2 Thessalonians 2:7-8
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his appearing and his coming.
People ask if we’re living in the Last Days. The answer of the apostle Paul is that we’ve been living in the Last Days ever since Jesus rose from the dead and started the Countdown to his Second Coming. People ask when antichrist is going to start doing his dirty work and Paul answers that he’s been doing it since Satan realized his days are numbered on Easter Sunday. But mark this: that means the Church shares Christ’s destiny. It will experience crucifixion just as its Master did. It will also experience resurrection. We, who have had a little taste of just what damage the Lawless One can do when He Who restrains is out of the way (i.e., lets human and demonic evil have its way for a while), should not be surprised at this. Nor should we be surprised when the Lord Jesus, once the darkest powers have done their worst, brings life out of death. After all, there is precedent.
