Scripture to Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
God uses Paul to remind us that the antichrist will be doing the work of Satan. In other words, the antichrist will be Satan’s chosen man to use to do Satan’s work. Some believe that it will be Satan incarnate, just as Jesus was God incarnate on earth, but there is no evidence of that in Scripture. Since Satan is a fallen angel, we should never believe Satan has the attributes of God. Satan is NOT all-knowing (omniscient), all-powerful (omnipotent), nor all-present (omnipresent), but we know that God is all of these. Stott says: “The rebellion will take place, according to Paul, publicly and visibly on the stage of history. It will be seen in a world-wide breakdown of the rule of law, of the administration of justice and of the practice of true religion.” Stott also says, “It would be more accurate to think of the coming of antichrist as a deliberate and unscrupulous parody of the second coming of Christ…” Stott, The Message of 1 & 2 Thessalonians, p. 171-172. God lets us know that the antichrist will perform all kinds of signs and wonders. Since people are drawn to miracles, they will be deceived by these signs and wonders. Remember, just because a miracle takes place does not mean that it is from God. Satan is a powerful being, and he will use the antichrist to deceive many. Also remember the false miracles worked by the Egyptian magicians, Jannes and Jambres (Exodus 7:11, 22; 2 Tim. 3:8), as they opposed Moses, definitely not from God.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about the deception through the antichrist?
2. Who will you share God’s Truth with this week so that they have the opportunity to come to know Christ as Lord?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!