2 Thessalonians

Ever the loving caretaker over his flock, Paul writes again to his beloved Thessalonians to correct some errors on their part concerning the 2^nd coming and how they are to live.  The saints were being persecuted and needed encouragement (chap. 1).  They were being mislead as to the Day of the Lord and needed to be enlightened (chap. 2).  Some were living in idleness in view of the Lord’s Return and needed to be corrected (chap. 3).

Chapter 1 – Encouragement During Persecution

Paul opens the letter in his usual way, introducing himself and his companions with greetings to the church and with wishes of grace and peace.  He never wishes fame, fortune, or pleasure for the saints to whom he writes.  Grace enables the saints to do everything within the will of God and peace gives calmness in every kind of circumstance.  What more could he ask for his beloved?  Who is the source of these blessings?  – God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son.

In v.v. 3,4, Paul rejoices over his brothers and sisters in Christ.

1. Look around you, yes, right now.  How often have you given thanks and prayers for the person sitting next to you or the one across the room with whom you may disagree?  Do you acknowledge their faithfulness in coming to class and for worshipping the only true God?  Do you proudly tell others of their persistence and love for their God and for others?  This is the example set by Christ and followed so faithfully by Paul.  Do these things daily and when times of persecution and hardship occur, your minds and hearts will be set in the right place to lift one another up and help to bear one another’s burdens.
2. Has it become easier for you to be strong during times of trial and suffering because you have been faithful in studying God’s Word and following His principles?  Be aware of the difference He has made in your life and persevere with Him in times of hardship.
3. V. 5 tells us that God will use these hard times and persecutions to show His justice to the world.  The Thessalonians and the other newly founded Christians fellowships suffered tremendous persecution, but their focus in life was not self-centered, but concentrated on God’s kingdom, here on earth as well as the promised kingdom to come.  Their focus was not on personal comfort (they had little), fulfillment, and happiness, but on the glory of God and the fulfillment of His purposes.  They demonstrated that their salvation, determined by faith alone in Christ alone, was genuine because they, like Christ, were willing to suffer on account of God and His kingdom.  This is also our call and the same promises he had for them will be ours.
4. VV. 6-10 speak of the Righteous Judgment of God.  What are elements of His Judgment?  (A) He will make believers worthy of His kingdom for which they are suffering and will punish the ones who bring you suffering and persecution.  God will provide rest for the persecuted when the Lord Jesus returns.
5. V. 7 says that this all will happen “when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven.”  When is that?  (A) It is when Jesus the Christ, is unveiled in His coming as judge.  The first part of this occurs at the end of the seven-year Tribulation period (Rev. 19:11-15; Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43; 42:29-51; 25:31-46).  The final and universal revelation of Christ as Judge occurs at the Great White Throne Judgment following Christ’s Millennial reign on the earth (Rev. 20:11-15).
6. Christ will return in dramatic style – how and for whom?  (A) V. 8 – “With His mighty angels…in flaming fire (a symbol of judgment)… bringing judgment (full punishment), to those who do not know God and refuse to obey His call to salvation.”  Knowing God and knowing about Him are two entirely different things.  They have been given every chance.  No one will be able to ever say that they did not know about Jesus and His salvation message – they just refused to believe and obey.
7. What is their punishment for not obeying?  (A) V. 9 – “everlasting destruction” – it means forever!  It means ruin and not total destruction, fully conscious and separated from the Lord and His glorious power.
8. What is the believer’s part in His return?  (A) V.10 -  “He receives glory and praise from His holy people!”  Of all the people who have ever lived on this earth, or will ever live on it, we are the set-apart ones, His holy creation, chosen for this purpose – to give to Him all the honor and the glory forever.
9. Are you worthy, in and of yourself, to give Him praise and honor that is His due?  (A) No, but v.11 tells us that, “God Himself will make us worthy of the life to which we are called.”
10. V.11 speaks of God fulfilling your “good intentions and faithful deeds.”  What are your “good intentions?”  If someone were to ask, what “faithful deeds do your perform?  Hope the answers were on the tip of your tongue, but all these attributes should be ours if we behave in ways consistent with our identity as Christians, living up to our “call to salvation,” with lives marked by goodness and powerful works of faith.  Did you notice that Paul’s prayer starts out, “And we pray that God, by His power, will fulfill all of your…”  You can’t live a life worthy of His call, not on your own.  It is God who must live it through you!!  “For I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal. 2:20).”
11. This is our purpose, that the name of our Lord Jesus would be glorified in us, all made possible because of His grace.  Praise God!

