In 2 Thess 2:1-4 Paul speaks about the revealing of the “Man Of Sin” preceding the “Day of the Lord”.
As a result of this statement and the associated delusions of traditional Christian thought people are generally waiting for an anti-Christ.
This entire thought process has been corrupted.
Basically for three reasons.
Number One is that the assumption that every biblical concept happens to the entire world at the same time and not to the individual during their lifetime.
Number two is because Christians do not recognize that 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 should be considered as an continuation of the thoughts from Chapter 4.
2Th 2:3 (ASV) let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,
Number 3 is that parables are not intended to be understood literally, as Jesus said in Mk 4:10-12. The literal interpretation in intentionally misleading as the following explanation shows.
Mk 4:10 ¶And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
Mk 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Mk 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
The “man of sin” is simply an individual who sins, not a world encompassing antichrist individual.
2Th 2:5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you this?
In 2 Th 2:5 Paul refers back to the explanation of the process that God uses to correct a sinful “sleeping” Christian in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 thru 5:11.
The Delusion involves the Thessalonian Christians hearing that the “Day of the Lord might come unexpectedly”.
Doesn’t this sound like most deluded Christians who are waiting for a Rapture when Jesus comes riding on a cloud, Isiah 19:1?
These people argue about pre and post tribulation delusions, Dan 9:24-27.
Paul said He had spoken to them before about this. However His statement in 2:5 makes no sense if you think in traditional terms because there is no reference to the “Rapture” in 2 Thess. This is because the Rapture doctrine is a delusion.
So we are back to the misunderstood verses in 1 Thess 4:13.
The only way the reference in 2:5 makes sense is if the Sleep” referred to in 4:13 is not a reference to physical death as the traditional “rapturists” hold, but is a reference to the spiritual “sleep” Paul refers to in 1 Cor 15:34 and Eph 5:14.
1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
If “falling away”/backsliding or sinning willfully is the condition referred to as “sleep” in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 through 5:11, then the reference in 2 Thess 2:5 is a reference back to what is incorrectly thought to be “rapture” verses of 1 Thess 4:13-5:11.
Willful sin results in a period of “desolation” where the person is “exiled” from Israel (The Church) and can become a habitation of demons, Rev 18:2. When correction is recognized, the sin will either continue or stop, based upon the persons reaction to the discipline up until that point in time.
If it stops then 1 Thess 4:17 applies, and the individual is welcomed back into Christian fellowship. If it continues the actions in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 will then be applied to the individual “exiled” Christian. This is when the “enemies” of God are employed to encourage repentence, 1 Cor 11:32.