Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Thessalonian 2:9

[Even him,] whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

9. even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan ] Rather, even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan (R. V.); for this sentence does not qualify the last clause of 2Th 2:8 by itself, it looks back to the principal subject of the paragraph, “then shall be revealed the lawless one whose coming,” &c.

The two “comings” ( 2Th 2:8-9 ] the parousia of the Lord Jesus and that of the Man of Lawlessness are set in contrast. The second forms the dark background to the glory of the first. “According to the working of Satan” is not, therefore, subordinate to the clause that follows, but forms a chief predicate. It is Satan that inspires and directs the advent of the Lawless One; hence the “powers and signs” which attend it: “who comes as one empowered by Satan, attended by all kinds of lying miracles.” For “Satan” comp. 1Th 2:18, and “he that opposeth” in 2Th 2:4 above.

“Working” (Greek energeia, energy) is a word that St Paul uses elsewhere of the operation of God; comp. note on “manifestation” above; and see e.g. Col 2:12; Eph 1:19; similarly the kindred verb, as in 2Th 2:7 (see note, and on 1Th 2:13). With studied emphasis and precision he borrows for the coming of Antichrist the terms proper to the coming of Christ, making the one appear as a frightful mimicry and mocking prelude of the other. The Lawless One has his “mystery, “his “revelation,” his “parousia,” and his “power and signs and wonders,” in which the “working of Satan” in him apes the working of God in Christ. This systematic, and as one might suppose, calculated adoption by Antichrist of the attributes of Christ is a most appalling feature in the Apostle’s representation. Satan himself, through his agent, usurps God’s throne amongst men. And the Man of Lawlessness holds a relation towards Satan the counterpart of the relation of Christ to God.

with all power and signs and lying wonders ] Lit., in all power and signs and wonders of falsehood. There is no reason in grammar why the conducing epithet should not be referred to the three synonyms alike; it suits them all. St Paul does not mean to say that the miracles in question are pretended miracles, but that they aid and abet falsehood. They come from “the father of falsehood” (Joh 8:44), to whose realm all lies belong. Comp. Mat 24:14, and Rev 13:13, for predictions of Satanic miracles.

The three terms by which these manifestations are designated, are precisely those used of the miracles of Christ and the Apostles; comp. Act 2:22; Rom 15:19; 2Co 12:12; Heb 2:4, where they are variously combined. Of the three, signs is the most frequent, unfortunately rendered “miracles” in the A.V. of the Fourth Gospel (corrected in R.V.); occasionally signs and wonders (never wonders alone) are combined; more frequently power is used, or powers, rendered in the Gospels “mighty works”. The Greek word for wonder, nearest in sense to our “miracle,” denotes the outward effect of such deeds, the astonishment or fear they excite; while power points to the Divine (in this instance Satanic) agency that effects them, and signs calls attention to the significance of the event, its spiritual import.

While the last clause delineates the nature of the operations of Antichrist and the means by which he is accredited, the next verse goes on to describe their fatal effect:

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan – Greek, kat’ energeian tou Satana. According to the energy of Satan; that is, the energetic or efficient operation of Satan. The word rendered after, it need not be said to one who looks at the Greek, does not refer to time, but is a preposition, meaning according to; in conformity with; meaning that the manner of his appearing would be accompanied by such works as would show that the agency of Satan was employed, and such as he only could produce. It does not mean that the coming of the Lord Jesus would be after Satan had worked in this manner, but that the manifestation of that wicked one would be with such demonstrations of power and wonder as Satan only could effect. The system over which he presides is originated by Satan, and sustained by those things which he alone can perform. On the word Satan, see the notes on Job 1:6. The idea is, that it would be under the direction and control of the great enemy of God, and that the things on which it would rely for support could be traced to his agency. In all the pretended miracles to which it would appeal, there would be nothing which Satan could not accomplish.

With all power – With all the power which Satan can exhibit; meaning also, that there would be a great exertion of power in the case. It would not be a feeble and imbecile dominion. The dominion of the papacy has been one of the most powerful on earth. There has been none which has been more dreaded by the nations of the earth – and there have been times when nations trembled, and kings turned pale on their thrones at the frown of the Pope.

And signs – This word frequently denotes real miracles, but not necessarily so. It may be applied to pretended miracles as well as real, and is undoubtedly so used here, as it is connected with lying wonders, and as it is said that the thing done would be after the working of Satan. There is doubtless reference to such signs and wonders as the Saviour mentions in Mat 24:24; see the notes on that passage. It is hardly necessary to remark that the papacy has always relied for support on its pretended miracles. Even in our own age the wonders performed by the Prince Hohenloe, and by the pretended seamless garment of the Saviour, have been proclaimed as true miracles, and as furnishing indubitable evidence of the truth of the Roman Catholic system. The dissolving of the blood of Januarius, the removal of Pilates stairs to Rome, and the transportation to Italy of the house of our Lady, are among the miracles to which there is a constant reference in the papal communion. In addition to these and to all similar pretensions, there is the power claimed of performing a miracle at the pleasure of the priest by the change of bread and wine into the body and blood, the soul and divinity of the Lord Jesus. In 1756, there was published in London a book entitled, The miraculous power of the Church of Christ, asserted through each successive century, from the apostles down to the present time. The power of working miracles has been one of the standing claims of the papacy.

And lying wonders – False or pretended miracles. They would be such as would be claimed to be miracles; such as would excite wonder; and yet such as were false and delusive. No Protestant assuredly needs to be convinced that this is just the character of the pretended miracles of the papacy. It would be impossible for language to describe them more clearly, in the apprehension of all Protestants, than is done in this language of the apostle Paul.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

2Th 2:9

Even he whose coming is after the working of Satan

The agency of Satan

I.

The scripture account of satan.

1. He is represented as a spirit or immaterial being (1Ki 22:1-53; Luk 10:17-20).

2. As an angel, preferable to man in understanding and might.

3. As a fallen angel (Jud 1:6).

4. As the prince or chief of infernal spirits (Mat 9:34; Mat 12:24; Mat 25:41; Luk 12:41).

As lying under punishment, in reserve to be brought forth at the great day of retribution as a monument of Gods hatred of sin.

