Deeper ReflectionIN 2 THESSALONIANS 2, PAUL’S EMPHASIS ON DECEPTION
is clear. He begins with a strong exhortation, “Let no one
deceive you
in any way” (2 Thess 2:3). Mark the absolute terms that Paul uses: “no
one” and “any way”. We must be consciously alert to not being deceived
at all. Behind the antichrist is “the activity of Satan with all power and
false signs and wonders…with all wicked
deception” (v.9-10a). And
unbelievers “believe what is
false” under “a strong
delusion” from God
(2 Thess 2:11).As Satan’s instrument, the antichrist will have the supernatural “power”
to perform “signs and wonders” (v.9). Knowing what human beings
can be easily drawn to, Satan uses that as an effective key to deception:
supernatural power, signs and wonders. The signs and wonders are not
illusions performed by magicians. They are supernatural, marvellous,
tangible and believable. The signs and wonders are “false” – “probably
not in the sense that they will be fakes, but in the sense that they will
deceive rather than enlighten”
4. While this “will happen exclusively
in the future” when the antichrist appears “to deceive the church on a
massive scale”
5, it “has already begun to take place”
6 as “the mystery of
lawlessness is already at work” (2 Thess 2:7). There are those who call
Jesus “Lord”, but are not His true disciples; and they can “prophesy”, “cast
out demons” and “perform many miracles” in Jesus’ name (Matt 7:22-23).
In other words, they look so Christian. And Jesus has this one word for us:
“Beware” (Matt 7:15).
4 John R. W. Stott, The Message of Thessalonians, The Bible Speaks Today (IVP, 1991), 172
5 G. K. Beale, 221
6 G. K. Beale, 220
