Someday, Jesus Christ will return and the world as we know it will end. We do not know the day when he will return, but Paul described in an earlier letter to the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. We will not be able to predict it, and the day will sneak up on us completely unaware.
However, at the time of the 2nd letter from Paul to the Thessalonians, apparently a powerful false teaching had arisen which said the Day of the Lord had already come. Paul had to send this letter to the people so they wouldn't be frightened that they had missed Christ's return. But it goes so much deeper into explaining why Christ hasn't returned, and a so-called "Man of Lawlessness" that would also have to come before Christ returned.
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,
10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Many people think the Man of Lawlessness is the eventual AntiChrist who will set himself up on Earth as a false living God. Others look at verse 7 and say that the secret power of lawlessness is already at work in Paul's day, and that the Catholic Church and the papacy is actually the true man of lawlessness deceiving the people and pretending to be God in God's temple. And another sect of people believe that the Man of Lawlessness isn't a man at all, but rather an ideal or political movement that will strive to replace God through deceit and power.
Personally? I have no idea who or what the Man of Lawlessness is, although I can see the fascination it holds for many. There's an allure to evil and what it might look like that captivates people. However, my takeaway from this chapter is from verse 8, that Jesus will overthrow this powerful and deceitful man with his very breath. Imagine how powerful Jesus Christ is that he can simply destroy somebody by breathing and showing his splendor? That is my savior and redeemer that I follow! He's the ultimate power in the universe and all knees will bow to him!
The message from Paul is simple yet important. Don't be fooled by false teachers and people working through displays of power, signs, and wonders. We should questions the teachings of all those who can perform so-called miracles to make sure they follow the Word of God. They are not from God if they fall in accordance with how Satan works. Look well into these teachings and expose them for the lies that they are. For you have the words of Jesus Christ written in the Holy Bible to guide you, and those words should be the ultimate filter for any teachings you hear.
If the teachings do not match what you know of the words of Jesus? Reject those teachings! Especially if they seem like a seductive way to do what your human flesh wants rather than serving your Lord and Savior.
Keep your eyes upon Jesus and you will know the truth that is incontrovertible. That he is Risen and he is Lord!
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