2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first… I. THE GENERAL APOSTASY WHICH MUST PRECEDE CHRIST'S COMING. 1. Apostasy is any defection from that lord to whom we owe fealty. In religious matters it is defection from our right and proper Lord. The devil was an apostate (Jude 1:6; John 8:44); our first parents (Romans 5:19); their posterity (Zephaniah 1:6; Isaiah 59:13). 2. The apostasy of the text was not civil, the falling away of many kingdoms from the Roman empire; but of the visible Church from its Lord. This is proved — (1) From the fact that the Thessalonians did not intermingle with State affairs. (2) From the use of the word in Christian doctrine (Luke 13:13). (3) Because it was expressly foretold (1 Timothy 4:1). (4) Because those who are most concerned to maintain the notion of civil apostasy are most notorious in this defection. 3. The proper Lord of the Christian Church is Christ (Romans 14:9; Ephesians 5:23). 4. Apostasy from Christ is determined by two things. (1) By undermining His authority. This is done when others usurp His place without His leave, e.g., superinduce a universal head of the Church which Christ never appointed. (2) By corrupting and destroying the interests of His kingdom, which is the case wherever there is a degeneration from the purity and simplicity of the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:3), such as when the faith of the gospel is turned into dead opinions and curious questions; and its worship corrupted into giving Divine honour to saints and angels and turned into a theatrical pomp of empty ceremonies; and its discipline transformed into temporal domination and carried on by sides and interests. 5. This apostasy is notable and discernible, not of a few or many in divers Churches. There have always been backsliders (1 John 2:18, 19; 1 John 4:3, 5); but the great apostasy is in some visible Church where these corruptions are generally received and defended. Who then are they — (1) Who usurp Christ's authority by setting up a universal head over all Christians? (2) Who revive the worship of a middle sort of powers between God and man (1 Timothy 4:1; Colossians 2:18), and invent so many lies to defend it, when Christians should keep themselves from idols (1 John 5:21), not contented with the only Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Corinthians 8:5)? (3) Who plead for indulgences and the supererogatory satisfaction of saints as profitable for the remission of sins? (4) Who keep believers from reading the Scriptures when expressly enjoined to do so (John 5:39; Psalm 1:2)? (5) Who deny one part of the Lord's Supper notwithstanding His institution to the contrary (1 Corinthians 11:25, 26)? II. THE REVELATION OF ANTICHRIST as — 1. "The man of sin."(1) The Jews gave this name to Antiochus (1 Macc. 2:48, 62), and it is given to Antichrist because he is a man given up to sin eminently, and giveth excitements to sin. Now how much open sin is allowed in the Papacy their own stories tell Histories witness that the most abominable men have occupied the Papal chair; and no man can sin at so cheap a rate when, by dividing sins into mortal and venial, and these expiated by penance, faculties, licences, dispensations, indulgences until sin is distinguished out of conscience. (2) Because he is called "the man of sin" it does not follow that he is an individual. One is often put for a society and succession of men as kings (Daniel 7:8; Isaiah 10:5; Isaiah 14:9); so the "man of God" is put for all faithful ministers (2 Timothy 3:17); "high priest" (Hebrews 9:25); "the king" (1 Peter 2:17). So one person represents that succession of men that head the revolt against Christ. 2. "The son of perdition." Wherein he is likened to Judas (John 17:12). The term may be explained passively as one condemned to everlasting destruction (2 Samuel 12:5; Ephesians 2:3), or actively as bringing destruction on himself and others (Revelation 9:11, cf. Hebrews 5:9). Note the parallel. (1) Judas was not a stranger, but a pretended friend and apostle (Acts 1:17). Turks and infidels are enemies to Christ, but Antichrist seeks to undermine Him under a pretence of friendship. There is no mystery in open enmity (ver. 7). (2) He sold Christ for a small matter; Antichrist makes a market of religion. (3) Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss, and where is there apparently such friends of Christ as at Rome? They are ready to worship the Cross, and yet they are its enemies, because they mind earthly things. (4) Judas was a guide to those who came to take Christ, and the main work of Antichrist is to be a ringleader in persecuting for religion. (5) Judas was covetous, and England to its bitter cost knows the exactions of the Papacy. (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; |
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