The Great Rebellion and the Mystery of Lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2,1-12

This article provides an expository study of 2 Thessalonians 2,1-12 in which Paul delineates the Christian history from his day until the Second Coming. The apostle contends that the Christian history will be characterized by a great spiritual rebellion against God organized by Satan. The apostle points to the central roles of two entities in that great rebellion, which he defines in terms of “the man of lawlessness” as the agent of Satan and “the restrainer” who for some time holds back the full revelation of that lawless figure on the world scene. Bible commentaries offer various proposal on the identity of these two entities. This study provides a careful exposition of 2 Thessalonians 2,1-12 within its literary context and in the relation with corresponding Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 and offers a fresh interpretation of this apocalyptic text of Paul