Is the Man of Lawlessness the Same as the Antichrist?
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A shadowy figure looms over the New Testament, implied in some ways by Jesus and the gospels and more explicitly mentioned by apostles Paul and John. While teaching the new covenant from the Old Testament, the first disciples faced intense opposition from both spiritual and political leaders. These forces were often oppressive. In the midst of this, Paul wrote about a figure he called “the man of lawlessness.”
While the apostle’s audience may have had more background and understanding of this person, we have to piece some of it together—an evil political leader who opposes the Kingdom of God, Christ, and God’s people. Paul doesn’t mention him for academic purposes, however; rather, he sought to encourage the church to overcome by Christ’s victory.
Where Does Paul Mention the Man of Lawlessness?
The apostle Paul mentions the man of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians, the only place the Bible uses that exact phrase.
Paul wrote this letter to the church he planted in Thessalonica so he could explain the confusion regarding Jesus’ return. Some believers were concerned that the Day of the Lord, a final time of judgment, had already come. Paul had incorporated the Old Testament prophecy about the Day of the Lord and taught it to both Jewish and Gentile disciples of Jesus. This likely included Jesus’ teachings about not missing his return (Matthew 24–25, Mark 13, and Luke 21). However, whether from false teachings or another source, the believers in the church experienced worry regarding the Final Judgment, and Paul desired to comfort them.
He assures them by talking about how certain events had to happen first, especially a rebellion and the revealing of the man of lawlessness. Paul describes this person as someone who opposes God and exalts himself over gods and all religions. The man of lawlessness will even set himself up in God’s Temple in Jerusalem, proclaiming himself God. These things haven’t happened yet, so no one’s missed Jesus’ return.
At the same time, the spirit and mystery of lawlessness already exists in the world, but the man of lawlessness won’t be revealed until later. Until that time, the evil man is being restrained, and when the restraining is lifted, the full revealing of evil will occur. The man of lawlessness’ reign will be short. Paul writes how Jesus will overthrow the man with his breath and destroy him at Christ’s return.
The man of lawlessness, Paul continues, will perform miracles, signs, and wonders, by which he’ll lead many into deception, people who refuse to love the truth to salvation. For those who reject God, the Lord will allow them to fall under a great delusion.
While the passage has dark elements, Paul ultimately writes about the man of lawlessness to encourage the church that they have hope, they haven’t missed the Kingdom of God, and they can remain faithful and watchful for Christ’s return.
What Are Old Testament Connections to the Man of Lawlessness?
Like the principle of the Day of the Lord, the man of lawlessness also comes from the Old Testament and Jewish tradition in Paul’s day.
First, as the Jews faced exile from the Promised Land, tyrants and empires introduce the ideas of an oppressive, godless, evil state and ruler. The king of Babylon becomes an early example, an arrogant ruler who exalts himself in Isaiah 14:12-15. “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” The man of lawlessness becomes the ultimate expression of this mindset.
Second, Daniel speaks of a “little horn” (a powerful nation or ruler) in Daniel 7 and 8. Daniel has a vision including a ruler who blasphemes against God and brings violence against the “saints,” the people of God. This horn also opposes the Most High God and attempts to change times and laws, making him “lawless.” This little horn uses deception and pride to gain power until God judges him.
Third, in another sense, Paul further uses the idea of apostasy, a great rebellion and falling away, which Old Testament prophets described regarding Israel and Judah. Jeremiah and Ezekiel warned against breaking the covenant with God and lawlessness. In 2 Thessalonians, Paul writes about a great falling away, the great delusion, happening alongside the revealing of the man of lawlessness.
Between Malachi (the last book of the Bible) and the time of Jesus, Jewish scholars and teachers developed the idea of a man of lawlessness through their apocalyptic writings and other figures like the king of Babylon. Jews faced awful tyrants like Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who desecrated the Jerusalem Temple. These ideas grew into a type of anti-Messiah and enemy of God’s people. By the time of Jesus, many Jews expected both a Messiah and the lawless ruler to appear at the same time, all before God set everything right.
Therefore, Paul’s teaching doesn’t come as a new doctrine but as a continuation of a long biblical tradition. Godless tyrants will arise, defying the Lord and persecuting the holy people, but God will ultimately judge them.
What Other New Testament Figures Connect with the Man of Lawlessness?
While Jesus doesn’t specifically talk about the man of lawlessness or one anti-Christ figure, he does bring in the ideas with his grand teaching called the Olivet Discourse about the end times (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). Jesus warns of the coming “abomination of desolation,” prophesied by Daniel in Matthew 24. Many Jews thought Antiochus IV Epiphanes had fulfilled this, but Jesus sees it happening again, at least. The phrase “abomination of desolation” refers to the prophecy which includes a lawless ruler doing blasphemous things. Jesus also mentions false messiahs and prophets who will perform signs and might even deceive the “elect,” the chosen ones of God.
The apostle John writes about the Antichrist in 1 John 2:18 and 2 John 1:7. John warns about many antichrists coming, like Jesus in Matthew 24, and defines the Antichrist as someone who denies Jesus is the Messiah and also the Son of God. These writings from John echo Paul’s reference to a man of lawlessness. Paul also writes more about people abandoning the faith, following doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-2), connecting to the delusion mentioned in 2 Thessalonians.
