2 Thessalonians 2:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,

NIV: For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie

NASB: For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

CSB: For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie,

NLT: So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies.

KJV: And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

NKJV: And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

In this verse Paul explains what happens to those who refuse the truth during the tribulation. He references an impending spiritual rebellion, and the rise of a powerful spiritual figure, the man of lawlessness. To those who are not Christians, God sends a strong delusion, so they will succumb to the false teaching of the man of lawlessness. A rejection of truth always predisposes sinners to accept error (Romans 1:18–23). In this case, unbelievers choose to reject the truth but believe the lie that the man of lawlessness is the Messiah.

Paul's teaching in this passage raises an interesting question: how does the truth reach the lost in the tribulation? Based on his prior words, Christians will not be present to share the truth. They will be in heaven, having been raptured and taken from the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17). According to Scripture, however, God will raise up other witnesses to the truth in the tribulation. From the tribes of Israel, 144,000 Jews will believe on Jesus and evangelize the lost. Further, two faithful witnesses will preach for three and one-half years, authenticating their ministry by withholding rain from the earth and striking the earth with plagues. These witnesses will be martyred, but after three and one-half days, God will raise them from the dead.

The fact that so many living in the tribulation refuse to believe in spite of such powerful witnesses shows how hard the human heart can be.

Second Thessalonians 2:1–12 discusses the ''day of the Lord'' as an event from which Christians are exempt. Some Thessalonian believers were confused, thinking they had entered this time of hardship and judgment. Paul tells them to put such thinking aside, regardless of the source. He assures them the day of the Lord will not commence until a rebellion or apostasy occurs, followed by the emergence of the man of lawlessness. This figure will try to take on the role of God and deceive those who are lost and had rejected the truth. Empowered by Satan, the man of lawlessness will deceive unbelievers by performing signs and wonders. But at His coming, Jesus Christ will destroy the man of lawlessness.

The Christians of Thessalonica have not missed out on the events described in Paul's prior letter. Despite what some teachers apparently thought, they were not experiencing the ''day of the Lord,'' a time of God's great wrath and judgment. As proof, Paul offers instruction on events which had yet to occur, prior to the coming of the day of the Lord. The first is a rebellion, or a ''falling away.'' The second is the emergence of a ''man of lawlessness'' who will demonstrate satanic power. This will correspond with God removing His restraint, in some way, leaving sin freer rein to enable His judgment.

Chapter 1 praised the Christians of Thessalonica for their spiritual growth and acts of love. This chapter seeks to correct a discouraging error present in that same church. Paul encourages these believers by stating that they have not missed out on the events described in his prior letter and have not entered into the judgment of the ''day of the Lord.'' Before that catastrophic time can begin, certain events must occur. These include a widespread spiritual apostasy and the rise of a satanically-empowered figure. Chapter 3 commends the value of a strong work ethic, both in a spiritual and a secular sense.

Second Thessalonians follows Paul's earlier letter to the same group of Christian believers. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul had praised them for their faithfulness and given them reassurances about the day of the Lord. This included teachings on the rapture and a description of death as ''sleep'' from a Christian viewpoint. In this second letter, Paul corrects possible misunderstandings about those ideas. Among his teachings here are the importance of a good work ethic and God's impending judgment on sin, including judgment on those who persecute the Christian church. Paul also provides the Thessalonians with reassurances that they have not somehow missed out on Christ's return.