"What if we were to realize that every sunset viewed, every sexual intimacy enjoyed, every favorite food savored, every song sung or listened to, every home decorated, and every rich moment enjoyed in this life isn’t ultimately about itself but is an expression and reflection of God’s essential character? Wouldn’t such beautiful and desirable reflections mean that their Source must be even more beautiful—and, ultimately, most desirable? Beyond sensory beauty, we are instinctively drawn to virtuous beauty in the form of love, kindness, courage, mercy, and the like. These qualities are embodied by our heroes and heroines—Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, fathers, mothers, mentors, and friends. Might these beautiful people not whisper of an Ultimate Lover? Of a perfectly Faithful Friend? Think about it. You may want that car, spouse, vacation, house, body, toy, meal, or position. But could it be that what you really want is God? Consider the latest moment of wonder you experienced. At least for a moment, it created a sense of awe in that mysterious and soulful place within you. Wonder moments are both thrilling and humbling, yet we crave them all the more. This book flows from a conviction that we have largely missed God in our experience of beauty. That day as I experienced my surprise concert at Midway Airport, I listened through a wall. We are all standing outside a wall. We enjoy the divine music of beauty, but our enjoyment often stops there. The greatest wonder is not the music itself but the Musician, not the creation but the Creator. He is beautiful. As Richard Harries puts it, “The fact is that God is beautiful and the Church is hiding this.”4 

Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. – Psalm 96:6 (NASB)"




DeWitt, Steve (2012-03-01). Eyes Wide Open (pp. 8-9). Credo House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Blogs to return Monday

"We can’t help ourselves. We were made to crave. The absence of satisfaction the world over begs the question Why? What or whom are we seeking? The Craved When people think of God, they often consider His power or holiness or love or mercy. But how many people think of God as intrinsically beautiful? Yet it is God who created beauty. He is the Beauty behind every beauty. I am a pastor. I spend my life trying to persuade people that God alone is worthy of their love, dreams, passions—essentially their lives. I often find this to be a tough sell. The primary reason is that for fallen humanity God’s desirability is in competition with His created beauties. Created beauty eclipses God’s beauty in the desire factory of man’s heart. It is a case of mistaken identity. Every created beauty was created by God to lead our affections to Him. That’s why He made the pleasures of earthly beauty so fleeting—so that on the other side of the pleasure we might experience either wonder and worship and ultimate satisfaction in God or the pursuit of the pleasure that beauty provides for its own sake. If we choose the latter, we will only be disappointed again. The ancient church theologian Augustine, a man well acquainted with the fleeting pleasures of sin prior to his conversion to Christ, observed, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Pascal wrote, “The world everywhere gives evidence of a vanished God, and man in all his actions gives evidence of a longing for that God.”3 Beauty Fulfilled I sometimes wonder how it is possible that our culture and society could have missed this truth on such a massive scale. When every popular beauty and pleasure in our culture shouts that God is beautiful, how can so many millions of people completely miss the point? How can they not hear? How can they look and listen and touch and taste and not get it?"

DeWitt, Steve (2012-03-01). Eyes Wide Open (pp. 7-8). Credo House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Blogs to return Monday

Joh 2:11-13  This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days. The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." 

Jesus began demonstrating His power and glory. His glory as the only begotten of the Father-"full of grace and truth". He was fully man. Born of woman. He had brothers and sisters born through His mother Mary. Mary was a normal human female. Yet Jesus was fully God- "very God of very God".  His mission was to be accomplished within the miracle of Passover, in Jerusalem. He focused His path there.

Where else would He go but to the place where people were to learn about God. The Temple and the sacrificial system were to point the people to their need for Him to come. Their need to be made right with The Father. 

It angered Him greatly to see them using the temple to advance greed and promote evil against one another. The focus was on earthly gain not on coming into the presence of God. He would demonstrate forcefully the disdain and wrath of God. 
He would be hated by men for interfering in their lives. This is the view of evil and sin, God is an interference. They want Him to leave them alone. Everyone will get what they ask for from God! 

Joh 2:14 - 17  "In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." 

So they say; "what will tell us that you have the authority to interfere"? 

Jesus referred them to the sign. He was the Temple replacement. He was the way to God, the way to find forgiveness and peace. His life, death and resurrection would be the sign they would see and have to come to grips with. 
He would be the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. He was The Word of God! He was Yahweh. 

Joh 2:18 - 22  "So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?"  But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken." 


Luk 11:29 -36  "When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.  For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.  The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.  The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.  "No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light." 

He was showing lots of signs of His deity, power and glory. He was almighty God. He was Absolute Love. He demonstrated Love is not haughty or proud. Love is humble and gentle, but powerful and controlled. Many believed it was clear to see if you wanted to see. 
Yet, Absolute Love knows to only entrust itself to purity and the object of eternal loyal love. Jesus would not entrust Himself to anyone but His Father, God!
He is the creator of all men's hearts and knows they only are trustworthy through His gift of "New Birth". 

Joh 2:23 - 3:1 "Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.  But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.  Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 

Joh 2:1-2  "On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples." 

It was very soon after Jesus gathered us together as His followers and Jesus was celebrating at a wedding. Jesus mother, Mary, was there. Jesus had been invited and His student learners were there also.

The parents of the bride and groom had run out of wine. Mary had been storing up memories of Jesus and His special relationship to God. She made a point to mention in a expectant voice; "They have no more wine."


Luk 2:7 - 19 "And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.  And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart."

 Luk 2:41 - 51 "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,  and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"  And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart." 

Joh 2:3  "When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 

Mary accepted and respected Jesus authority, even if she did not fully understand. Jesus was on a mission, He had come with a purpose in mind. He would not be deterred. Jesus was fully in control and Mary submitted to Him in believing He was specially connected to God.

