2nd.Thessalonians 2:1-12 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and by our gathering together unto HIM. The ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the Day of CHRIST is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that Day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called GOD, or that is worshiped; so that he as GOD sitteth in the temple of GOD, showing himself that he is GOD. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things ? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only HE WHO now letteth will let, until HE be taken out of the way. 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: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause GOD shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
In no other epistle is CHRIST's coming in the Rapture so clearly the object of the believer's "patience of hope" (1st.Thessalonians 1:3 pictured above) as in 2nd.Thessalonians. We are to be continually watching and waiting for this imminent event. A misunderstanding had occurred regarding the coming of CHRIST for HIS own (the Rapture) and the future Day of the LORD (1st.Thessalonians 4:13-5:10); it centered on a point of teaching that had been given both in person by Paul as well as in his first letter. The Apostle learned that the Thessalonians had received a forged letter or a false verbal message with new revelation supposedly from him (v.2; 3:17). This caused some to neglect their daily work, which led to a disorderly life (3:10-12); and, because they were being severely persecuted, they wrongly supposed the Day of the LORD had, indeed, arrived.
Paul wrote this subsequent letter to the Thessalonian church to correct their confusion and reassure them that CHRIST's Second Coming would vindicate their cause (2nd.Thessalonians 1:5-12). He explained that certain events must first come to pass prior to CHRIST's return to this Earth, revealing to them the following details: (1) A "falling away" will first occur as the LORD catches up HIS church in the Rapture. (2) The "Man of sin" will come into public view with his awful campaign against the LORD. (3) Following the seven-year Tribulation period, the LORD will return with HIS saints in judgment at HIS Second Coming. Paul exhorted them, in the meantime, to lead a quiet, sober, and industrious life (2nd.Thessalonians 3:6-15), he comforted them in their persecutions, and he assured them that believers in this church age will not be overtaken by the judgments comprising the Day of the LORD. JED
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
