April 10, 2011
Evening Service

II Thess. 2

 

Review:

2Th 1:7-12 KJVR  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,  (8)  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  (9)  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;  (10)  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.  (11)  Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:  (12)  That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Chapter two:

 

2Th 2:1-17 KJVR  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  (2)  That 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. 

 

Paul said this in his first letter:

 

• 1Th 5:1-9 KJVR  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  (2)  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  (3)  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  (4)  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  (5)  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  (6)  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  (7)  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  (8)  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.  (9)  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

• Heb 10:23-25 KJVR  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
• I get the same thoughts of encouragements,  good works, busy about the Lord’s business, assembling with the saints, AND MUCH MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING.
• Jesus has forewarned everyone of the signs of the times that will be happening when He returns.  Paul sheds a little more light on the matter.

 

(3)  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; 

• A falling away?  It has to mean that many will fall away from the fellowship of the church, and forsake the teachings of the Word of God.  Therefore denying Jesus as the Son of God.
• The man of sin to be revealed. 
• These two ideas have been discussed, and written about from the early days of the church until now.  There are many ideas as to what, and who this is.
• Because it is so concise, and clear, I believe we will notice it right away when these things happen.
• I believe there has been a slow falling away ever since the early 50’s, but I also believe that this that Paul talks about will be very noticeable, and could come because of persecution to the believers, then that man of sin will be revealed, and we will know what is going on.
• Paul wasn’t for sure when this was going to happen, but knew it hadn’t happened yet.

 

Look how Paul describes him:

(4)  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.

·       If that was happening today we would know it.

(5)  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 

·       Much of the obscurity of this prophecy arises from the fact, that the apostle alludes to things which he had told them when with them, of which we have now no knowledge. Hence, what would be perfectly clear to them, on reading this letter, is now difficult to be understood.

(6)  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.  (7)  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

·       Since God is in control of everything, and He has a plan for everything that happens, I believe this is referring to God Almighty.  He is holding things back from happening, but when the time is right He will allow these things to happen.  AND WE WILL KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.

(8)  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: 

·       Paul is giving words of encouragement to people who are shaken in their faith.  This is for our learning also.

(9)  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,  (10)  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

·       The love of the truth has to be our Bible.  God’s revelation to mankind.

·       To be deceived is not knowing what your Bible teaches.

(11)  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 

• Some people try to make the Bible say what they want it to say, rather than accept what it teaches.
• God will allow them to be misled, and be destroyed.

(12)  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

• I mentioned this morning how that as the Bride of Jesus Christ, we should be doing our best to be what He expects us to be. 

(13)  But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:  (14)  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

• Now this is powerful Scripture. 

1. God has from the beginning chosen you.  Think about it. 
2. To salvation;
3. Through sanctification, or having a life that is set apart for God’s use, and bringing Him glory.  It is very important we show forth the fruits of the Spirit, this signifying the abiding presence of the Spirit.
4. And belief of the truth:
5. God called you to this marvelous salvation, by the gospel of Christ.
6. To obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(15)  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 

• One thing to note, since we did not live close to these events, and we can’t be for sure what some of the traditions were that were handed down by word, then we must weigh our faith on what is written.

 

MY PRAYER OF CLOSING WILL BE THAT OF PAUL’S:

(16)  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,  (17)  Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.     AMEN.