So, when does all this insanity end? If we are indeed approaching the day of the Lord, it doesn’t.
It only gets worse.
When Paul was instructing the believers in Thessalonica about the coming of Jesus, he encouraged them “not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed” (2 Thessalonians 2:2),1 because He would not return until certain events transpired.
First, the rebellion must come.
“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4).
Rebellion against what or whom? Countless rebellions have happened across the earth since Paul wrote these words. The word translated “rebellion” here is the Greek word “apostasía.” The Lexham Theological Wordbook supplies this meaning:
“The Greek word apostasia is the source of the English word ‘apostasy.’ It is used only twice in the NT. Acts 21:21 reports a rumor that Paul is teaching Jews to abandon (apostasia) the teachings of Moses. Second Thessalonians 2:3 foretells a great ‘falling away’ or ‘rebellion’ (apostasia) from the Christian faith before the day of Christ.”2
People will fall away from God or rebel against Him and His laws. Does this seem to be happening? It would be easier to pinpoint the places where it is not. It is clear to me that the Western world is rebelling against God and has been for some time. However, it has accelerated recently with shocking speed.
That the world is falling away from the Lord makes sense because Paul wrote that the next thing to happen after that rebellion will be the revealing of the man of lawlessness. The Greek word “lawlessness” is anomia. This is the meaning according to Zodhiates’ word study dictionary.
“In most cases in the NT it means not the absence of the Law, but the violation of Law, i.e., transgression or lawlessness. In the NT, it places stress, not in a subjective law that we ourselves create for our convenience, but chiefly in a divinely instituted Law.”3
What better time could there be for a man who lives in and promotes lawlessness to appear when the world is rejecting God and His laws? It would be eager to accept such a man.
Only one more event remains. The one who restrains lawlessness must be taken out of the way.
“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8).
Since rebellion against God has spread so thoroughly and rapidly, it seems we can only conclude that the restraining hand of God is being removed preparing the way for this evil man.
Who is he? In the Book of Revelation he is called the beast, and he will exercise great authority.
“Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name” (Revelation 13:16–17).
There are dark days ahead. Difficult days. However, Jesus remains on the throne.
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” (Matthew 28:18).
His all-encompassing authority has never wavered. He is still the Sovereign God and always will be.
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15b).
In this we have hope, regardless how far the world sinks into insane sin and rebellion. Thank You, Lord, for Your love and care for us. Please sustain and comfort us through the dark days to come.
1All Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2016). Crossway Bibles.
2Jones, M. R. (2014). Apostasy. In D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Lexham Press.
3Zodhiates, S. (2000). In The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). AMG Publishers.
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