Please turn in your Bibles this evening to II Thessalonians chapter 2 as we continue our study through the Word of God. In chapter 1 we saw Paul give them Encouragement in Suffering as these new believers were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul told them, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.” II Thessalonians 1:3-4.
Now in II Thessalonians chapter 2 Paul is going to give them Enlightenment About the Day of the Lord. You see, doctrinal error regarding the Day of the Lord had crept into the church and was confusing them. Some were so affected by this that it was manifested in their lifestyle and not in a good way. Paul will deal with that issue in II Thessalonians chapter 3.
Folks, here in the 21st century we see doctrinal error creeping back into the church regarding eschatology or end times events. We have Christian leaders, like the Bible Answer Man, Hank Hanegraaff telling us that the book of Revelation was fulfilled by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago. Does that mean we are living in the Kingdom Age? Does that mean there is no Rapture of the church, no being caught up to be with the Lord, meeting Him in the air? You see, confusion where God does not want us to be confused.
Remember what Paul said back in I Thessalonians 4:13 regarding the Rapture of the church, “But I do not want you to be ignorant . . .” And that is exactly what we are seeing today. My prayer as we go through this section tonight is that we would clearly see that the Lord comes for His bride, in the Rapture; and then He comes with His bride, the second coming, to set-up His kingdom on this earth and rule and reign for 1,000 years! With that said, let’s begin reading in II Thessalonians chapter 2, starting in verse 1 and see what the Lord has for us this evening.
VERSES 1-2
Here in verse 1 Paul speaks of the Rapture of the church, which is different than His second coming. Paul already taught them in his first letter that the Rapture of the church would take place before the Day of the Lord began because the Day of the Lord is a time of judgment, the judgment of God upon a Christ rejecting world. Thus, Paul told them, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:9-11.
You see, if they were not taught that the Rapture came before the Day of the Lord began, then they would be excited to be in the Tribulation Period, in a sense, because within 7 years Jesus would come to set-up His kingdom on the earth. But Paul had taught them that God would take them out before this judgment came but confusion came as heresy entered the church.
Now they were shaken as false prophecies were given that they were in the day of the Lord, “by spirit.” The false teaching that they were hearing was that they were in the Day of the Lord, “by word”, and it shook them. They were shaken as this forged letter supposedly from Paul was being circulated stating they were in the Day of the Lord, “by letter.” Paul is going to clear up those misconceptions, those false prophecies, false teachings, and false letter that were being circulated through the church.
Why were they so confused? Because of the persecution they were facing and the false information they were receiving about the Day of the Lord. And this phrase, “the day of Christ had come” is better translated, “the day of the Lord had already come” as the NIV translates it. Thus, they had a hard time distinguishing their present troubles from the Day of the Lord! In Revelation 3:10, listen to what Jesus says if some of you are concerned about this issue. He said, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” God will take His bride out before He pours out His wrath upon a Christ rejecting world, upon the earth dwellers, the unbelievers and not upon us for our citizenship is in heaven, we are strangers and aliens just passing through down here!
VERSE 3
How can we prevent deception from coming into our hearts and minds? By the Word of God illuminated by the Spirit of God! Some of you may remember the booklet that came out back in 1988 called “The 88 reasons why the Lord will return in 1988!” This booklet sold millions of copies at $1.00 each, so he made a great prophet, which is crazy if the Lord was really coming back in 1988, he should have been giving them away if he really believed! I was amazed at the number of people that were calling me telling me this guy was right, his information was correct, the Lord was coming back on this date in 1988. And my response was simple, Jesus said in Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Guess who was right? God was right, His Word is clear and we not only need to read it, but we need to believe it and not be swayed by these people who sound so right but they are speaking contrary to the Scriptures!
Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:14, “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” May we grow up, mature in the faith so we are not tossed to and fro by the false winds of doctrine that will blow through the church, not might, they will! May we be able to discern between what is right and what is wrong by holding everything up to the light of God’s Word. That is how we can prevent deception from coming into our hearts and minds!
