How will the Antichrist convince the world he is God, according to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2?
The episode begins with Steve Wood introducing the topic of the Antichrist from 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, focusing on how he will proclaim himself as God. Wood poses the question of how the Antichrist will achieve worldwide acceptance of this claim. He identifies a spiritual vacuum in modern Christianity, particularly in North America and Europe, as a key factor. Wood then shifts to explain the concept of theosis, also called deification or divinization, which is the idea that humans can become partakers of the divine nature. He reads from section 460 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which includes quotes from Saint Athanasius and Saint Thomas Aquinas about humans becoming God. Wood clarifies that this does not mean sharing God's essence but involves a real union by grace. He references 2 Peter 1:4 to support this biblical basis. Wood notes that theosis is central in Orthodox and Eastern Catholic traditions, contrasting it with evangelical emphasis on being born again. He explains that theosis begins in the present life, not just in eternity. Wood connects this to the Antichrist's tactic of counterfeit deification, where the Antichrist will inspire a demonic self-deification in people. He traces this back to the temptation in Genesis 3, where Satan tempted humans to be like God. Wood cites Saint Augustine's commentary on this from The City of God. The episode concludes with Wood recommending five resources for listeners to explore theosis further, including his book Grace and Justification, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a book by Scott Hahn, an iconographical study by Solrum Ness, and a book by Michael Gamma on theosis for evangelicals. He mentions that Thessalonica, the city of the epistles, later became a center for teaching theosis through Archbishop Gregory of Palamas.
