Rebellion may be the common denominator of fallen humanity. We naturally vie against the powers that be. Teenagers rebel against parents. Adam and Eve rebelled against God. Protestors rebel against the governing authorities (on both sides of the aisle).
As Paul shares that the Lord's return has not happened, he tells them that Jesus could not have returned because the rebellion has not occurred yet. This rebellion is connected with the "man of lawlessness" who "opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship" (2 Thess. 2:4). He even goes so far as to "claiming himself to be God." (v. 4)
Another term for this rebellion is apostasy (a transliteration from the original Greek word and migrating into Middle English between 1350 and 1400). Apostasy refers to a military, political, or religious rebellion. In the church, we speak of people who commit apostasy as those who have rebelled against the true faith. The word literally means "to stand away" or "withdraw."
While the church deals with apostasy on a general level everyday, this rebellion is a major identifiable event of mass apostasy. The rebellion seems to demonstrate movement from God as established object of worship to the man of lawlessness as new object of worship. People are not leaving for a multitude of reasons; they are leaving to follow "the son of destruction."
WARNING: A single act of apostasy may not be a part of the rebellion, but it is still rebellion.
Father, forgive us when we kick against your will, when we want our own way, when we follow other gods. Give us strength to hold onto the faith.
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