The church was started by Jesus after the cross. And it would not take long for lawlessness to be found within the growing community.
The apostles, Paul and the other followers of Jesus would go out preaching the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus and they would find those that would perhaps preach a different gospel, etc., (lawlessness) against His church.
Lawlessness found in the NT is not something that is found in the pagan community - they were never part of the church. But lawlessness or disobedience takes place WITHIN the church - those that have accepted Jesus as their Messiah and the Word of God.
This is probably a bad example but say you are not an employee of a certain company, then you cannot be guilty of disobeying one of their laws or policies.
Jokingly- reminds me of a Seinfeld episodes where George was going to be fired for sleeping under his desk… but he responded that “he didn’t even work there.” (I think it was George or Kramer).
I don't know why some disagree that maybe Daniel 8 can be useful here? A lot of interpreters are convinced A4E is in view. But I'm, not convinced of that. And very few even want to explore it, likely based on Past Commentators brainwashing them into thinking A4E is meaning the little horn in Daniel 8. My view is that 2 Thessalonians 2:4 is involving the NT church spiritually and not a literal brick and mortar temple. And I basically see Daniel 8 in regard to the little horn, being applied in the same manner.
But a lot of interpreters insist Daniel 8 involving the little horn must be taken literal because it is pertaining to what A4E did in in 167 BC. Except in my case I'm not influenced by what past Commentators have concluded. That doesn't mean past Commentators can't be correct sometimes. But it also doesn't mean they are never wrong.
For example.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first(when the transgressors are come to the full Dan 8:23), and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 (a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up Dan 8:23)Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2 Thessalonians 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( he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand Dan 8:25)
Daniel 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
When I first got on the internet and started posting on forums, I was mainly looking for folks to share ideas with. But all anyone wants to do instead is argue about everything. And no one ever changes their mind. No one ever convinces the person they think is misinterpreting something, that they are doing that. I'm including myself here except initially I wasn't looking for it to be like this. I just wanted to share ideas and work together with someone to see what we could come up with, since 2 heads are generally better than one. For example, what I just submitted from Daniel 8 and 2 Thessalonians 2. Hard to figure these things out soley on your own. But a lot of interpreters are convinced A4E fulfilled the little horn in Daniel 8, therefore, nothing to see here, nothing to explore further, a wild goose chase then.
