The Life & Teaching of Paul

2 Thessalonians 2 (Part 5)

Paul’s Eschatology: The Coming of the Lawless One

2 Thessalonians 3:1-12

Christopher W. Martin © 2019

I. Review of Pauline Prophecy & Eschatology

 Regarding the Ignorance of the Church at Thessalonica

 Regarding the Rapture (1 Thess. 4: 16-18)

 Regarding the “Day of the Lord” (1 Thess. 5:1-11)

o Old Testament Prophecy:

o New Testament Prophecy

 The Bema Seat Judgement (1 Corinthians 3: 12-15; 2 Corinthians 5:12)

 Regarding the Tribulation (1 Thess. 5)

o The Secrecy (of the Time) (5:1-2a)

o The Suddenness (of His Return) (5:2b-3)

o The Safety (for the Believer) (5:4-7)

o The Seriousness (for All) (5:7-11)

o The Church Will Escape the “Tribulation of God.” (2 Thess. 1:6-12)

 The Reason for the Tribulation (v.6)

 The Time of the Tribulation (v.7)

 The Recipients of the Tribulation (v.8)

 The Nature of the Tribulation (v. 9)

 The Results of the Tribulation (v. 9)

II. The Signs of the Lawless One (2 Thessalonians 2)

A. Sign #1: Rapture of the Church (v. 1-2)

 The 2 Returns of Jesus Christ

 False Teachers

B. Sign #2: Rejection of Truth (v.3a)

 “…the falling away…”

 apostasy

C. Sign #3: Removal of the Restrainer (v. 6a)

 The Restrainer

Genesis 6:3

Job 1

John 14:16-17

Acts 2:1-5

1 John 2:24-27

 The Significance of the Rapture

D. Sign #4: Revelation of the Antichrist (v. 3b-12)

 His name: (v.3b)

 His character (v.3b)

 His Nature

o Charismatic leader (v.4a)

Daniel 7:8

Daniel 7:25

Revelation 13:5

o Cultic Leader (v.4b)

Revelation 6:1-2

Daniel 9:26-27

o Clever Leader (v.10a)

Daniel 11:21

o Cruel Leader (v.10b)

Daniel 7:25

Revelation 13

o Counterfeit Leader (v.11-12)

E. Sign #5: Return of the Lord (v. 8)

Matthew 24: 42 & 44

Acts 1:10-11

F. Sign #6: Retribution on Evil (v.12)

Matthew 13:41

2 Peter 2:9

Revelation 19