Scofield Reference Bible Notes
2 Thessalonians 2

2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

day of Christ

Day of the LORD. See Scofield Isaiah 2:12, refs.

at hand

now present.

2Th 2:3 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;

for that day

The order of events is:

1. The working of the mystery of lawlessness under divine restraint which had already begun in the apostle's time (2Th 2:7);
2. the apostasy of the professing church (2Th 1:3; Luk 18:8; 2Ti 3:1-8);
3. the removal of that which restrains the mystery of lawlessness (2Th 2:6-7). The restrainer is a person—"he," and since a "mystery" always implies a supernatural element (Scofield Matthew 13:11, note), this Person can be none other than the Holy Spirit in the church, to be "taken out of the way" (2Th 2:7; 1Th 4:14-17);
4. the manifestation of the lawless one (2Th 2:8-10; Dan 7:8; 9:27; Mat 24:15; Rev 13:2-10);
5. the coming of Christ in glory and the destruction of the lawless one (2Th 2:8; Rev 19:11-21);
6. the day of Jehovah (2Th 2:9-12; Scofield Isaiah 2:12, refs.).

a falling away

apostasy. [forsaking faith]

man of sin

Or, lawless one.

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

withholdeth

Or, that which restrains.

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

mystery

Scofield Matthew 13:11, note.

iniquity

lawlessness.

letteth

hindereth.

let

hinder.

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

that Wicked

The Beast. 2Th 2:3-8; Rev 13:1-8. (Dan 7:8; Rev 19:20.)

Wicked

Lawless one.

whom the Lord shall consume

Day (of Jehovah). 2Th 2:1-8; 2Pe 3:10. (Isa 2:10-22; Rev 19:11-21).

his coming

Christ (Second Advent). 1Ti 6:14-15. (Deu 30:3; Acts 1:9-11.)

2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

Satan

Satan. 1Ti 1:20. (Gen 3:1; Rev 20:10.)

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

the love of the truth

1Co 16:22.

saved [See also 2Th 2:13.]

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

damned

judged.

believed

Faith. 2Th 2:11-12; 2Ti 1:12. (Gen 3:20; Heb 11:39.)

unrighteousness

Apostasy. 1Ti 4:1-3. (Luk 18:8; 2Ti 3:1.)

2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

chosen

Election (corporate). 2Ti 2:10. (Genesis 1:1; Malachi 3:18).

Spirit

Holy Spirit (N.T.). 1Ti 3:16. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

gospel

Gospel. 1Ti 1:11. (Gen 12:1-3; Rev 14:6.)

2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

traditions which ye have been taught

Rom 6:17; Jde 1:3.

2Th 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

Bible prayers (N.T.). 2Th 3:5. (Mat 6:9; Rev 22:20.)

through grace

Grace (in salvation). 1Ti 1:14-15. (Rom 3:24; Scofield John 1:16, note.)