The Rebellion
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2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 says, “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, [2] not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. [3] Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, [4] who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.”
Paul in this passage warns of a falling away. During this rebellion a person who doesn’t follow God’s law (lawless) will raise himself up. This man will exalt himself above anything that is called god including God Himself. This man will take a seat in the temple of God. He will be a religious leader in God’s temple. This man will proclaim Himself to be God.
Watch out for religious leaders who ignore God’s word, who claim superiority over the truth of God’s word, who exalt themselves as God. Paul warned that these men would come. They are not from God, but are of the rebellion.
