2 Thessalonians 2:4-6

Characteristics of the Man of Sin

Paul said the man of sin is continually opposed to anyone other than himself being lifted up in man's eyes or worshipped. So jealous is he of anyone, or thing, being worshipped above him that he actually makes himself sit on the seat that belongs to God in the temple. Paul thought of the church as the temple under the new covenant (Ephesians 2:21; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17). The man of sin usurps God's place in the church and sets himself up as God.

McGarvey says, "The Greek word for 'worship' is sebasma; from it came Selastus or Augustus (i.e., the Worshipful), which was the title of the Roman emperors." He went on to say, "A man of that age could hardly see this word in such a connection without thinking that Paul meant to convey the idea that the anti-Christ would arrogate to himself all the reverence then claimed by the great civil lords of the earth, such as emperors, kings, etc." Thus, we see a man, group of men or type of man, who would set himself up at the head of the church as one worthy of worship, thereby leading all who would follow him into apostasy.

Warnings of a falling away are found repeatedly in the New Testament (Acts 20:29-31; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-8; 2 Timothy 4:3-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:1-7). Paul warned the Thessalonians in person, as well as in this letter, concerning the dangers of such a falling away. He said God was restraining the man of sin until a time that fit His timetable. He may have done that through the repeated warnings of the apostles and strong elders who constantly went to theWord for their authority. Certainly, when men cease to look within God's word for solutions to spiritual problems they are ripe for the reception of an outside authority (2 Thessalonians 2:4-6).