The Heart Of Paul’s Theology: Paul And The ThessaloniansExemplo

Pauline Eschatology: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8

A third way Paul sought to correct the Thessalonians’ overheated eschatology was in his description of their historical position relative to the events preceding Christ’s return. You will recall that a number of believers in Thessalonica were confused about historical events that were to accompany the Lord’s return. Some of them had even been tricked into thinking that Christ had already returned, and that they had missed his coming. Others believed that although Christ had not yet come, he would certainly arrive in the immediate future. 

Paul responded to these mistaken ideas by reminding the Thessalonians that several events had to precede Christ’s return — and that these events had yet to transpire. 

Consider what he wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8:

With respect to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ … That day will not come unless the rebellion occurs first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction … For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the restrainer will hold it back until he is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the breath of his mouth and destroy by the appearance of his coming (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).

This passage has fascinated interpreters since the earliest days of the church and there have been many different opinions on what it means. In general terms, we may say that Paul taught the Thessalonians that their overheated eschatology was misguided because certain events had to take place before Christ returned in glory. According to this passage, at least four things had to happen before Christ returned: the mystery of lawlessness had to be working and restrained; a rebellion or apostasy had to occur; the restrainer had to be removed; and the man of lawlessness had to be revealed.