Prophetic Study Introduction

2 Thessalonians

The Man of Sin
Setting

Written by Paul shortly after 1 Thessalonians, around 51-52 AD, also from Corinth. The Thessalonians had become unsettled by claims (perhaps a forged letter, 2:2) that the day of the Master had already come. Paul writes to settle the timeline. The day cannot come, he tells them, until certain things happen first.

Place in Redemptive History

2 Thessalonians 2 is the apostolic confirmation of Daniel 7's little horn. Paul names the man of sin, the son of perdition, who exalts himself above all that is called Elohim, sitting in the temple of Elohim, claiming to be Elohim. The Reformers identified this with the papacy. The historicist reading agrees.

Major Doctrinal Threads

Identification of the man of sin (papacy). The great apostasy (2:3). The temple of Elohim as Yahusha's body extended to the assembly (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19, John 2:19-21). The mystery of iniquity already at work in Paul's day (2:7). The restraining force (2:6-7) historically identified by the church fathers as imperial Rome, whose collapse in 476 AD opened the way for the rise of papal Rome. The Master Yahusha consuming the lawless one with the breath of his mouth at his coming (2:8).

Prophetic Content

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 is the apostolic identification of the man of sin. Paul says the day of the Master cannot come until two things happen: the falling away (apostasy) and the revelation of the man of sin. He sits in the temple of Elohim showing himself that he is Elohim. He opposes and exalts himself above all that is called Elohim or that is worshipped. The mystery of iniquity is already working (in the first century). Something restrains him. When the restrainer is taken out of the way, the lawless one is revealed. The Master will consume him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him with the brightness of his coming. Historicist reading. The restrainer is imperial Rome. The Caesars stood in the way of any rival claim to ultimate authority within the empire. When the western empire fell in 476 AD, the Bishop of Rome rose into the vacuum. By 538 AD, with Justinian's decree placing the bishop of Rome over all other bishops, papal supremacy was established. The 1260-year reign of the man of sin began (Daniel 7:25). The temple in which he sits is not a Jewish stone temple. The temple is the assembly (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19, Eph 2:21). The papacy claims the position of head of the assembly that belongs to Yahusha alone. 'Holy Father.' 'Vicar of Mashiach.' Both titles directly oppose Yahusha (Matt 23:9, John 14:16-17).

The Dispensationalist Misreading

Dispensationalism reads the man of sin as a future single-individual antichrist who will sit in a future rebuilt Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Both halves are wrong. The temple is the assembly, not stones. The man of sin is a system of office holders extending across centuries (the papacy), not one man. The dispensationalist requirement of a third stone temple in Jerusalem before the second coming is unsupported. Yahusha said the temple is his body (John 2:19-21), and Paul extended this to the assembly. There is no third stone temple required. The temple is built of living stones (1 Pet 2:5).

Key Themes

Settled timeline. Identification of the man of sin. The mystery of iniquity. The breath of Yahusha consuming the lawless. Patience and steadfastness.

Reading Frame

Read 2 Thessalonians 2 alongside Daniel 7 and Revelation 13. Same figure. Three witnesses. The papacy. The 1260 years run 538-1798. The deadly wound is healing. The end is in view.

Anchor Verses

1:7-9 (everlasting destruction = annihilation, supports hell as destruction). 2:1-4 (man of sin, son of perdition). 2:7-8 (mystery of iniquity, the lawless one revealed). 2:9-12 (lying wonders, strong delusion). 3:6 (withdraw from disorderly walking).

c. 51 AD
3 CHAPTERS

Color Legend

People & Pronouns
Kings
Prophets
Tribes
Places & Mountains
Nations
Concepts (earth, land, day...)
Numbers & Time Spans
Yahuah / Adonai
Elohim
Messiah
Divine Speech (small caps)
Elohim

The Second Epistle To The Thessalonians

Day of Yahuah Not Yet

Structure

  • 1Comfort in Persecution
  • 2Man of Sin
  • 3Work and Discipline

Themes

Comfort
CH 1
Apostasy
CH 2
Discipline
CH 3

Key People

Paul, Silas, Timothy

Key Places

Thessalonica

Prophetic Highlights

  • 2:3-4Man of sin in the temple - papal Rome
  • 2:8Lawless one consumed by the brightness of his coming

