2 Thessalonians 2

Positive realism is the appropriate state of mind for the Christian, since we live in the certain hope of future blessings that have been secured for us by Christ. The truth of the coming of the Lord is so good for us, and it should be such a regular and happy meditation for us, that we are more than permitted, we are even commanded to borrow joy from the inexhaustible supplies of eternal blessedness that are reserved for us already in the heavens in Christ. Yet instead of having this positive realism, there were some within the church in Thessalonica that were alarmed and troubled when they thought about the future, and this because they had some wrong understandings about the present and the future that were troubling them.

Some thought that the Day of the Lord had already come, and that they had missed it. As our Lord Himself makes clear in the gospels, the culminating events of the present age could not possibly be missed by anyone. Many will not be ready for the coming of Jesus Christ, but no one will miss His coming. In any case, there are certain things that must take place before Christ returns in glory. In the gospels we read that the message of Christ must be preached throughout the earth, but here we learn of some other important facts.

Paul speaks of a rebellion that comes first, and of a singular figure, a man of lawlessness, a son of destruction, who will set himself up as a god to be worshipped. Where will he do this? Paul says that he will take his seat in the temple of God. This expression admits of more than one interpretation. There is a temple of God in the heavenlies, there was once an Old Testament temple of God in Jerusalem, and there is a living New Testament temple of God in the people that comprise the church of Jesus Christ. Since this event of which Paul writes is something that takes place just before the end of this age, the third interpretation is the best one for our understanding of this prophecy. In the midst of a great turning away from the truth of Christ in the world-wide church, there will come a singular figure, who sets himself up as the great leader of the church, demanding and receiving worship, and proclaiming himself to be God.

Up until that final apostasy, this lawless one is being restrained, and the message of the truth of our Lord is being proclaimed throughout the earth. But the time will come for this leading figure of evil rebellion to be more fully revealed. Even from the time when Paul was writing this letter, he could plainly state that the mystery of lawlessness was already at work. In fact heresy, hypocrisy, and immorality have been seen within the church, the temple of God on earth, from the earliest decades after the resurrection, and throughout the later centuries that have taken place, even until today. At times it has appeared that such error would entirely overwhelm the Lord’s beloved, but some measure of recovery came, as it always may, thereby showing definitively that the great day of apostasy written of here, that day of overwhelming and fatal falling away from Christ right within his church, has not yet happened.

When the lawless one does come in that final apostasy, it is Christ Himself who will defeat Him in the glory of His return. Until then, when a beleaguered saint dies, it is Jesus who rescues him from an enemy that was too strong for him. Even now, there is a sense of that final great victory whenever the weakest child of God is snatched up from the hands of some deadly defeat and brought into the courtyards of life and love by the Savior.

But on that great day that is coming, the lawless one will be utterly and final defeated by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Himself, the very breath of His mouth, and the Word that once said to a legion of demons, “Go!” Do not be deceived by false signs and wonders, no matter how impressive they may seem. Love the truth of the Word, and do not join in the chorus of the perishing who are distracted by spectacular illusions that turn out to be only wicked deceptions. Will those who refuse the plain statements of our ancient and apostolic faith actually be given a delusion in that final time by the decree of God? When God wraps up this present fading order, it is His to do with everyone as He pleases. He can send a powerful delusion to the disobedient that brings such an apostasy as this, giving a platform to some impressive lawless one. Then Christ will come in judgment, and He will renew all things for those He has rescued from death.

Until that day, or until the day when we depart this world for our heavenly home, let us live as those who know these things, and who have this kind and good gift of positive realism. We have been justified by Jesus. He made us alive. We are growing in grace and knowledge. Faith is working itself out in love. We are pressing forward toward the world that lies ahead. We believe in the truth, and we are alive to the glory of Jesus Christ. As we consider the wonder of the present heavens and the certain fulfillment of all the promises of God, God Himself comforts our hearts even in the worst imaginable distresses, and we are established by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in every good work and word.