Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

"let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God." — 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (ASV)

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the Son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

It has been usually thought that this passage alludes to the great apostasy of the Church of Rome, and, certainly, if there were a hue and cry raised for the culprit here described, one might well arrest that apostasy upon suspicion. It may not, however, be the man of sin, or the Son of perdition; it may be that general spirit which springs up again and again, one of the many anti-Christs that were already in the world even in John's day.

There are many such spirits that are constantly rising up—not outside the Church (there, we could deal with them), but inside the Church—using the words of truth and the signs of truth to signify something far other than the truth of God. This is the great rock that threatens destruction.

Oh, that God's Church might always be kept from striking upon it! But there is this rock which would, if it were possible, wreck the very elect vessel of Christ itself.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day will not come, unless there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition; who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

If this "man of sin" is not the Pope of Rome, we cannot tell who is the antichrist. Certainly, if this description were put in a wanted poster, and we were police officers, we should at once arrest the Pope as the man whose character agreed with the warrant in our hands.

What does he call himself? "Vicar of Christ on earth." What does he do but set himself up to be adored and worshipped as though he were divine, making himself out to be the fountain and channel of all grace. Beloved, this "man of sin" has been revealed.

Now we may look for the coming of the Son of Man; but the day and the hour when he will come no one knows; no, not even the angels of God.