KOINE Greek - Wonder

The Greek word τέρας (teras), meaning a wonder or a marvel, carries the sense of something that leaves people astonished — an act or event that seems to transcend the natural order. In Scripture, this term is often paired with σημεῖον (sēmeion, “sign”) to describe divine acts that reveal God’s power and glory. However, in passages like 2 Thessalonians 2:9, the same word is used to describe the false wonders performed by the Antichrist — miracles that imitate the divine but are rooted in deception. This distinction is vital: a wonder in itself simply evokes awe, but it is the source behind it — God or Satan — that determines whether that wonder leads people toward truth or away from it.

In our study, we reflected on how Paul warned believers that “the coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders.” The frightening truth is that these “wonders” will not be illusions or stage tricks, but genuine supernatural acts permitted by God’s sovereignty — yet wholly ungodly in origin and purpose. They will mimic the miracles of Christ so closely that many will be deceived into believing the Antichrist is divine. Just as Pharaoh’s magicians imitated Moses’ miracles in Exodus, these satanic wonders will demonstrate real power, but they will serve darkness, not light. The power to perform miracles does not prove righteousness; rather, it is the fruit and purpose of that power that reveals its true source.

For believers, the warning is clear: discernment matters more than spectacle. In an age where experience and emotion often guide belief, we must anchor ourselves in Scripture. Not every astonishing act is from God, and not every claim of spiritual power is holy. The true teras — the real wonder — is not the miracle itself, but the transformation of the heart through Jesus Christ. The Antichrist’s wonders will captivate the eyes, but God’s wonders convert the soul. As our study concluded, the people of God must learn to recognise the difference — to be in awe of God’s glory, not deceived by Satan’s glitter.

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Prison Chaplain (Sessional) and Leader @SFGH Church