Joh 2:4, 5  "And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 

Jesus changed water into wine that was more desirable and satisfying than the best wine served. All of those who witnessed this were astounded, even the servants at the wedding. 

Joh 2:6 -10 "Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now." 

This was the first of the signs pointing to His glory as creator God. It deepened the faith of His followers. The conviction they had in Jesus coming as the Messiah was solidified in their minds.

Joh 2:11  "This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him." 

Jesus started His path toward His ultimate mission being accomplished at the time of the Passover. It would be completed during the Passover also, for He had authority over forgiveness and death; judgement and the giving of life. His mission would begin and be fulfilled surrounding the Passover celebration in Jerusalem. 

Joh 2:12  "After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days. The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." 

Joh 1:32 - 36 "And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" 

John bore witness to the reality of Jesus' deity. Jesus was recognized as the Messiah, one sent from God, one who was God. He was Yahweh, He gives the Holy Spirit for the Holy Spirit proceeds from Him and The Father. He was the sent Lamb of God, the only one who could take away sin. 

John's disciples saw and heard and they began to follow Jesus. Their hearts were prepared they knew of their need for repentance. They wanted to be near Jesus, to be with Him. They also recognized the glory of Jesus and they told their friends and relatives of who they had come to know. One of them Andrew was the brother of Simon. Jesus gave Simon a new name Peter, the "rock" was what Jesus named him. 

Joh 1:37 -42  "The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"  He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ).  He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter)." 

Jesus went into Galilee, region where He grew up as a boy. He found Phillip and called Him to be part of His learners group as a Rabbi. Philip told his freinds and neighbors that he had met and wanted to follow Jesus. He knew Jesus to be the promised one from Moses, the sacrificial Lamb of the Law and the revelation of what the Prophets too Israel had talked about. This man, Jesus, whose adoptive father was Joseph of Nazareth. He was more than a man, He was the fulfillment that all men are looking for as a redeemer to save them from sin. 

Joh 1:43 - 45 "The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 

Philip told Nathanael and Nathanael couldn't believe that someone from Nazareth could have that kind of influence and power. Jesus told Natanael where and exactly when he located him. Jesus Natanael then knew was no ordinary man, Jesus was God's only begotten Son, the true King of Israel. The Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Jesus the mman was the ruler of the universe come as a man. 
Jesus promised you will see a lot of great things, greater than being able to see you even when you are not with me. 

Joh 1:46 -50  "Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"  Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."  Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." 

Jesus said you will see heaven opened. I have power over heaven and earth. The angels are at my command. They minister to me and are my messengers. They come and leave at my command. 

Joh 1:51  "And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." 

Joh 1:14-18 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." 

The creating Word of God, His active presence has become flesh and blood, the man Jesus of Nazareth. He is the very glory of God, God of very God. He proceeds from the Father as His only offspring, God's only begotten Son. Begotten not created. He is the one who fulfills and fills all with the grace of God. His grace is completely mingled with the purity of truth. He is the one who gives the Law of Moses and supersedes the law of men. No one has seen God but He is the exact representation, incarnation Of God, making God's character known in the world.

John is the character witness. The religious elite and those who were suppose to be priest to God, had no answers though they were suppose to be the ones who interceded for the people on behalf of God. John a voice crying for repentance had to point them to their savior Jesus of Nazareth, though they could not see it for themselves. Even after John told them the truth they continued to question. They wanted answers to please men, they were not really seeking after the truth. 

John was baptizing for preparation, for those who would repent and believe. The promised one, Yahweh Himself in the flesh was coming, even John was not worthy but Jesus would come and give grace, provide sacrifice and deliver those who would repent and follow Him. 

All in Bethany, this historically has taken place. as John the baptizer witnessed. 

Joh 1:19 - 28 "And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."  And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"  He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"  John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,  even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing." 

After the religious came and went. Jesus came and John recognized Him as the "Lamb of God". This was the one who would be the atoning sacrifice for the sin of Adam. The sin of mankind. Unbelief, lack of faith, not seeing the worth of God as their life and fulfillment. 

Joh 1:29  "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" 

This Jesus from Nazareth was born of a woman after John, but He came before John. Before all things. He is the beginning, before all of creation. He is lowly and humble among men, but He is highly exalted and above all things that exist. 

Joh 1:30  "This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.'" 

John, had been born Jesus' earthly cousin, grown up with Jesus, knowing Him. John though had not known. John saw Jesus with the Holy Spirit descending on Him, residing upon Him. He knew that Jesus' baptism was a baptism not of water but of pouring out the Holy Spirit upon people. 

God had sent John personally to prepare the way for Jesus coming and He was shown to recognize this sign of the Holy Spirit descending and remaining. This was to be the sent one, the Messiah.

Joh 1:31-33 "I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him."  I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'" 

He saw and is witness as a man, this is The Son of God. 

Joh 1:34  "And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." 

John declared to his own followers; this Jesus of Nazareth, He is The Lamb of God!. He is Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah, Isa Al Masih. I want you to make no mistake of Jesus identity, He is Yahweh. He is The Absolute Love. 

Joh 1:35, 36  "The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" 

Joh 1:1, 2  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." 

In the beginning of this world, created order out of chaos, The Word was the the creator. The Word proceeded from God, He was one with God. He was with God. He is Jesus, Yeshua Messiah, Isa Al Masih. He is Yahweh. I Am that I Am. 

Everything created was created through Him and by Him. He was life and the life giver. He shines forth in revealing and making known the character of God. He is Absolute Love and Absolute Truth. He lights up illuminates all things with His presence and darkness has not overcome the light of His life. He is Absolute Love.

