2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2, verses 1-12
1 He willeth them to continue steadfast in the truth received, 3 showeth that there shall be a departure from the faith, 8 and a discovery of Antichrist, before the day of the Lord comeLuke, Chapter 12, verses 48-59
41 Christ's ministers are to see to their charge, 49 and look for persecution, 54 The people must take this time of grace, 58 because it is a fearful thing to die without reconciliation12
12:49 I am come to send fire - To spread the fire of heavenly love over all the earth.
12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with - I must suffer first, before I can set up my kingdom. And how I long to fight my way through all!
12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to send peace upon earth - That universal peace will be the immediate effect of my coming?Not so, but quite the contrary. Mat 10:34.
12:52 There shall be five in one house, three against two, and two against three - There being an irreconcilable enmity between the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of the world.
12:53 The father against the son - For those who reject me will be implacable toward their very nearest relations who receive me.At this day also is this scripture fulfilled. Now likewise there is no concord between Christ and Belial.
12:54 And he said to the people also - In the preceding verses he speaks only to his disciples. From the west - In Judea, the west wind, blowing from the sea, usually brought rain: the south wind, blowing from the deserts of Arabia, occasioned sultry heat. Mat 16:2.
12:56 How do ye not discern this season - Of the Messiah's coming, distinguishable by so many surer signs.
12:57 Why even of yourselves, without any external sign, judge ye not what is right? - Why do ye not discern and acknowledge the intrinsic excellence of my doctrine?
12:58 When thou art going - As if he had said, And ye have not a moment to lose. For the executioners of God's vengeance are at hand. And when he hath once delivered you over to them, ye are undone for ever. Mat 5:25.
12:59 A mite - was about the third part of a farthing sterling.
2
2:1 Our gathering together to him - In the clouds.
2:2 Be not shaken in mind - In judgment. Or terrified - As those easily are who are immoderately fond of knowing future things. Neither by any pretended revelation from the Spirit, nor by pretence of any word spoken by me.
2:3 Unless the falling away - From the pure faith of the gospel, come first. This began even in the apostolic age.But the man of sin, the son of perdition - Eminently so called, is not come yet. However, in many respects, the Pope has an indisputable claim to those titles. He is, in an emphatical sense, the man of sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled, the son of perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers, destroyed innumerable souls, and will himself perish everlastingly. He it is that opposeth himself to the emperor, once his rightful sovereign; and that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped - Commanding angels, and putting kings under his feet, both ofwhom are called gods in scripture; claiming the highest power, the highest honour; suffering himself, not once only, to be styled God or vice - god. Indeed no less is implied in his ordinary title, "Most Holy Lord," or, "Most Holy Father." So that he sitteth - Enthroned. In the temple of God - Mentioned Rev 11:1.Declaring himself that he is God - Claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone.
2:6 And now ye know - By what I told you when I was with you. That which restraineth - The power of the Roman emperors.When this is taken away, the wicked one will be revealed.In his time - His appointed season, and not before.
2:7 He will surely be revealed; for the mystery - The deep, secret power of iniquity, just opposite to the power of godliness, already worketh. It began with the love of honour, and the desire of power; and is completed in the entire subversion of the gospel of Christ. This mystery of iniquity is not wholly confined to the Romish church, but extends itself to others also. It seems to consist of,
- Human inventions added to the written word.
- Mere outside performances put in the room of faith and love.
- Other mediators besides the man Christ Jesus.
The two last branches, together with idolatry and bloodshed, are the direct consequences of the former; namely, the adding to the word of God. Already worketh - In the church. Only he that restraineth - That is, the potentate who successively has Rome in his power. The emperors, heathen or Christian; the kings, Goths or Lombards; the Carolingian or German emperors.2:8 And then - When every prince and power that restrains is taken away. Will that wicked one - Emphatically so called, be revealed. Whom the Lord will soon consume with the spirit of his mouth - His immediate power. And destroy - With the very first appearance of his glory.
2:10 Because they received not the love of the truth - Therefore God suffered them to fall into that "strongdelusion."
2:11 Therefore God shall send them - That is, judicially permit to come upon them, strong delusion.
2:12 That they all may be condemned - That is, the consequence of which will be, that they all will be condemned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness - That is, who believed not the truth, because they loved sin.