II. The instances of his agency.

1. His introducing sin into the world (2Co 11:3-13).

2. The temptation of Christ (Mat 4:1-11).

3. Possession of bodies when Christ was in the world (1Jn 3:8; Act 10:38).

4. The objects against which his force is directed are the dishonour of God and the rum of men.

5. The subjects are good and bad men.

6. The ways in which he acts are two–force and fraud, fiery darts and subtle wiles (Eph 6:11-16).

7. He acts on persons and means with diligence, and constancy, and malice, as a roaring lion (1Pe 5:8).

8. Be his activity ever so great, it is restrained and overruled by God, who has all evil spirits under His control.

The practical improvement of the subject:

1. We should admire the wisdom and goodness of God in making a discovery of Satan.

2. We should watch against his manifold artifices.

3. We should pray for grace and power to resist him. (J. Towle.)

Emissaries of Satan

Some years ago, when the cholera was raging in New Orleans, a steamer, near nightfall, put out from the city, laden with passengers escaping from the pestilence. The steamer had been but a little while out when the engineer fell at his post with cholera. The captain, in despair, went up and down among the passengers, asking if there were any one there who could act as engineer. A man stepped out, and said that he was an engineer, and could take the position. In the night the captain was awakened by a violent motion of the steamer, and he knew there was great peril ahead. He went up, and found that the engineer was a maniac; that he had fastened down the safety valves; and he told the captain that he was the emissary of Satan, commissioned to drive that steamer to hell. By some strategy, the man was got down in time to save the steamer. There are, men engineered by maniac passions, sworn to drive them to temporal and everlasting destruction. Every part of their nature trembles under the high pressure. Nothing but the grace of Almighty God can bring down those passions, and chain them. A little while longer in this course, and all is lost. (T. De Witt Talmage.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 9. Whose coming is after the working of Satan] The operation of God’s Spirit sends his messengers; the operation of Satan’s spirit sends his emissaries. The one comes ‘ , after or according to the energy or inward powerful working of God; the other comes ‘ , according to the energy or inward working of Satan.

With all power] All kinds of miracles, like the Egyptian magicians; and signs and lying wonders: the word lying may be applied to the whole of these; they were lying miracles, lying signs, and lying wonders; only appearances of what was real, and done to give credit to his presumption and imposture. Whereas God sent his messengers with real miracles, real signs, and real wonders; such Satan cannot produce.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

The apostle still continues his discourse about this man of sin. He had declared whence he arose, and to what height of power, and the manner and place of his exercising it, and what opened him the way to it, and also his destruction, with the means of it. But he thought it needful to explain particularly the manner of his rising into all this power, and preserving himself in it, and the persons over whom he doth exercise it.

Whose coming is after the working of Satan; Kat energeian Christs coming is in power, and so is his: Christ comes with the Spirit of God, and his is with a spirit also, but it is of Satan: and the Spirit of God worketh with Christ in his coming, and the spirit of Satan with the man of sin in his coming; which implies either the principle of this working in his coming, it is the devil; or the similitude of it, it is like the working of Satan. If in the first sense, it shows by what spirit the antichristian church was first formed, and by which it is still informed and acted; as in natural bodies the matter is formed and informed by the spirit within it. The true church hath the Holy Spirit, that forms it into a spiritual temple, Eph 2:21,22; the false church hath the spirit of the devil, forming it into the synagogue of Satan, Rev 2:9. The dragon is said to give the beast his power, seat, and great authority, Rev 13:2; and this dragon is the devil in the heathen empire, who being cast out of his seat and power when the emperor became Christian, found the antichristian church, and here exercised that power and authority which he did formerly in the imperial seat of the heathen emperors; whence we may see whence all the furious zeal and bloody cruelties appearing in the popish church do spring, notwithstanding all their outward shows of devotion. If we take the words in the latter sense, then his coming is like the working of Satan; either with great power and energy, as the word imports: the Greek word is often used in a good sense; for Gods working in the heart, Phi 2:13, for the working of the word, 1Th 2:13, for the working of the heart in prayer, Jam 5:17; or by the same methods; by pretences of piety and devotion, as Satan transforms himself into an angel of light; or by keeping men in blindness and ignorance, so doth Satan by setting before men secular grandeur, and the pomp of the world, as thus Satan dealt with our Saviour, Mat 4:1-11; or by suggesting lies instead of truth, so he dealt with our first parents, and is called a liar from the beginning.

With all power; en pash dunamei. Besides that energy of Satan that works inwardly in this man of sin, which was mentioned before, he hath outward strength or power wherein he comes; which may be here meant. He hath the secular power to assist him, the kings of the earth giving their power to the beast; and we read of ten horns upon his head, which are the emblems of strength and power, Rev 13:1; whereupon it is said: Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? Rev 13:4.

And signs, and lying wonders: some, by the figure called hendyadis, read it, by the power of signs and lying wonders: but not properly. Observe how Satan is Gods ape; God confirmed the gospel with

signs and wonders, Rom 15:19; God bearing them witness, with signs and wonders, & c. Heb 2:4; and Satan brings this man of sin into the world in the same manner: God did it to confirm the truth, but Satan to countenance a falsehood. But though he comes with signs and wonders, yet not properly with miracles, as the Greek word is rendered in Heb 2:4; because though the devil can work the one, he cannot the other: he can by his great natural knowledge and experience improve natural causes to their utmost, but he cannot effect things above all possibility of nature, which is the same power as creating. The schoolmen give their distinction between wonders and miracles, which is not needful here to insert: all miracles are wonders, but all wonders are not miracles; and yet are esteemed miracles when their cause is not known. The Romish legends are full of stories of miracles wrought to confirm their false doctrines of purgatory, of relics, invocation of saints, &c.; which might be wonders really wrought by the devil; such as were wrought by Jannes and Jambres in Egypt, and by Simon Magus, and Apollonius Tyaneus, &c.; who used magic arts, and the people, not knowing them in their causes, might judge them miracles. And being wrought for such ends, they are termed signs, for a sign is any thing that is used to make signification, whether it be a natural or artificial, an ordinary or extraordinary sign; used either for a good end, as those shown by Christ and the apostles, or for a bad end, as those used by this man of sin. People are apt to be affected with signs.

