In our meditation yesterday, we examined the first of three events that Paul stated must occur before we can anticipate the catching away of the people of God (the Rapture). Paul referred to this first event as the "rebellion," which is also translated as apostasy or falling away in other English versions. Today, we want to reflect on the other two events. Here again is the critical passage that Paul wrote:
1Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don’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. 4He 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 (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; emphasis added).
The second event that Paul says must happen before the catching away of God’s people and the Day of the Lord is for the man of lawlessness (another name for the Antichrist) to be revealed (v. 3). He writes about the man of lawlessness opposing everything related to God, which we already observe in the world today. The prophet Daniel also spoke of this opposition against those who stand for God: “As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them” (Daniel 7:21). What will opposition to everything concerning God (v. 4) look like in the days ahead? We can speculate that God’s enemies will attempt to halt all Christian worship, similar to the recent outbreak of sickness. Expect it to worsen. Perhaps that's why he's called the Antichrist—he will be against everything pertaining to Christ, even exalting himself as God.
Daniel wrote that when this man, the Antichrist, comes to power, a peace treaty or covenant will be confirmed or signed regarding Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27), the city claimed by both the Jewish people and the Palestinians. His bargaining position may involve allowing the Jewish people to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem, possibly in exchange for the Palestinians having their capital city in East Jerusalem. For this reason, the Jewish people will accept this man, as they have longed for their temple to be rebuilt for many years. Of course, Satan’s plan is for the Antichrist to sit in the temple and proclaim himself as God, which is the third event (v. 4). Jesus said that this desecration, or abomination, would mark the beginning of a time of persecution or tribulation for His people (Matthew 24:15-21). The signing or confirming of a peace covenant or treaty is a sign we can observe that initiates the last seven years of Daniel's 70 weeks of years prophecy (Daniel 9:24). This prophecy refers to a seven-year period, with the Antichrist desecrating the rebuilt temple at the midpoint (Daniel 9:27). Paul warned us to be aware of these events as signs of Christ’s coming and the rapture.
The Antichrist will establish himself in God's temple, claiming to be God (v. 4). As of April 2025, there is no Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Believers must prepare to endure persecution by getting closer to Christ and meditating on His Word. When faced with the temptation to accept the Mark of the Beast and worship the Antichrist, we are to refuse and cling to the Lord Jesus, trusting that He will deliver us from Satan's wrath (Revelation 12:12 and 17). Grace will be poured out on God's people, and I believe a powerful revival will occur as people awaken to the reality of what is happening in the world, recognizing that we have been living under great deception and bondage to dark, evil spirits. The Lord will intervene for the deliverance of His people and pour out His wrath on His enemies. Pray that we may endure and be found on the right side when Christ comes. Keith Thomas.
To read the more comprehensive study, click the All Studies box at groupbiblestudy.com. Then click on the series The End Times and the study The Rapture and Day of the Lord. The video teaching of this topic is found at the following link: https://youtu.be/55VR6a8P9Bo