Verses 1-7
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Before Christ returns, and before we are “raptured” up to meet Him, two events will take place.
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The falling away.
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The falling away is an apostasy and a loss of freedom. Before the time of the end, or during, there will be a global collapse resulting in a loss of normal freedoms.
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Watch for this loss, and prepare yourself, in part, by being closely connected with community, so you can rely on the church for support.
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The antichrist—the lawless one—revealed to the world (1 John 2:18)
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Immediately before or during the end, the antichrist will make himself known.
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Verses 6-7. Before the antichrist can be revealed, a restraint will be removed.
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Verses 8-12
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Verse 8. The antichrist will be destroyed when Christ returns.
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Verse 9. During the end, the antichrist will be able to perform miracles.
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Do not believe someone just because they can perform miracles. Know the Word of God well, and only believe those who teach the Word of God accurately.
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Verse 10-12. During the end, those who did not believe the Word will be given over to deception from the antichrist, and they will be condemned. They will be hardened in this way.
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Watch for hardened people, and avoid them, as they cannot be saved.
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See Romans 1:28-32 to understand qualities of hardened people.
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Verses 13-17
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Contrary to those whom God gives over to deception during the end, believers are chosen by God to be saved.
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See teaching on Romans 9 to learn more about how God chooses some for salvation and some to be hardened.
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Just know that, before someone is hardened, a person chooses not to “receive the love of the truth”. God gives everyone the opportunity to choose what is good first.
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God saves us by granting us belief and sending the Spirit to live within us.
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Knowing how gracious God has been to save you, though you did not deserve it, honor His grace by faithfully obeying His Word. Remember that your obedience is important for your faith.
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Verse 17. Pray to be actively doing and saying everything that God says is good. As it says in Colossians 1:10, pray to be “fruitful in every good work”.
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