The Man of Sin

The second letter corrects a disturbance. In their fervor or their fear, some Thessalonians believed the day of the Lord already come, and a few, in this feverish expectation, had stopped working. Paul warns them: that day will not come without two things preceding it.

The man of sin

Before the end there will first come an apostasy, that is, a massive abandonment of the faith, then an adversary will be unveiled whom Paul calls the man of iniquity: “first the apostasy must come, and the man of lawlessness must be revealed, the son of perdition.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 This adversary, whom tradition calls the Antichrist, will carry pride to its height, rising against God to the point of usurping his place: “the adversary who rises up against all that is called God or is worshiped, to the point of seating himself in the sanctuary of God, presenting himself as though he were God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 This title of son of perdition Scripture gives to only one other, Judas the traitor. This revelation is for now held back: “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only the one who now restrains it must first be removed.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7 A force thus restrains the adversary until the appointed time; tradition has recognized in it now the order of the world that holds evil in check, now the preaching of the Gospel, which must first reach the nations.

Overcome by the breath of Christ

However fearsome he appears, this adversary is already defeated beforehand. His strength is but a lie: he comes “by the power of Satan… with all manner of false miracles, signs, and wonders” 2 Thessalonians 2:9, to seduce those who did not welcome the love of the truth. To this refusal God answers by leaving them to the lie they chose: “God sends them a power of delusion that makes them believe the lie.” 2 Thessalonians 2:11 God does not inspire error; he abandons to their own choice those who shut their eyes to the truth. His revolt is but the last surge of evil before the victory of Christ, who will overthrow him without a battle, by the mere breath of his word: “the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth and annihilate by the splendor of his coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8 History does not end on the triumph of evil, but on that of Christ.

To wait while working

There remains the practical lesson. To await the return of Christ does not permit deserting one’s tasks; on the contrary, it is in the faithful work of each day that this return is best prepared. Paul firmly rebukes the idle: “if anyone is unwilling to work, let him not eat either.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10 The hope of the end does not turn one away from the earth; it gives its meaning to present labour.