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).

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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