They were worried that they were in the Tribulation period and missed the Rapture and Paul tells them that these are the signs that the Tribulation period has started. First of all he speaks of “a falling away” or APOSTASIA (ap-os-tas-ee’-ah). Now some argue that this is speaking of the Rapture, a departure but in the Rapture we will be caught up and here it is speaking of a willful departure by the person on his own accord, his own initiative. That is not the Rapture!
Apostasy has always been around but it will peak during this period of time. Even today we see what we might call false labor pains regarding the falling away, which will lead to true labor pains in the Tribulation period when the apostasy reaches its peak! I am amazed at the number of Christian leaders today who are speaking heresies and it just shows we are moving quickly toward the Day of the Lord! (See I Timothy 4:1-3, II Timothy 3:1-5, 4:3-4).
Then Paul tells us the key character in leading this apostasy, the man of sin, the Antichrist, and as Revelation chapter 13 tells us, the False Prophet will also play a role in this apostasy! The Antichrist is also called “the son of perdition,” and there was only one other person who was called by that name, and that was Judas, (John 17:12). Also, Judas as he betrayed the Lord was possessed by Satan. There is only one other person who we know of that will be possessed by Satan and that is the Antichrist! (Luke 22:3).
Paul is speaking of a specific period of time this man will be revealed and I believe he comes on the scene on the heels of a nuclear holocaust in the Middle East as Russia and her Muslim allies come against Israel and God destroys this invading army. So we have this war, we have economic disaster, we see ecological disasters, we see violence as millions of people disappeared in the Rapture, and on the heels of all this, a man comes on the scene as a man of peace with all the answers! In the first seal judgment in Revelation 6:2 we are told, “And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” He is placed in power and that is the start of the 7 year Tribulation Period and at the 3½ year mark his true colors are seen and all Hell breaks out on the earth as the Great Tribulation begins, the last 3½ years of God’s judgment!
Keep in mind that the word “Antichrist” means both “against” and “in place of” because he is against Jesus Christ and as we will see, he wants to be worshiped in place of Jesus Christ!
VERSSE 4
At the 3½-year mark of the Tribulation Period, the Antichrist will enter the re-built temple in Jerusalem and demand to be worshiped as God. This is known as the abomination of desolation spoken of in Daniel chapter 9 and Matthew chapter 24. To me, here is the exciting thing. When we went to Israel in 2004 we visited the Temple Institute and they have all the implements needed for the temple and the sacrifices, the priests and their garments are prepared, even the plans for the temple are drawn up and they have placed in the temple video cameras, which is interesting. You see, Jesus said in Matthew 24:15-16, “‘Therefore when you see the “abomination of desolation,” spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place’ (whoever reads, let him understand), ‘then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.’” The only way that could be possible is if they were showing a continual feed from the Holy Place. Keep in mind this was long before video taping and television, but God knew and He told us that the Jews will see this and when they do they are to flee into the mountains, to Petra where God will protect them for the 3½ years until He returns to set-up His kingdom! Those that don’t flee will be destroyed, a greater slaughter than what was seen in the holocaust!
Now here is the problem, the Palestinian Authority have control of the Temple Mount and the Mosque of Omar and the Dome of the Rock sit on the Temple Mount. The Dome of the Rock is that gold structure you see in the pictures of the Temple Mount, and the Dome of the Rock is the third most holy site for Islam.
There is no way they will let the Jews take down those structures to rebuild the Temple nor will they let them build anything up there. But in Revelation 11:1-2 we are told, “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.” Here is another interesting point. The Temple can be re-built to the north of the Dome of the Rock because John tells us that the Temple proper will be built again. We couldn’t go on the Temple Mount this past year because Arafat had died and they closed off the area to non-Muslims. But from the Mount of Olives you can see a spot called the Dome of the Spirits and when we were there several years ago we saw it, and this is the place, I believe, where the Holy of Holies stood and from this spot you can look out the Eastern Gate to the Mount of Olives. Also, John tells us that the outer court was given to the Gentiles so he was not to measure it, and the Dome of the Rock is in the outer court if you place the Temple on the Dome of the Spirits.