Doctrinal Flags

  • Identifies the antichrist as a system (man of sin) revealed historically
  • No pretribulational rapture - the day comes after the apostasy
Printed Panorama

The Second Epistle To The Thessalonians

4 chapters · every chapter at a glance
1Comfort in Persecution
2Man of Sin
3Work and Discipline
112vTHE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS...
217vPaul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in Elohim our...
318vNow, brothers, concerning the coming of our Master Yahusha Messiah and our gathering...
4Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of Yahuah may spread rapidly...
Translator’s Note

2 Thessalonians. The day of the Master will not come until the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, who sits in the temple of Elohim and proclaims himself to be Elohim. Historicist exegesis identifies this with the Roman papacy. The lawless one will be destroyed by the breath of his mouth.

Epistle
FromPaul, Silvanus, and Timothy
ToThe assembly of the Thessalonians in Yahuah our Father and the Master Yahusha Mashiach
FromCorinth
Datec. 52 AD
CarrierUnknown
Settling claims that the day of the Master had already come. The man of sin (the papacy) must rise first. The mystery of iniquity already at work.
EPISTLES
Comfort in Persecution
Comfort in Persecution
1
⏱~1 min read

1 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS

Man of Sin
Man of Sin
2
⏱~1 min read

The Lawless One Revealed

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in (el-oh-HEEM)Elohim our Father and the Master (yah-HOO-shah) Yahusha Messiah:

2 Grace to you and peace from Elohim our Father and the Master Yahusha Messiah.

3 We are bound to always give thanks to Elohim for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another abounds,

4 so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of Elohim for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure.

5 This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of Elohim, to the end that you may be counted worthy of Elohim’s Kingdom, for which you also suffer.

6 For it is a righteous thing with Elohim to repay affliction to those who afflict you,

7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us when the Master Yahusha is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire,

8 punishing those who don’t know Elohim, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Master Yahusha,

9 who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of (yah-HOO-ah)Yahuah and from the glory of his might,

10 when he comes in that day to be glorified in his set-apart ones and to be admired among all those who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

11 To this end we also pray always for you that our Elohim may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and work of faith with power,

12 that the name of our Master Yahusha may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our Elohim and the Master Yahusha Messiah.

Work and Discipline
Work and Discipline
3
⏱~2 min read

1 Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Master Yahusha Messiah and our gathering together to him, we ask you

2 not to be quickly shaken in your mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter as if from us, saying that the day of (meh-SHEE-ah)Messiah has already come.

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction.

4 He opposes and exalts himself against all that is called Elohim or that is worshiped, so that he sits as Elohim in the temple of Elohim, setting himself up as Elohim.

5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things?

6 Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.

7 For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.

8 Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Master will kill with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the manifestation of his coming;

9 even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 Because of this, Elohim sends them a powerful delusion, that they should believe a lie,

12 that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

13 But we are bound to always give thanks to Elohim for you, brothers loved by Yahuah, because Elohim chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth,

14 to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Master Yahusha Messiah.

15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word or by letter.

16 Now our Master Yahusha Messiah himself, and Elohim our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,

17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.

4
⏱~2 min read

[V:1] Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of Yahuah may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you, [V:2] and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith. [V:3] But Yahuah is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. [V:4] We have confidence in Yahuah concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command. [V:5] May Yahuah direct your hearts into Elohim’s love and into the perseverance of Messiah.

[V:6] Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Master Yahusha Messiah, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion and not after the tradition which they received from us. [V:7] For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you, [V:8] neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. [V:9] This was not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us. [V:10] For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.”

[V:11] For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies. [V:12] Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in Master Yahusha Messiah, that they work with quietness and eat their own bread. [V:13] But you, brothers, don’t be weary in doing what is right. [V:14] If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man and have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed. [V:15] Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

[V:16] Now may Yahuah of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. Yahuah be with you all. [V:17] I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter. This is how I write. [V:18] The grace of our Master Yahusha Messiah be with you all. Amein.