Or, on behalf of.

Gk. parousia, meaning presence. See note 1 Thes. 2:19^1d and note Matt. 24:3^3d. Two matters are covered here: the Lord's parousia (presence) and our gathering together (rapture) to Him. The Lord's parousia will begin with the rapture of the overcomers to the throne of God in heaven (Rev. 12:5-6); at the end of the great tribulation, which will occur in the last three and a half years of this age, the second half of the last week in Dan. 9:27 (Matt. 24:21 and note Matt. 24:21^1a; Rev. 11:2 and note Rev. 11:2^4d), it will come to the air (Rev. 10:1 and note Rev. 10:1^2a) and last for a time; and it will end with its manifestation, "the manifestation of His parousia" (v. 8; Matt. 24:30 and note Matt. 24:30^4d). During the time in which the Lord's parousia remains in the air, the majority of the believers will be raptured to meet the Lord there (1 Thes. 4:17). According to the context, the day of the Lord in v. 2 refers to the day of the Lord's parousia (coming), in which the rapture of the majority of the believers will occur. Verse 3 tells us affirmatively that before that day Antichrist will be revealed to play the major role in the great tribulation (v. 4; Rev. 13:1-8, 12-15). This reveals clearly and definitely that the Lord's coming (parousia) to the air and the rapture of the majority of the believers cannot take place before the great tribulation.

Lit., toward.

Lit., from the mind; i.e., "from a steady and soberly judging mind" (Darby).

Referring to a speaking spirit that pretends and claims to have the authority of divine revelation.

See note 1 Thes. 5:2^2c.

Or, beguile; "not only making a false impression, but actually leading astray" (Vincent).

I.e., falling away (from the straight way of God's economy as revealed in the Scriptures).

Antichrist, as prophesied in Dan. 7:20-21, 24-26; 9:27; 11:36-37; Rev. 13:1-8, 12-18; 19:19-20. He will be the man of lawlessness and will change laws, destroy and corrupt many to an extraordinary degree, blaspheme God, and deceive men. Hence, the Lord will utterly destroy him, and he will become the son of perdition.

This fulfills the prophecy concerning Antichrist in Dan. 11:36-37. This will take place in the second half of the last week, as prophesied in Dan. 9:27. See note Matt. 24:15^1a.

This is "the holy place" in Matt. 24:15, indicating that the temple of God will be rebuilt before the Lord comes back.

This refers to some power that hinders the revelation of the man of lawlessness, Antichrist.

The time appointed by God, which will be the last of the seventy weeks, as prophesied in Dan. 9:27; 7:24-26; Rev. 13:1-8.

The lawlessness that will characterize Antichrist (v. 3) is already operating in this age mysteriously. It is the mystery of lawlessness working today among the nations and in human society.

This probably means that the restraining one is taken out of the way.

This will be fulfilled in Rev. 19:19-20.

The same Greek word as for spirit.

Or, shining forth. This indicates that the Lord's coming (parousia) will be hidden before it is manifested openly (see note Matt. 24:27¹). This indicates also that the Lord's coming will last a period of time (see note 2 Thes. 2:1^2a). First, it will be in secret, and then it will be manifested to the public.

See note 2 Thes. 2:1^2a.

As prophesied in Rev. 13:2, 4, 7.

The entire operation of Satan to deceive people (v. 10) is in its totality a lie, just as he is a liar and the father of liars (John 8:44).

Because the perishing ones did not receive the love of the truth, which God intended to give them that they might be saved (v. 10), God sends to them an operation of error, an active power of misleading, that they might believe the lie.

The believers have a good intention for goodness (2 Thes. 1:11); the perishing ones (v. 10), who reject the truth of God, take pleasure in unrighteousness. To sin is a delight to them (Rom. 1:32).

God loved us (v. 16), chose us from the beginning, and called us through the gospel (v. 14). He chose us unto His salvation, which is by sanctification of the Spirit, and He called us to the obtaining of the Lord's glory. Now He is taking us on with eternal comfort and good hope in grace.

I.e., from eternity past (cf. Eph. 1:4). Some ancient MSS read, as firstfruits.

Sanctification of the Spirit consists of three steps:
1) the Spirit's seeking us and convicting us at the time that He caused us to repent and believe (1 Pet. 1:2; John 16:8);
2) His sanctifying us both positionally and dispositionally (Heb. 13:12; 1 Cor. 6:11) at the time we were saved;
3) His sanctifying us dispositionally as we pursue the growth in life (Rom. 6:19, 22).
By these three steps of the Spirit's sanctification, God's salvation is applied to us that we may obtain and enjoy it fully. The three steps of the Spirit's sanctification not only separate us from all old and negative things, making us holy unto God, but also sanctify us, making us a new creation full of the Lord's essence and element, that we may obtain the Lord's glory.

Or, faith. By the Spirit's sanctification God's salvation is revealed and brought to us; by our believing we receive all that is revealed and brought to us by the Spirit, so that we obtain God's salvation.

Referring to salvation in sanctification...and belief...in the preceding verse. God chose us unto salvation in eternity, and then in time He called us unto the obtaining of the glory of our Lord. Salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth is the procedure; the obtaining of the glory of our Lord is the goal.

The glory of the Lord is that He, as the Son of God the Father, possesses the Father's life and nature that He may express the Father. To obtain the Lord's glory is to be in the same position as the Son of God that we may express the Father (John 17:22 and note John 17:22^1a).

See note 1 Cor. 11:2^1c.

Our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father work together to comfort and establish the believers (v. 17).

Not temporary and transitory comfort and strengthening but eternal comfort by the divine life. This comfort is sufficient for any kind of environment and situation; thus, it is with good hope.

The hope of glory (Col. 1:27), which is the hope of the Lord's coming (1 Thes. 1:3), when we will be either resurrected or transfigured into glory (1 Thes. 4:13-14; Phil. 3:21; Heb. 2:10).

God Himself in Christ for us to enjoy (see note John 1:17^1a) that we may be sanctified by His Spirit (v. 13) and comforted and established (v. 17) with eternal comfort and good hope.