The Evidence

The Lawless One

The text speaks of a specific figure—the man of lawlessness—and of an antichrist spirit that has been at work since the first century. The beast system of Revelation 13 is the political and economic architecture that enables his rule. These are not the same thing, but they converge.

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, 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.2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

Paul tells the Thessalonians that the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. But something is holding it back. The Greek word is katecho—the one who holds down, suppresses, puts on the brakes. The church is the restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7. We are in the midst of everything: society, medicine, education, government, neighborhoods, workplaces. We are the salt that preserves. We are the light that holds back the darkness.

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.2 Thessalonians 2:7-8

The moment the church is removed, the curtains pull back. The Greek word for “revealed” is apokalupto. It means the pulling apart of curtains. The lawless one is already on stage. Nobody knows who he is because the curtains are closed. But the moment the church is removed, the curtains pull back. The spotlight falls. The world sees who has been waiting in the wings.

The spirit is already present. John writes to a first-century church and tells them it is already at work.

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.1 John 2:18

Daniel saw the same figure centuries earlier. A horn speaking great things, waging war against the saints, changing the times and the law. The convicted powers are still operating. Still deceiving. Still offering themselves as gods. Still saying: Worship me. I have what you need.

John sees the system that supports him. A beast with authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. An economic system where no one can buy or sell without the mark. The consolidation is total. The beast of Revelation does not arrive with a fanfare. It arrives with terms and conditions that nobody reads.

And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.Revelation 13:7-8