Hope in Lawless Times

Hope in Lawless Times
2 Thessalonians 2:1-13
March 22, 2026

Tonight, we continue in the 2nd letter that Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church. This is a fascinating letter, encouraging them, especially concerning the end of time.

We must remember that God has already declared how the end will play out.

Isaiah 46:9, Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;

This is one of the evidences God Himself gave to prove that He is, proclaiming events that were going to happen hundreds of years before it happens, proving He is real, He is God, and He stands outside of time and space.

With that kind of a track-record looking to the past prophecies fulfilled, we can confidently look towards what God has said about the end times and know that His word is true.

As a quick recap, in the first chapter, Paul encourages them that they have not missed the rapture and they are not experiencing the great tribulation, although they are going through persecution.

Now, in the second chapter, he lays out a timeline for them, specifically reminding them of what he taught them when he was with them in person concerning the events of the end-time.

Paul reminded them in the first letter that Christ will return when it is least expected. To many, it has become like an old folk tale, but Paul gives a description of the end times that we see signs of playing out in the times we live in.

This is why it is so relevant to us. We will see that there will be a great deception as we come to the end of the dispensation of grace, the time that started with the birth of the church, which will end with the rapture of the church.

In this second chapter, he specifically addresses the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist. Paul gives more detail regarding the Antichrist than in any other place in the Bible. Here, Paul helps us understand what will be happening on the earth when the Antichrist arrives on the scene.

Many will be deceived, and it is important for us to know the truth and be informed so we can discern the signs of the times and not be deceived, but also have a sure hope because God is showing through all this that He is in control.

I. Apostasy Must Come First

• Paul specifically urges them, in regard to the coming of the Lord and their gathering to Him (rapture), that they should not be disturbed by the letter or message that the day of the Lord has already come.
• He says it has not yet happened, since they are not yet in the Great Tribulation, because there are few things that will happen before the day of the Lord will come.
• The phrase ‘the day of the Lord’, is not pointing to the rapture, but the wrath of God, when God reveals His power and majesty.
• So, he gives them a timeline, saying that apostasy will take place (v3), the restrainer will be removed (v7) , and then the Antichrist will be revealed (V8), whereafter the Day of the Lord, or the wrath of God will be poured out.

A. There will be a falling away

• Verse 3 – The Day of the Lord will not come unless the apostasy comes first, Paul wrote.
• Apostasy is the falling away and abandonment of religious belief. Deliberate rebellion against God.
• We see the spirit of apostasy at work already, in the same way that we see the spirit of the Antichrist at work already, although the person of the Antichrist has not been revealed yet.

1 Timothy 4:1, The Spirit explicitly says that in latter times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.

• In Matthew 24 Jesus said that the gospel will be preached in the whole world and then the end shall come.

Matthew 24:12-14, “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.”

B. It will be a witness for and against

• Some might assume that means there will be a great revival before the end of the age, which might be true.
• But Jesus said that the gospel would be preached in the whole world for a witness, not just to all the nations, but also against all the nations.
• The gospel was also given to Israel when God sent His Son as a witness to them, but it also became a witness against God’s heart was that they would repent with the revelation, but if they didn’t it would count as evidence against them.

Luke 19:41-44, Jesus saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace!… For the days will come upon you when your enemies will surround you and hem you in on every side… and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

• In other words, yes, the gospel will be preached in the whole world, but there will also be a great apostasy, a great falling away.
• Have you noticed the growing trend to mock the church and to mock God? Is the world growing closer to God or farther away from God?
• Not only that, but there is a great falling away of what is seen as “Christians”, many ‘organizations’ showing their true colors which do not align at all with biblical truth. It has become social gatherings whose beliefs are dictated democratically by the majority instead of being subjected to the authority and direction of the word.
• It is important to note that, since the spirit of falling away is at work already, there is nothing that still has to happen before the rapture can take place. It is imminent.
• In fact, it becomes the catalyst for the rest of the end time events to kick off. We don’t know the time, hour or the date, but we know that it is only God’s grace, and longsuffering mercy that delays it.

2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

• Our response should be the same as it was in the church at Thessalonica, to grow stronger in faith and to persevere through difficulty and affliction, being grounded in the word.

II. The Antichrist Will be Revealed

• Jesus said that the timing of latter-day events is fixed by the authority of His Father.
• But there are several strong influences that Paul says will be in the world as we see the end of the age drawing near.
• Verse 7 – Don’t misunderstand, the mystery of lawlessness is already at work…
• Satan is called the prince and the power of the air and is certainly influencing this world for evil today.

Illus – At the beginning of the ministry of Jesus when he had just completed a 40 day fast and was being tempted by the enemy, Satan took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world…

Luke 4:6, The devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.”

• He has authority over this world which Adam relinquished to him with the fall in sin.
• He has power and authority, but it is not boundless. There is a restraint on his activities.

