2Thessalonians 2:1-12
But First
I. \\#1:1-12\\ Paul’s Encouragement in Persecution
A. \\#1:1-2\\ Introduction
B. \\#1:3-4\\ Encouragement by Prayer and Spiritual Bragging
C. \\#1:5-10\\ Encouragement by Describing The End of Their Persecution
D. \\#1:11, 12\\ Encouragement with An Offer of Spiritual Blessing
II. \\#2:1-17\\ Paul’s Explanation of the Day of the Lord
A. \\#2:1-2\\ The Comfort of Truth
B. \\#2:3-12\\ The Events Preceding the Day of the Lord
C. \\#2:13-17\\ The Comfort of the Believer on the Day of the Lord
III. \\#3:1-18\\ Paul’s Exhortation to the Church
A. \\#3:1-5\\ Wait Patiently for Christ
B. \\#3:6-15\\ Withdraw from the Disorderly
C. \\#3:16-18\\ Conclusion
I. \\#1:1-12\\ Paul’s Encouragement in Persecution
II. \\#2:1-17\\ Paul’s Explanation of the Day of the Lord
A. \\#2:1-2\\ The Comfort of Truth
2Thess 2:1 "Now we beseech you… by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by
our gathering together unto him.
1. \\#1\\ Paul asks the Thessalonians to do some things based on sound
doctrine.
a. The doctrine he mentions is the rapture, although he divides the
single doctrine into two events.
(1) Jesus’ return.
(2) Our being raptured and gathered to Him.
(3) Both of these events occur at the SAME TIME.
b. \\#2\\ Notice that Paul mentions another day, "the Day of Christ,"
or the Day of the Lord.
(1) The Rapture and the Day of Christ are different and DO NOT
occur at the same time.
(2) Both the rapture and the Day of the Christ were discussed in
Paul’s last letter to the Thessalonians.
(3) Plus, Paul describes the Day of the Lord in detail in
\\#2Thess 1:7-10\\
(4) Like two pieces of bread in a sandwich, they come before and
after the seven years of tribulation.
(5) Paul will not spend anymore time detailing these two events
since, between the two letters, both have been outlined.
2. Based on the coming of Jesus and our gathering to Him, Paul makes
requests.
a. I see a lesson.
(1) Doctrine is not just to be believed. Doctrine is to change
behavior.
(2) How should doctrine change behavior?
(a) Doctrine should change the way we act.
i. Doctrine should cause the believer’s life to conform
to the image of Christ.
ii. This is foundational.
iii. I often say, "If you know what you ought to know, you
will live like you ought to live."
(b) But doctrine should also change the way we feel.
i. Doctrine should give peace in times of trouble.
ii. Doctrine should give hope in times of despair.
iii. In this case, Paul is telling the Thessalonians that
they know the doctrine of the rapture and that
knowing that truth, they should not be anxious about
the Day of the Lord.
iv. Sometimes, we Bible believers over look this truth;
however, it is just as important that we allow God
to change our emotions as it is that we allow Him
to change our behaviors.
v. Not to do so demonstrates a lack of confidence in
the power of God (faithfulness).
vi. Our Lord has told us to pray, BELIEVING.
\\#Mark 11:24\\
(c) So a proper understanding of Biblical truth should make us
both sound in behavior and mind.
b. \\#2\\ Paul asks that they be not soon shaken in mind or troubled.
(1) Peace is an important element in the life of a Christian.
(2) If we get our doctrine correct, nothing else should be able to
shake us.
(a) Not a "spirit."
i. Paul was probably referring to the appearance of an
angel or some other spiritual being.
ii. It may be that some at the Thessalonica were claiming
to have seen a vision concerning the Day of the
Lord. (They still do today.)
iii. However, Paul is arguing that no angel will appear to
give a message contrary to the TRUTH; and that if
they do, we would know them to be false messengers.
iv. That is how confident we can be in the consistency
of God.
(b) Not even, "…word, not by letter from us"
i. Perhaps Paul is alluding to the first letter he wrote
the church. It is possible that they had become
confused while reading that letter.
ii. However, Paul was stating that even if they did
receive a letter from him contradicting known truth,
that their confidence in the truth should still give
them peace of spirit and direction.
iii. Get this-Nothing from God will ever contradict the
truth of God’s Word.
aa. God does not get confused.
bb. God does not send out conflicting messages.
cc. Rest assured.
c. \\#3\\ Paul asks that they be not deceived.
(1) "that day shall not come, except…"
(2) Here, Paul begins to list the events that will precede the
coming of the Day of Christ.
B. \\#2:3-12\\ The Events Preceding the Day of the Lord
1. \\#3\\ "… there come a falling away first"
a. I believe that is a reference to the church falling away from the
truth of the Bible.
b. Is that not what we are seeing today?
(1) There has been a gradual doctrinal shift from the truths of
the Bible for years.
(2) Ministers and churches have been doubting the reliability of
the Word of God, the virgin birth of Jesus, the bodily
resurrection, the second coming and other major Biblical
doctrines.
c. However, it has been increasing more obvious has ministers and
churches take a public stand on the issue of homosexuality.
(1) Gay-Rights Group Touts Clergy Support,
May 3, 2011, Politics on the Hudson website.
