2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 Breakdown

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

Paul now transitions into a very seriously debated issue, even to this day. He is talking about the coming together of all believers to Yeshua, also known as the “rapture”. He tells them not to be worried in their thoughts because that day, the second coming, had not yet come. There was a group of people going from city to city making the claim Christ had already come and these believers had been “left behind."

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Paul repeats a phrase Yeshua uttered several times in “do not be deceived”. Christ will not return until after a list of things have taken place.

1.       The falling away from scripture and God must take place. In the two thousand years since Christ's death and resurrection, there has been a closeness to YHWH across the world for the most part, but specifically across the western world. It hasnt been until the last 50 years or so that the falling away has begun and very recently it has become very obvious. It seems as of late, blatant disregard for all aspects of YHWH's Word. We can quite literally see things the YHWH called good being called bad and things YHWH called bad, being called good. Praise is given to things that not that long ago were considered an outright sin. This falling away is just the beginning and I anticipate it getting much worse before it gets better. 

2.       The man of lawlessness is revealed (the antichrist is known). I do not believe we have seen who this man is just yet. There are a few candidates, but I am not sold on any of them yet. I believe we wont know until things get so incredibly bad, unlike anything we have ever endured before (we are well on our way now).

3.       The AC sits in the temple of God pretending to be God

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

Paul says he has already told the Thessalonians about these things. I am speculating here, but I imagine Paul was able to go into much more detail about all these things. If we are to pull from the Old Testament prophecies, as Paul did, we can put together a colorful and clear picture of what to expect in the AC. 

6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.

The Thessalonians already know what is restraining the antichrist, and the antichrist will be revealed when he is destined to be revealed.

7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.

There is a mystery of lawlessness and it has been at play since before Paul wrote this letter. The restrainer will continue to do so until someone or something removes him.

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

The Antichrist will not be revealed until the restrainer is removed. YHWH will completely destroy the Antichrist with fire at the second coming.

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

The Antichrist is coming to do the works of Satan. He will come bearing power, signs, and deceiving miracles. This will be done with unrighteous deception in front of those who will perish due to their lack of belief in the truth of scripture or lack of knowing God.

11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Because they choose to not have belief, they will be sent a strong mental straying from the truth that they will believe as truth. This will cause them to be condemned, all who took pleasure in the unrighteous lie. Satan will put forth the delusion and will be carried out even further by the Antichrist.  

13 But we are under obligation to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through being set apart by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The apostles, however, are under obligation to continue to give thanks to God for the Thessalonians, even if they fall victim to some lies. Paul says YHWH chose the Thessalonians for salvation because they are being set apart from the world by the spirit and belief in truth. To be set apart is very interesting terminology as well. It means to be different, and if they are being set apart from the rest of the world, and we know the rest of the world hates God’s Law, and we know God wants us to keep His law, they are becoming set apart by their continued keeping of His Law.  

15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

Paul calls on the Thessalonians to continue to hold on to the traditions the apostles taught them, and conversely throw out or rid themselves of the traditions of men. YHWH gave us His Torah as instructions on how he wants us to live.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and work.

Paul requests Yeshua and YHWH the Father comfort the Thessalonians and strengthen them in all good word and works.