Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until . . . the man of lawlessness is revealed. (2 Thessalonians 2:3)A counterfeit letter had apparently gone out in Paul's name claiming Christ had already returned, throwing the Thessalonians into a panic, which is why Paul is writing now. He assures them these rumors are false, and that certain conditions must be met. [1] About these he has communicated with them previously, but of this we have no record. While they knew exactly what Paul was talking about, we do not.
This man of lawlessness language is similar to the Antichrist motif, although it is language Paul repeats in no other extant materials. [2] If this letter is genuine, and the evidence could go either way, it is reminiscent of Daniel's abomination that causes desolation (Daniel 9:27 - a reference to Antiochus Epiphanes IV - the Greek tyrant king who brutalized the Jews and sacrificed swine's flesh on the Jerusalem altar), referenced by Jesus regarding the coming Roman desecration of the Temple.
1:4 suggests the Thessalonians are being persecuted. This would explain the apocalyptic tone, more reminiscent of John's Revelation than any other Pauline writings. [3] It should be noted that the main function of Christian apocalyptic literature is to reassure the persecuted that God is on their side, and that in the end he will be victorious over their enemies. That's a message we can receive with confidence.
From what or whom do you need rescued?
[1] For a painfully brief, and admittedly inadequate reference to Jesus' stated conditions as recorded by Matthew, see Day 294: Matthew 22, 23 and 24. For a fuller treatment see Gilbert Bilezikian's Christianity 101 published by Zondervan.
[2] Achtemeier, Paul, Joel Green and Marianne Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament - It's Literature and Theology. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001), 443.
[3] Ibid., 440.
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