“The Man of Lawlessness” in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 is one of the most enigmatic people in the Bible. Understanding who he is, however, is paramount (a) because his arrival signals the return of Jesus is near and (b) to ensure believers are not led astray by him.
Paul describes the Man of Lawlessness (also called the Man of Sin in the KJV) at length in 2 Thessalonians 2:3b–10. There are twelve descriptors of the Man of Lawlessness that help us understand who he is and what he does.
1. “Man of Lawlessness” and “Lawless One” (2 Thess 2:3, 8)
The title “Lawless One” in verse 8 helps the reader understand the relationship between the head noun “man” and the modifying noun “lawlessness” in verse 3. The Man of Lawlessness is a person who is characterized by lawlessness. He disobeys God’s law and opposes God’s will. The noun ἀνομία(“lawlessness”) and its adjectival cognate ἄνομος (“lawless”) can also be understood as “rebellion” and “rebellious,” indicating that the man of lawlessness rebels against God, his will, and his ways. The translation “rebellion/rebellious” also aligns well with “the rebellion” mentioned in verse 3b because it shows there is a connection between the rebellion that must happen prior to Jesus’ return and “the Man of Rebellion/Lawlessness” who must arrive prior to Jesus’ return.
The KJV and NKJV call the person the “Man of Sin” due to the majority of manuscripts containing the term “sin” (ἁμαρτία). Hopefully, you can see the similarities between the two words in that they look and sound alike in Greek. Most translations have opted for ἀνομία (“lawlessness”) for three reasons: (a) the oldest manuscripts use ἀνομία(“lawlessness”), (b) the man is unambiguously referred to as “the Lawless One” (ὁ ἄνομος) in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, and (c) the term most likely comes from “son of lawlessness” (υἱὸς ἀνομίας [בֶן־עַוְלָה in the MT]) in Psalm 88:23 in the Greek Old Testament (Ps 89:22 in the MT and English Bibles). The difference should not bother readers of the Bible because John makes it very clear that “sin is lawlessness” in 1 John 3:4, equating the two terms.
2. “Son of Destruction” (2 Thess 2:3)
The relationship between the head noun “son” and the modifying noun “destruction” is difficult to discern in the context. There are two possible interpretations. First, the modifying noun could be describing the head noun, indicating that he is a person who destroys. Similarly, the modifying noun could indicate that which is produced by the head noun; the son produces destruction. In context, he is a destroyer of unbelievers in that he deceives the unbelievers to continue in their unbelief (2:9–10). Second, the modifying noun could indicate the destination where the head noun is going. Thus, the man (or “son”) is going to destruction. This also fits in context because Jesus will destroy him (2:8). It is always possible that both options are intended. He is a person who is characterized by destruction in that he destroys the unbelievers and he himself goes to destruction, suffering the same fate.
3. He Opposes Every So-Called God and Object of Worship (2 Thess 2:4)
He opposes every so-called god and object of worship: “who opposes . . . every so-called god or object of worship” (2:4). He is against and opposed to every ‘deity’ or object of worship. This includes Yahweh, the one true God who is Trinity: Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. It also includes every religion and false god throughout the world.
4. He Exalts Himself above Every So-Called God and Object of Worship (2 Thess 2:4)
He exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship: “who . . . exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship” (2:4). He believes he is better than every ‘deity’ and object of worship and he believes he is deserving of the worship of all people, not these ‘gods’ or objects of worship. This includes Yahweh, the one true God who is Trinity: Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. The Man of Lawlessness exalts himself above Yahweh in every conceivable way. His goal is to eradicate every religion, every so-called god, and every object of worship so that only he is left with the result that every person will worship and exalt him.
5. He Sits in the Temple of God, Proclaiming to Be God (2 Thess 2:4)
The result of the Man of Lawlessness opposing and exalting himself above every so-called god and object of worship is that he will sit in the temple of God for the purpose of declaring himself God: “so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God” (2:4). The words “so that” indicate a purpose clause, telling the reader why the Man of Lawlessness opposes and exalts himself above every ‘god.’ The participle “proclaiming” could indicate time (“while proclaiming”), purpose (“so that he proclaims”), or result (“with the result that he will proclaim”). The participle of result is most likely. The result of the Man of Lawlessness sitting in the temple is that he will declare himself God, confirming the reason he opposes every ‘god’ and religion and exalts himself above every ‘god’ and religion.
6. He Will Be Revealed in His Own Time (2 Thess2:6, 7b–8)
The Man of Lawlessness will be revealed in his own time: “And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time” (2:6, 7b–8). The Man of Lawlessness will appear at a designated time and not a minute earlier. Another way to understand “in his time” is “at his designated time.” The most information given about his designated time is that it coincides with the removal of the restrainer (v 7b–8). For my understanding of the Restrainer, click HERE.
7. Jesus Will Kill the Man of Lawlessness (2 Thess 2:8)
Jesus will kill the Man of Lawlessness: “And then the Lawless One will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth” (2:8). Jesus is the one who will kill the Man of Lawlessness. The weapon that Jesus will use to kill the Man of Lawlessness is the breath (or “Spirit”) from his mouth.
