3. The Lawless One

“And then shall be revealed the Lawless One, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of His coming” (2 Thess. 2:8 R. V.). This is another name of the Antichrist which makes manifest his awful character. Each of his names exhibits him as the antithesis of the true Christ. The Lord Jesus was the Righteous One; the Man of Sin will be the Lawless One. The Lord Jesus was “made under the law” (Gal. 4:4); the Antichrist will oppose all law, being a law unto himself. When the Saviour entered this world, He came saying, “Lo I come to do Thy will, O God” (Heb. 10:9); but of the Antichrist it is written “And the king shall do according to his will” (Dan. 11:36). The Antichrist will set himself up in direct opposition to all authority, both Divine and human.