2 Thessalonians 2
April 8, 2022
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.” (v8)
Part of Paul’s correction of the Thessalonians’ view of the last days has to do with the role that Satan will play in those days, through the one referred to as “the man of lawlessness” (v3, 8, 9), who will:
Incite rebellion against God (v3)
Exalt himself above God (v4a)
Call himself God (v4b)
Perform counterfeit miracles (v9)
Commit evil (v10a)
Deceive unbelievers (v10c)
It’s understandable that the Thessalonians were anxious. Such a figure like the one described by Paul naturally moves us to fear - until we remember the power of our Lord and the way He will dispatch this force of evil, simply by “the breath of His mouth!” (v8).
Lord Jesus, I praise You that You are already the Victor over Satan, Sin and Death - through the cross and resurrection. I thank You, too, that I can look forward to the day of Your return, when “the splendor of Your coming” and “the breath of Your mouth” (v8) will destroy Satan and his minions forever! Until that day, help me to stay alert against the enemy’s deception and stay focused on the truth of Your Word!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
“And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.”(A Mighty Fortress - by Martin Luther)
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
