2 Thessalonians 2

“I frankly confess I do not know what he (Paul) means” (Augustine)
“I attempt no interpretation of this passage” (Marvin Vincent)
“So vague that we can hardly hope to clear it up” (Robertson)
“There is an obscurity in the language rendering it difficult” (Gloag)
“Undoubtedly one of the most difficult in all Paul’s writings” (Demarest)

3 Views of 2 Thessalonians 2

The Preterist Interpretation
1. The ‘coming’ (2:1, 8) refers to the AD70 coming in judgment
2. The term ‘gathered’ refers to the union of Jewish & Gentile believers
3. The phrase ‘day of the Lord’ refers to any period of judgment of sin
4. The ‘day of the Lord’ in 2:2 can’t possibly refer to the final judgment of the world since they were afraid that a letter had told them of it!
5. Paul was assuring them that Jerusalem was still standing (2:2-3)
6. The ‘rebellion’ (2:3) refers to 1st century Jewish apostasy
7. The 1st century Thessalonians knew who the man of lawlessness was, but we can only make educated guesses since we don’t have all the data
8. The 1st century Thessalonians knew what restrained him (2:6), but we can only make educated guesses since we don’t have all the data
9. The Preterist interpretation is proven by the time indicators in the passage, such as ‘now’ (2:6-7) & ‘already at work’ (2:7)

The Historicist Interpretation
1. Both the early church fathers & the reformers viewed the ‘coming’ as the 2nd Coming & the ‘gathering’ as the final gathering of all believers
2. The Roman Empire was the restrainer, but Paul was being careful
3. The Papacy is the ‘man of lawlessness’ that gained power after Rome fell
4. The 2nd Coming will destroy the Papal System

The Futurist Interpretation
1. The ‘coming’ described is the 2nd Coming
2. The ‘gathering’ described is the rapture
3. The ‘rebellion’ (2:3) refers to a final century Christian apostasy
4. The ‘man of lawlessness’ is the future ‘Antichrist’
5. He is being held back by the presence of the church on earth
6. Once the church is raptured, he will present himself
7. He will set himself up in a rebuilt Jewish temple and declare he is God
8. He will be destroyed by the 2nd Coming

Quotes seemingly supporting the historicist (reformation) view

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now hinders must hinder, until he be taken out of the way." What obstacle is there but the Roman state, the falling away of which, by being scattered into ten kingdoms, shall introduce Antichrist upon (its own ruins)?
~Tertullian


One may naturally enquire, what is that which withholdeth, and after that would know, why Paul expresses it so obscurely. What then is it that withholdeth, that is, hindereth him from being revealed? Some indeed say, the grace of the Spirit, but others the Roman empire, to whom I most of all accede…But because he said this of the Roman empire, he naturally glanced at it, and speaks covertly and darkly. For he did not wish to bring upon himself superfluous enmities, and useless dangers
~John Chrysostum

We should therefore concur with the traditional interpretation of all the commentators of the Christian Church, that at the end of the world, when the Roman Empire is to be destroyed, there shall be ten kings who will partition the Roman world amongst themselves. Then an insignificant eleventh king will arise
~Jerome

For what does he mean by "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way: and then shall the wicked be revealed?" [2 Thess 2] I frankly confess I do not know what he means. ... However, it is not absurd to believe that these words of the apostle, "Only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of the way," refers to the Romans
~Augustine

“The Roman Pontiff judges all men but is judged by no one. I have the authority of the king of kings. I am all and in all and above all. Wherefore if those things that I do be said not to be done of man, but of God, What can you make me but God? Wherefore, no marvel if it be in my power to change time and times, to alter and abrogate laws, to dispense with all things…I conclude commanding, declaring and pronouncing to stand upon necessity of salvation that every creature be subject to me.”
~1302 Pope Bonoface

“You know that I am the holy father, the representative of God which means that I am God on earth.”
~1922 Pope Pious XI

“We hold the place of almighty God on earth”
~1897 Pope Leo VIII

We here are of the conviction that the papacy is the seat of the true and real Antichrist...personally I declare that I owe the Pope no other obedience than that to Antichrist.
~Martin Luther

Some persons think us too severe and censorious when we call the Roman pontiff Antichrist. But those who are of this opinion do not consider that they bring the same charge of presumption against Paul himself, after whom we speak and whose language we adopt... I shall briefly show that (Paul's words in II Thess. 2) are not capable of any other interpretation than that which applies them to the Papacy.
~John Calvin

Speaking of the Papacy he said, "He is in an emphatical sense, the Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers... He it is...that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...claiming the highest power, and highest honour...claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone.
~John Wesley