Scripture:
2 Thessalonians 2:3-7
Fri, 30 September 2022

Invisible Coming of the Antichrist

Observation:

What is the relationship between “the man of lawlessness” and “the mystery of lawlessness”?

Deeper Reflection
WHILE “THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS” IS RESTRAINED FROM appearing, “the mystery of lawlessness is already at work” (v.7). “The man of lawlessness” and “the mystery of lawlessness” have one thing in common: “lawlessness.” In the Bible, a “mystery” is something that God has hidden but reveals at the right time (cf. Eph 3:4-5). The “man of lawlessness” will appear in “full force and openly to all eyes”50 as the final antichrist as prophesied in Daniel 11:21-45. But this prophecy is to be fulfilled “in an unexpected manner” – unknown in the Daniel 11 prophecy – and hence, a “mystery”51. Paul has insight into this “mystery”: “Paul sees that, though this fiend has not yet come so visibly as he will at the final end of history, he is already at work in the covenant community.”52 “The mystery of lawlessness” is the “unusual invisible coming”53 of “the man of lawlessness”. Behind the visible “mystery of lawlessness” is the invisible “man of lawlessness”.“Lawlessness” is violation of the Law of God – the Ten Commandments, as well as civil law, for governments are “established by God” (Rom 13:1-4). But still, injustice prevails insidiously in the justice department of certain nations. Jesus has predicted that in the last days, “lawlessness is increased, and most people’s love will grow cold” – in how human beings are increasingly being treated unkindly and unjustly (Matt 24:12). In the context of Paul’s warning, “Do not be deceived” (v.3), the “lawlessness” refers to the activity of the antichrist through “his deceivers, the false teachers”54. The aim and effect of this “lawlessness” is “the apostasy” (v.3).
50 G. K. Beale, 218 51 G. K. Beale, 218 52 G. K. Beale, 218-19 53 G. K. Beale, 219 54 G. K. Beale, 219
Application:

What does the reality of “the mystery of lawlessness is already at work” mean to me in my discipleship journey?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for SGI leaders: To be strong in the Lord amidst the lawlessness of the world
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10: 4-19
Sat, 30 September 2023

Strengthened by the Divine Touch

Observation:

What is the significance of the repetition of the terms “strength” and
“strengthen” in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17, 18, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
When God sent His Word to Daniel in a vision, it was he “alone saw” the “great vision” (vv.7-8). It was a special privilege of divine sovereign grace. The vision was also a vision of God’s holiness and glory manifested in the awesome appearance of a heavenly being (vv.5-6). Daniel was so utterly overwhelmed by the divine vision, that “no strength was left in me” (v.8). The description, “no strength”, is emphatically repeated four times in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17). We may not experience such an utterly overwhelming encounter with God like Daniel’s, but we do experience “no strength was left in me” in utterly overwhelming adversities like being “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-9).When we have “no strength”, we need the divine touch. God responded to Daniel’s fourfold “no strength” with a threefold divine touch (vv.10, 16, 18): He “touched me again and strengthened me”. When we are so greatly afflicted, that we feel no strength is left in us, and yet we persevere in faithfulness, it is because we are being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of great endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). Note the intensity and immensity of this divine power at work in us! This is the divine touch of “the surpassing greatness of power” from God (2 Cor 4:7-9). But we feel the physical and emotional pains more than the Spiritual power. The greater is our suffering, the greater will be the strength from God in us, and the greater will be our steadfastness in God.
Application:

What is my experience of the Word of God and spiritual warfare like in my
discipleship journey?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To know God’s power that is perfected in weaknesses
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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