Author: Michele at ScriptureStudy.Guide
Posted: September 20, 2022. Updated January 12, 2023.
The book of Second Thessalonians was written by Paul in the early 50’s AD. This study will cover chapter 2 which you can read on Bible Gateway here.
2 Thessalonians 2 is translated to read as if Paul is giving a warning about the second coming of Jesus that will come after a “restrainer” figure is taken away, causing the Antichrist to appear, but that is not at all what is happening in this chapter.
Paul is warning the Thessalonians of the apostasy that is within their church, and of the coming son of perdition that will rise up from within their church. He also assures the redeemed that they will not suffer the wrath that is coming on the church because Jesus Christ’s kingdom is here within them.
Verses 1 & 2
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
Paul explains in 2 Thessalonians 2:2 that the people should not be troubled from what he is about to tell them because the day of Christ is at hand. That phrase “at hand” is ACTIVE tense and also means “present” defined as “time now passing.” The proper translation would have been “is here” or “is present.” Note: The phrase “at hand” here in 2 Thessalonians 2:2 (G1764) is not the same Strong’s word as what is in Matthew 4:17 & 10:7 “at hand” (G1448).
The “day” of Christ being present is everyday since the cross as the church age is ONE Sabbath (details in this article, section titled “The Church Age is ONE Sabbath“).
Paul is only declaring that the kingdom of Christ is present within them…. he is not speaking of a future coming of Christ here, but of the present spiritual kingdom where Christ is reigning as King inside each individual saint.
Verse 3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for (that day shall not come), except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Paul tells the Thessalonians in verse 3 that they will not be deceived if they heed what he is about to tell them. He warns that there will first come a falling away (this is apostasy/lawlessness among their church), then “that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” The Greek word for “then” here is poorly translated into English as “and.” Paul is proclaiming that they will experience apostasy of the church — false teachers spreading a false gospel — but the son of perdition is to come later.
In the KJV, the translators added the phrase “that day shall not come” to verse 3. This phrase is italicized because it is not in the original Greek. Paul is NOT warning the church of Thessalonica about the second coming of the Lord — he is warning them of a false Christianity that is moving in their church, but they should not worry because they are in Christ, even if every other member of the church is not in Christ.
Paul is explaining that each church member is now judged and reprimanded by God on an individual basis and no longer as a collective group as it was in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant.
The Falling Away
Jesus’ second coming was in late-66 to early-70 AD. It was His 42-month wrath on those who pierced Him (Revelation 1:7 — details here). The falling away of the church occurred before Jesus returned. This marked the END of participation in man-made religious rituals for God’s true ekklesia.
Since the falling away in the 1st century, man-made religious denominations have grown to over 40,000 in number and all have turned into Babylon. The most notable occurred in the 4th century when Roman Emperor Constantine and the Roman Bishops (many of whom were Jews) created Roman Catholic Christianity…. that was the beginning of the creation of other man-made religious denominations. The synagogue of Satan Jews played a huge part in creating Catholicism (see this study and this article).
They created the pagan holidays of Easter/Ishtar and Christ-mass to replace God’s holy feast days (details here: Easter and Christmas).
They implemented a sun-based calendar to replace God’s Lunisolar Calendar on which the true Sabbath days and the holy feast days are based (details here).
God is calling all Evangelical Protestants and everyone who is observing these pagan Roman days to “come out of Babylon”…. come out of the teachings of the Jewish/Zionist-Roman harlot (Revelation 18:4).
Verses 4 & 5
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. 5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2 Thessalonians 2:4-5
Verse 2:4 gives us attributes of the man of sin:
- Exalts himself above all that is called God
- Exalts himself to be worshipped
- He sits as God in the temple of God showing himself as God
I have always had a problem with this verse saying that the antichrist sits in the “temple of God” because the physical bodies of the elect are God’s temple in this church age (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 & 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 2:16). God is no longer in buildings made with hands (Acts 7:48, 17:24). So I finally took the time and looked at this verse in the Greek and it’s clear to me now. Verse 4 actually reads:
“He opposes and raises himself over all laid forth by God or worshipped, so too he’s into (entered/reached) the dwelling of God to sit down and shew himself that he is God.”
Spiritual application: In the Greek, we can see that the man of sin has entered the SPIRITUAL dwelling of God which is the hearts and minds of men where God writes His laws.
Physical application: The man of sin is sitting in the 2nd temple and declaring himself to be God. Of course, history (his story) is written by the victors, so it is not documented what individual would have done this, but I would think it was the president of the Great Sanhedrin — that title was called Nasi which means “prince.” He was a rabbi AND head judge, so was seated on a throne and had turned the 2nd temple into a judges chambers (their council of 71 met 6 days a week — details here).
The Sanhedrin denied Jesus Christ and was teaching a false Christianity — a future coming Messiah — that was being accepted by the deceived masses and caused them all to receive the spiritual mark of the beast (details here).
In 2017, a Jewish rabbi announced that “Jesus the Messiah would be returning in 2022” (source here). I also watched a recent video in December 2022 of a rabbi announcing “Jesus will be returning soon,” and will link it here when I find it again. Their Society of Jesus, the Jesuits who were founded by Jews, do NOT worship OUR Jesus — their Jesus is Lucifer the light-bearer, a false god and a deceiver. But by saying the name “Jesus,” all nominal Christians will get on-board with the literal modern-day synagogue of Satan and be damned right along with them. Our Jesus’ second coming was from 66-70 AD and Father God will return in wrath in the future (details here).
Verse 6
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2 Thessalonians 2:6
Verse 2:6 is where Paul is explaining that the man of sin is held down until it is time for him to be revealed. The translated phrase “what withholdeth” in the KJV actually reads “[he’s] held down” in the original Greek (“he” being implied here because of the second “he” in the verse).