Right now, there is no way the Palestinian Authority will let that happen but in Daniel 9:27 we are told, “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” I believe that part of this treaty the Antichrist makes with Israel is to allow them to re-build their Temple and Daniel tells us it will happen because in the middle of that 7-year period, at the 3½-year mark he will stop the daily grain and blood sacrifices, why? Because he now goes into the Temple and demands to be worshiped as God!
Please understand that this is not a new thought. Listen to what Irenaeus wrote in the late second century. We are told:
But when this Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and sit in the temple in Jerusalem; and then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, sending this man and those who follow him into the lake of fire; but bringing in for the righteous the times of the kingdom.”
- Irenaeus, writing in the late second century
VERSES 5-8
Paul had taught them these truths when he was with them but now they let these false doctrines come into the church and confuse them. What an important warning for us. As one person said, “If it is new, it is not true and if it is true, it is not new.” May we remember that!
Who is the restraining one that is keeping things in check? There is much speculation regarding this person, the latest being Michael the Archangel as Marv Rosenthal says. He believes the church will go through just a little over half of the tribulation period and he calls it the pre-wrath rapture. Again, God’s Word puts a quick end to this for God’s wrath begins with the first seal judgment and the emerging of the Antichrist. Also, Michael the Archangel is a created being and he can in no way be in more than one place at a time, so it can’t be Michael.
I believe it is the Holy Spirit working through believers as we are the salt of the world or the preserving force. We are the light of the world to dispel the darkness. Jesus told us this in Matthew 5:13-14, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Thus, when the church is Raptured, the work of the Holy Spirit in believers comes to an end and we see the Holy Spirit come upon believers in the Tribulation Period to empower them for service. You see, if we went through the Tribulation Period and the Holy Spirit was removed from our lives, it would go contrary to the Scriptures. In John 14:16-18 Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” Thus, the Rapture must be before the Day of the Lord for the Holy Spirit cannot be removed from us until the Rapture occurs and then, once the restrainer is removed, the evil that is the hearts of man will be manifest beyond what we could ever imagine! We may think things are bad today, but when the church is gone, look out!
Now keep in mind that the Antichrist’s power only lasts for 7 years and then he hears, “You’re fired!” By the Word of God, by His holiness, Jesus will destroy this man and cast him into the Lake of fire with the False Prophet as we are told in Revelation 20:10, “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” His reign of terror is short-lived and he is then reassigned to the Lake of Fire!
VERSES 9-12
If someone has power, signs and wonders does that mean he is of God? Not at all. These same Greek words used here to describe the working of the Antichrist are used in what the Lord did and we see this in Acts 2:22 where Peter said, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know.” And in Hebrews 2:4 we are told, “God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” Thus, we must be careful because not all signs, wonders and miracles are of God!
Please understand that Satan can’t do anything he wants unless God allows him to and that goes for the Antichrist as well. Then why does God allow it in the first place? To test the hearts of His people. In Deuteronomy 8:2 we are told, “And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” Isn’t it amazing today how many Christians are running after signs and wonders, this miracle healing service over here or the one that is over there. But the Bible tells us that signs and wonders will follow after those who believe in Jesus Christ. (Mark 16). They have put the cart in front of the horse by following after signs and wonders. Instead of serving the Lord and allowing the Lord to work through them, they are looking for these signs and wonders and folks, these signs and wonders are all over the place today and many of them are not from the Lord! In Chicago people gathered to see a picture of Mary that appeared on a wall, the picture was made out of salt and supposedly miraculously appeared. How sad! The deception will be even worse during the Tribulation period as the Antichrist puts on a pseudo-resurrection from an assassination attempt on his life! (Revelation 13:3).
People fall prey to these deceptions, even today, because they have not received the love of the truth, they have rejected Jesus as their Lord and Savior and God gave them what they wanted, life without Christ by sending them a strong delusion. You see, abandoned by God because of the choices they made to reject the Gospel! Condemned by God because of the choices they made to reject the Gospel! But God’s desire is for all to be saved but He will not force anyone into the kingdom, it is your choice. Paul told Timothy of God’s great desire to see all saved in I Timothy 2:4-6, as he tells us that God, “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Also, Paul tells us in Romans 1:18-25, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
You see, they will be judged for their rejection of Jesus and will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire apart from Christ where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth all because they rejected the love of the truth and believed the lie!