Revelation 13, speaking about the end times, mirrors the man of lawlessness. The beast, or Antichrist, blasphemes God, makes war on the saints, and brings the world into great deception with miraculous signs. The beast claims to be God. Christ destroys him upon his return. All this aligns with Paul’s description of a man of lawlessness and what he’ll do.
All of these New Testament figures describe a common persecution, deception, and an anti-Jesus ruler at the center of it all. However, we have hope in Christ, who will return to set up his perfect kingdom.
What Are Different Interpretations of the Man of Lawlessness?
As with anything regarding end times doctrine, scholars have various interpretations about the man of lawlessness.
A common view sees the man of lawlessness as the future Antichrist, the final individual who will rise to political and religious power before Jesus returns. Many evangelicals hold to this interpretation due to the similarities we’ve discussed. Revelation might seem largely symbolic and fantastical, but Paul speaks about the man as a real person, not simply as a symbol.
Still, other scholars do suggest the man of lawlessness largely symbolizes a system of evil. They look at Paul’s statement how the “mystery” of lawlessness already works in the world. Some Church Fathers, like Augustine, saw the man as a general model of rebellion, whether political, corrupt, or spiritual apostasy. The symbolic view highlights the ongoing spiritual battle Christians face rather than waiting for a future individual.
Since awful tyrants have existed before and since, a few scholars believe the man of lawlessness existed within the Roman Empire. Emperor Nero becomes a possibility, an emperor who persecuted Christians, his political role a partly divine one, according to Rome. Others point to later emperors who claimed divinity while persecuting Jews or Christians. Paul might have written vaguely to avoid Roman persecution while warning believers.
As we learn from the Bible, these interpretations don’t have to be exclusionary. There is a spirit or mystery of lawlessness in the world, deception and rebellion against God in general. This prideful, sinful nature becomes expressed through worldly systems and rulers, false kingdoms and antichrists who persecute the church. In the end, a final and worldwide Antichrist will emerge before Jesus returns. Since Jesus hasn’t yet returned to end all evil and establish his kingdom, all can be true in their way.
What Should We Learn from Paul Writing about the Man of Lawlessness?
Paul wrote to his audience, specifically addressing their concerns, comforting them, and empowering believers to face the persecution before them with faith, hope, and victory. As we continue to look ahead to Jesus’ return, believers today can still find important lessons in these words.
First, Paul gives a key to how deception increases, especially among those who “refuse to love the truth and so be saved.” To know truth is different than to love it. If we love the truth, we will pay whatever it costs to attain it and keep it, including enduring great trials. Only knowing the truth, in an academic sense, but not loving it, we will quit on God and fall away from faith. In our culture, truth becomes increasingly relative, twisted to fit personal pleasures, opinions, or political agendas.
Paul challenges us to love the truth with our whole hearts. Jesus is the truth, and loving him and his truth will save us. We seek the truth through Scripture, the Body of Christ, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. Loving truth requires being inconvenienced, giving effort, humility, and personal cost. But it’s worth it. Truth leads to life. Deception leads to destruction.
Second, in this, Paul tells the church not to be anxious from rumors or false teachings. We have been given the peace of God that passes understanding, an eternal peace to calm our hearts in the Spirit. With our modern age of information overload, we learn to test everything by the Spirit and Scripture. We must grow in spiritual discernment, not reacting with fear or hate but trusting God’s love, power, and promises.
Finally, Paul teaches us that the Son of God we love and follow will ultimately come and save the day from the man of lawlessness. Jesus will use the “breath of his mouth” to destroy this antichrist. In the temporary situation, it might look like evil wins, but it won’t. Christ’s victory is already won on the cross, and he will return to establish his rule and reign on earth. God remains in control.
Therefore, we must recognize the reality of persecution and evil in this world, but our focus isn’t there, but on Christ who saves us. Truth sets us free and prepares us for Christ’s return. We must seek, love, and live in truth, no matter the cost, because Jesus is worth it now and in the end.
Peace.
Related Resource: Unveiling the Antichrist: Bible Prophecy and the Millennium
Join Jeff King and Chris White—prolific podcaster, author, and Bible prophecy researcher—for a deep dive into one of Christianity’s most mysterious topics: the Antichrist. In this insightful episode of Faith Under Fire, Chris guides listeners through foundational prophecies about the millennium, Jesus’ future rule, and how these relate to our understanding of the Antichrist. From Old and New Testament prophecies to the significance of Jerusalem, Edom, and the pivotal roles nations play in end-times theology, the conversation is packed with historical context and thought-provoking perspectives you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re a long-time student of prophecy or just curious about this fascinating area of faith, Faith Under Fire offers a grounded, in-depth guide to these controversial and often misunderstood topics. If you want more content on religious freedom and revival, follow Faith Under Fire on Apple or Spotify, so you never miss an episode.
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This article is part of our larger End Times Resource Library. Learn more about the rapture, the anti-christ, bible prophecy and the tribulation with articles that explain Biblical truths. You do not need to fear or worry about the future!
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