November 6, 2024

Our Holy Father Paul, Archbishop of Constantinople and Confessor (c. 353-61).
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Luke 12:48-59.

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

St. Paul warns believers about the coming of the “man of lawlessness,” who will oppose God and deceive many. The Fathers of the Church provide insight into this figure, viewing him as the embodiment of evil and rebellion against God who will appear before Christ’s second coming. St. John Chrysostom identifies this “man of lawlessness” as the Antichrist, a person who will “raise himself against God and do works similar to Christ in outward appearance but with the intention to deceive.” His goal is to undermine faith and lead people away from God through lies and signs.

St. Irenaeus writes of the Antichrist as a “deceiver,” aligning his power with Satan to create “false wonders” and mislead even the faithful (Against Heresies, Book V). Similarly, St. Cyril of Jerusalem warns that the Antichrist will perform miracles to imitate Christ’s divinity, but these are meant to pull people into darkness: “He will appear as if he were meek and gentle, but will be a wolf in sheep’s clothing” (Catechetical Lectures, Lecture XV). The Fathers emphasize that these signs are traps, urging Christians to remain vigilant in their faith.

Christians are called to always be prepared for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This means striving to live with a steadfast faith, grounded in humility and prayer. St. Ephraim the Syrian, in his writing On the Second Coming of Christ, advises Christians to “keep watch over your souls as if this day is your last, keeping your heart pure before God.” Christians stay prepared by staying rooted in Scripture, the sacraments, and prayer, and this will keep us equipped to recognize falsehoods and resist deception. The Church encourages Christians to faithfully wait for the second coming of the Lord Jesus, trusting that Christ’s light, which has already decisively overcome evil, will ultimately root out all darkness, sin and death. Preparing for the end times is not about fear but about steadfastness, living each day in readiness for Christ’s triumphant return as if it were our last.