Joh 1:3 - 5 "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

A man everyone knew had come as God's messenger, John; He came as a witness to the light I am talking about. John The Baptist was sent so that people would believe in the light coming into this world. John was not the light I am talking about, but John's mission and purpose was to bear witness to the coming of the light of God into our midst.

Joh 1:6 - 8  "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light." 

This true illuminating, revealing light that reveals everything to everyone, He was coming. He was already in the world, a part of what He had created, yet the world didn't recognize His presence in power. He was cloaked in human form. The light of life came to the people He had created, loved and served. They belonged to Him but had lost intimacy and communion with Him. They no longer received Him and believed in Him. (Not as He revealed Himself to them) If anyone believes in what He reveals Himself to be, His Absolute Love and Truth. Believe in Him as the only source of life and fulfillment, to them He gives life and the nature as a child of God. Restores fellowship and intimacy with God. 
Children of God are created by God. Made in the image of God. They don't come from flesh and blood relation. They cannot will themselves into relationship with God. No man can declare them to be in fellowship with God. God alone initiates and establishes intimacy, fellowship and makes them His children. 

Joh 1:9 - 13 "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." 

This eternal Word, Jesus; was became flesh-human and lived in our midst. We, myself John His beloved companion, saw His glory. It was the Glory of God, as of the only Son of God proceeding from His Father, God! He was the Absolute of Absolutes. He was Absolute Grace and Absolute Truth fully integrated in unity and harmony. He was Absolute Love and Absolute justice. Righteousness and mercy intertwined. 

Joh 1:14  "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." 

John The Baptist gave witness of Him. Though John was a great representative of God, calling out for repentance, he was not God's exact representation. He witnessed of Jesus saying; "This is He, Though He came after me as a man, He is above and beyond me, He was before me as my creator and God. 

Joh 1:15  "(John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")" 

From the fullness of Jesus Christ, He fills all things with life and fulfills all in gracious gift. Law from God was given through Moses, The revealing of God's gracious gift of truth and life comes through Jesus Christ. There is no one that has seen God. Yet Jesus, the only one who is God The Son and with God The Father, He has revealed the nature of Absolute Love and now we know what God is like. 

Joh 1:16-18 "And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." 

"Remember what we contributed to our salvation? Nothing but our need. We came to Christ at a point when the lights came on and our sin was finally exposed. And all we had to do was realize it. This is the essence of repentance. No one ever comes to Christ for salvation who doesn’t see his or her own problem. And people never find themselves free from the entanglement of gospel debt if they don’t realize their own need. This is why pride sounds the death knell for our spiritual lives. It completely shuts off the airway, the avenue for God’s abundant grace to flow into our needy souls. When we operate out of the false gospel of pride, we are blind to our sin, blind to our need, and blind to the available solution. The Holy Spirit operates like a gentleman. He doesn’t force his way in. The problem is self-evident: we don’t ask for help when we are self-sufficient. And this is the great irony and tragedy of being human. We seem wired to desire control. I should know. Surgeons are all too typical in this regard! And when we are in the driver’s seat, the Holy Spirit slips quietly into the back."

Kraus, Harry (2012-08-14). Breathing Grace: What You Need More Than Your Next Breath (Kindle Locations 617-622).  . Kindle Edition.


"John Piper has explained sin as what we do when we are not satisfied with God.[ 5] We fall when we believe a false gospel, a lie that proclaims that satisfaction can be found outside of Christ and the treasure that he is. And so in our blind pride we turn away from the Niagara flow of God’s love and grace, and we wallow instead in the small water source we have built for ourselves. We are children content to splash in mud puddles when a fountain is available. But we don’t see the source of grace because the airway is obstructed. Grace won’t flow in where pride obstructs."

Kraus, Harry (2012-08-14). Breathing Grace: What You Need More Than Your Next Breath (Kindle Locations 631-635).  . Kindle Edition.

Blogs to return Monday

If Doctor Jesus took a look at our lives, what would he see? Would he pick up our bedside chart and smile? Or would he frown and order treatment for gospel debt? After we become Christians, our appreciation of God’s holiness generally increases. In addition, as we travel farther down the road of Christian maturity, we understand more and more of our own sinfulness. Before we come to Christ (an event that required the ABC’s, which I promise I’ll get to soon!), we appreciate neither our sinfulness nor God’s righteousness. At the time of our salvation, what we understand about the gospel perfectly bridges the gap between our sin and God’s holiness. At that point in time, we see the sacrifice of Christ as completely sufficient to pay the penalty for our sin and place us in right standing with our Holy Father, providing access into all the benefits of sonship. As we grow in our Christian faith, our knowledge of our own sin and God’s holiness increases. As long as our understanding of the gospel grows, no problem. But . .  . This is real life, so there’s always a but, isn’t there? When our understanding of the adequacy of the gospel doesn’t keep pace with our appreciation for God’s holiness or our own need, gospel debt results. If we could graph gospel debt, it would look like this: Imagine one line increasing from left to right with time, representing our understanding of God’s holiness. A second line, sinking away from the first, descends across the page, representing our increasing appreciation of our own depravity. Draw a cross between the two divergent lines so that the top and bottom of the cross just touch the two lines. With the cross in that position, it fully fills the gap between our depravity and God’s holiness. If, however, our vision of the cross (in effect, the size of the cross in our imagined diagram) doesn’t keep pace with our understanding of God’s holiness or our own depravity, the size of the cross isn’t large enough to fill the gap. Any space between the top of the cross and the line representing God’s holiness or any space between the bottom of the cross and the line representing our own depravity represents gospel debt. Whenever we resort to false gospels to make up the gap, we’re acting out of a gospel debt.[ 4] False gospels? What am I talking about? Anything we do to try to make up the gap. Remember what the gap is made of: the vast difference between our purity and God’s. The point isn’t that the gap hasn’t been perfectly bridged by the cross. It’s that experientially our perception of Christ’s sacrifice doesn’t continue to bridge the gap. How do I try to bridge the gap? I can resort to two tactics. Either I try to downplay my own sinfulness, or I make myself look better than I really am. The self-deceit is subtle. We slip into gospel debt almost as easily as we breathe. One minute we’re serving Christ out of proper motive (a   love for him or for the lost); the next, we’re seeking the admiration of men. This is the essence of pride, a false gospel seen on our imagined diagram above the inadequate cross. And our ability to downplay our own sinfulness is just as prevalent. Even the child-molester-murderer on Death Row plays this little mind game in an attempt to justify himself. At least I admit I’m bad. Those Christian hypocrites don’t even see their problems. This is the gospel debt represented on our imagined diagram as the area below the inadequate cross, between the bottom of the cross and a line representing our depravity.

