Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Thessalonians 2:9

9 Even him who[illegible: 1 letter]e coming is after the working of Satan , with all power , and signs; and lying wonders .

The Apostle still continues his Discourse about this man of sin. He had declared whence he arose, and to what height of Power, and the manner and place of his exercising it, and what opened him the way to it, and also his destruction, with the means of it. But he thought it needful to explain particularly the manner of his rising into all this power, and preserving himself in it, and the persons over whom he doth exercise it.

[non-Latin text not transcribed] Christ's coming is in Power, and so is his: Christ comes with the Spirit of God, and his is with a Spirit also, but it is Satan: And the Spirit of God worketh with Christ in his coming, and the Spirit of Satan with the man of sin in his coming, which implies either the principle of this working in his coming, it is the Devil, or the similitude of it; it is like the working of Satan. If in the first sence it shews by what Spirit the Antichristian Church was first formed, and by which it is still informed and acted. As in Natural Bodies the matter is formed and informed by the Spirit within it. The true Church hath the Holy Spirit that forms it into a Spiritual Temple, Eph. 2. ult. The false Church hath the Spirit of the Devil forming it into the Synagogue of Satan, Rev. 2. The Dragon is said to give the Beast his Seat, Power, and Great Authority, Rev. 13.2. And this Dragon is the Devil in the Heathen Empire, who being cast out of his Seat and Power when the Emperour became Christian, found the Antichristian Church, and here exercised that Power and Authority which he did formerly in the Imperial Seat of the Heathen Emperours, whence we may see whence all that furious Zeal, and bloody Cruelties appearing in the Popish Church do spring, notwithstanding all their outward shews of Devotion. If we take the words in the latter sence, then his coming is like the working of Satan, either with great Power and Energy, as the word imports. The Greek word is often used in a good sence; for Gods working in the heart, Phil. 2.13. for the working of the word 1 Thess. 2.13. For the working of the heart in prayer▪ Iames 5.17. or by the same methods; by pretences of Piety and Devotion, as Satan transforms himself into an Angel of Light; or by keeping men in blindness and ignorance, so doth Satan by setting before men secular Grandeur, and the Pomp of the World; as thus Satan dealt with our Saviour, Mat. 4. or by suggesting lyes instead of truth, so he dealt with our first Parents, and is called a lyar from the beginning.

Er [non-Latin text not transcribed], Besides that Energy of Satan that works inwardly in this man of sin, which was mentioned before; he hath outward strength or power wherein he comes, which may be here meant. He hath the secular power to assist him, the Kings of the Earth giving their power to the Beast; and we read of 10 Horns upon his head, which are the Emblems of strength and power, Rev. 13.1. whereupon its said; Who is like unto the Beast, who is able to make War with him, ver. 4.

Some by the figure called Hendyadis read it; by the power of signs and lying wonders; but not properly. Observe how Satan is Gods Ape, God confirmed the Gospel with signs and wonders, Rom. 25.19. Heb. 2.4. God bearing them witness with signs and wonders, &c. and Satan brings this man of sin into the World in the same manner: God did it to confirm the truth, but Satan to countenance a falsehood: But though he comes with signs and wonders, yet not properly with miracles, as the Greek word is rendred in Heb. 2. because though the Devil can work the one, he cannot the other: He can by his great natural Knowledge and Experience improve natural causes to their utmost, but he cannot effect things above all possibility of Nature, which is the same power of Creating: The Schoolmen give their distinction between wonders and miracles, which is not needful here to insert: All miracles are wonders, but all wonders are not miracles; and yet are esteemed miracles when their cause is not known. The Romish Legends are full of stories of Miracles wrought to confirm their false Doctrines of Purgatory, of Reliques, invocation of Saints, &c. which might be wonders really wrought by the Devil; such as were wrought by Iannes and Iambres in Egypt, and by Simon Magus, and Apollonius Tyaneus, &c. who used Magick Arts, and the people not knowing them in their causes, might judge them miracles. And being wrought for such ends, are termed signs for a sign is any thing that is used to make signification, whether it be a Natural, or Artificial; an Ordinary, or Extraordinary sign, used either for a good end, as those shewn by Christ, and the Apostles, or for a bad end, as those used by this man of sin. People are apt to be affected with signs. The Iews saith the Apostle, seek after a sign, 1 Cor. 1.22. as they often desired Christ to shew them a sign, and therefore this man of sin comes with signs. Some signs are only for representation, as the sign of the Cross, and the Images of Christ, and of his Death, and Resurrection, &c. and he comes in these: Others are for confirmation, which are either real miracles, or such as seem so; and he comes in these latter also, which are here called [non-Latin text not transcribed], lying wonders; or wonders of a lye, Heb. Though the Greek word is oft used for a real miracle, yet nor so here; for miracles are the effects of a Divine Power only, Rom. 15.19. Heb. 2.4. and not Diabolical. And call'd lying wonders, either because they are used to confirm a lye, or because they are not real, but fained wonders; Impostors to cheat the people, and make them wonder; whereof we have account in Gregories Dialogues, and in Paulus Diaconus, and others, and yet such miracles are these the Papists boast of as marks of their Church to be true, though they are here by the Apostle made the marks of the man of sin. And Christ foretels of false Prophets that should shew great signs, and wonders, to deceive, if possible, the very Elect. Matth. 24.24. See Deut. 13.1. Rev. 13.13, 14.

Marginal references: Or, According; Mat. 24.24.