The revealing of the antichrist

2thessalonians 2:3-14 gives us an account of what is happening right before our eyes in these last days. The manifestation of the antichrist.

The book of Ezekiel gives a model of the unveiling of the truth about spiritual issues as it gives us a clear demarcation between the personality of the enemy and the spirit behind him- the prince and the king of tyrus.

Now in 2Thesalonians, God wants us to understand and be able to track and unveil the activities of the enemy by the light of the truth that is in us. It is a known fact in the spirit that evil thrives in darkness. The power of evil lies in two things- ignorance and misunderstanding

So in this passage, there is the spirit at work and also the man of sin at work which shall be revealed in due season. 2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (KJV)

But we need to understand that the spirit of antichrist is already at work as John told us by the Holy Spirit in his epistles.

1Jo 2:18 ¶ Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1Jo 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.

This is the spirit of antichrist- the spirit that denies the Lord Jesus Christ. Now our passage gives us a very practical and detailed account of the works of this spirit.

Now vs 3-6 tells us about the revelation of this man of sin - the man of the antichrist. But look at the next verses because they reveal the activities of the spirit of antichrist.

The mystery of lawlessness is already at work..... This is the work of the spirit of antichrist.

Scripture says that the coming of the antichrist will be according to the workings of satan. This means that the coming of the antichrist will be preceded by the workings of the devil (in secret). So what are the workings of the devil- scripture says it is in all signs and lying wonders. So the work of the devil will look like the signs of the Lord but they are lying wonders.

The second one is by every kind of wicked deception and unrighteousness but we need to know that these will be preceded by lying signs and wonders.

Now look at the very important point in this passage- this talks about the people that will be swept by this terrible wave of deception. They are those whose fate is destruction 2Th 2:10 and by every kind of wicked deception for those who are on the way to perdition because they did not welcome into their hearts the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. (WNT)

It says that some people's fate is destruction, why? Because they love not the truth in their hearts and not because God has appointed them unto destruction. They are not going to escape the delusion of the enemy, because the truth does not abide in their hearts. It does not matter where they are now, whether they are priests or men of God or they even dwell in the buildings of God. The delusion of the devil will definitely overtake them.

So the way of escape from this is to love the truth and to abide in it.

The love of God is a defence against the activities of the enemy and the deception thereof.

2Th 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.