Chapter 2 – Events prior to the Lord’s Second Coming

Throughout history, from the time of Jesus onward, men have made false claims as to His coming again.  Some claim it has already happened and that we now are living in the time of tribulation.  Others claim to know the exact day when Jesus will return.  Baloney!  Christ says that only the Father knows the time. 

The Thessalonians were upset because they expected to be taken in the Rapture before the time of persecution.  They misunderstood and believed that they were living in the “Day of the Lord,” that is, during the judgment period.  Some of the same fiction is being taught today, but there is no need for confusion as the Word spells it out clearly.  Paul sought to explain the truth. He taught that the day hadn’t come and couldn’t until certain realities were in place, most especially the revealing of  “the man of lawlessness” and the great rebellion against God (v.3).  The act of rebellion defines an exact event, not the general attitude of apostasy evident then, now and until the end time. 

1. What is this act of rebellion?  (A) It is the “abomination of desolation” that takes place at the midpoint of the Tribulation, spoken of in Daniel 9:27; 11:31 and Matt. 24:15.
2. Who is the man of lawlessness and what part does he play in this act?  (A) This is the Antichrist, the “prince who is to come” (Dan. 9:26) and the “little horn” (Dan. 7:8), as well as the “beast” Rev. 13:2-10,18).  During the midpoint of the Tribulation, he exalts himself and opposes God by moving into the temple, the place for worship of God, declaring himself to be God and demanding the worship of the world.
3. In vv. 6-8, Paul says that this lawlessness was already at work, but secretly, meaning that a strong spirit of disobedience to God was already at work under the surface, being held from fruition “until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way (v.7).”  Who is “this one?” (A) Many believe that the presence of the Holy Spirit indwelling the church and indwelling every believer has been the restraining power.  He will continue to operate in us until He is taken out of the way, that is, at the Rapture.  Some raise the objection, “How can the HS be removed from the world?  As a member of the Trinity, He is Omnipresent, so how can He leave the world?”  In the same way that the Spirit came to earth at Pentecost, He will  leave the world, that is, as the present Indweller of the church and each believer.  He will still be in the world, convicting people of sin and leading them to Christ.  Those people will not be members of the church (it is removed at the Rapture and is then in heaven as Christ’s Bride), but rather subjects of Christ’s kingdom.  After the Spirit’s  removal, the Antichrist will be destroyed by God at His Second Coming.
4. The Antichrist will believe that it is his power that leads people into deception, but everything happens because God allows it to happen.  God sends the deception to people because of their refusal to believe the truth that would save them (v.10).
5. VV.13,14 are important doctrinal statements.  V.13 says that God chose you…to experience salvation.  There are two possible meanings here –1) that God chose the believers from the beginning of time; or 2) God chose these Thessalonians to be among the first of many to experience His salvation call; of course, it could mean both.  The verse says, “a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and by the belief in the truth.”  This speaks of the Spirit’s preconversion work.  He sets individuals apart from the world, convicts them of their sin, and points them to Christ.  This was God’s part in salvation; now comes man’s part.  Both are necessary.  “By your belief in the truth” underlines man’s human responsibility in the salvation equation.  V. 14, “He called you to salvation” –When? “when we told you the Good News.”  God chose us to salvation in eternity, but called us to it the moment when a person hears and believes the truth, all to His glory in which we will someday share (although we experience a small part of it now).  Our current job is to stand firm in our belief, keeping a strong grip on the faith He has called us to.
6. V. 16 once again shows us the assurance of God’s salvation.  “…And in His special favor (grace) gave us everlasting comfort and good hope (of a glorious future)…”  God promises to never leave us or forsake us and v.16 says that “He gives you strength in every good thing you do and say.”