Beth-El Baptist Church

03/01/2009

Greg Tomlinson


Who or what is restraining the revealing of the Lawless one? (2 Thess 2:6)


Paul identifies the coming of a lawless one, or man of sin, whose true identification is being withheld pending his revealing. The identification of the revealer of this lawless one has been historically identified as the Roman Empire and the Holy Spirit.


  1. Who is this man of sin?

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8-12 Revelation 13:1-7; 20:2-3

Ezekiel 28:2-6, 29:3 1 Timothy 4:1-3

Isaiah 14:12-14; 66:4 Daniel 7:23-25

John 8:44 Deuteronomy 13:1-3

Romans 1:28-32


The man of sin is exposed not by name but by his works. His opposition to all things that people worship, the false gods and the real God, is to such a degree that in effect he defines himself as god who is to be worshiped. His works are wicked and his teachings are perverse. Those who do not understand who the real God is will be distracted, deceived, and enamored with this one. Note that he comes “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Th 2:9). This indicates that it is not necessarily Satan himself but he comes with all the power and authority of Satan. It is very much like the beast of Revelation 13, who is given the same power as the dragon. This dragon is Satan (Rev 20:2-3). In a real sense, this man of sin will be the ultimate antithesis of Jesus the Christ. While Jesus is God in flesh, who is truth and righteousness, the man of sin could be viewed as Satan in flesh, who is a lier, deceiver and the embodiment of all that is unrighteous. To the world's way of thinking and operating without God, he will be a wonderful expression of their often unvoiced hatred for God.


  1. Who will he be revealed to?

Revelation 13:12-14


Some believe that he will be revealed to the unbelieving world. The scriptures expose the fact that the world will not see this man of sin as a man of sin but as some sort of great savior. He is the one that people will turn to in order to be rescued. They will be awed by his works not repulsed by them.


2 Thessalonians 2:6-8, 10-15 Matthew 24:21-26

John 8:31-32; 10:1-5 Isaiah 59:21

1 John 4:1


The only people who will be able to understand who the man of sin is, are the people of God. The man of sin then will be revealed to the people of God so that they will know who he is. Although the world will not know his real identity, those who hear the voice of Jesus Christ will now his identity and will both flee from him and attempt to expose him. Unfortunately, the world will be so enamored with him that there will be few converts to the truth.


  1. Why withhold the revealing of the man of sin?

2 Thessalonians 2:5-7 Daniel 7:25-27

Matthew 8:28-29; 24:42, 46-51 Mark 14:40-42

John 2:4; 7:28-31; 8:17-21; 12:23-26; 13:1; 16:32-17:3

Revelation 14:6-7 Genesis 15:13-16

Acts 17:30-31 2 Peter 3:9-10

Galatians 4:4-5


The reason to withhold the revealing of the man of sin is because it is not time. God is waiting for the culmination of the salvation of his people. He is waiting until the time is right. Just as the iniquity of the Amorites was not full at the time of Abraham and just as God sent his Son at the 'fullness of the time' the revealing of the man of sin is awaiting the right time.


  1. Who or what then is this withholding power?

Daniel 2:47 Matthew 28:18


Ultimately the entity with the withholding power is God. God holds all things in his hands. Nothing moves apart from God's design and desire. It is God who controls the wind, sea, and even the time. Since He is the controller of all and none can give counsel to God, God is withholding the revealing of the man of sin until it is the appropriate time. When the time is right, when the 'fulness of time is come', God will send forth revealing of the man of sin. Until that time, we are to occupy until He comes.