The Jews, saith the apostle, require a sign, 1Co 1:22, as they often desired Christ to show them a sign, and therefore this man of sin comes with signs. Some signs are only for representation, as the sign of the cross, and the images of Christ, and of his death and resurrection, &c.; and he comes in these: others are for confirmation, which are either real miracles, or such as seem so; and he comes in these latter also, which are here called , lying wonders, or wonders of a lie, Hebrew. Though the Greek word is oft used for a real miracle, yet not so, here; for miracles are the effects of a Divine power only, Rom 15:19; Heb 2:4, and not diabolical. And called lying wonders, either because they are used to confirm a lie, or because they are not real, but feigned wonders; impostures, to cheat the people, and make them wonder; whereof we have account in Gregorys Dialogues, and in Paulus Diaconus, and others; and yet such miracles as these the papists boast of as marks of their church to be true, though they are here by the apostle made the marks of the man of sin. And Christ foretells of false prophets that should show great signs and wonders, to deceive, if possible, the very elect, Mat 24:24. See Deu 13; Rev 13:13,14.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

9. whose comingThe same Greekas was used for the Lord’s coming (2Th2:8) or personal “presence.”

isin its essentialcharacter.

afteraccording tothe working (“energy”) of Satan, as opposed to the energyor working of the Holy Spirit in the Church (see on Eph1:19). As Christ is related to God, so is Antichrist to Satan,his visible embodiment and manifestation: Satan works through him. Re13:2, “The dragon gave him (the beast) his power . . . seat. . . great authority.”

lying wondersliterally,”wonders” or “prodigies of falsehood.” His”power, signs, and wonders,” all have falsehood fortheir base, essence, and aim (Joh8:44), [ALFORD]. In Mt24:24 Jesus implies that the miracles shall be real, thoughdemoniac, such mysterious effects of the powers of darkness as weread of in the case of the Egyptian sorcerers, not such as Jesusperformed in their character, power, or aim; for they are against therevealed Word, and therefore not to be accepted as evidences oftruth; nay, on the authority of that sure Word of prophecy (here, andMt 24:24), to be known andrejected as wrought in support of falsehood (Deu 13:1-3;Deu 13:5; Gal 1:8;Gal 1:9; Rev 13:11-15;Rev 19:20). The same three Greekwords occur for miracles of Jesus (Act 2:22;Heb 2:4); showing that as theEgyptian magicians imitated Moses (2Ti3:1-8), so Antichrist will try to imitate Christ’s works as a”sign,” or proof of divinity.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan,…. That is, as a deceiver, a liar, and a murderer; for such was the working of Satan with our first parents; he seduced Eve, not only by subtlety, but by lying; he abode not in the truth, is the father of lies, and a murderer from the beginning: and such is the working of antichrist his firstborn; he comes in a deceitful way, under a profession of Christ, and a pretension of faith in him, and love to him; but speaks lies in hypocrisy, for such are his doctrines and tenets; and is not only a murderer of the bodies of the saints, but of the souls of men; which are the wares the whore of Babylon deals in:

with all power; not omnipotence, for that is peculiar to God, and is not in Satan nor in antichrist, though the latter assumes to himself all power in heaven and in earth, and claims a jurisdiction both temporal and spiritual over men; but rather this means great power, or all kind of power of doing miracles, as follows:

and signs, and lying wonders; that is, such signs and miracles as are not real, but reigned, only in appearance, not in truth, like those that were done by the magicians of Egypt; and these were done to countenance lies, and to induce persons to believe them; and how many miracles and lying wonders the church of Rome pretends to, everybody knows.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Whose coming is ( ). Refers to in verse 8. The Antichrist has his also. Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East, pp. 374, 378) notes an inscription at Epidaurus in which “Asclepius manifested his .” Antiochus Epiphanes is called the manifest god (III Macc. 5:35). So the two Epiphanies coincide.

Lying wonders ( ). “In wonders of a lie.” Note here the three words for the miracles of Christ (Heb 2:4), power (), signs (), wonders (), but all according to the working of Satan ( , the energy of Satan) just as Jesus had foretold (Mt 24:24), wonders that would almost lead astray the very elect.

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament

After the working of Satan. The sense is that the coming of Antichrist proclaims itself to be according to the working of Satan by means of power, signs, etc. ‘Energeia P o. power in exercise, used only of superhuman power. See Col 1:29; Col 2:12.

Signs and lying wonders [ ] . Lit. signs and wonders of a lie. Of a lie characterizes the three words, power, signs, wonders. All bear the stamp of fraud. For signs and wonders see on Mt 24:24, and mighty works, Mt 11:20.

Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament

1) “Even him, whose coming is” (hou estin) “of whom, is”, or “who exists, has his being”, (he parousia) “The body presence”, coming, appearance as a wicked deceiver; He comes in his own name, and the multitude of the unstable, sensational, religious, and irreligious will receive him, Joh 5:43.

2) “After the working of Satan” (kat’ energeian tou Satan) “according to or after the manner of the operation of Satan, the Scandalizer”; who came to Eve and to Jesus Christ in the guise of a helper, but in reality as a lying deceiver, Gen 3:1-4; Mat 4:3-11; All false prophets and Messiahs follow his ways, Joh 8:44; 2Co 11:13-15.

3) “With all” (en pase) “with or in the area of all”; all kinds of deceiving influences, revolving around the three following areas:

(a) power” (dunamei) “dynamic power”, even dreaming prophets, whose dreams and prophecies came true, were to be put to death under Law, if such were used to lead to worship of other gods, Deu 13:1-5.

(b) “and signs” (kai semeiois) “and signs”; such false prophets are presages of the “man of sin”, rejectors of Jesus Christ, and the Word of God, as they did when Jesus first came, Joh 5:43; Mat 24:23-24.