Kraus, Harry (2012-08-14). Breathing Grace: What You Need More Than Your Next Breath (Kindle Locations 518-548).  . Kindle Edition.


The reality of God’s provision in the cross is that it dwarfs the chasm between our sin and God’s righteousness. When we are living in gospel debt, it’s not because the cross is inadequate. It is because our perception or experience of the cross is inadequate. Unfortunately, most of the church lives out most of its life experiencing grace debt. In truth, we can’t live a life completely free of gospel debt all the time. But . .  . (Don’t you love it when a but is finally positive?) . .  . don’t be discouraged. Remember what I said about a vital sign trend being more important than a single value? Well, that’s true for our spiritual lives as well. We mess up. We’re human. But don’t despair. The trend is what is important. And that’s what this book is all about: diagnosing and treating gospel debt, so that our spiritual vital sign chart will reflect more and more time recognizing the adequacy of God’s grace and less and less time wallowing in gospel debt.


Kraus, Harry (2012-08-14). Breathing Grace: What You Need More Than Your Next Breath (Kindle Locations 551-559).  . Kindle Edition.

Blogs to Return Monday

2Th 3:1, 2  "Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith." 

I really need your prayers. Pray for the spread of the Word of The Lord, that it be spread speedily and be accepted with the honor due Him. Pray for our safety and deliverance from those who are without don't believe in God, their hearts are evil and faithless. 

Buy the Lord is faithful. He will guard you, put you on solid standing in faith and guard you against the evil desires of Satan. He wants you full of fear and to be unfaithful to The Lord. We are sure of your obedient following of Christ and His commands. Let God direct your hearts. He will cause love to be built up and you will remain steadfast in the power of Christ that He supplies. 

2Th 3:3-5  "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.  And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." 

If anyone is of a different mind, unfaithful, rebellious, without love keep a distance from that person. Even if they claim faith in Jesus, if they are unfaithful and not walking in love, uncaring be careful to not allow them to work into your midst. 
We didn't want hand outs and to live off of anyone's generosity. Even though we were working for the Lord and you we earned our living with our hard work so as not to place a burden on others. 
This is what you should do, if anyone will not work don't feed them.  Enabling their idleness, furthers their sinful desires to take and expect from others. They become busy at blaming and gossiping about others. It doesn't cause them to have an attitude of gratitude.  

2Th 3:6-11  "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.  For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.  It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.  For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies."

We want to in every way encourage others to work, not to noisily expect with a belief that they are entitled to be given everything. They need to earn their wages of food and drink. 

2Th 3:12  "Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living." 

As for you who are hard working and faithful, don't look at them coveting their life. Don't allow yourself to get weary of doing what is good and right.

2Th 3:13  "As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good." 

So if anyone lives in this manner of disobedience take note and stay clear. They may be shamed into getting it together. Don't treat them as an enemy but be sure to warn them about their rebellious end.

2Th 3:14, 15  "If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.  Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." 

Noe may you live in peace in whatever the circumstance. Find your peace in The Lord. He is with you. His grace is overflowing to your life, live in His grace. 

2Th 3:16-18  "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.  I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." 

2Th 2:1-4  "Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,  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.  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." 

Now about Jesus returning, don't worry. You won't be left behind. I know that people are saying it has already happened. Others are saying it will happen this day or that! Jesus, Himself, warned of this type of thing happening. So don't get off track, focused on deceptions and speculations. 
That day won't come until the rebellion against the God's temple reveals the lawless one. He will be revealed as one who opposes anything to do with religion and make himself to be as a god. 

You remember I told you about this as has Jesus and John the beloved who was with Jesus. This lawless one only thinks he is god, that he is in control. No, Jesus Christ is in control restraining him until he wants him to be revealed. Though evil, he only does what The Lord allows, as do all who rebel against God and the rule of His Son Jesus Christ.
Yes lawlessness and the mystery of God allowing lawlessness it is already working in the way God had planned from the beginning. Jesus will continue restraining evil until He in His sovereignty decides to clear the way. It is all in God's timing, it is all working according to God's will. 
The lawless are driven by Satan, under His power and control. They will find they are wickedly deceived, it is because they refuse the truth of God's love and reject His call to repentance and salvation. 

2Th 2:5 - 10 "Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?  And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 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. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,  and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." 

So God in the midst of their refusal and rebellion sends them a strong delusion of their own power. They believe what is false and love the sense of not being connected to God. So God is only just in allowing them the condemnation they pursue.