A. The Antichrist will be restrained until his time

• Verse 6-7 – he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way, Paul wrote.
• The Antichrist is restrained by the Holy Spirit. God is sovereign over the time of the last days. These things have been fixed by His authority.
• The Antichrist is the first horse of the 4 horses of the Apocalypse and cannot be released until the first seal of the scroll in the hand of God Almighty is broken by the Lamb of God – Jesus Himself.
• Why would the Antichrist be held back? So that the fullness of the Gentiles can come into the church, that God appointed number and time which He knows signifies the fullness of the gentiles.

Romans 11:25, I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery – so that you will not be wise in your own estimation – that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

• At some point, however, he who restrains is taken out of the way and the man of lawlessness is revealed.
• Thie Spirit of God is the restrainer. Alos, wee are now the vessels of the Holy Spirit on earth. So, the Spirit in us is restraining the revealing of the Antichrist.
• Even in this worldly system, the basic rule of law is built on the moral and directional laws of the Bible. Those who still fear God are the ones still upholding, fighting for, and supporting the laws to keep society in check.
• Connected to that, the influence of the true church restrains the revealing of the Antichrist.

Illus – It is like light shining in darkness. Darkness cannot overwhelm it, no matter how strong darkness is. Can you imagine what it will be like if all restraint of evil is removed on this earth; when all the light is taken away?

• One of the ways the Spirit restrains is through spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 6:11-12, Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

• But when the church is removed at the rapture, that spiritual warfare is also removed.
• When he who restrains is taken out of the way, the deluding influence of the Antichrist will have free reign because they (who stay behind) did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
• We, as the church and bride of Christ, need to be removed for the Antichrist to be revealed. The world will return to the same state in correlation to God in which it was before the Spirit of God was poured out on the church.
• God’s Spirit is omnipresent, and as such He will still be here, but as an external influence. Unfortunately, the hearts of most people will have been hardened.

Illus- God showed His magnificence and glory with the plagues of Egypt, but people kept hardening their hearts. The same will be true in the end-times.

B. The Antichrist will deceive many

• Verse 9-12 – He will deceive those who did not receive the love of truth so as to be saved. God will send a deluding influence on them so they will believe what was false so that they may all be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
• This is a frightening thought. Do not think that when the rapture happens, many will see the sign, with great shock and remorse and come to faith. There will be a great deception.

Illus – One deception that might play out is the alien abduction theory.

• We are now in the dispensation of grace where the Spirit of God is pursuing and pleading, but those who love wickedness and continually chooses against Christ, will most probably continue to actively rebel against God.
• Verse 9 – Satan is a liar and the father of lies and so the Antichrist is coming in accordance with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders. He is the pseudo (fake) Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:14, Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore, it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

• The Antichrist not come as an openly evil one. He will convince the world that he is there to solve their problems. He will be highly regarded and respected. He will even be able to bring peace to the Middle East.
• Scriptural prophecy also suggests that he will negotiate for Israel to have their Temple built next to the Dome of the Rock with a wall separating them.

Ezekiel 42:20, He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, the length five hundred and the width five hundred, to divide between the holy and the profane.

• Not only will he perform false signs and false wonders, but he will even receive a mortal wound and will ‘miraculously’ recover.

Revelation 13:3-4, “I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast… and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”

• The Antichrist will make a covenant of peace between the nations of the world and Israel, but 3 ½ years after the signing of that agreement, he will betray Israel by taking over the Temple for himself, displaying himself as being above any other so-called god or image. (verse 4)
• He will then actively persecute the Jewish people and those standing for God. At the same time the wrath of God will continue to be poured out.
• Climatically, all hell breaks loose as the nations of the world come against Israel in the great battle of Armageddon at Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley.
• Israel has a reputation for defeating enemies of much larger forces, but this battle will be of staggering proportions.
• This war will be different. Christ will return in power and will save the nation of Israel in that great battle of Armageddon.

Zechariah 14:2-5, 9- “I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured… Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on the day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east… Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him!… And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.”

C. Wait in confidence in Christ

• When you see the world dramatically changing, knowing what we know, it’s easy to become disturbed and fearful.
• But we are not to be overtaken by fear, God wants us to live in the confidence that He is sovereign over the nations and over the times and ages and that our King is our great champion.

2 Timothy 1:7, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Matthew 24:6, “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see to it that you are not frightened…”

Psalm 27:1, The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?

• Then also, don’t stop living! Remember, at the end of the first letter, which we dealt with a few weeks ago, and repeated at the end of this letter, after all this revelation of what is to come, Paul encouraged them not to stop living. Be actively waiting. Keep working, lead a disciplined life, stay steadfast in Christ, do not grow weary in doing good.
• This great powerful God we serve has already declared the end from the beginning. He is able to also keep us. Don’t let your heart be troubled. Trust in God.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, 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, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.