II Thessalonians 2:1-12 – The man of lawlessness.

• About 25% of I Thessalonians refers to the second coming of Christ.

• A good case can be made that the “man of lawlessness” is referring to the Roman Catholic church.

• II Thessalonians 2:4 – Compare the title of the Pope as “vicar of Christ,” implying his “supreme and universal primacy.” See also Acts 10:25-26; Revelation 22:8-9

• II Thessalonians 2:6-7 – Possibly refers to the Roman Empire. The Roman Catholic church increased greatly in power after the fall of the Empire in 476.

• II Thessalonians 2:7 – “mystery of lawlessness”

  • People were already striving for preeminence (II John 1:9-10) and “advocating different ways” (II Peter 2:15). Compare also I Timothy 6:3.

• II Thessalonians 2:9-10 – Miracles were part of the qualification of “saints” canonized by the Roman Catholic church.

• II Thessalonians 2:8 – The Roman Catholic church is still here today.

• Matthew 23:2

• II Thessalonians 2:11 – Bible writers often used verbs figuratively to refer to something that you didn’t do directly, but that you allowed or to which you had some connection. See John 4:1-2; Acts 1:18 for examples.

• The man of lawlessness may also refer to a general pulling away from God’s ways, of which the Roman Catholic church is one example in particular.