2Th 2:11, 12  "Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 

We are not glad for their destruction, but it should always cause us to rejoice to God that He chose us, gave us the the first fruits of believing so to be saved. This salvation comes from being separated to God and believing the truth of His amazing grace. He is Absolute Love. He called you out through the good news of Christs sacrifice on your behalf and He wants you to share in the Glory of His Son Jesus. 
So hold fast to the truth and what we taught, both in person and by our letters.

2Th 2:13-15  "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter." 

Now lay all that speculation and falsehood aside. Jesus Christ and God the Father loves you. He is your comfort and hope through grace. Don't worry about Him leaving you behind, comfort one another, embolden your hearts for the good work of the proclaiming the word. 

2Th 2:16, 17  "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,  comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 

2 Th. 2  "Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 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. 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."   "Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time."  "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. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,  and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved."  "Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,  in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."  "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."  "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter."Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,  comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word." 


I will post my blog through 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 tomorrow. For now it may help to hear a perspective on this passage that will give it a context for understanding. I am not a Post Millennialist though I think this paper adds understanding to the context Paul was speaking about. In any event it gives proper historical value to the letter and is not speculative as are some interpretations or comments. Look for more on this tomorrow.

The Man of Lawlessness

A Preteristic Postmillennial Interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 2

By Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Introduction

In this paper I will consider one of the very difficult eschatological passages of Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2. This famous eschatological reference contains Paul's reference to the Man of Lawlessness (Nestle's Text), or Man of Sin (Majority Text).

The passage has been historically noted for its exceptional difficulty. The noted church father Augustine writes of a certain portion of the passage: "I confess that I am entirely ignorant of what he means to say." New Testament Greek scholar Vincent omits interpreting the passage in his four volume lexical commentary: "I attempt no interpretation of this passage as a whole, which I do not understand." Renowned Greek linguist Robertson despairs of the task of interpreting this passage because it is "in such vague form that we can hardly clear it up." Morris urges "care" in handling this "notoriously difficult passage." Bruce notes that "there are few New Testament passages which can boast such a variety of interpretations as this."[1] There are even some dispensationalists who admit that it is an "extremely puzzling passage of Scripture that has been a thorn in the flesh of many an expositor."[2]

As with the hotly debated Daniel 9:24-27 passage, so is it here: an exceedingly difficult prophecy becomes a key text for dispensationalism. Note the following comments by dispensational theologians: Constable observes that "this section of verses contain truths found nowhere else in the Bible. It is key to understanding future events and it is central to this epistle." According to Walvoord, the Man of Lawlessness revealed here is "the key to the whole program of the Day of the Lord." Of 2 Thessalonians 2 Chafer notes: "though but one passage is found bearing upon the restraining work of the Holy Spirit, the scope of the issues involved is such as to command the utmost consideration." Ryrie and Feinberg employ 2 Thessalonians 2:4 as one of the few passages used "to clinch the argument" for the rebuilding of the Temple.[3]

Because of its enormous difficulties, 2 Thessalonians 2 has generated lively debate in eschatological studies. In the more pessimistic eschatologies of amillennialism, premillennialism and dispensationalism, there is frequent employment of this passage as evidence of worsening world conditions until the final apostasy. When setting forth objections against the optimism of postmillennialism, amillennialist Hoekema makes but a cursory reference to this passage in a mere two sentences, confident that it offers a self-evident refutation of postmillennialism.[4] Though a perplexing passage requiring caution, however, I believe there is sufficient data in it at least to remove it as an objection to postmillennialism.

The Historical Setting

The Thessalonian epistles are among Paul's earliest writings, vying with Galatians (depending on the North/South Galatia debate[5]) and James as the earliest written portions of the New Testament. The letters to Thessalonica were written from Corinth around A.D. 52, and within just a few weeks of each other and not long after his visit in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 2:17).[6] According to Acts 17 and 18, Paul left Thessalonica to go to Berea and Athens for brief visits, and then on to Corinth, where he wrote the Thessalonian epistles. The place and circumstances of writing as discovered in Acts are helpful in casting some light on the dark and mysterious passage before us.

During Paul's visit to Thessalonica he preached to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 17:1-3). Though some Jews believed, others were riled to mob action regarding the Christian message (17:4-5). They even dragged "some of the brethren to the rulers of the city" complaining: "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king -- Jesus" (17:6-7). After taking security from Jason and the others, the civil rulers let them go (17:9). This allowed Paul to depart safely to Berea. The Jews were not so easily quieted, however, for "when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds" (17:13). This resulted in the immediate sending away of Paul to Athens (17:14-15).

Paul stayed in Athens only three or four weeks,[7] soon travelling to Corinth (Acts 18:1), where he remained for eighteen months (18:11). But again serious Jewish antipathy arises. Interestingly, it was at Corinth where Paul met Aquila and Priscilla, Christians who had been among the Jews banished from Rome by Claudius Caesar (18:2). According to Suetonius: "As the Jews were indulging in constant riots at the instigation of Chrestus, [Claudius] banished them from Rome."[8] This reference to "Chrestus" is undoubtedly a Latin variant for the name "Christ."[9]

Upon meeting these saints, who had suffered from Jewish riots against Christians in Rome, Paul set about preaching to the Jews in Corinth as he had at Thessalonica that "Jesus is the Christ" (18:5; cp. 17:3). Again the Jews violently resisted him, organizing resistance[10] against him and blaspheming to such an extent that he determined to turn from the Jews to the Gentiles at this point (18:6). Matters were made worse for him by his remarkable success with a certain prominent Jewish leader, Crispus "the ruler of the synagogue" (18:8). Though Paul seldom baptized, he did baptize Crispus (1 Cor. 1:14-16; Acts 18:8). Due to the intensity of the opposition, the Lord provided Paul a special promise of safety for him to remain in Corinth (18:9-11).

