QT 09/10/2024 Wed. 2Thessalonians 2. Countering the man of lawlessness. 对抗那大罪人。

QT 09/10/2024 Wed. 2Thessalonians 2. Countering the man of lawlessness.
http://www.esvbible.org/2thes2

Paul writes to the young Thessalonian church to guard against "the man of lawlessness" ("or man of sin"). Paul reveals to them that towards the end times, there will come a person who will oppose God and seek to replace God and even "proclaiming himself to be God" (2Th 2:4).

While it seems this "man of sin" is a person, his power "IS ALREADY AT WORK" (2Th 2:5). Perhaps, the power of the "man of sin" also operates at every age (even today), at every place where the true God is displaced, despised and denounced.

Those who "refused to love truth and so be saved" (2Th 2:10) will be the most likely candidates to be deceived. Externally, the deception and lie of the "man of sin" are enhanced by the fact that this man of sin is ABLE to display "all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders" (2Th 2:9).

Those who have delighted in wickedness (2Th 2:12) and seen these miracles will go "wow!" or "cooool!" It is a sad state of affairs but God might even let them have their choice of "powerful delusion" (2Th 2:11).

REFLECTION: How could the Thessalonians or we escape such a frightening foe whose coming will be "in accordance with the work of Satan?" (2Th 2:9)?

APPLICATION: (1) Recognise that God has chosen us, through the work of the Spirit  (2Th 2:13). (2) Believe in the truth rather than the lie (2Th 2:13,15). (3) Stand firm and hold on to the teachings of Paul that came "by word of mouth or by letter" (2Th 2:15). (4) Pray to God for encouragement and strength (2Th 2:17).

星期三 2024年10月9日 帖撒罗尼迦后书2章。对抗那大罪人。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/2Ts/2/

保罗写信给年轻的帖撒罗尼迦教会，要他们提防 “沉沦之子”（或 “大罪人”）。保罗向他们揭示，在末世，会有一个人反对上帝，试图取代上帝，甚至 “自称是神”（帖后 2：4）。

虽然这个 “罪人 ”似乎是一个人，但他的能力 “已经在运行”（帖后 2:5）。也许，“罪人 ”的能力也在每个时代（甚至今天）、在每个真神被取代、鄙视和谴责的地方运行。

那些 “不领受爱真理的心”（帖后 2:10）的人最有可能受骗。从外表上看，“各样的异能神迹，和一切虚假的奇事”（帖后 2:9）而更有威力。

那些喜好邪恶的人（帖后 2:12）看到这些神迹会 “哇！”或 “酷！”。这是一种可悲的状态，但上帝甚至会任凭他们他们选择 “一个生发错误的心”（帖后 2:11）。

反思：帖撒罗尼迦人或我们怎么能躲过这样一个可怕又“是照撒但的运动” 的敌人呢 (帖后 2：9）？

应用：（1）认识到神通过圣灵的工作拣选了我们（帖后 2:13）。(2）相信真理而非谎言（帖后 2：13、15）。(3) 坚定并坚持保罗 “的教训，不拘是我们口传的，是信上写的 ”教导（帖后 2：15）。(4) 祈求神赐予鼓励和力量（帖后 2：17）。