1. The Falling Away
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

2. The Prophecy in 1 Timothy 4:1-6
It is a very clear prophecy
Some would depart from the faith
They would believe in doctrines from demons
They would forbid marriage
They would command abstaining from certain foods

3. The Fulfillment of the Prophecy
The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are the result of the falling away prophesied in 1 Tim. 4 and 2 Thess. 2
They still bind fasting on certain days
Catholic priests are forbidden to marry
Orthodox priests assigned to churches are required to marry; all other clergy forbidden
We will see how they fell away in more detail

4. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
Context is the idea that Jesus would return very soon
They mistakenly thought this from reading 1 Thessalonians 5
Jesus would not return before the apostasy and the “man of lawlessness” would be revealed v.3
Some read 1 Thess. 4:13-18 and 2 Thess. 2 and make similar mistakes

5. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 He opposes and exalts himself against God
Anyone who exalts himself is against God
He sits claims to be God in the temple of God
The temple is the church 1 Cor. 3:9-16; Ephesians 2:19-22
He is set up to be worshiped in the church
He is worshiped as God
Fulfillment is the Pope as universal (catholic) bishop of the worldwide church (a lawless arrangement)

6. 2 Thessalonians 2:5-7
Paul through the Spirit foretold these things Acts 20:28-31
The tendency toward apostasy (lawlessness) already was working
A mystery because the lawless ones are working secretly at the time of writing
This tendency toward lawlessness was being restrained (the ten persecutions by the Roman Empire)
That restraint would be removed at some point after the time of writing (Edict of Toleration)

7. 2 Thessalonians 2:8
After the restraint is removed, the lawless one will be revealed (pagans joined the church)
The lawless one will be destroyed by the Lord
Jesus’ return and glory proves the lawless one is an imposter
He is destroyed also by the word of Christ
The Lord’s coming and the lawless one’s revelation are not tied together

8. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 The deceptive nature of the lawless one
It is Satan’s work
Deeds would have power
Would claim to be signs (from God)
Would be wonders (unexplainable)
Would be lying wonders (not really miracles or powerful deeds supporting a lie)

9. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Unrighteous deception Romans 10:1-3
The deceived ones are perishing 2 Cor. 4:4
They loved the pleasure of unrighteousness
They did not love the truth
They did not believe the truth
They did not obey the truth 2 Thess. 1:8
God sent a strong delusion Titus 1:2, 1 Tim. 2:4, but salvation is conditional Matt. 13:10-13, Heb. 11:6 ATTITUDE IS KEY!