"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and byour gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2nd Thessalonians 2:1-10)

Sometimes, I come across scriptures that are a little more difficult for me to understand. It is not that they are confusing, for God is not the author of confusion. It is that the writer's main point is difficult for me to grasp. This portion of scripture is one of those spots!

Having said that, I am certain of what this scripture is NOT teaching.

These verses certainly speak about a character who is full of evil and dangerous to the world. However, I do not believe Paul's purpose in mentioning such a person is so that we spend all of our time trying to figure out who it might be.

The popularity of the "Left Behind" series (and the pre-millennialist doctrine behind it) have, I believe, caused Christians to lose focus on what really matters about the end of time. The antichrist, the beast, the false prophet, and all the other symbolic images in Revelation should not be our focus. Rather than being concerned with this evil one, we should be looking for the return of Jesus Christ.

Even in the times of the Apostles, there were already MANY antichrists. Now, there may be one big, bad dude coming before the Lord returns, but let us never forget that John in Revelation, and Paul here, confirm for us that, no matter who it is, he will be destroyed by Jesus Christ at His coming!

That is what is important.