#3—St. Paul’s Outline of the End Times
The purpose of The Katechōn is to present a new universal theory of history informed by the pure fountain of Sacred Scripture, the Church Fathers, the Saints, and the teaching of the Church that can help us have eyes to see and ears to hear in the midst of these apocalyptic times.
Joseph-Benoît Suvée, The Predication of St. Paul (1777-1781)
To understand the end times requires detailed knowledge of numerous books of Scripture. However, in some places, we have fortunately been provided with “grand outlines,” so to speak, about the overall picture, and in a way that is clearer than in other apocalyptic books.
St. Paul’s words in 2 Thessalonians 2 are among these examples.
We will make numerous connections with other texts in Scripture at a later point. But an overview of this crucial scriptural text will help set the table (2 Thess. 2:1-12):
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you this? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 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. 8 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. 9 The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false, 12 so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The depths of this passage are immense, as are the debates it has aroused. Each of these elements are connected to numerous other parts of Scripture which will be analyzed throughout The Katechōn. For now, we will confine ourselves to just the key elements of this passage alone, which are: (1) General Timeline; (2) Important Players; and (3) Key Causes.
(1) General Timeline
The first thing St. Paul does in this passage is provide a general timeline for the end times. That timeline, in order, will be:
(a) The Great Apostasy;
(b) The revelation of Antichrist; and
(c) The return of Christ.
The traditional Christian term for what St. Paul calls “the rebellion” (v. 3) is the “Great Apostasy,” or the last great falling away from the Catholic Faith. After this apostasy, Antichrist will be revealed, followed by the return of Christ. As we saw in #2, the Council of Trent in The Roman Catechism, based on other portions of Scripture, identifies one sign that will precede the Great Apostasy, namely the preaching of the Gospel to the entire world. But more on this later.
(2) Important Actors
The second thing St. Paul clarifies are the primary players in the end times (both objects and persons). These are (excluding Christ, as He is assumed):
(a) The katechōn (“restrainer”);
(b) The mystery of iniquity; and
(c) Antichrist.
The katechōn is that which holds back the mystery of iniquity. The mystery of iniquity is the evil force of lawlessness operative even as St. Paul writes his letter, and will, as it were, burst forth once the katechōn is “out of the way.” (v. 7) Finally, as a result, prior to Christ’s return, the Antichrist will be revealed as the head of all the wicked (the mystery of iniquity) and deceive the world into believing he is God.
(3) Key Causes
Finally, St. Paul provides an overview of the key causes behind the main events in the timeline of the end times:
(a) The removal of the katechōn;
(b) The revelation of Antichrist by false signs and wonders; resulting in
(c) The deception and punishment of the reprobate, consummated at Christ’s return.
The Great Apostasy begins to take place prior to the revelation of Antichrist. However, it is kept at bay so long as the katechōn is not “out of the way.” (v. 7) But once the katechōn is removed, Antichrist is revealed, and through Satanically inspired false signs and wonders (vv. 9-10) deceives the non-elect/reprobate (v. 10, “those who are to perish”). This will include seating himself in the “temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” (v. 4) Ultimately, these events culminate in the punishment of the reprobate for their hatred of truth and love of unrighteousness, which is consummated by the return of Christ and the general judgment.
Conclusion
St. Paul has thus provided us with the key pieces we need to better understand the end times.
First, he has given us a General Timeline, which will consist of (in chronological order) the (a) Great Apostasy; (b) the revelation of Antichrist; and (3) the return of Christ.
Second, he has identified the Important Actors, which will include (a) the katechōn; (b) the mystery of iniquity; and (c) Antichrist.
Finally, he has outlined the Key Causes behind the most significant events of the end times, including (a) The removal of the katechōn; (b) the revelation of Antichrist by false signs and wonders; and (c) the deception and punishment of the reprobate, all of which is consummated by the return of Christ and the general judgment.
Each of these nine specific topics will be addressed in far greater detail in future posts.