\\INTRODUCTION TO 2 THESSALONIANS 2\\

In this chapter the apostle guards against a notion, as if the
second coming of Christ was at hand; declares that, previous to it,
there must be a great apostasy, and a revelation of antichrist;
comforts the saints against fears of being included in this
defection; exhorts them to stand fast in the faith, and closes this
chapter with petitions for them. He entreats them in a most tender
and solemn manner not to imagine that the day of Christ was at hand,
and that they would not be disturbed and moved at it; and points
unto the several ways, and cautions against them, they might be
imposed upon and deceived by men with respect to it, \\#2Th 2:1,2\\
and assigns his reasons why it could not be yet, because before this
time there was to be a general apostasy, and antichrist must appear;
whom from his character, he calls the man of sin, and from his end,
the son of perdition; and describes him as an opposer of God, an
exalter of himself above all that is called God, as sitting in the
temple of God and declaring himself to be God, \\#2Th 2:3,4\\ of which
things he had told them before, \\#2Th 2:5\\ nor were they ignorant of
what at present hindered the revelation of the man of sin, who was
then in being, and was working and growing up apace; only there was
something (the Roman empire) which hindered, and would continue to
do so, until the fixed time of his revelation was up, \\#2Th 2:6,7\\
when be should be manifest; though he should not always continue,
being to be consumed and destroyed by the breath of Christ's mouth,
and the splendour of his coming, \\#2Th 2:8\\ and the appearance of
antichrist in the world, being a matter of considerable importance,
it is described by being after the working of Satan, and as attended
with lying and false miracles, and with all deceitful and
unrighteous doctrines and practices; which reprobate men would be
left to give into, as a punishment of their not receiving cordially
the truth of the Gospel; upon which account God would give them to
such judicial blindness, as to give credit to a lie, which would
bring on their final damnation, they not believing the truth, but
taking pleasure in unrighteousness, \\#2Th 2:9-12\\, but lest
this account of things should be discouraging to the saints at
Thessalonica, the apostle styles them brethren; asserts them to be
the beloved of the Lord; gives an instance of it, for which he gives
thanks, namely, their election of God; the date of which was from
everlasting; the means sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of
the truth; the end salvation by Jesus Christ; and the evidence of
which was their effectual calling by the Gospel, to the obtaining
of the glory of Christ, \\#2Th 2:13,14\\ and then he exhorts them to
stand fast in the doctrines that had been taught them, either in an
epistolary way, or by the ministry of the word, \\#2Th 2:15\\ and
concludes the chapter with petitions for them made to God the
Father, and to Christ who had loved and comforted them, and given
them good hope of everlasting things; that they might be comforted
more and more, and be established in every good doctrine and
practice, \\#2Th 2:16,17\\.