All of this explains the strong language against the Jews in the Thessalonian epistles, and helps uncover some of the more subtle concerns therein, as well. In his first letter he wrote: "For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost" (1 Thess. 2:14-16). He complained of a Satan-inspired thwarting of his ministry, which, according to the context, probably indicates Jewish opposition (1 Thess. 2:18, cp. 15-16[11]). He probably alludes to Jewish opposition in 2 Thessalonians 1:4ff, where he mentions their perseverance and afflictions for their faith (1:4ff; cp. Acts 17:4-6). This also may be motivating his request that the Thessalonians pray for his deliverance from such "unreasonable and wicked men" (3:2; cf. Acts 17:4-6, 13; 18:6; 1 Thess. 2:14-16).

This Jewish context is important for grasping the situation Paul confronts. Furthermore, I will show in the exposition to follow that there are a number of allusions to the Olivet Discourse, which speak of the destruction of the Temple and the judgment of the Jews for rejecting Jesus as the Messiah (cp. Matt. 23:35-24:2; cp. Acts 17:3; 18:5).[12]

Our Gathering Together

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. (2 Thess. 2:1-2)

Paul's reference "concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him" (2 Thess. 2:1) is the crux interpretum of this passage. Paul is here speaking of the A.D. 70 judgment on the Jews -- the very judgment given emphasis in the first portion of the Olivet Discourse, the Book of Revelation, and several other passages of Scripture.

Though he speaks of the Second Advent just a few verses before (1:10), he is not dealing with that issue here. Of course, there are similarities between the Day of the Lord upon Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and the universal Day of the Lord associated with the Second Advent. The one is a temporal betokening of the other, being a distant adumbration of it.[13] Orthodox scholars from each of the millennial schools agree that these two events are brought in close union in the Olivet Discourse. Indeed, His disciples almost certainly confused the two (Matt. 24:3). The two comings are here brought together in 2 Thessalonians, as well.

In 2 Thessalonians 1:10 Paul even employs a different word for the coming of Christ (elthe) than he does in 2:1 (parousia). There the Second Advental judgment brings "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" (1:9); here a temporal "destruction" (2:8). There the Second Advent includes "his mighty angels" (1:7); here the temporal judgment makes no mention of these mighty angels (2:1-12). Thus, the Second Advent provides an eternal resolution to their suffering; the A.D. 70 Day of the Lord affords temporal resolution (cp. Rev. 6:10).

Furthermore, the "gathering together to Him" mentioned by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 picks up on the reference of our Lord in Matthew 24:31. The word translated "gather together" here is episunagoge, which is found elsewhere only in Hebrews 10:25, where, significantly, it speaks of a worship assembly. But its cognate verb form is found in Matthew 24:31, where the gathering is tied to "this generation" (Matt. 24:34) and signifies the calling out of the elect into the body of Christ with the trumpeting in of the archetypical Great Jubilee (cf. 2 Thess. 1:11; 2:14).[14] Here it functions in the same way. With the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, Christians would from thenceforth be "gathered together" in a separate and distinct "assembly" (episunagoge; the Church is called a sunagoge in James 2:2). After the Temple's destruction, God would no longer tolerate going up to the Temple to worship (it would be impossible!), as Christians frequently did prior to A.D. 70.[15]

The Day of Christ/Lord here mentioned is in fulfillment of Joel 2:31-32, which is brought to bear upon Jerusalem in Acts 2:16ff. There Peter identifies tongues as a covenantal sign[16] of curse regarding the coming destruction with blood, fire, and smoke, (Acts 2:19-21, 40). This explains why it was at Jerusalem (and nowhere else) that Christians sold their property and shared the proceeds (Acts 2:44-45): it was soon to be destroyed (Matt. 24:2-34; Luke 23:28-30).[17]

Paul consoles them by denying the false report that "the day of Christ had come" (2 Thess. 2:2). Apparently, the very reason for this epistle so soon after the first one, is that some unscrupulous deceivers forged letters from Paul and falsely claimed charismatic insights relevant to eschatological concerns. In his earlier letter he had to correct their grief over loved ones who had died in the Lord, as if this precluded their sharing in the resurrection (1 Thess. 4:13-17). Now new eschatological deceptions are troubling the young church (2 Thess. 2:1-3a): Some thought that the Day of the Lord had come[18] and, consequently, quit working (2 Thess. 3:6-12). Due to the catastrophic upheaval associated with the looming divine judgment upon Israel, Paul suggests to the Corinthians that they forgo marriage for awhile (1 Cor. 7:26-29). But here the Thessalonians were being tempted to stop all necessary labor, thinking the time had come.

The word "trouble" (Gk: throeo; 2:2) is in the present infinitive form, which signifies a continued state of agitation. It is the same word used elsewhere only in the Olivet Discourse (Mark 13:7; Matt. 24:6). There it is even found in the same sort of theological context: one warning of deception and trouble regarding the coming of the Day of Christ. "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet" (Mark 13:5-7).

The Man of Lawlessness

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. (2 Thess. 2:3-7)

Paul is quite concerned about the deception being promoted: "Let no one deceive you by any means" (v. 3a). He uses the strengthened form for deception (exapatese) with a double negative prohibition. To avoid the deception and to clarify the true beginning of the Day of the Lord upon Jerusalem, Paul informs them that "that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition" (2 Thess. 2:3). Before they could say the Day of the Lord "is come," then, there must first (see: RSV) be the falling away and the revelation of the man of lawlessness, who is also called "the son of perdition." These do not have to occur in the chronological order presented, as even dispensationalists admit.[19] Verse nine is clearly out of order and should occur in the midst of verse eight, if strict chronology were important.

