INTRODUCTION
The apostle Paul in the second chapter
deals with the false notions and wild ideas concerning the second coming
of Christ. The inspired teacher tells them to calm down and not to
be shaken from their faith.
II Thess. 2:1-2 Now we beseech you, brethren, touching
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
our gathering together unto him; to the end that ye be not quickly shaken
from your mind,
nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from
us, as that the day
of the Lord is just at hand;
The second coming of Christ is a subject that shakes a lot of people up. The fanciful ideas and wild-eyed speculations and theories of man run rampant concerning the end of time.
Recently a group of Taiwan citizens came to Garland Texas preaching the end of the world and a visit from God would be seen on channel 18 of the television set. I cannot understand this or the modern theories of pre-millenialism, Kingism, and the teachings of the Jehovah Witnesses that Christ returned in 1914.
The false doctrines are being absorbed in the minds of many people today. The false teacher has a field day taking liberties and spinning yarns about Christ second coming.
Like Paul we marvel that people are so soon removed from the gospel, Gal. 1:6-9.
People are being spoiled by the philosophies of men in this very area of study, this is a tragic thing indeed.
It appears that false teachers perverted the words of the inspired penmen
concerning the second advent of Christ.
Paul said, "don't be troubled"
Paul will instruct the brethren on the events that would take place
to prove there was no immediate return at hand.
THE SECOND COMING WAS TO BE PRECEDED BY OTHER EVENTS
Before the second coming would occur there was other events that would take place.
II Thess. 2:3-4 let no man beguile you in any wise:
for it will not be, except the falling away come
first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, he that
opposeth and
exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped;
so that he sitteth
in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.
The second coming of Christ could not be imminent because other events would precede this great event.
First, a falling away would occur. This falling away was the apostasy and leaving the truth under the guidance of false teachers. This was not a matter that had not been spoken of by Paul many times.
Acts 20:28-31 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, in which the Holy Spirit
hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased
with his own blood. I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall
enter
in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves
shall men
arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Wherefore
watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to
admonish every
one night and day with tears.
I Tim. 4:1-3 But the Spirit saith expressly, that
in later times some shall fall away
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience
as with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain
from meats,
which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe
and know
the truth.
II Tim. 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days
grievous times shall come. For
men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection,
implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,
traitors,
headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
holding a
form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also
turn away.
The church would turn from the truth and be led into apostasy and unfaithfulness before Christ would return.
A general knowledge of church history shows how the congregations were swept away by many false teachers. The brethren turned to the Judiazers, gnostics, angel and will worship, and the eventual apostasy of the Roman Catholic arrangement.
Before the second Advent of the Lord there would be a man of sin revealed.
This person was called;
The man of sin.
The son of perdition. Remember this term was given to the betrayer Judas.
John 17:12 While I was with them, I kept them in thy name
which thou hast given
me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition;
that the scripture might be fulfilled.
He was wicked and lawless, II Thess. 2:8.
He exalts himself as God and seeks worship, II Thess. 2:4.
There is embodied in him the wickedness of pride and rebellion.
The characteristics of the man of sin can be seen in many faces in the history of the early church.
The Judiazers sought the destruction of Christianity and a return to the Old Covenant. The book of Hebrews show what a tragic apostasy this would be.
The Pagans tried to corrupt Christianity into lasciviousness and a system of immorality based on the notion of if it feels good do it. They enthroned man and dethroned Christ by their immorality.
The Gnostics elevated knowledge and the idea of asceticism and a concept of Christ being a force yet never coming in the flesh which they viewed as sinful and vile.
The Imperialist such as the Caesar's which proclaimed themselves as God's such as Domition also caused many brethren to worship them instead of Christ. Some renounced Christ and proclaimed the Emperor as deity.
The church also began to apostate into the Roman Catholic denomination in elevating bishops, venerating saints, worshipping Mary, baptizing or sprinkling infants, naming a Pope, and placing many other unscriptural practices in their fellowship.
All of these forces created a falling away in the body of Christ. These practices and dangers had been warned against over and over by the inspired writers and teachers.
I John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but
prove the spirits, whether they are of
God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
I John 4:3 and every spirit that confesseth
not Jesus is not of God: and
this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it
cometh; and now it is in the world already
II Pet. 2:1-3 But there arose false prophets also among the people,
as among
you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in
destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them,
bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow
their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall
be evil spoken of. And in covetousness shall they with feigned
words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old
lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.
Acts 20:28-31 Take heed unto yourselves, and
to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit
hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased
with his own blood. I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall
enter
in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves
shall men
arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Wherefore
watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to
admonish every
one night and day with tears.
II Thess. 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
The spirit of the apostasy and the man of sin was at work at this time.
II Thess 2:6 And now ye know that which restraineth,
to the end that he may be revealed
in his own season.