(c) “and lying wonders” (kai terasin pseudous) “and wonders or marvels of a lie”, regarding his claims of powers; as a religious, civil, and humanitarian remedy to every need of man, and outward miraculous demonstrations, to deceive his followers; even the anti-Christ is to- come as a pious sign worker, sensationalist, Rev 13:13-14; Rev 16:13-16.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

9 Whose coming He confirms what he has said by an argument from contraries. For as Antichrist cannot stand otherwise than through the impostures of Satan, he must necessarily vanish as soon as Christ shines forth. In fine, as it is only in darkness that he reigns, the dawn of the day puts to flight and extinguishes the thick darkness of his reign. We are now in possession of Paul’s design, for he meant to say, that Christ would have no difficulty in destroying the tyranny of Antichrist, which was supported by no resources but those of Satan. In the mean time, however, he points out the marks by which that wicked one may be distinguished. For after having spoken of the working or efficacy of Satan, he marks it out particularly when he says, in signs and lying wonders, and in all deceivableness. And assuredly, in order that this may be opposed to the kingdom of Christ, it must consist partly in false doctrine and errors, and partly in pretended miracles. For the kingdom of Christ consists of the doctrine of truth, and the power of the Spirit. Satan, accordingly, with the view of opposing Christ in the person of his Vicar, puts on Christ’s mask, (670) while he, nevertheless, at the same time chooses armor, with which he may directly oppose Christ. Christ, by the doctrine of his gospel, enlightens our minds in eternal life; Antichrist, trained up under Satan’s tuition, by wicked doctrine, involves the wicked in ruin; (671) Christ puts forth the power of his Spirit for salvation, and seals his gospel by miracles; the adversary, (672) by the efficacy of Satan, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, and by his enchantments confirms miserable men (673) in error.

He gives the name of miracles of falsehood, not merely to such as are falsely and deceptively contrived by cunning men with a view to impose upon the simple — a kind of deception with which all Papacy abounds, for they are a part of his power which he has previously touched upon; but takes falsehood as consisting in this, that Satan draws to a contrary end works which otherwise are truly works of God, and abuses miracles so as to obscure God’s glory. (674) In the mean time, however, there can be no doubt, that he deceives by means of enchantments—an example of which we have in Pharaoh’s magicians. (Exo 7:11.)

(670) “ Et s’en desguise;” — “And disguises himself with it.”

(671) “ En ruine et perdition eternelle;” — “In eternal ruin and perdition.”

(672) Our author evidently means Antichrist, alluding to the term applied to him by Paul in the 4 verse.— Ed.

(673) “ Les poures aveugles;” — “The poor blind.”

(674) It is observed by Dr. Manton, in his Sermons on 2d Thess. that “there are seven points in Popery that are sought to be confirmed by Miracles.—1. Pilgrimages. 2. Prayers for the Dead. 3. Purgatory. 4. The Invocation of Saints. 5. The Adoration of Images. 6. The Adoration of the Host. 7. The Primacy of the Pope.” — Ed.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

Text (2Th. 2:9)

9 even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

Translation and Paraphrase

9.

(This one whom the Lord Jesus shall do away with is he) whose coming corresponds to the activity of Satan (who does his work) with every (kind of) power, and signs, and false miracles (wonders of deceit).

Notes (2Th. 2:9)

1.

There is nothing more plainly taught in all the Bible than that Satan does miracles. Miracles in themselves do not prove that the miracle-worker is doing Gods will.

a.

The magicians in Egypt did miracles and changed their rods into serpents. Exo. 7:11-12; 2Ti. 3:8. Undoubtedly these were miracles of Satan.

b.

Deu. 13:1; Deu. 13:3 : If there arise among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign of a wonder thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet.

c.

Mat. 24:24 : For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

d.

Mat. 7:22 : Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

e.

See also Rev. 18:23; Rev. 13:13; Rev. 19:20.

2.

Think of all the religions that try to prove they are of God by the miracles they claim to doRoman Catholic, Christian Science, Pentecostal, etc. They teach doctrines that contradict one another, but all try to prove they are of God by working (or claiming to work) miracles. But the miracles in themselves just do NOT prove that they are of the truth.

3.

Since we have set forth the view that the falling away and the man of sin (mentioned in 2Th. 2:3) are connected with the Roman Catholic religion, it is interesting to note how the Roman church is almost built on claims of miracles. Every time a dead man is proclaimed a saint, there must be evidence (?) brought forth that he (or she) did at least two miracles. The shrines of Romanism (such as the one at Lourdes, France) attract thousands of pilgrims, many of whom go away saying they are healed. We read about Catholics who have spontaneously bleeding wounds (stigmata) in the places where Christ was wounded on the cross. We are told that the bread and wine miraculously change into the very flesh and blood of Christ during the mass. But why say more? Remember the apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul, warned us about power and signs and lying wonders.

4.

Of course the miracles of Christ and his apostles were genuine, even if Satan works false miracles. Act. 2:22; 2Co. 12:12.

5.

There is little difference in meaning between the words, signs and wonders. The term wonders (Gr., teras) is always in the plural in the N.T. and always joined with the word sign.

6.

Both the American Standard Version and the King James correctly assume that the coming referred to in 2Th. 2:9 is the coming of the Wicked one, and not the same as the coming mentioned in 2Th. 2:8, which is Christs coming.

7.

It is Satans delight to counterfeit the things of God. Thus the man of sin is a counterfeit of Christ. They have several points of resemblance and contrast,

JESUS

THE MAN OF SIN

1.

Has a coming. 1Th. 2:19

1.

Has a coming, 2Th. 2:9

2.

Did miracles. Act. 2:22

2.

Does miracles. 2Th. 2:9

3.

Is God. Heb. 1:8

3.

Sets himself forth as God. 2Th. 2:4

4.

Is over the house (or temple) of God. Heb. 3:6

4.

Sits in the temple of God (as a usurper). 2Th. 2:4

5.

Shall be glorified. 2Th. 1:10

5.

Shall be destroyed. 2Th. 2:8

Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

(9) Even him, whose coming.The even him does not stand in the Greek; and whose might, again, be rendered by for his own, or perhaps though his own. The purpose of the verses following is not merely to describe Antichrist more fully, but to compare word for word his coming with that which will annihilate him. Again is used of Antichrist a peculiar word consecrated to the Christ: coming (literally presence), being the word used in 2Th. 2:8, as well as 2Th. 2:1, and often. In spite of the sham being well got up, it will be seen to be a sham.

Is . . . with all power.Is: St. Paul sees the future as present. The predicate is not after the working, but in all power, &c. The advent of Antichrist will be in (i.e., surrounded with, accompanied by) all kinds of miracles, according to the working of Satan: i.e., not only wrought by Satan, but up to the full capacity of Satan to work them. The word lying (literally, of falsehood) should go with all three names, all counterfeit power and signs and wonders. The three words are piled up to heighten the terror of the description; if you press them they mean that there will be a display of power, to attest Antichrists doctrine (signs), and to keep men spellbound in admiration of him (wonders). Antichrist, like Christ (1Ti. 6:15), has one to support himSatan instead of God; he, like Christ (Luk. 21:25), will have his miraclesbut miracles of trickery, not of truth.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

9. Even him Italic words inserted by our translators to indicate that Paul returns from the destruction of antichrist back to a completion of his description of antichrist.

