Man of Lawlessness

 What Should We Know about the Man of Lawlessness in the Bible? Although some think that the Man of Lawlessness may represent a corrupt system or governing body, the title suggests that this advocate of religious insurrection will indeed arise in the form of a solitary being — not a demon or an angel, but a man. For believers in Christ, global catastrophes in recent years, such as pandemics, wars, and natural disasters, signify that we are experiencing biblical End Times. Though this concept is daunting, it is coupled with dichotomous anticipation for the Second Coming of Jesus and the consequential precipitation of events that will result in Him ruling the earth in a new Messianic age. Similarly, the church in ancient Thessalonica was convinced that they, too, were living in the throes of biblical Armageddon. Their fear of having missed the first phase of Jesus’ return, the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17), induced Paul to write a second letter tothe Thessalonians with the intention of clarifying eschatological deceptions, encouraging them in their faith and instructing them on the scriptural pre-requisites that needed to be fulfilled before the Dayof the Lord took place. One such pre-requisite is the revealing of the Man of Lawlessness, a figure, a sin puppeteer — Satan — who will proclaim himself to be God in order to incite rebellion and destruction on the earth. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs 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 (2 Thessalonians2:3-4). This leads us to ask ourselves, who is the Man of Lawlessness? And is he already here? Who Is the Man of Lawlessness? Though some biblical scholars postulate that the Man of Lawlessness may represent a corrupt system or governing body, the title suggests that this advocate of religious insurrection will indeed arise in the form of a solitary being — not a demon or an angel,but a man. Being the conflicting representation of Jesus Christ, this figure is also known as the “Antichrist” or the “man of sin.” The following are further characteristics of the Man of Lawlessness: 1. He refuses to subject himself to any laws or authorities — he is the epitome of lawlessness, as his title suggests. 2. As a consequence of being above the law, he declares himself to be God and sits in His most Holy Place (2Thessalonians 2:4; 1 John 4:3). 3. He is not Satan; however, he will be commandeered by the devil and will represent him physically on earth as the world’s final Antichrist (2Thessalonians 2:9; 1 John 2:18). 4. He will rise to great prominence and will lure many away from God to their spiritual demise. 5. He will make a covenant with mankind during the first half of the seven-yearTribulationperiod, then break it (Daniel 9:27). 6. Although he is a man, he will possess supernatural powers and will be able to deceive people with fake signs and wonders (2Thessalonians 2:9). 7. He is known as the Son of Perdition, meaning that he evokes wickedness and destruction in others and is himself doomed to be destroyed by God (2Thessalonians 2:3,8). Where Else Is the Man of Lawlessness Mentioned in the Bible? The Book of Daniel references the arrival and ascent of the Antichrist. In Daniel 7:25, the prophet writes, “He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws.” In Daniel 8:1-12, the prophet has a vision that describes the ascent of a “fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue” who will arise and be worshiped by the world before it is ultimately defeated. In Daniel 11:36-45, we learn that this king will exalt himself above God and will be successful in spreading lies and deception. In Daniel 11:31, he will defile the temple of God and “set up the abomination that makes desolate.” Jesus also spoke of a man who came in “his own name” and was accepted by mankind; whereas, in contrast, He came in His Father’s name and was rejected (John5:43). In Matthew 24:23–25, Jesus also warned His Disciples of false prophets and those claiming to be Christ, who would lead people astray by performing great signs and miracles. Is the Man of Lawlessness Integral to Biblical Prophecy? The rise of the Man of Lawlessness fulfills essential biblical prophecies pertaining to the End Times. His heretic reign is pre-ordained through the Tribulation period, a time in which the Christian faith is rejected, and the love of humans for one another turns cold through betrayal and hate (Matthew24:10-13). This great apostasy will provide an opportunity for the man of sin to come into being. Initially, the power of lawlessness will work covertly, for God is holding Satan’s puppet at bay. However, at the right time, God will deliberately release this unholy power (2 Thessalonians2:6-7), thereby giving sin jurisdiction over the earth. Why? God gives mankind the freedom to either embrace His Truth and accept His gift of Salvation or walk the paths of wickedness and righteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 states, “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” God uses the Man of Lawlessness to seek out the true believers by allowing the unrighteous to believe the lies of the Antichrist (2Thessalonians 2:12) and choose him as their god. Additionally, God uses the abomination of this agent of Satan to enable two things: 1. To provide a clear marker in the biblical timeline that Jesus’ arrival on earth and his consequential judgment of mankind is nigh. 2. God will overcome the Man of Lawlessness with one breath and thereby announce the splendor of His arrival as the One True God (2Thessalonians 2:8). Is the Man of Lawlessness Amongst Us Today? Since the serpent tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the spirit of lawlessness has been interfering with humans and their affairs. At the time that Paul wrote his letter to the Thessalonians, the reigning Roman emperor Caligula had attempted to have a statue of himself erected in the Temple at Jerusalem, which would have undoubtedly had him dubbed as the next Antichrist from the Jews’ perspective. Though no one has stepped up to claim the title of the Man of Lawlessness in our time, it is an unfortunate truth that we are living in times of disorder, confusion, and false truths. Churches are striving to produce services that rival Superbowl performances, and our children are watching TV shows with immoral content and growing up believing such mindsets and lifestyles to be normal. False prophets are leading death cults and satanic acts are audaciously being performed in public arenas and being labeled “entertainment.” And let’s not forget the plotting and collusion of governments and organizations that deceive people daily. What makes it truly lamentable is that we have accepted this version of the world we live in as being true. If that’s the case, maybe the time for the Antichrist to rise is nearer than we all presume. Paul’s Encouragement to Believers Though Paul is the bearer of sobering news, he also reminds the church of Thessalonica that they are loved and chosen by God and encourages them to stay faithful to the biblical teachings that have been instilled in them by him and his fellow apostles (2Thessalonians 2:13-15). In the same way, we too as modern-day believers can remain joyful in the knowledge that we are beloved children of God, who have been chosen by Him through His grace and mercy. We need not fear the arrival of the Man of Lawlessness, for he and Satan are defeated foes. They know it, and we should know it too. Instead, let us continue to do the work of the Lord and share His gospel with a world that so desperately needs to hear it (2Thessalonians 2:16-17). Let us step out each day like the Thessalonians, full of divine encouragement and spiritual strength to fortify our every word and deed. For further reading: What Does the Bible Say about the Antichrist? How Are the End Times Described in 2 Timothy? What Is the Rapture?