8. Jesus Will Destroy the Man of Lawlessness at His Coming (2 Thess 2:8)
Jesus will “wipe out” or “bring to nothing” the Man of Lawlessness: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will . . . bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming” (2:8). The two verbs “to kill” (ἀναιρέω) and “to wipe out” (καταργέω) express the single idea that Jesus will destroy the Man of Lawlessness. The first half of verse 8 tells the reader how Jesus will destroy—“with the breath of his mouth.” The second half of verse 8 tells the reader when Jesus will destroy him—“at the appearance of his coming.” Although many English translations translate 2:8b to indicate a second way that Jesus will destroy the Man of Lawlessness (“by the appearance of his coming”; ESV, KJV, LSB, NASB, NET, NIV, NRSV), the CSB is most likely correct with its translation: “The Lord Jesus will . . . bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming” (2:8, CSB). The Greek text simply has appearance in the dative case (τῇ ἐπιφανείᾳ), allowing the dative to be instrumental (as opted by ESV, KJV, LSB, NASB, NET, NIV, NRSV) or temporal (as opted by the CSB). In context, it makes most sense for the apostles to be reiterating that Jesus will destroy the Man of Lawlessness when he returns, which is the topic of verse 8.
9. He Comes in Accordance with the Activity of Satan (2 Thess 2:9)
The Lawless One’s coming is in accordance with the activity of Satan: “The coming of the Lawless One is by the activity of Satan” (2:9). English versions translate 2:9a slightly different from each other, but the basic meaning should be quite clear. The appearance of the lawless one is a work of Satan. He comes because Satan wants him to come, because Satan sends him, and because Satan gives him the power to come; he is an emissary of Satan. The fact that the coming of the Man of Lawlessness is in accordance with the activity of Satan indicates that the Man of Lawlessness is not Satan.
10. He Comes with All Satan’s Power (2 Thess 2:9)
The Lawless One’s coming is with all power: “The coming of the Lawless One is . . . with all power” (2:9). When the Man of Lawlessness comes, he will come with “all power,” referring to all of Satan’s power. Satan will give the Man of Lawlessness his power to perform miracles and deceive the world into thinking he is God.
11. He Comes with Deceptive Signs and Wonders (2 Thess 2:9)
The Lawless One’s coming is with signs and deceptive wonders: “The coming of the Lawless One is . . . with signs and false wonders” (2:9). The Lawless One, as an emissary of Satan who yields the power of Satan, will do many miracles that will deceive many people. Labelling wonders as “false” does not mean the miracles are not real, but that they deceive those who witness them. Verse 9 is clear that the miracles and wonders the Lawless One does are very real. The miracles and wonders make sense because the Man of Lawlessness will declare himself to be God and will do works that seem to support that claim. Think of Jesus here. When Jesus arrived 2,000 years ago, he did many miracles and wonders that proved he was God. The Lawless One will attempt to do the same in poor imitation of Jesus.
12. He Comes with Deceptive Unrighteousness (2 Thess 2:10)
“The coming of the Lawless One is . . . with all wicked deception” (2:10). A more literal translation of “wicked deception” is “deception of wickedness/unrighteousness” (ἀπάτῃ ἀδικίας). There are two possible ways to understand what “deception of wickedness” (ἀπάτῃ ἀδικίας) means. First, the modifying noun ἀδικίας (“wickedness” or “unrighteousness”) could be attributive, meaning that it functions like an attributive adjective that modifies the head noun ἀπάτῃ (“deception”). The modifying noun, then, simply describes the head noun giving more information about the deception: “wicked deception” or “unrighteous deception.” Second, the modifying noun ἀδικίας (“wickedness” or “unrighteousness”) could be attributed, meaning it is modified by the head noun ἀπάτῃ (“deception”). This is sometimes called a reverse genitive. The translation would then be “deceptive unrighteousness” or “deceptive wickedness.” Because deception is by its very nature wicked or unrighteous, the first option (the modifying noun as attributive) is redundant and, thus, less likely. The second option, (the modifying noun as attributed) is more likely. When the lawless one comes, he will do all kinds of wicked and unrighteous acts; these wicked and unrighteous acts, however, will be completely (“all”) deceptive so that the perishing will not know that what the lawless one does and says is unrighteous and wicked.
The Identity of “the Man of Lawlessness”
Based on the descriptors in 2 Thessalonians 2:3–10, the Man of Lawlessness is most likely the antichrist who will manifest himself just prior to the return of Jesus. The description of the Man of Lawlessness aligns well with the description of the Beast who rises from the sea in Revelation 13:1–18; 17:1–18; and 19:11–21 (see my article on the Beast HERE). According to Revelation 13:1–18; 17:1–18; and 19:11–21, the Beast who rises from the sea yields all the power and authority of Satan, seeks to deceive the entire world into worshipping him, and will publicly reveal himself just prior to Jesus’ return only for Jesus to destroy him when he (Jesus) returns.
Those who are deceived by the Man of Lawlessness at his coming are those who are perishing: “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” (2:9–10a). The preposition “for” is sometimes translated “against” (NET), “among” (CSB, NKJV), or “in” (KJV), but the basic idea is the same; it is the perishing who are deceived by the Man of Lawlessness. The NIV removes all ambiguity with its translation: “all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.”
For more information on 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12, see my article on that passage HERE.