2 Thessalonians 2:8
“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”
King James Version
The lawless one, once revealed, is consumed by the breath of the Lord's mouth and destroyed by the splendor of His coming — the Antichrist's certain doom.
Fulfillment References
Isaiah 11:4 Revelation 19:15-20 Daniel 7:11 2 Thessalonians 2:3
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThe Lord destroys the lawless one by 'the brightness of his coming' — Jesus, the one God, needing only His word and His appearing.
JewishThe breath-of-the-mouth slaying of the wicked draws on Isaiah 11:4, the Messianic king's word as His weapon.
CatholicThe Antichrist destroyed effortlessly by Christ's appearing.
ProtestantThe lawless one consumed by 'the spirit of his mouth' (Isa. 11:4) at Christ's coming — destroyed by His mere word and splendor.
OrthodoxChrist overthrows the lawless one by His glorious advent.
DispensationalThe Antichrist destroyed at Christ's second coming (cf. Rev. 19).
Academic'The spirit of his mouth' cites Isaiah 11:4 (cf. Rev. 19:15); the effortless destruction underscores Christ's supremacy.
Scholarship & Sources
'Consume with the spirit of his mouth' draws on Isaiah 11:4 (the Messiah slays the wicked with the breath of His lips); the image recurs at Revelation 19:15. The Historicist reading takes 'consume' as a gradual undoing by the gospel before the final 'destroy' at His coming.
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Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, PhD · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.