Be Not Deceived

 

DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS

BE NOT DECEIVED

 

2 Thess 2:1-4

2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 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.

NIV

Having considered why we should not get alarmed or unsettled by all these false prophecies and teachers claiming Jesus is coming on this or that certain date, or that the day of the Lord has already happened some years ago, we now should examine what Paul said about the man of lawlessness. It is interesting how this translation puts it, as in the Greek it refers to the rebellion as a time of great falling away. This gives a better understanding that at some point in time many Christians will leave the church, leave their commitment to Christ and go their own way, back into a life set on pleasing self rather than God. It is not clear here as to when this will happen, and if we will still be alive to see it. Paul wants to make sure the Thessalonians, and we could include us, are not deceived in any way. There have been various groups in our lifetime who have gathered to wait for the return of Jesus, and some who have committed mass suicide, thinking that is the way they will rise to meet him, or whatever. There are plenty of deceptions to go around, that some who are weak in their faith fall prey to. But we know that Jesus will come when the Father says it is time. However, in the meantime at some point in time, which again no one knows a great falling away will occur, and this man of lawlessness, this man of sin, who could be some world leader, or Satan himself appearing as a man, a great world leader, who opposes faith in God, and declares himself to be the way, to be the supreme being, sitting in a temple showing the world that he is God. It would seem that the temple in Jerusalem would have to be rebuilt first unless these words are a metaphor for some other place of God. Certainly, these present-day silver-tongued deceivers that draw thousands to themselves, could be somewhat like a great falling away from the truth. But none of them have called themselves, or claim to be, God. Still, the world stage is getting closer and closer to a time this man of lawlessness could be revealed. The world is getting more and more chaotic and set against all that is holy and righteous. Sin is no longer called sin, and sinful behavior is applauded as it is considered our human right to fulfill every desire. This man of lawlessness may not have revealed himself yet, but it sure seems as though he is exerting his influence over many people right now. What we know is that we will stand our ground, we will put in the full armor of God so that we can take our stand and stand firm, holding on to the truth of God, and waiting for that day when the last trumpet calls and the Son of God will appear in the sky, and call us to rise up to meet him in the air. Until that day occurs, whether we are still alive or we have fallen asleep, we will remain in Christ, and we will close off our ears, our hearts, our spirit to any of these purveyors of falsehoods. We will stand firm in Christ. We will not be deceived as we know the truth.