9-10 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11-12 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (English Standard Version)

The apostle Paul urged the Thessalonian Christians to not be misled by claims that 'the day of the Lord' (i.e. the return of Christ Jesus) had already happened. “That day won’t come”, said Paul, “unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thes 2:3-4) That word 'temple' need not be limited to a physical building in Jerusalem. It could be a figure of speech for someone who substitutes himself as the supreme authority. What does Paul say about this 'man of lawlessness' who would be revealed? (vs 9-10)

His destructive activities and proud arrogance are inspired by Satan and will be accompanied with powerful, but false, signs and wonders. His ‘misinformation’ will be hidden by ‘miracles’. Could it be that these wonders include the 'miraculous' progress science has made, such as the amazing abilities of artificial intelligence 'robots', leading many to feel no need for God? We see things to-day our grandparents would not have believed possible. No surprise then that people in the world are impressed by these ‘wonders’, and are willing to listen to the message that ‘all so-called gods' are obsolete.

But the false signs and wonders may also be the sort of deception being pushed by those who claim a supernatural working of God that causes people to be drunk, slain, or even drugged ‘in the Spirit’. These preachers often have a huge number of followers. Yet what does Paul say is actually going on behind all of these ‘wonders’, and the rebellion against our Creator? (vs 11-12)

God hasn’t been taken unawares and unprepared. He’s not scrambling for a plan B to thwart mankind's amazing progress. Way back in time we read how the people who populated the earth after the great flood of Noah's day constructed a city and a very impressive tall towered building. In Genesis 11:5-7 we read: “The Lord said, 'Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.'” And just as God confused the people's language in those days, so God will be the one who sends a strong delusion among the masses before Jesus returns. Even the Antichrist is under the control of almighty God. What do today's four verses tell us about why God sends such a great delusion upon the people of the world?

Because they 'refused to love the truth and so be saved', and because ‘they did not believe the truth - but had pleasure in unrighteousness'. The coming of the man of lawlessness and the misleading signs and wonders will be part of God's judgment upon those who continually rejected the Lord Jesus Christ and His message of truth, and chose to wallow in unrighteousness. It takes us back to Jesus’ words to those who rejected God’s message. He said to them: “ Why do you not understand what I say? It’s because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.” (John 8:43-45)

The increasing hatred against Christ Jesus we see in our generation, and the false ‘signs and wonders’, are not just man made events. They are inspired and orchestrated by the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this present darkness, and by spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12) The Bible says that “evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13) “But as for you,” said Paul to Timothy, “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed.” Yes, let all believers cling firmly to Christ, and to the truth He brought.