Whose coming Antichrist is the caricature, the black shadow, of Christ. Like Christ, he has his parousia, his revelation.

Is after the working of Satan Lunemann (followed by Alford) does not penetrate the full truth here; but he furnishes the interpretation that establishes it. The working of Satan, he says, does not mean activity after the model of Satan; but is “an energizing equivalent to a Satanic possession; that is, the devil in and through him works.” Alford says: “Satan being the agent who works in the lawless.” It is not a true incarnation, but a mock incarnation, a possession. So that here again antichrist is a mockery of Christ. The pattern of this possession is found in the demoniac of Gadara, Mar 5:9, (where see note,) where the man and demon are so identified, that predicates may be applied of the individual that suit either nature, or include both; just as in the divine unity of Christ predicates are affirmed often that suit one or the other nature, or both inclusive.

Power The three terms here used present the miracle in three aspects, or three classes. Power is a miracle, as being a display of supernatural might; a sign is a miracle, as proof of a doctrine or authentication of a religious teacher; a wonder is a miracle viewed as an external marvel. We all know that popish history is full of professed miracles. Transubstantiation assumes to be a miracle of stupendous power; nothing less than transmuting a wafer into God! Even at the present day large communities are excited by rumoured miracles, and extensive pilgrimages are made to the scene of their performance.

Lying This epithet properly characterizes all three classes.

Against identifying the man of sin with the papal power it is often objected that the Roman Church of the Middle Ages fills a large part of Church history, possessed a large amount of piety, and was the author of a large amount of good to mankind. This may all be cheerfully granted; for the text expressly says that it was in the very temple of God that he enthroned himself. The Western Church of the Middle Ages retained a large amount of Christian truth and power, by which she took the dead corpse of falling pagan Rome, and uniting it with the barbarians of Europe, whom she slowly civilized, laid the foundations of modern Europe and America. The churches and monasteries were built with much of holy purpose, and were largely the abodes of piety and learning. The schoolmen were among the moral and intellectual benefactors of mankind. All this proves that the Western Church could truly be called the temple of God. But to such a history there are two sides. Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome are splendid objects in human history. They were human governments, and as such, “ordained of God,” and their rulers were “ministers of God.” And yet, on the other side, as idolatrous, apostate from God, despotic and worldly, they are in prophecy figured as “beasts.” And so in the very temple of God the papal power arose, forged the most stupendous falsehoods and the most abject superstitions, and thereon founded the most absolute despotism, sustained by the direst cruelties recorded in history. But this forbids not the trust that there is many a true saint in the Roman communion.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

‘Even he whose coming is according to the work of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness for those who are perishing, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.’

In his own sphere the man of sin will reveal the power of his master. Satanic power through him will enable him to produce false miracles of some kind. They will be seen as revealing his ‘power’, to many they will be ‘signs’ of his status, and they will be ‘wonders’, filling men with awe. His followers will be deceived. If it were possible even the elect, the people of God, might at first be deceived (Mat 24:24). But in the end their spiritual insight will see through him.

‘And with all deceit of unrighteousness for those who are perishing, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.’ The ‘deceit of unrighteousness’ may refer to the fact of the source of the deceit, it comes from an unrighteous source. Or it may refer to the fact that men are deceived by him because they are unrighteous. Or indeed it may signify both, the unrighteous deceiving the unrighteous. But we should note that men are not deceived because they are duped and could not have known, but because they are unrighteous (compare Rom 1:18).

‘For those who are perishing.’ As the man of sin perishes because he is ‘the son of perdition (destruction)’ (2Th 2:3) so they too are proving themselves sons of destruction. Because they are unrighteous and as a result themselves deceived, they ‘are perishing’. And why are they deceived and perishing? Because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. They were faced with truth and deception, and because they were unrighteous they chose deception. See Joh 3:17-21 and Joh 7:17. But if they do turn to that truth they will be saved.

‘They did not receive the love of the truth.’ The truth was offered to them but their hearts were not open to His Spirit, thus He could not work within them love of the truth. The truth here is not general truth, but the truth of the Gospel, for that is central to all truth.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

2Th 2:9-12. Whose coming is after, &c. The apostle was eager to foretel the destruction of the man of sin; and for this purpose, having broken in upon his subject, he now returns to it again, and describes the other qualifications by which this wicked one should advance and establish himself in the world. He should rise to credit and authority by the most diabolical methods; should pretend to supernatural powers, and boastofrevelations,visions,and miracles, false in themselves, and applied to promote false doctrines; 2Th 2:9. He should likewise practise all other wicked arts of deceit; should be guilty of the most impious frauds and impositions upon mankind; but should prevail essentially only among those who are destitute of a sincere affection for the truth, whereby they might attain eternal salvation; 2Th 2:10. And indeed, it is a just and righteous judgment of God, to give them over to vanities and lies in this world, and to condemnation in the next, who have no regard for truth and holiness, but delight in falsehood and wickedness; 2Th 2:11-12.

