Paul's Letters 2 Thessalonians

Stand Firm

Discover Jesus as: Faithful Lord 2 Thessalonians 2 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 558 of 730
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INTRO

Our phrase for 1 Thessalonians is Coming Lord and for 2 Thessalonians it is Faithful Lord. The reality is Christ is coming, whether we are prepared or not, and we don’t know when that will be (Matthew 24:36). In chapter 2, Paul continued his discussion about the end times, focusing on the Antichrist.

TEACHING

2 Thessalonians 2:1-7: In these verses Paul talks about the rapture of the church. False teachers claimed the Thessalonians were in the last days, so they had quit their jobs and were waiting on His return. Yet Matthew 24:36 says no one will know the time of His return, not even Jesus Himself, only the Father knows. We should keep watch and be ready (Matthew 24:42). Verse 1 introduces the subject of the coming of Christ. Verse 6 states that the Antichrist is currently restrained so he will be revealed at the proper time. Who is restraining the Antichrist? Possibly the Holy Spirit. Notice the first reference to the restrainer is “what,” which is gender neutral.

Verse 2 states the Thessalonians should not be easily upset by a spirit, a message, or a letter from Paul, that states the day of the Lord has come. Apparently, a false letter was being passed through the Thessalonians that claimed Jesus had returned. Paul says don't get caught up in the false teachings that you missed the Day of the Lord.  When Christ returns, we will all know. Today, when someone claims to be Christ, that is a false spirit, an Antichrist spirit. 

Verse 3 seems to support a mid-tribulation or post-tribulation time for the rapture. It states the day of the Lord will not happen until the Antichrist is revealed, suggesting believers will remain at least three and one half years into the time of tribulation before being raptured. “The man of lawlessness” and “the son of destruction” both refer to the Antichrist. Verse 4 states the Antichrist will exalt himself as an object of worship and even sit in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be god.

Here’s the progression of prophetic events of the end times:

  1. The rapture of the church will take place at some point. We must be ready at any time.
  2. The leader of ten European nations will make a seven year peace agreement with Israel. That leader will be the Antichrist (Daniel 9:26-27). When that happens we should all get ready.
  3. After three and one half years, the Antichrist is going to break the agreement (Daniel 9:27).
  4. The Antichrist will move to Jerusalem and set up his image in the temple and declare that he is god (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). That means the third temple will have to be built for that to happen.
  5. The Antichrist will begin to control the world and force it to worship him. At that time, God will send a great tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22).
  6. The nations will gather at Armageddon and will fight the Antichrist (Revelation 16:16). At some point, we will see the sign of Christ coming to fight the Antichrist in Israel.
  7. King Jesus will return to earth, defeat His enemy, be received by the Jews, and establish His kingdom (Revelation 19:11).
  8. Jesus will reign for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6).

For me, all this points to one question: How can the Lord use us as His witnesses during all this?

In verse 5, Paul reminded the Thessalonians that he had already told them what was to happen, so they shouldn’t fall prey to false teachers and false teachings. Wiersbe points out Satan has been at war with God since he tried to take God’s throne for himself, giving examples of Satan in the garden with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3), and God declaring war against Satan and his family (Genesis 3:15). Wiersbe emphasizes, “Satan has always wanted to be worshipped and served as God. He will one day produce his masterpiece, the Antichrist, who will cause the world to worship Satan and believe Satan’s lies.”1

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12: Jesus will bring the Antichrist to nothing with one breath and the brightness of His coming (v. 8). The coming of the Antichrist will be accompanied by false Christians (Matthew 13:38), false ministries (2 Corinthians 11:13), and a

false gospel (Galatians 1:6–9; 2 Thessalonians 2: 9). Basically the Antichrist will be Satan’s puppet. These will all perish because they did not accept the truth of Jesus’ redemption of them (v. 10). Therefore, God will give the unrighteous “a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false, so that all will be condemned” (vv. 11-12a). Wiersbe explains that many will die: It is important to note that these people did have opportunity to believe and be saved. God has no delight in judging the lost (Ezekiel 33:11). God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). These people will be judged and will suffer forever because they would not receive and believe the truth. In fact, their hearts will be so evil that they will not even have any love for the truth.2

CLOSING

How can we describe the Antichrist who is yet to come? Wiersbe identifies these descriptors of what the Antichrist will look like when he comes:

He will be a peacemaker (Revelation 6:1-2). He’ll be a political leader that pulls ten nations together into one block; and they ultimately give him their authority (Revelation 17:12-13).

He will be a protector (Daniel 9:24-27). This applies to Israel, Jerusalem, and the temple but not to the church.

He will be a peace-breaker (Daniel 9:27). After three and one half years, he will break the peace by proclaiming himself to be god from the temple.

He will be a persecutor (Revelation 13:15-17). After the agreement of the ten nations is broken, he will bring about intense persecution and tribulation (Matthew 24:21). Citizens will be required to bear the mark of the beast to be able to buy or sell anything (Revelation 13:16-17).

He will be a prisoner (Revelation 19:11-21). When Christ returns the Antichrist will become God’s prisoner.3

When you look for Jesus’ return, don’t let any false teachings confuse you. Jesus will not return until after the Antichrist appears and proclaims himself publicly from the temple in Jerusalem to be god.

  1. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Ephesians (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1989), p. 196-197.

  2. 2 Wiersbe, p. 199.

  3. 3 Wiersbe, p. 199.

Questions

  1. Even in Paul’s time, people believed the return of the Lord was upon them. Two thousand years later, are we seeing the things Paul spoke about in 2 Thessalonians 2:2-12 come to pass? Do you feel the Lord’s return is soon? Why or why not?
  2. In 2 Thessalonians 2:11, Paul says that God will send them “a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false.” Do you know people who are deceived or have believed the lies of the enemy? Have you spoken truth to them? Have you prayed for them? If not, take a few minutes to lift them up in prayer that their eyes and ears will be opened.
  3. Do you realize God “chose” you for salvation just as He did the believers in Thessalonica? In 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Paul told the Thessalonians God chose them, just as He did us, for salvation. Take a few minutes to lift praises up to God for His saving grace, unfailing love, and for choosing you as His own.
  4. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in 2 Thessalonians 2 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin 2 Thessalonians 2:7–9

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders.”

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Luke 12:25 — “Can any of you add a cubit to his height by worrying?”
  • Romans 8:38–39 — “For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!”
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15 — “But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, either by our message or by our letter.”