The Lawless One

[Truth OT]

In 2 Thessalonians 2, we have a discussion pertaining to "the man of sin." Who do you believe is being talked about in that passage? Who this "Lawless One" is or was is debatable. Many think it is an endtime antichrist while others claim it was a 1st century figure like Nero or Titus, and still others stand by the idea that it represents the Papacy. Another option that is not discussed is the idea that this individual is not an individual but is the personification of 1st century Judaizers that had formerly believed and later began attempting to corrupt the saints by speaking against Jesus being the Christ and exalting their religion and the Temple that was its religious centerpiece.

 

[Truth OT]

2 Thessalonians 1:4-2:12 would appear to be able to be summarized as follows:

In the above text Paul begins by championing the endurance and faith the Thessalonians exhibited through their persecutions. He tells them that God would repay the ones persecuting them and at the same time would provide the Thessalonians saints with relief. This would all happen when Jesus was to be revealed in glory taking vengeance on those that aren't obeying the gospel of Christ.
In chp 2 Paul then clarifies some things about the appearance of Jesus discussed in chp 1. He tells the Thessalonians that there are some signs to look for before this appearance occurs. He told them there would be a great turning away from the faith and that the man of sin/lawless one would be revealed first. This Man of Sin was said to be one that would seat himself in the holy place of God and claim the status of a god for himself. This "Lawless One" is said to be holding back the revealing of Jesus and is said to have been already mysteriously at work holding everything back at the time of Paul's writing. This "Lawless One" according to verse 7, was in the midst of the brethren but apparently hidden or working in secret at opposing the truth of the gospel. Once this "Lawless One" was no longer in the midst of the brethren, it appears that that would clear the way for Jesus to be revealed and Jesus would arrive at the revelation of the "Lawless One" to do away with him and bring him to nothing. This entity is said to have been empowered not by God but instead by the Satan to apparently stand against the gospel and deceive the elect.