Loyalty Versus Lawlessness

The anti-Christ’s goal is to force people to keep his commandments and to reject God’s. He wants the whole human race to worship him not God.

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” [1]

While looking for an appropriate image to illustrate a point of a sermon, I noticed an image of the band called KISS. My sermon topic was on being rescued by the Lord from stormy seas. I was looking for a picture of a ship at sea. The KISS picture I noticed was an advertisement to join an ocean cruise with them. As I looked at the picture, I realized that Satan uses theatrics, shock, and awe, as well as the promise of fleshly pleasure, to gather followers to himself. Lovers of truth reject these temptations. They denounce the devil and all his ways. They have no desire to join with relatives, friends, and acquaintances who love lawlessness.

The anti-Christ’s goal is to get us to keep his commandments and to reject God’s. Therefore, God offers us a benediction: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” [2] “Yes, Lord, please keep us from temptation and deliver us from evil. For Yours alone is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

[1] 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
[2] 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17