2 Thessalonians ii. 6–9
“And now ye know that
which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own
season. For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is
one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. And then
shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with
the breath of His mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of
His coming: even he whose coming is according to the working of
Satan.”
may
naturally enquire, what is that which withholdeth, and after that would
know, why Paul expresses it so obscurely. What then is it that
withholdeth, that is, hindereth him from being revealed? Some indeed
say, the grace of the Spirit, but others the Roman empire, to whom I
most of all accede. Wherefore? Because if he meant to say the Spirit, he would not have spoken obscurely, but plainly, that even now the grace of the Spirit, that is the gifts, withhold him. And otherwise he ought now to have come, if he was about to come when the gifts ceased; for they have long since ceased. But because he said this of the Roman empire, he naturally glanced at it, and speaks covertly and darkly. For he did not wish to bring upon himself superfluous enmities, and useless dangers. For if he had said that after a little while the Roman empire would be dissolved, they would immediately have even overwhelmed him, as a pestilent person, and all the faithful, as living and warring to this end. And he did not say that it will be quickly, although he is always saying it—but what? “that he may be revealed in his own season,” he says,
“For the mystery of
lawlessness doth already work.” He speaks here of Nero, as if he
were the type of Antichrist. For he too wished to be thought a god. And
he has well said, “the mystery”; that is, it worketh not
openly, as the other, nor without shame. For if there was found a man
before that time, he means, who was not much behind Antichrist in
wickedness, what wonder, if there shall now be one? But he did not also
wish to point him out plainly: and this not from cowardice, but
instructing us not to bring upon ourselves unnecessary enmities, when
there is nothing to call for it. So indeed he also says here. “Only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way,” that is, when the Roman empire is taken out of the way, then he shall come. And naturally. For as long as the fear of this empire lasts, no one will willingly exalt himself, but when that is dissolved, he will attack the anarchy, and endeavor to seize upon the government both of man and of God. For as the kingdoms before this were destroyed, for example, that of the Medes by the Babylonians, that of the Babylonians by the Persians, that of the Persians by the Macedonians, that of the Macedonians by the Romans: so will this also be by the Antichrist, and he by Christ, and it will no longer withhold. And these things Daniel delivered to us with great clearness.
“And then,” he says, “shall be revealed the lawless one.” And what after this? The consolation is at hand. “Whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of His coming, even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan.”
For as fire merely coming on
even before its arrival makes torpid and consumes the little animals
that are afar off; so also Christ, by His commandment only, and Coming. It is enough for Him to be present, and all these things are destroyed. He will put a stop to the deceit, by only appearing. Then who is this, whose coming is after the working of Satan, “With all display all power,” but nothing true, but for deceit. “And lying wonder,” he says, that is, false, or leading to falsehood.
Ver. 10. “And with
all deceit of unrighteousness for them that are
perishing.”