9    Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

     Verse 9 gives us without a doubt, who this 'son of perdition' is; it is Satan. Naturally then, anyone with common sense can tell from verse 8 that Satan (that wicked) will come first in order for Christ Jesus to 'consume with the spirit of His mouth (two-edged sword), and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.' Furthermore, the subject Paul is teaching in these verses is the 'revealing' of the 'son of perdition', i.e. Satan. Connect the word 'revealed' throughout all these verses.

II Thess 2:10   And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11    And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12    That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

     Here's the Main Reason GOD is bringing this deception of Satan playing a false Messiah, which is 'strong delusion'; because many do not receive His Truth. Remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said that the Truth shall set you free? (John 8). Do you also remember back in Isaiah that this Assyrian or Satan is the 'rod' of GOD's anger? (Isa.10:5). This is a BIG correcting stick our Father is sending, and all because many of His children have turned away from Him, following anything and everything besides Him. Therefore, those who don't care enough to seek God's Truth are going to 'believe a lie'; and that big 'lie' is Satan coming as messiah attempting to play The Savior.
     Many deceived Churches and even the non-believers who at least listen, are looking for who to come in our near future? They look and wait for Messiah. Well naturally they would know and recognize The Antichrist if he came first, because they think he's going to do all his traditional evils that is written of him in The Word. Evil like murder, killing Christians left and right; and just bringing the whole world into one gigantic chaotic misery. Yeah, Satan's easy to recognize isn't he? I mean, he's got big ole' horns on his head, kind of looks like a goat...well he must because that's what all his false pagan worshipers make him look like isn't it? Well heck, that's even what all the Hollywood movies show us, and they'd never lie would they? Yes they would, the followers of Satan do lie, because the Truth is just not in them.

     Satan is a beautiful angel, made the full pattern of beauty according Ezekiel 28. And he's going to play the lead role in the last movie showing of 'Jesus Christ Superstar', offering to heal all our woes, bringing peace and prosperity to those who bow down to him and his beast system image, etc. In other words, he's coming in the exact opposite role he's always been known for throughout flesh time. Therefore, the false messiah's coming will be a tribulation of deception, and one full of comfort and peace for those who are deceived;

but for those who refuse him, which are God's elect, it will be a time of hardship, and not by Satan directly, but by our brethren who will be deceived.

     Hey, not to worry if you're trying to follow Christ by believing on Him and study His Word. But let me ask you. Is your understanding of His Word firmly in your heart and in your mind? Can you say that you know the overall Plan of God and His Salvation?  This includes not being deceived by this one playing a false Messiah, whom GOD also called just 'a man'. Is your faith in God and on His Son Jesus Christ strong enough to make it through this testing by the false Messiah? Do you know what our Father told us to do during this testing, when being