“Now
may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us
and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your
hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” 2
Thessalonians 2:16-17 (ESV) [Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17]
In
verses 1-12 of 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul instructs the church at
Thessalonica more fully about the “day of the Lord” or the Second
Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul refutes the false claim that
was circulating concerning the day of the Lord. Some believed it had
already come and they were living in the post-second coming days.
Did they not wonder why they were still on earth? Would that not
have been a sign to them that ‘the day of the Lord’ had not come?
He told them not to be ‘shaken in mind’ (v. 2) or to pay any
attention to a letter that had been circulated among them and
purported to be from Paul and his helpers. Then he proceeds to give
some pointers about what will happen before the second coming of
Christ.
A
great “falling away” will occur. The “lawless one” or “man
of sin” will lead a great rebellion against all that has been
taught by Jesus Christ and about Him. This leader is called in
Daniel 9:26, “the prince who is to come.” John in writing the
Revelation calls him “the beast” (Revelation 3:2-10. 18). Called
also “the son of perdition,” He will lead a great falling away
from biblical doctrines and truth. Many scholars in identifying this
person call him the “anti-Christ.” He will draw a great
following to himself, and will even move into the Temple in Jerusalem
and claim to be God. The lawless one comes under the auspices of
Satan, and those who have pleasure in unrighteousness will be
deceived by him and follow him.
Paul
gives commendation in verses 13-17, and encourages the believers at
Thessalonica to stand firm and not be taken in by the deceptions of
the lawless one. He prays in verses 16-17 that they will be
established in every good work, thus armed against the coming of the
one who will deceive and seek to pull them away from the Lord Christ.
When
we look at our current age and see so many “falling away,” and
seemingly unconcerned about faithfulness to the precepts of the faith
and to walking in a manner characteristic of the Christian life, we
wonder if we are currently in the age of the “lawless” one. Yet
we have not yet seen the world-wide “lawless one” take his reign
and have a world-wide following who cater to his demands and manner
of life.
With
so many casual about their relationship with God, and in particular
the current avoidance of mention of God in the public arena, we think
that indeed we may be in “the last days” prior to “the day of
the Lord.” Dr. John Macarthur, one of our present-day noted
teachers, writes: “In place of agitation should come strength and
a firm stand. In place of false teaching should come faithful
adherence to the truth.” (The Macarthur Bible Commentary.
Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005, p. 1769). Paul hoped to clear up
confusion about “the day of the Lord” with his 1 and 2 letters to
the Thessalonian Christians. From his writings we can more
adequately examine our own beliefs and agree with his admonition.
Indeed, we need to be faithful, weigh teachings, do good works, and
stand firm in the faith. -Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.12.2016.
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