Upon this survey there appears little room to doubt of the genuine sense and meaning of the passage. The Thessalonians (as we have seen from some expressions in the former epistle,) were alarmed, as if the end of the world was at hand. The apostle, to correct their mistakes, and dissipate their fears, assures them, that a great apostacy or defection of the Christian, or visible church, from the true faith and worship, must happen before the coming of Christ. This apostacy all the concurrent marks and characters will justify us in charging upon the church of Rome. The true Christian worship is, the worship of the Three-One God, through the one only Mediator, the man Christ Jesus; and from this worship the church of Rome has notoriously departed, by substituting other mediators, and invocating and adoring saints and angels. Nothing is apostacy, if idolatry be not: and are not the members of the church of Romeguilty of idolatry in the worship of images, in the adoration of the host, in the invocation of angels and saints, and in the oblation of prayers and praises to the Virgin Mary, as much or more than to God blessed for ever? This is the grand corruption of the Christian church: this is The apostacy, as it is emphatically called, and deserves to be called; which was not only predicted by St. Paul, but by the prophet Daniel likewise. If the apostacy be rightly charged upon the church of Rome, it follows of consequence, that the man of sin is the Pope; not meaning any pope in particular, but the Pope in general, as the chief head and supporter of this apostacy. He is properly the man of sin, not only on account of the scandalous lives of many popes, but by reason of their most scandalous doctrines and principles; dispensing with the most necessary duties, and granting, or rather selling, pardons and indulgences to the most abominable crimes. Or, if by sin be meant idolatry particularly, as frequently inthe Old Testament, it is evident how he has perverted the worship of God to superstition and idolatry of the grossest kind.He also, like the false apostle Judas, is the son of perdition; whether actively, as being the cause of destruction to others, or passively, as being devoted to destruction himself. He opposeth;he is the great adversary to God and man; persecuting and destroying byCroisadoes, inquisitions, and massacres, those Christians who prefer the word of God to the authority of men. The heathen emperor of Rome may have slain his thousands of innocent Christians; but the Christian bishop of Rome has slain his ten thousands. He exalteth himself above all that is called God, or is worshipped; not only above inferior magistrates, but likewise above all bishops; not only above all bishops,butlikewiseabovekingsandemperors;deposingsome,obligingthem to kiss his toe, to hold his stirrup, treading even upon the neck of a king, and kicking off the imperial crown with his foot; nay, not only above kings and emperors, but likewise above Christ himself;making even the word of God of none effect by his traditions; forbidding what God hath commanded; as marriage, the use of the scriptures, &c.and also commanding or allowing what God hath forbidden; as idolatry, persecution, &c. So that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, &c. He is therefore in profession a Christian, and a Christian bishop: His sitting in the temple of God, plainly implies his having a seat, or cathedra, in the Christian church: and he sits there as God, especially at his inauguration, when he sits upon the high altar in St. Peter’s church, and makes the table of the Lord his footstool, and, in that position, receives adoration. At all times he exercisesdivine authority in the church,shewing himself that he is God; affecting divine titles, and asserting that his decrees are of the same or greater authority than the word of God. So that the pope is evidently, according to the titles given him in the public decretals, “The God upon earth;” at least, there is no one like him, who exalteth himself above every God; no one like him, who sitteth as God in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. The foundations of popery were laid in the apostle’s days, but the superstructure was raised by degrees; and several ages passed before the building was completed, and the man of sin revealed in full perfection. The tradition which generally prevailed was, that what hindered was the Roman empire: this tradition might have been derived even from the apostle himself; and therefore the primitive Christians, in the public offices of the church, prayed for its peace and welfare; as knowing that, when the Roman empire should be dissolved and broken into pieces, the empire of the man of sin would be raised upon its ruins. In the same proportion as the power of the empire decreased, the authority of the church increased, and the latter at the expence and ruin of the former; till, at length, the pope grew up above all, and the wicked, or lawless one, was fully manifested and revealed. His coming is after the energy of Satan, &c.; and does it require any particular proof, that the pretensions of the pope, and the corruptions of the church of Rome, are all supported and authorized by feigned visions and miracles, by pious frauds, and impositions of every kind?But how much soever the man of sin may be exalted, and how long soever he may reign, yet, at last, the Lord shall consume him, &c. This is partly taken from Isa 11:4. [And with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked;] where the Jews put an emphasis upon the words the wicked one, as appears from the Chaldee, which renders it, “He shall destroy the wicked Roman.” If the two clauses (as said in the note on 2Th 2:8.) relate to two different events, the meaning is, “That the Lord Jesus shall gradually consume him with the free preaching of the gospel, and shall utterly destroyhim at his second coming in the glory of the Father.” The former began to take effect at the reformation, and the latter will be accomplished in God’s appointed time. JustinMartyr,Tertullian,(asabove,)Origen,Lactantius,CyrilofJerusalem,Ambrose, Hilary, Jerome,Augustine,andChrysostom,give much the same interpretation which has here been given of the whole passage: and it must be owned, that this is the genuine meaning of the apostle; that this only is consistent with the context; that every other interpretation is forced and unnatural; that this is liable to no material objection; that it coincides perfectly with Daniel; that it is agreeable to the tradition of the primitive church, and that it has exactly been fulfilled in almost all its particulars;which cannot be said of any other interpretation whatever. Such a prophesy as this, is an illustrious proof of divine revelation, and an excellent antidote to the poison of popery.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

2Th 2:9-10 . The apostle has in 2Th 2:8 not only said when Antichrist will appear, but he has also immediately added what fate awaits him. He now goes backward in point of time, whilst in addition he describes the character of the working which Antichrist will develope before his destruction, brought about by the appearance of Christ.

] sc. . Parallel with , 2Th 2:8 .

] the present describes the certainty of the coming in the future. See Winer, p. 237 [E. T. 331]. Incorrectly Koppe, it imports: “jam agit et mox apertius majoreque cum vi aget.”

] does not belong as an independent statement to (so Hofmann, as before him already Georgii, in Zeller’s theol. Jahrb. 1845, Part 1, p. 8, who gives the meaning that the act of the appearing of the will itself be a work of Satan), but is a subsidiary statement to the principal clause . . ., assigning the reason of it. It does not import “after the example of the working of the devil” ( similiter ac si satanas ageret, Michaelis), but in conformity with it , that an is its characteristic, that is, that the devil works in and through him .

] to consist in something, to prove or make itself known in something . Against Hofmann, who arbitrarily denies this use of the phrase, comp. Winer, p. 345 [E. T. 482].

] a rhetorical enumeration, as in Act 2:2 , for the exhaustion of the idea. But as (see Winer, p. 466 [E. T. 660]), so also belongs to all three substantives. The genitive may import: in every kind of power, and in all signs and wonders whose nature is falsehood, or which proceed from falsehood, or which lead to falsehood, whose aim is falsehood. The last meaning is, with Aretius, de Wette, and others, to be preferred, as Antichrist is indeed the first to bring evil to its climax.

] falsehood , belongs to the essential nature of the devil (comp. Joh 8:44 ). It represents evil as the counterpart of divine truth (the ).

Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary

9 Even him , whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

Ver. 9. After the working of Satan ] Who (as God’s ape) works effectually in his and by his agents upon others. By corrupt teachers Satan catcheth men, as a cunning fisher by one fish catcheth another, that he may feed upon both.

