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.
"It appears more probable from the context that a general abandonment of the basis of civil order is envisaged. This is not only rebellion against the law of Moses; it is a large-scale revolt against public order, and since public order is maintained by the ’governing authorities’ who ’have been instituted by God,’ any assault on it is an assault on a divine ordinance (Romans 13:1-2). It is, in fact, the whole concept of divine authority over the world that is set at defiance in ’the rebellion’ par excellence." [Note: Bruce, p. 167. Cf. David A. Hubbard, The Second Epistle to the Thessalonians," in The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 1363.] 