There has never been .. and there never will be .. a more diabolical .. more deceitful ruler than the Antichrist . . . . What do you need to know about this future world leader ? .. When and how will he rise to power ? .. Find out in John MacArthur’s study .. The Man Who Would Be Christ
01 .. now we request you .. brethren .. with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him 02 .. that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us .. .........to the effect that dthe day of the Lord has come 03 .. let no one in any way deceive you .. for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first .. and the man of lawlessness is revealed .. .........the son of destruction 04 .. who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship .. so that he takes his seat in the temple of God .. .........displaying himself as being God 05 .. do you not remember that while I was still with you .. I was telling you these things
06 .. and you know what restrains him now .. so that in his time he will be revealed 07 .. for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work .. only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way 08 .. then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of his mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of his coming 09 .. that is .. the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan .. with all power and signs and false wonders 10 .. and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish .. because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved
11 .. for this reason God will send upon them deluding influence so that they will believe what is false 12 .. in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth .. but took pleasure in wickedness
13 .. but we should always give thanks to God for you .. brethren beloved by the Lord .. .........because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth 14 .. It was for this he called you through our gospel .. that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 15 .. so then .. brethren .. stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught .. whether by word of mouth or by letter from us 16 .. now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father .. who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace 17 .. comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word
The blessed hope of Christ’s coming is a doctrine with which believers are to be deeply affected that they might not be moved about with the conflicting and Satanic heresies of the last days .. when there will be general religious apostasy and denial of the program of God’s Word .. let us not be deceived by the doctrine of any man or by the trend of events .. to let loose of the hope of his imminent return . . . . v 7-8 the word “letteth” is lit. “restraineth” or “hindereth” .. the Holy Spirit is the restraining influence now in the world .. he will hinder the progress of Satan’s gospel until the coming of Christ when he .. whose present mission is the formation of the Body of Christ will be taken out of the way with the Body .. this will leave Satan unrestrained and will precipitate the Great Tribulation period