And lying wonders ] The devil is ashamed (saith the Jesuit Gretser) to confirm Luther’s doctrine by miracles. But he that now requireth miracles to make him to believe, is himself a great miracle, saith Austin.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

9, 10 .] whose (refers back to the above going back in time, to describe the character of his agency) coming is (the present is not used for the future, nor is the Apostle setting himself at the time prophesied of, but it describes the essential attribute, as so often) according to (such as might be expected from, correspondent to) the working of Satan (Satan being the agent who works in the ) in (manifested in, consisting in) all (kinds of) power and signs and wonders of falsehood ( and both belong to all three substantives: the varieties of his manifested power, and signs and wonders, all have falsehood for their base, and essence, and aim. Cf. Joh 8:44 ), and in all (manner of) deceit (not, as E. V. ‘ deceivableness ,’ for it is the agency of the man of sin active deceit, of which the word is used) of unrighteousness (belonging to, consisting in, leading to, ) for (the dativus incommodi) those who are perishing (on their way to perdition), (WHY? not by God’s absolute decree, but) because (in requital for this, that) they did not (when it was offered to them) receive the love of the truth (the opposite of the which characterizes all the working of the man of sin: see as before, Joh 8:44 ) in order to their being saved .

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament

after. App-104.

working. Greek. energeia. See 2Th 2:7. App-172.

power . . . signs . . . wonders. App-176. 2Th 1:3, 2Th 1:2.

lying. Literally of a lie. Greek. pseudos. See Joh 8:44. Rom 1:25.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

9, 10.] whose (refers back to the above-going back in time, to describe the character of his agency) coming is (the present is not used for the future, nor is the Apostle setting himself at the time prophesied of,-but it describes the essential attribute, as so often) according to (such as might be expected from,-correspondent to) the working of Satan (Satan being the agent who works in the ) in (manifested in, consisting in) all (kinds of) power and signs and wonders of falsehood ( and both belong to all three substantives: the varieties of his manifested power, and signs and wonders, all have falsehood for their base, and essence, and aim. Cf. Joh 8:44), and in all (manner of) deceit (not, as E. V. deceivableness, for it is the agency of the man of sin-active deceit, of which the word is used) of unrighteousness (belonging to, consisting in, leading to, ) for (the dativus incommodi) those who are perishing (on their way to perdition), (WHY? not by Gods absolute decree, but) because (in requital for this, that) they did not (when it was offered to them) receive the love of the truth (the opposite of the which characterizes all the working of the man of sin: see as before, Joh 8:44) in order to their being saved.

Fuente: The Greek Testament

2Th 2:9. , of whom) viz. the Iniquitous one [Wicked]. Paul now subjoins a more lengthened description of the calamity, with the design that in the way of contrast he may console the Thessalonians; 2Th 2:13.- , of Satan) As Christ is related to God, so on the contrary is Antichrist to Satan, standing midway between Satan and lost men.- , and signs) These signs will be shown by the false prophet, who serves the interest of the beast, and that too even before the ascent of the beast from the bottomless pit, Rev 13:13.

Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament

2Th 2:9

even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,-Satan in the days of miracles wrought all forms and deceptions that unrighteousness could invent to lead to destruction those that obey him. When and where signs and lying wonders were performed, it is difficult to tell. In the age when Christ and the apostles and prophets wrought wonders, the devil and his emissaries did also. There were miracles of evil wrought in the early age of the church by the evil one as there were wrought by Jesus and his disciples. As these miracles of his disciples were said to follow them that believe do follow them as their heritage handed down from the early church, so also these miracles of evil wrought in the days of the early church.

Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary

is: Joh 8:41, Joh 8:44, Act 8:9-11, Act 13:10, 2Co 4:4, 2Co 11:3, 2Co 11:14, Eph 2:2, Rev 9:11, Rev 12:9, Rev 12:17, Rev 13:1-5, Rev 18:23, Rev 19:20, Rev 20:10

and signs: Exo 7:22, Exo 8:7, Exo 8:18, Deu 13:1, Deu 13:2, Mat 24:24, Mar 13:22, 2Ti 3:8, Rev 13:11-15, Rev 18:23, Rev 19:20

Reciprocal: Exo 7:11 – they also Num 22:20 – If the men Num 22:35 – Go Deu 28:28 – General Jdg 3:4 – to prove 1Ki 22:22 – a lying spirit 2Ki 24:20 – through 2Ch 18:22 – the lord hath 2Ch 25:20 – it came of God Psa 40:4 – as turn Psa 81:12 – I gave Psa 119:118 – their deceit Pro 5:6 – her Isa 9:15 – the prophet Isa 28:15 – we have made Isa 29:10 – hath closed Isa 44:18 – for he hath Isa 44:20 – Is there Isa 47:9 – for the multitude Isa 47:12 – General Isa 57:11 – that thou Jer 4:10 – surely Jer 5:31 – my people Jer 8:5 – they hold Jer 14:14 – I sent Jer 23:14 – walk Jer 23:26 – prophets of Jer 27:15 – that I Jer 29:8 – Let Jer 50:36 – upon the liars Eze 3:20 – and I lay Eze 13:4 – like Eze 14:5 – I may Eze 14:9 – if the Eze 20:25 – I gave Dan 8:23 – and understanding Dan 11:23 – work Dan 11:32 – corrupt Hos 4:12 – for Hos 14:9 – but Hab 2:18 – a teacher Mat 12:44 – he findeth Mat 21:27 – We cannot tell Mar 4:15 – Satan Luk 8:12 – then Luk 11:25 – he findeth Luk 11:34 – but Luk 19:42 – but Luk 21:8 – Take Rom 8:39 – depth 2Co 4:3 – it is Gal 3:1 – who Eph 4:14 – by the Eph 6:11 – the wiles Col 2:4 – lest 1Ti 4:1 – seducing 2Ti 2:26 – out Jam 3:6 – it is 2Pe 1:16 – we have 1Jo 4:6 – and Rev 2:24 – the depths Rev 8:12 – and the day Rev 11:7 – the beast Rev 13:3 – all Rev 13:13 – he doeth Rev 13:14 – deceiveth Rev 16:13 – three Rev 16:14 – working Rev 20:3 – should deceive Rev 21:8 – and all

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2Th 2:9. Even him whose coming. When the predicted man of sin does come, it will be like the coming and working of Satan. He is compared to Satan in that his power will consist of signs and lying wonders. The first italicized word is used in both a good and a bad sense in the New Testament, and it means an omen of something to come, or a supposed proof of something already in existence. It is used in a bad sense in this verse, since the signs are coupled with lying wonders. That refers to the deceptive means the pope and his associates will use, whereby the unsuspecting subjects of the Romish institution will easily be deceived.

