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.
This word "opposeth" is translated "adversary" (1 Timothy 5:14), "contrary" (Galatians 5:17), and "opposeth" (2 Thessalonians 2:4). The phrase "exalteth himself" (huperairomail) means "to lift or raise up over some thing; middle voice to lift one’s self up, be exalted, be haughty." Thayer further says "to carry one’s self haughtily to, behave insolently towards one" (Thayer 640-1-5229). The word "God" (Theos) is "a general appellation of deities or divinities" (Thayer 287-2-2316). It is used 1343 times in the New Testament.