2 Thessalonians 2:8 Question

[Guest]

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.

I question many of the futurist interpretations of end time events related to antichrist (i.e. the necessity of a rebuilt temple, the necessity of a singular antichrist figure). However, since Jesus has not come again (I am not a full preterist), there will be a world socio-political scenario in place when He comes, even if it is not clearly revealed in Scripture.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 seems to point to the overthrow of a "lawless one" at Christ's (second) coming. Does this or does this not point to some type of future "antichrist" figure?

[Guest]

2 Thessalonians 2:8 seems to point to the overthrow of a "lawless one" at Christ's (second) coming. Does this or does this not point to some type of future "antichrist" figure?

I don't believe it does, and I'm not a full preterist either. I associate the lawless one with the little horn of Daniel 7 and 8 because of the similar descriptions. The man of sin was being restrained in Paul's day, but by what? Dispensationalists say the church is holding him back and once the church is removed, this individual will be revealed.

I'm with the Reformers on this one because they make the best arguments. The man of sin is most likely referring to the Roman Catholic papacy. It came about after the Roman Empire was removed, lasted as a power for 1260 years, persecuted the church, claimed to speak for God thus blaspheming, claims seemingly demonic signs and wonders, etc. If this isn't referring to the Papcy then it's an interesting coincidence.

[Guest]

Thank you for your response. I agree that the little horn (growing out of Rome) does pertain to the papacy. My question is the seeming correlation of the overthrow of the "lawless one" with the Second Coming of Christ. I don't know that the papacy (though still active today) bears the same weight today (or when Christ returns) to what it did prior to the Reformation.

[Guest]

Thank you for your response. I agree that the little horn (growing out of Rome) does pertain to the papacy. My question is the seeming correlation of the overthrow of the "lawless one" with the Second Coming of Christ. I don't know that the papacy (though still active today) bears the same weight today (or when Christ returns) to what it did prior to the Reformation


I agree the Papacy probably was the man of sin but IMO the beast in Rev 17 is Islam or at least radical Islam. That same 1,260 year period fits the Dome of the Rock and Israel.

[Guest]

2 Thessalonians 2:8 seems to point to the overthrow of a "lawless one" at Christ's (second) coming. Does this or does this not point to some type of future "antichrist" figure?

2 Thess 1 is clearly speaking of 1st century events, and you can't seperate Chapter 2 from Chapter 1. That being said...

My thoughts are that what is being spoken of here is one in the same with the spirit of antichrist that is spoken of by the apostle John. The spirit of antichrist in contrast to the Spirit of Christ.

The Body of Christ = Christians = Those who embraced Jesus in the flesh.

The body of antichrist = enemies of the gospel = Those that rejected Jesus come in the flesh. See 1 John 4:3

The spirit of antichrist inhabits those not "in Christ" who are enemies of the gospel that wars against the Sprit of Christ that inhabits those who are "In Christ."

I don't by any means believe that it is speaking of a battle of flesh and blood but one of principalities and powers of the air. Which manifests itself in what we like to call spiritual warfare including up to martyrdom.

And I don't think that it is talking about something that is future to us but the completion of what Paul was talking about in Chapter 1 of 2 Thess. Which was manifested in the fall of Jerusalem.