Just a few hours after Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he was “optimistic” on gay-marriage
legislation and Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos said his conference will
look at it over the next few weeks, the Empire State Pride Agenda touted the
support of more than 700 clergy members and lay leaders across the state.
http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2011/05/03/gay-rights-group-touts-clergy-support/
(2) United Methodist Clergy Vow to Marry Gay Couples
June 6, 2011, Advocate.com
Despite church regulations forbidding marriage equality, about 40 Minnesota United\
Methodist clergy have signed a statement vowing to marry any couple who comes to
them, including those of the same sex.
http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/06/02/United_Methodist_Clergy_Vow_To
_Marry_Gay_Couples/
(3) Presbyterians to Officially Allow Gay Clergy
July 8, 2011, The Christian Century
Presbyterians who support gay rights are prepping sanctuaries this Sunday (July
10) to celebrate the passage of a new church policy that allows gay pastors to
serve openly for the first time in the denomination’s history.
http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2011-07/presbyterians-officially-allow-gay
-clergy
d. If the press is any indication as to the number of churches that
maintain a Biblical stand on contemporary issues (and I hope they
are not), then churches like ours are clearly in the minority.
2. "and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition"
a. The Man of Sin is most likely the one we call the anti-christ.
b. Because I make reference to these verses quite often, I will not
spend a lot of time here.
c. Do note some things about him.
(1) \\#3\\ He is called the "man of sin," a man born of the sin
nature. While all humans are, this phrase implies this man
is solely of sin, in some type of complete and powerful way.
(2) \\#3\\ He is called "the son of perdition." Literally, the
son of destruction or the son of the devil.
(3) \\#8\\ He is called "that Wicked." He is the epitome of
wickedness.
(4) \\#4\\ He will "oppose and exalt himself against everything
that is called God"
(a) Anything God is for, he will be against.
(b) Anything God is against, he will be for.
(c) To be honest, it is easy to see how he would be readily
accepted today.
(5) \\#4\\ But he is also against anything "that is worshipped."
(a) That is not the case yet.
(b) Presently, the world is enamored with the Muslim
religion. (Although I cannot image why the world would
want to be sympatric to a religion who vows to conquer
or kill it.)
(6) \\#4\\ "so that he as God, sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God"
(a) At some point, this man will sit in the temple of
Jerusalem, which does not exist today) and proclaim that
he is God.
(b) Don’t let the absence of a temple fool you into thinking
the rapture is far off.
i. Things are being prepared already so that when the
Jews get the Temple Mount, they will be able to
quickly assemble the Temple.
ii. Always remember, there are seven full years between
the rapture of the church and the Day of Christ.
That leaves plenty of time AFTER the rapture for
the temple to be erected and for this prophecy to
be fulfilled.
(7) \\#9\\ "whose coming is after the working of Satan with all
power and signs" - This Wicked One will be able to perform
miracles.
3. \\#7\\ The Withholder will "be taken out of the way."
a. While Paul has listed two events, he now lists a third which must
come before at least one of these two.
(1) \\#7-8\\ Someone who is now "letting will let, until he be
taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be
revealed…."
(a) So Paul is going backwards in the time of his list.
(b) Before the wicked one can be revealed, someone who is
letting must be removed.
(2) The KJ word for "let" means "to hold back." So Someone who is
"holding back" the "mystery of iniquity" must be removed.
b. What is "the mystery of iniquity"?
(1) It is a phrase to refer to all that Paul is discussing here.
(a) That an Evil One will come.
(b) That he will proclaim to be god.
(c) That after his coming, the Day of Christ will come.
(d) That God Himself will ultimately destroy the Wicked One.
(2) \\#7\\ Paul says that the unleashing of this iniquity was
already underway in HIS day.
(3) However, there is SOME ONE or SOME THING which has been
holding this day back.
c. Who or what has been holding this day back?
(1) I believe it is the Holy Ghost.
(a) Others believe it is the church or some other form of
Christian presence; however, the only thing that gives
the church or the Christian any power is the Holy Ghost.
(b) So in order to remove the power of the church or
Christianity, the Holy Ghost will still have to be
removed.
(2) In a sense, when God raptures the church, the Holy Ghost who
indwells the believer will be removed too.
(a) Understand that this does not require the Holy Ghost to
be permanently removed from the earth.
(b) His abiding presence and power as we have known and
experienced it in the church age will be removed.
(c) The Holy Spirit will continue His ministry, but like He
did in the Old Testament, in a more sparse and removed
capacity.
(3) Once the Holy Spirit and the church are raptured off this
planet, things will accelerate toward evil and wickedness.
(a) The power that has held Satan back will be removed.
(b) The anti-christ will be revealed.
(c) And soon thereafter, the Day of Christ shall occur.
We must stop at this point, but we need to understand the significance of what
this means. IF the One holding back the mystery of iniquity is the Holy Spirit and
His removal occurs at the rapture of the church, then the order Paul is giving
would be:
1. A falling away occurs.
2. The rapture of the church and the removal of the Holy Ghost.
3. The Wicked will be revealed.
4. The Day of Christ
I believe we are already in the falling away. Can the rapture be far away?
<Outline
Index> <Close Window>