The Falling Away

The word "falling away" is apostasia, which occurs only here and in Acts 21:21 in the New Testament. Historically, the word may apply either to a political or to a religious revolt.[20] But to which does it refer here? Does it refer to a future worldwide apostasy from the Christian faith, as per pessimistic eschatologies? Amillennialist William Hendriksen writes that this teaches that "by and large, the visible Church will forsake the true faith." Dispensationalist Constable comments: "This rebellion, which will take place within the professing church, will be a departure from the truth that God has revealed in His Word."[21] Or does the apostasia refer to a political rebellion of some sort?

A good case may be made in support of the view that it speaks of the Jewish apostasy/rebellion against Rome. Josephus certainly speaks of the Jewish War as an apostasia against the Romans (Josephus, Life 4). Probably Paul merges the two concepts of religious and political apostasy here, though emphasizing the outbreak of the Jewish War, which was the result of their apostasy against God.

This may be inferred from 1 Thessalonians 2:16, where Paul states of the Jews that they "always fill up the measure of their sins [i.e., religious apostasia against God]; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost [i.e., the result of political apostasia against Rome]." The apostasia [revolt] Paul mentions will lead to the military devastation of Israel (Luke 21:21-22; 23:28-31; Acts 2:16-20). The filling up of the measure of the sins of the fathers (Matt. 23:32) leads to Israel's judgment, thereby vindicating the righteous slain in Israel (Matt. 23:35; cf. Matt. 24:2-34). The apostasia of the Jews against God by rejecting their Messiah (Matt 21:37-39; 22:2-6), led to God's providentially turning them over to judgment via their apostasia against Rome (Matt. 21:40-42; 22:7). The emphasis must be on the revolt against Rome in that it is future and datable, whereas the revolt against God was ongoing and cumulative. Such is necessary to dispel the deception Paul was concerned with. In conjunction with this final apostasy and the consequent destruction of Jerusalem, Christianity and Judaism were forever separated and both are exposed to the wrath of Rome.[22]

Identifying the Man of Lawlessness

The Man of Lawlessness is Nero Caesar, who also is the Beast of Revelation, as a number of Church Fathers believed.[23] The difficulty of this passage lies in the fact that Paul "describes the Man of Sin with a certain reserve" (Origen, Celsus 6:45) for fear of incurring "the charge of calumny for having spoken evil of the Roman emperor" (Augustine, City of God 20:19). Thus, Paul becomes very obscure, apparently hiding his prophecy regarding the coming evil of and judgment on the Roman emperor. Josephus did the same when speaking about Daniel's fourth kingdom, which applied to Rome (Josephus, Ant. 10:10:4). Paul and his associates had already suffered at the hands of the Thessalonican Jews for "acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king -- Jesus" (Acts 17:7). Wisdom demanded discreetness in his reference to imperial authority; his recent (1 Thess. 2:17) personal ministry among them allowed it: they were to "remember" that while with them he "told [them] these things" (2:5). His personal instruction would allow them to know much more than we can from his discrete allusions in his letters.

It is at least clear from Paul that something is presently (ca. A.D. 52) "restraining" the Man of Lawlessness: "you know what is restraining [Gk. present participle], that he may be revealed in his own time" (2:6). This strongly suggests the preterist understanding of the whole passage: the Thessalonians themselves knew what was presently restraining the Man of Lawlessness; in fact the Man of Lawlessness was alive and waiting to be "revealed."[24]This implies that for the time-being Christians could expect some protection from the Roman government. The Roman laws regarding religio licita were currently in Christianity's favor, while considered a sect of Judaism and before the malevolent Nero ascended the throne. Paul certainly was protected by the Roman judicial apparatus (Acts 18:12ff.) and made important use of these laws in A.D. 59 (Acts 25:11-12; 28:19) as protection from the malignancy of the Jews. And he expressed no ill-feelings against Rome, when writing Romans 13 in A.D. 57-59 -- even during the early reign of Nero, the famous Quinquennium Neronis.[25]

While Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians 2 he was under the reign of Claudius Caesar, who had just banished Jews for persecuting Christians (Suetonius, Claudius 24:5; cp. Acts 18:2). It may be that he employs a word play on Claudius' name. The Latin word for "restraint" is claudere, which is similar to "Claudius."[26] It is interesting that Paul shifts between the neuter and masculine forms of the "the restrainer" (2 Thess. 2:6, 7). This may indicate he includes both the imperial law and the present emperor in his designation "restrainer." While Claudius lived, Nero, the Man of Lawlessnes, was without power to commit public lawlessness. Christianity was free from the imperial sword until the Neronic persecution began in November, A.D 64.

Even early in Nero's reign, his evil was hidden from the public eye by careful tutors -- until he broke free of their influence and was publicly "revealed" for what he was. Roman historians write of Nero: "Although at first his acts of wantonness, lust, extravagance, avarice and cruelty were gradual and secret. . . yet even then their nature was such that no one doubted that they were defects of his character and not due to his time of life" (Suetonius, Nero 26). "Gradually Nero's vices gained the upper hand: he no longer tried to laugh them off, or hide, or deny them, but openly broke into more serious crime" (Nero 27, cp. 6). "After this, no considerations of selection or moderation restrained Nero from murdering anyone he please, on whatever pretext" (Nero 37). "Other murders were meant to follow. But the emperor's tutors, Sextus Afranius Burrus and Lucius Annaeus Seneca, prevented them.... They collaborated in controlling the emperor's perilous adolescence; their policy was to direct his deviations from virtue into licensed channels of indulgence" (Tacitus, Annals 13).