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary

2Th 2:9. Whose coming. Having by anticipation described the destruction of Antichrist, Paul now gives the characteristics of his coming.

According to the working of Satan. The coming of the Man of Sin will be accompanied with such manifestations of power as are peculiar to Satan, viz.

in all power, and signs and wonders of falsehood. The qualifying addition, of falsehood, refers to all three preceding nouns; and signifies that the power, signs, and wonders were all used in the service of falsehood, and had rather the appearance than the reality of true miracles.

Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament

An account is here given how Antichrist doth acquire and keep up his power in the world: the first and great instrument is Satan; after the working of Satan, is as much as, by the working of Satan, denoting not only his pattern but his influence. The devil has a great hand over wicked men in the world, his way of dealing with them is most efficacious and powerful; he is certainly the first founder and supporter of the Antichristian state.

Observe, 2. The subordinate instrumental means by which Antichrist gained his power in the world; namely, by pretended miracles: With all power, and signs, and lying wonders. Miracles are called powers, because the effects of extraordinary powers; signs, from their use, because they sealed the doctrine to which they are applied; wonders, because they breed astonishment in the minds of beholders. Now Antichrist pretends to all these, but his are lying powers, lying signs, and lying wonders; because the greatest of his pretended miracles are fables, forgeries, impostures, diabolical delusions.

Learn hence, That Antichrist doth uphold and support his kingdom by a false show of signs, wonders, and mighty deeds; they are mira, but not miracula; what he cannot prove by the oracles of God, he endeavours to prove by the miracles of Satan.

Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament

2Th 2:9-10. Him whose coming The apostle, in his eagerness to foretel the destruction of the man of sin, having broken in upon his subject, now returns to it again, and describes the other qualifications by which this wicked one should advance and establish himself in the world. He should rise, the apostle signifies, to credit and authority by the most diabolical methods; should pretend to supernatural powers, and boast of revelations, visions, and miracles, false in themselves, and applied to promote false doctrines. The expression, whose coming, here signifies the first appearance of this lawless one in an open manner. The mystery of iniquity wrought covertly in the apostles days; and the man of sin was not to show himself openly, till that which restrained was taken out of the way. His coming, therefore, or his beginning to reveal himself, was to happen after the empire became Christian, and to take place in the manner described in the following clause. After the working of Satan Whose first setting up, and further increasing of his power, is by Satans influence; or with such a kind of working as Satan is wont to use wherewith to seduce persons; with all power Pretended power from God; and signs Fictitious or false signs, namely, not such as are fit to prove the truth of the doctrines which they are brought to confirm, but are mere impostures and forgeries; and lying wonders Such illusions and deceptions as were effected by the power of Satan, to confirm the doctrines and dominion of Antichrist, and were calculated to cause wonder in the beholders. Macknight reads this clause, with all power, and signs, and miracles of falsehood, judging the structure of the sentence requires that , of falsehood, be joined not only with wonders, or miracles, but with power and signs. And in explication of the terms he observes, that they are either signs, miracles, and exertions of power, performed in appearance only; mere impositions upon the senses of mankind; or they are real signs and miracles performed for the establishment of error; and consequently they are the works of evil spirits. Of this sort the miracles performed by Pharaohs magicians may have been; also some of the miracles related by heathen historians. For the apostle intimates that by some kind of miracle, or strong working, which had the appearance of miracles in the eyes of the vulgar, Satan established idolatry in the heathen world. Nay, our Lord himself foretels that false Christs and false prophets would show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible they would deceive the very elect. Wherefore, seeing the coming of the man of sin was to be after the working of Satan, with all power, &c., it is not improbable that some of the miracles, by which the corruptions of Christianity were introduced, may have been real miracles performed by evil spirits, called here miracles of falsehood, because they were done for the establishment of error: see Rev 13:13-14, where the same events seem to be foretold. This description of the wicked or lawless one, plainly evinces that Mohammed cannot be the man of sin, as some pretend. For, instead of working miracles, he utterly disclaimed all pretensions of that sort. In like manner, and for the same reason, the man of sin cannot be the factious leaders of the Jews in their revolt from the Romans, as Le Clerc and Whitby have affirmed; nor any of the heathen Roman emperors, as others have imagined. Besides, although these emperors exalted themselves above all other kings and princes, and opposed Christ very much, they did not apostatize from the Christian faith, nor sit in the temple of God. With all deceivableness of unrighteousness Or every unrighteous deceit, (the phrase being a Hebraism.) The apostle means those feigned visions and revelations, and other pious frauds, by which the corrupt clergy gained credit to their impious doctrines and practices. In them that perish Who are in the highway to eternal destruction; because they received not the love of the truth The cause this why God suffered them to fall into such destructive errors.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders [To give full force to the Greek we should here translate “all lying power, all lying signs, all lying wonders.” Antichrist shall employ the methods of Satan, and shall prove his claims by false miracles, like those of Jannes and Jambres– Exo 7:10-13; 2Ti 3:1-8],

Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)

2:9 {9} [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and {m} lying wonders,

(9) He foretells that Satan will bestow all his might and power, and use all false miracles that he can to establish that seat, and that with great success, because the wickedness of the world does so deserve it: yet in such a way that only the unfaithful will perish through his deceit.

(m) Which are partly false, and partly done to establish a falsehood.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes

The lawless one will be Satan’s instrument. Scripture also calls him the beast coming out of the sea (Rev 13:1-10), the scarlet beast (Rev 17:3), and simply the beast (Rev 17:8; Rev 17:16; Rev 19:19-20; Rev 20:10). Satan will empower him to deceive many people into thinking he is God by doing awe-inspiring, powerful miracles (cf. Rev 13:2-4; Rev 17:8).

"The use of parousia here probably suggests a parody of Christ’s Parousia (2Th 2:8)." [Note: Bruce, p. 173.]

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)