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The “Man of Sin” in 2 Thesselonians. 2:3 plays an important part in conflict between good and evil before the second coming of Jesus. A warning about and a description of the “man of sin” is given here. The phrase “man of sin” only appears here in 2 Thessalonians, however, there are indications that this “person” is discussed elsewhere in the Bible.

Contents 1 The Man of Lawlessness 2 Individual or Composite "Man" 3 Antichrist 4 Revealing of The Man of Sin 5 Identifying Features 5.1 Lawlessness 5.2 Opposition 5.3 Exalted above God 5.4 The Man of Sin is able to access God's Temple 5.5 First Century Disciples had been told about the Man of Sin 5.6 Something is restraining the ability for others to discern him 5.7 A mysterious iniquity is allowed to continue 6 Notes

The Man of Sin is also called the Man of Lawlessness in some bible translations. He is then also referred to as the son of destruction or perdition and also the Devil's Advocate in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3.

Is this “man of sin” a single human who lives at some point in history?

The Greek word for man is: Anthropos. According to Strongs Concordance 444 it can have several meanings:

1:- a human being, whether male or female 2:- indefinitely, someone, a man, one 3:- in the plural, people 4:- joined with other words, merchantman 5:- A two fold nature of man

This “man” may therefore be either an individual or an esoteric group.

In the following verses Paul says that the “man of Sin/lawlessness” was already at work in his day (the first century) and yet was to be held back to be revealed at the proper time near the second coming of Jesus.

“Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day [the second coming] will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed … And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For 'the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so … And then the lawless one will be revealed”^[1].

Since the life span of a single man is only some 70 year, this “man of sin” must refer to a common human philosophy of life or some human group or organization.

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God^[2].

The revealing of this Man of Sin is a very important event as the scriptures indicate that it immediately precedes the coming of Jesus Christ. This is the intent of the 2nd Chapter of the bible book of 2nd Thessalonians to explain these preliminary events as identified in the first verses of this chapter.

The lawlessness was already working in the 1st Century:

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work^[3]

Exactly how this lawlessness was at work is not properly understood however, it probably was an insidious entity which was attempting to undermine Jesus Christ's law's and commandments. Jesus himself demonstrated this would be so through his admonishments to the disciples as follows:

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; ^[4]

The Man of Sin will be in opposition to the will of God.

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God^[5]

The Man of Sin will also exalt himself above the position of God and Jesus. If the Man of Sin is lawless then he must regard the laws and commandments of Jesus with contempt and perhaps substitute his own in their place.

The scriptures indicate further that the Man of Sin is somehow able to enter God's Temple:

so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.^[6]

Showing himself to be a God infers that he is able to obtain worship or veneration from his subjects. Since a such a temple, as of this writing, was destroyed by Roman General Titus in the year 70 CE, any future realization of the Man of Sin must refer to either God's temple in heaven (unlikely) or a position of authority declaring jurisdiction over what is only under God's governance.

Since the Antichrist can refer to individuals as well as groups, this may indicate Man of Sin as not solely one individual, but a representation of those attributing the realization of promises that only God's Kingdom can bring about to human leaders or groups, political, religious, or otherwise.

The Apostle Paul made a statement which indicated that the disciples should already be aware of what was happening to them in regard to the Man of Sin due to previous admonishments which, might be discernable through scriptures. That Paul needed to remind them indicates the relationship to what he had previously told them might not be easily discernable.

Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?^[7]

And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.^[8]

The Man of Sin is allowed to continue with his mysterious iniquity however, the scripture indicate that he will be eventually taken out of the way.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.^[9]

Do other scriptures indicate that an iniquity is allowed to continue inside of The Kingdom which, will eventually be removed? Yes:

He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.^[10]

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;^[11]

1. ^ 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 6-8
2. ^ 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
3. ^ 2 Thessalonians 2:7
4. ^ Matthew 13:38
5. ^ 2 Thessalonians 2:4
6. ^ 2 Thessalonians 2:4
7. ^ 2 Thessalonians 2:5
8. ^ 2 Thessalonians 2:6
9. ^ 2 Thessalonians 2:7
10. ^ Matthew 13:28
11. ^ Matthew 13:39

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopædia.