph # 1 Study # 6
December 20, 2015
Humble, Texas
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• I. The Means of the Rise of The Man of The Lawlessness.
  • A. The first description of this means has to do with the roots of his rise.
    • 1. Paul declares him to be the product of "Satan's" work.
      • a. In this description, Paul lays out a "standard" that summarizes the nature of the opposition.
        • 1) The issue is "opposition" by virtue of Paul's use of "Satan".
        • 2) The fact of "opposition" has a direct implication of what 2:4 specifically stated: the quest for the power of the "doing" of a "god".
      • b. This opposer's work has a typical "standard".
        • 1) At issue are all of the "doings" of the opposer: his "energy" expended in the pursuit of his goal.
        • 2) This "standard" is rooted in the objective of being a "god"; i.e., in the exercise of power.
    • 2. That his rise is "Satan's work" means one thing in particular: he is nothing more than the useful, human, idiot needed to bring humanity and its power into play.
  • B. The second description has to do with the particulars of the "standard".
    • 1. The first particular is "power".
      • a. The word that is used indicates the ability to actually accomplish an objective.
      • b. This is the most fundamental root of a "god" in the minds of human beings as illustrated throughout the history of Israel's conflict with its neighbors and their "gods".
    • 2. The second particular is "signs".
      • a. The word means something that has certain characteristics of meaning in one domain that point to a truth about another domain.
      • b. This is the actual basis for human understanding of things beyond the normal reach of human beings: types of meaning that "point as a sign" to a meaning that exists in a different domain (...the kingdom of heaven is like unto...).
      • c. Revelation 13:13 uses this term to identify the kind of "signs" the man will be able to produce.
    • 3. The third particular is "lying wonders".
      • a. The impact of a "wonder" is identified by Hebrews 2:4.
        • 1) In all cases of "understanding" that are rooted in the proper interpretation of an act of "power", or a given "sign", there has to be some form of "validation".
        • 2) Romans 1 says of this that Jesus was "declared to be the son of God by the resurrection of the dead".
      • b. In Satan's case, the "wonders" are "false".
        • 1) Either the wonder itself is fake.
        • 2) Or the interpretation of the wonder is false.
    • 4. The major impact is described as "the deceivableness of unrighteousness".
      • a. Here the real issue is unveiled in terms of actual motive.
      • b. In the true God's activities of "power", "signs", and "wonders" is the reality of His underlying motives (thus, "God is Love" becomes more consequential than "God is Powerful").
      • c. In the false "god's" activities of "power", "signs", and "wonders" is the reality of a totally self-destructive motive: the harm of all others for the personal gain of the "god".
• II. The Permission of God For the Rise.
  • A. At issue is the "power" of human beings so that they may be "allied" together to increase their impact.
  • B. That the true God permits a false opponent to achieve a great deal of power through alliances is rooted in the real root: Love.
    • 1. The true God is only interested in final, and real, accomplishments.
    • 2. That those humans whom He has created are more interested in selfish objectives has set up the result: He will let them be deceived because they have no interest in "the love of the truth".
      • a. This means that they are not interested in the "salvation" He offers.
      • b. This means that they are significantly corrupted to the point of no return.