Not always the most obvious, but of central importance.

An important man of lawlessness is to come.

The KJV calls him a “man of sin,” but remember that “Sin is lawlessness,”1Jn 3:4, WEB. Paul says that this man has to come before Jesus comes again, and calls this man “the son of destruction” WEB. This man is characterized by “perdition,” destructive behavior, and he brings destruction on many people.

He suppresses all religion except the
worship of Satan and himself.

“he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. ” 2Thes 2:4 WEB

This man does not just put himself up as some sort of “god.” He puts himself up as the one and only “god.” He does not just put down Christianity, but will put down ALL religion of any sort, except himself. The only other description that matches this is called a “beast” in Revelation 11 through 20. It says men “worshiped the beast,” Rev 13:4, and that he is “given authority” over all of the earth, and to make war with the church and to overcome it, Rev 13:7.

Before we go any further, I must remind you that Rome and the caesars NEVER overcame the church. Instead, the church overcame Rome and the caesars, exactly as prophesied in Daniel 2.

This man is brought to power by a “mystery of lawlessness”
which “already works.” 2Thes 2:7 WEB

Taken at face value, Paul is describing either the teachings of a mystery religion characterized by lawlessness, or a mystery religion itself (an organization) that is characterized by lawlessness. See the previous post on “Mystery Religions: An Overview.” Paul is writing this around say 51 AD, and says this mystery “already works,” 2Thes 2:7. This teaching, this religion, seems to be the “beast” organization of Rev 13:1-2, 17:7, etc. This religion continues to work until it is able to unveil its exclusive god/man to be worshiped by the entire world. This religion has a ruling council of seven men, and seems to have a power base of ten nations. Mystery Babylon and the Mystery of Lawlessness run private intelligence operations that often dwarf those of many nations. They frequently run Deep State operations jointly.

The beast organization, makes Mystery Babylon a world wide success.

“… I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.” Rev 17:7.

These are competing mystery religions that work together for world domination, and the destruction of Christianity.

The “man of lawlessness” will destroy Mystery Babylon WITHIN history.

This is described in Revelation 17 and 18 as being a total and final destruction. This occurs after the church is “overcome,” and it leaves the mystery of lawlessness as the undisputed master of the entire world.

Revealing the Christian Age has more information the fall of Mystery Babylon.

The “man” of lawlessness is destroyed by Jesus’ Second Coming.

The beast is captured and thrown alive into hell, Rev 19:20. Jesus will kill him “by the brightness of his coming.” 2Thes 2:8. So these are things which come to a climax just before the end of this present universe.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901