08-07-2025 PART 3: The Lie and the Man of Lawlessness
Section 1:
The teaching continues in 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12, describing the coming of the “man of lawlessness” who will be revealed and destroyed by Jesus at His return. This figure, distinct from Satan but operating through his power, will be the most intense Antichrist in history—performing signs, wonders, and deceptive miracles to draw worship to himself. The speaker stresses that these counterfeit works are not the same as legitimate signs from God, which always point to Christ. Instead, these satanic signs aim to deceive, particularly targeting those who have willfully rejected the truth of Jesus Christ. The warning is that this deception will be global, swift, and persuasive in an age where such events can go viral instantly.
Section 2:
The core deception is aimed not at believers but at those “perishing because they refuse to love the truth.” The “truth” is ultimately Jesus Himself and His Word. Refusal here is not a casual “not yet” but a deliberate, hardened rejection. At the appointed time, God will send a “powerful delusion” causing these individuals to believe “the lie”—not merely any falsehood, but the singular lie that Jesus Christ is not Lord. The speaker warns that this is not a political or media fabrication but the ultimate denial of Christ’s lordship, which will seal people’s eternal fate. Those who have confessed Jesus as Lord will remain steadfast, but those who reject Him will fully embrace the deception.
Section 3:
The passage underscores the urgency of prayer for unsaved loved ones, asking God to love them in ways we cannot and to draw them into His kingdom “no matter what it takes.” The speaker cautions that each person must decide for themselves; no one can substitute their faith for another’s. This climactic period will sharply divide humanity into the sheep and goats, the kept and unkept fish. Believers must ensure their own steadfastness—likened to putting on an oxygen mask first—so they can help others. Declaring “Jesus Christ is Lord” is both a safeguard and a mission, preparing us to stand firm when the ultimate deception arrives.