This spirit of lawlessness and iniquity was being restrained at the time. How the restraint was taking place is not stated specifically. We might surmise the holding back or restrain was from the following things.
The iniquity perhaps had not risen because the time was not yet full, Gal. 4:1
Maybe they had not reached the full cup of iniquity but the pot was brewing, Gen. 15:16
Perhaps the power of the gospel through the apostles and inspired teachers was the restraint,
Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for
it is the power of God unto salvation
to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is living, and active, and
sharper than any two-edged
sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints
and
marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Eph. 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which
is the word of God:
Maybe the influence of the Christians was still to strong.
Matt. 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world.
A city set on a hill cannot be
hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel,
but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house.
Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Phil. 2:15 that ye may become blameless and
harmless, children of God without blemish
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen
as
lights in the world,
Whatever was restraining the man of sin was still active in the time of this epistle.
The power and influence of the man of sin resided in error and lies. The influence of the man of sin was based on the premise of deception and lies. Think of all the false religions and how they fool people into accepting lies.
Rom. 3:5 But if our righteousness commendeth the
righteousness of God, what shall we
say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner
of
men.)
The power of the devil is based upon lies and man believing a lie.
John 8:44
II Thess. 2:8-12 And then shall be revealed the lawless
one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay
with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation
of his coming;
even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power
and
signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them
that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this
cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:
that they all
might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
God will allow us to believe a lie and we will be punished by our rejection of truth for a lie.
We fall for lies due to ignorance, rebellion and pride.
The devil lied to Eve and she was beguiled and Eden was lost and death came upon man because of her believing a lie.
Gen. 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more subtle than any
beast of the field which
Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God
said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden? And the woman said
unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: but
of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath
said,
Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the
serpent
said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in
the
day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as
God,
knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good
for
food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be
desired to
make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave
also unto
her husband
with her, and he did eat.
A lie will damn and doom man, only truth will set man free. We must obey truth to live.
John 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Those who fall for lies and reject the truth will be judged and punished.
II Thess. 2:11-12 And for this cause God sendeth
them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:
that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure
in unrighteousness.
Because we will not accept and obey the truth we are condemned and will
be destroyed spiritually.
PAUL'S COMMENDATION OF THE BRETHREN
These readers are called brethren and beloved of God. These are the chosen and called ones.
In short these are followers of Christ, Christians. They had this relationship because of their obedience to the gospel.
II Thess. 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to
God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord,
for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification
of the Spirit
and belief of the truth:
The gospel is the force that calls man and when obeyed brings one into this relationship.
Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel:
for it is the power of God unto salvation
to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Col. 1:13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness,
and translated us into the
kingdom of the Son of his love;
This relationship is one of salvation and sonship. These people had this distinction.
II Thess. 2:14 whereunto he called you through our
gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
The brethren to continue in this fellowship and relationship would need to remain faithful
II Thess. 2:15 So then, brethren, stand fast, and
hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether
by word, or by epistle of ours.
The call for steadfastness is one that was presented to the people of God in every congregation addressed in the New Testament. Some clear examples are the following scriptures:
Gal. 5:1 For freedom did Christ set us free: stand
fast therefore, and be not entangled
again in a yoke of bondage.
I Cor. 15:58 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor
is not vain in the Lord.
The need to remain faithful to the gospel is a matter of the greatest importance for our soul.
II John 9-11 Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching
of Christ, hath not
God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and
the Son.
If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him
not into
your house, and give him no greeting: for he that giveth him greeting
partaketh in
his evil works.
The early church was commended for their adherence to the teachings of the apostles and their steadfastness.
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles'
teaching and fellowship, in the
breaking of bread and the prayers.
Jesus taught the principle for his followers to abide and continue with him.
John 15:4-8 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot
bear fruit of itself, except
it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I
in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered;
and
they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If
ye abide
in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall
be done
unto you.
The comfort of the Christian abiding in Christ is stated in the conclusion of this chapter.
II Thess. 2:16-17 Now 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.
The comfort of the Lord and his hope is a fact for the believer. Without the comfort and hope of the Lord it seems all would be lost.
Without the comfort and hope of the Lord we are to be pitiful and without strength.
The hope and the comfort of Christ is beyond description and sustains our hearts under the most dire circumstances.
I Thess. 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these
words.
Rom. 8:24-25 For in hope were we saved: but hope
that is seen is not hope: for
who hopeth for that which he seeth? 8:25But if we hope for that
which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
CONCLUSION
The Christian can live without being all shook up by the dogmas of men. How marvelous is the comfort and hope we have in Christ as his children. Are you a Christian? Have you obeyed the glorious gospel?
This means you will Believe Jesus as God's son. John
8:24
Repent of Sins, Luke 13:3-5
Confess Christ before men, Romans 10:10
Be baptized for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38
Live faithful unto death, Revelation 2:10