The Mystery of Lawlessness

Remarkably the Jews were kept so in check by imperial law that they did not kill James the Just in Jerusalem, until about A.D. 62, after the death of the Roman procurator Festus and before the arrival of Albinus (Josephus, Ant.20:9:1). With these events the "mystery of lawlessness" was being uncovered as the "revelation of the Man of Lawlessness" (the transformation of the Roman imperial line into a persecuting power in the person of Nero) was occurring.

The evil "mystery of lawlessness" was "already working," though restrained in Claudius' day (2 Thess. 2:7). This is perhaps a reference to the evil conniving and plotting of Nero's mother, Agrippina, who may have poisoned Claudius so that Nero could ascend to the purple (Tacitus, Annals 12:62ff; Suetonius, Claudius 44). This is another indication for the preterist approach. The true nature of lawlessness was already at work in the imperial cultus and its rage for worship, though it had not yet jealously broken out upon the Christian community. In addition, the cunning machinations to secure imperial authority for Nero were afoot.

Showing That He is God

The Roman emperor, according to Paul, "exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped" (2 Thess. 2:4a). A warning of the evil potential of emperor worship was publicly exhibited just a few years before, when the emperor Caligula (Gaius) attempted to put his image in the Temple in Jerusalem (Josephus, Ant. 18:8:2-3).

The phrase "so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" is interesting. When hoste ("so that") is followed by an infinitive (kathisai, "to sit"), it indicates a purpose intended, not necessarily a purpose accomplished.[27] It was Caligula's intention to sit in "the temple of God" in Jerusalem; it was the emperor's desire to "show himself that he is God." In fact Philo tells us that "so great was the caprice of Caius [Caligula] in his conduct toward all, and especially toward the nation of the Jews. The latter he so bitterly hated that he appropriated to himself their places of worship in the other cities, and beginning with Alexandria he filled them with images and statues of himself."[28]

This was for all intents and purposes accomplished by future emperor Titus, who concluded the devastation of Jerusalem set in motion by Nero. Titus actually invaded the Temple in A.D. 70: "And now the Romans . . . brought their ensigns[29] to the temple, and set them over against its eastern gate; and there did they offer sacrifices to them, and there did they make Titus imperator, with the greatest acclamations of joy" (Josephus, Wars 6:6:1). By September, A.D. 70, the very Temple of which Paul spoke in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 was forever gone. This fact also supports the preterist understanding of the passage.[30] In fact, it parallels Matthew 24:15 and functions as Paul's abomination of desolation, which was to occur in "this generation" (Matt. 24:34).

Not only so but in Nero the imperial line eventually openly "opposed" (2 Thess. 2:4) Christ by persecuting His followers. Nero even began the persecution of Christians when he presented himself in a chariot as the sun god Apollo, while burning Christians for illumination for his self-glorifying party.[31]

The Lord Will Consume

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders. (2 Thess. 2:8-9)[32]

As just indicated, the lawless one was eventually openly revealed. The mystery form of his character gave way to a revelation of his lawlessness in Nero's wicked acts. This occurred after the restrainer [Claudius, who maintainedreligio licita] was "taken out of the way," allowing Nero the public stage upon which he could act out his horrendous lawlessness.

According to Hendriksen verse eight destroys any preterist interpretation identifying the Man of Lawlessness with the Roman emperor, because it ties the events to the era of the Second Advent.[33] The strong preteristic indications in the passage heretofore, however, demand a different understanding of the destructive coming of Christ here mentioned. As already shown in the discussion of verse 1, Matthew 24:30 is most relevant here: "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." And that verse is specifically applied to the first century (Matt. 24:34), as is Revelation 1:7[34] (cp. Rev. 1:1, 3); Matthew 26:63-65; and Mark 9:1. Christ comes in judgment upon Jerusalem in the events of A.D. 67-70.

In that judgment-coming against Jerusalem there is also judgment for the Man of Lawlessness, Nero. There is hope and comfort in the promised relief from the opposition of the Jews and Nero (2 Thess. 2:15-17). Not only was Jerusalem destroyed within twenty years, but Nero himself died a violent death in the midst of the Jewish War (June 8, A.D. 68). His death, then, would occur in the Day of the Lord in conjunction with the judgment-coming of Christ. He will be destroyed by the breath of Christ, much like Assyria was destroyed with the coming and breath of the LORD in the Old Testament (Isa. 30:27-31) and like Israel was crushed by Babylon (Mic. 1:3-5). In fact, by God's providence Nero's death stopped the Jewish War briefly so that Christians trapped in Jerusalem could escape (cp. 1 Thess. 1:10).[35] The Man of Lawlessness/Beast, Nero Caesar, dies in the Day of the Lord with the Great Harlot, Jerusalem (Rev. 19:17-21; cf. Rev. 22:6, 10, 12).

Conclusion

The Man of Lawlessness passage is to be preteristically understood for several reasons:

(1)    Obvious parallels with Matthew 24 and Revelation 13 tie it into their era of accomplishment: the late A.D. 60s up to A.D. 70 (Matt. 24:34; Rev. 1:1, 3; 22:6, 10).

(2)    The reference to the Temple as still standing (2:4).

(3)    The present restraining of the Man of Lawlessness (2:6).

(4)    The knowledge of the Thessalonians regarding the restrainer (2:6).

(5)    The contemporary operation of the Man of Lawlessness in mystery form during Paul's day (2:7).

(6)    The overall relevant correspondence of the features with the contemporary situation in which the Thessalonicans found themselves.

The fulfillment of this dreadful prophecy of Scripture does not haunt our future. Its accomplishment lies in our distant past. It was a relevant warning of events looming in the first century.