Verse 6 reads:
“And now ye know that he’s held down that he might be revealed in his time.” Verse 8 tells us that “his time” is right before the second coming of Jesus Christ in 66 AD.
Verse 7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (will let), until he be taken out of the way.
2 Thessalonians 2:7
Verse 2:7, Paul is explaining that the mystery of lawlessness/unrighteousness is ALREADY AT WORK in the church of the Thessalonians. So false teachers preaching false doctrines were already present in the church in 50 AD.
In the original Greek, 2 Thessalonians 2:7 reads as follows:
“For the mystery of lawlessness/unrighteousness is already at work, but held down until he’s come into being from the midst” (or from “among” their church).
In the KJV translation, 2 Thessalonians 2:7b reads:
“…..only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” This is nothing at all like the Greek text.
The correct interpretation in the Greek is “…..but held down until he’s come into being from the midst.”
Paul is explaining that the man of sin, the son of perdition, will be coming from within their church. He is not talking about a restrainer being “taken out of the way.” Rather, he is explaining that God is holding down the lawless one until God’s appointed time for him to appear within the church.
Interestingly, the Thessalonica of 50 AD is still in the same place today. You can see it’s location by searching for “Thessaloniki, Greece” on Google Maps. That location was a Roman den of pagans in Paul’s day, and was formerly ancient Greece where the dispersed 10 Northern Tribes of Israel lived from 721 BC and onward (the Jews married and had children with the Greecians for hundreds of years – the full study is here).
Who is this Restrainer?
The word “restrainer” is not found anywhere in the bible. It is just a reference given to whatever is behind the action of “held down,” which is God’s power and sovereign will.
Studying history can explain a great deal of biblical prophecy; however, the victors write the his-story. If there was a certain individual who was preventing the Sanhedrin prince from unleashing tyranny on the people, we do not have record of that. We do know the Jews rebelled against Rome and Jesus came in the clouds and empowered the Roman Army to completely desolate the Jews for 42 months.
All was God’s will… He restrained the Sanhedrin prince until it was time for Jesus’ wrath on those who pierced Him (Revelation 1:7).
Verse 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:
2 Thessalonians 2:8
The Lord Jesus Christ returned in late-66 to early-70 AD and took out His 42-month wrath on those who pierced Him.
The Wicked were the synagogue of Satan Jews that Jesus warned the churches about in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 (Revelation was written prior to 66 AD – details here). They would have revealed their wickedness at the time they rebelled against Rome.
Verse 9
(Even him,) whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2 Thessalonians 2:9
“Even him” is not in the original text. It is speaking of the Wicked being revealed which is the Sanhedrin group — we see this in the next verse with the pronoun “them” being used.
Verse 9 is explaining that “the Wicked” coming is after the working of Satan. This is the synagogue of Satan Jews, the Sanhedrin, unleashing tyranny on God’s people and the Romans.
The phrase “all power and signs and lying wonders” mirrors 2 other verses in the Bible which are speaking of the 70 AD destruction of the Sanhedrin government, their 2nd temple, and their city Jerusalem and the surrounding lands.
In Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22, Jesus explains that there will arise false Christs and false prophets that will show great signs and wonders. In those two passages, He is speaking specifically of the 70 AD Jerusalem temple destruction by the Romans in these accounts (details here).
So we know for certain that the man of sin, the son of perdition, is the same as the little horn in Daniel, and appeared before 66 AD — he was JEWISH.
Verse 10
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:10
Verse 10 says those who received not the truth will perish. This applies to the apostate Jewish rabbis (the gospel went out first to them), and also to the pagan Romans who received not the gospel from Paul and the church. It was a very bloody 42 months — the time of great tribulation like this world had never seen and never will see again (Matthew 24:21).
God’s elect were warned that when they saw the abomination of desolation appearing where it ought not, the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem, that they were to flee to the mountains. Every single one of God’s elect did as they were told and were not harmed. The ekklesia is never appointed to God’s wrath and are always saved.
Verses 11 & 12
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:11
This verse says that God sent them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie so that they might be damned for not believing the truth and taking pleasure in unrighteousness. This also applies to both the apostate Jews and the pagan Gentiles. There is no longer Jew nor Greek after the cross, and Paul is writing this in 50 AD. All those who love unrighteousness will believe a lie and be damned.
Verses 13-17
Paul closes this chapter with encouragement to those whom the Lord has called out from before the foundation of the world, to be receivers of the gospel, of salvation, and of sanctification of the Spirit.
13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given (us) everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
In Summary
The falling away occurred and the man of sin was revealed by 66 AD.
The man of sin, the son of perdition, and the little horn are all the same office (see The Little Horn & the Clay are Jewish). They are not the Beast in Revelation 13 and 17 because the Beast is an entire world ruling empire (Daniel 7).
The restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2 was God’s sovereign will which held back the Sanhedrin prince until the time for Jesus’ second coming.
There is no holding down (“restrainer”) of the man of sin any longer because God had him show himself in late-66 AD. The Jesuit’s false doctrine of Futurism teaches that we are still waiting on a “restrainer” to stop restraining — that is deception from Satan himself.
In Closing
The Revelation Sea Beast has evolved over time, and it was a Jewish beast when it first formed in Paul’s day. See Antichrist Beasts in Revelation Includes the 7 Churches for details.
The Jesuit black and white Popes are actively carrying out their Zionist apostate Jewry NWO plan to bring the entire world under Communism (their entire process is explained within this article).
But as Paul pointed out, we are currently in the spiritual kingdom of God through Christ Jesus and need not worry — all is in God’s perfect will and He loves His children. Under the New Covenant of grace, we are now judged as individual souls and not with the collective.
For help in studying your bible in the original Hebrew and Greek, a how-to is here. God bless!
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