What is “the lie” that is spoken of here? I believe it is the same lie that was used in the Garden of Eden by Satan. In Genesis chapter 3 Satan challenged God’s Word, “God didn’t say that!” He denied God’s penalty for sin, “Get real, you are not going to die. Loosen up!” And lastly, he challenges the character of God, “God doesn’t want you to eat the fruit of that tree because when you do you will be like Him, God! He is holding back from giving you something that is good!” And in the end, The Lie is that we are God’s! That New Age philosophy has now been brought into the church and it is dangerous! Satan hasn’t changed his lie; he hasn’t needed to for we still fall prey to it. It may be dressed a little differently, but it is the same lie!
As Paul concluded this section he has shown the Thessalonian believers and us that the Day of the Lord has not begun yet because the apostasy or falling away has not come, the restrainer has not been removed – the Holy Spirit working in the believers life, and the emergence of the man of sin, the Antichrist has not come on the scene as yet. This must have brought them great comfort and encouragement.
VERSES 13-14
Here again is the dilemma of predestination and free will. God has chosen us, how do I know, because we have received Him into our lives as Lord and Savior. If you reject Him, then you are not chosen but it is your choice to make, God already knows your decision. And here is the thing, we know we are eternally secure in Christ as Jesus said in John 6, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out . . . This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day . . . No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:37, 39-40, 44. Also, in John 10:27-29 Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.”
Paul speaks of our salvation through sanctification, is he speaking of a works salvation. Not at all for Paul said in Galatians 2:16, “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
Then what does Paul mean here in II Thessalonians? There should be the outward evidence in your life of what God has done on the inside. He is molding and shaping you into the image of God and if there is no evidence of this, you need to do a heart check because you are on shaky ground. Sanctification doesn’t save us, it just shows we are saved and God is working! And Paul tells us that this is done by the work of the Holy Spirit in accordance with the truths of God found in the Word of God. It is as David said in Psalm 119:9-11, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”
Thus, they had no need to fear about their salvation, that the Day of the Lord had come because as believers they are not destined for judgment but for glory as we are. Paul said in I Thessalonians 5:9, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
VERSE 15
Because of the persecutions, the false doctrines that were being taught, they needed to hold fast, to stand strong in the faith, now is not the time to lay back and take it easy and I believe these words are just as important for us today. You see, we are in danger of being swept down stream by the currents of ungodly culture. Thus, we are to stand firm, not give in, not even to the traditions of men that have religious overtones to them!
When Paul speaks of “traditions” he is not speaking of false religious traditions as Jesus spoke of in Matthew 15:1-3, “Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, ‘Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’ He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?’”
Paul is not speaking of the empty traditions of men, which he did speak of in Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”
Paul is speaking of the apostolic traditions that were spoken by the apostles and written in letters that later became the Word of God. You see, it is only God’s Word that is an anchor to hold us stable during these storms against our faith. He can help us to stand strong to the deceit that is out there. That is why the enemy attacks the Word of God so much, because he knows it is powerful in our lives and if he is going to keep us from the truth, he has to keep us out of the Word of God or distort the Word of God!
VERSES 16-17
To put it in our vernacular, Paul is saying, “Hey guys, chill out man! God is on our side and He is coming back for us before He pours out His judgment upon a Christ rejecting world!” Remember what Paul said in Romans 8:35-39, and this is from The Amplified Bible, “Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. [Ps 44:22.] Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Do you see how God’s Word can comfort us as Satan tries to bring his double-edged sword of doubt and discouragement upon us!
Also, as we look upon God’s past faithfulness to us it will help encourage us in the present situation we are in. You see, His faithfulness in the past is a promise of His faithfulness in the present and for the future! Remember what Paul said in Titus 2:13, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Thus, don’t retreat but forge ahead in the work as Paul said in
I Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” May we do so and not fall prey to the lies of Satan but let the truths of God set us free!