2Thessalonians chapter 2

 

Memory verse: 2Thessalonians 2:11

 

2Thessalonians continues some of the same themes as 1Thessalonians, such as the second coming of Christ (chapter 2), and the work ethic (chapter 3). According to the King James Bible, this letter like 1Thessalonians was written from Athens, which would seem to indicate it was written not long after the first. This could be in part because apparently they had received false testimony and a false letter which claimed to be from Paul that the day of Christ was at hand (2Thessalonians 2:2). He explained to them that certain events must unfold first, including the manifestation of the man of sin. The phrase “day of Christ” is related to the old testament phrase “the day of the Lord”. This does not refer to a day of rejoicing, but of judgment (Isaiah 13:6-9, Joel 2, Amos 5:18-20, Acts 2:20, 2Peter 3:10). Chapter 2 speaks of the deceiver, the man of sin, which is called the antichrist. He must appear before the Lord returns to the earth.

 

Day 1 – let no man deceive you by any means

Verses 1-4

Paul begs the church not to be blown around or scared by every wind of false doctrine (Matthew 7:24-27, Ephesians 4:14). This could come by a lying spirit (1King 22:22-23, 1Timothy 4:1, 1John 4:1, Revelation 16:14). It could be by the spoken word of a false prophet (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, Deuteronomy 18:22, Matthew 7:15, Matthew 24:11 & 24, 2Peter 2:1). It could be by the written word (2Kings 19, Ezra 4-5, Nehemiah 6). Apparently someone had written a fake letter as though it was from the apostles that frightened the Thessalonians into thinking that they had missed the rapture and were now in the day of judgment. The day of Christ is not the rapture. It is a reference to the phrase “the day of Lord” in the Old Testament which means a day of judgment (Isaiah 2:12, Isaiah 13:6 & 9, Jeremiah 46:10, Joel 1:15, Joel 2, Amos 5:18-20, 2Peter 3:10). That day will not come before the man of sin, the son of destruction comes. He will oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God or worshipped, whether the true God or not. He will go into the temple and present himself as though he is God (Daniel 9:26-27, Daniel 11:31, Daniel 12:11, Matthew 24:15). This man is called the antichrist, or in the book of Revelation the beast (Revelation 11:7, Revelation 13,  Revelation 14:9-11, Revelation 15:2, Revelation 16-17, Revelation 19:19-20, Revelation 20:4 & 10). The antichrist is not the opposite of Christ, for Jesus has no equal. It means he opposes Christ. History repeats itself, and some prophecies in the Bible have multiple time references. There have been many men who fit the profile of antichrist such as Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Antoichus Epiphanes, Nero, and Hitler. The apostle John said that anyone who denies that Jesus is the Father and the Son, or that denies He came in the flesh, is antichrist (1John 2:18 & 22, 1John 4:3, 2John 7). There have been many false Christs (Matthew 24:24). However, there is yet to come one man who will ultimately fulfill these prophecies in the end.

 

Day 2 – he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way

Verses 5-7

Paul had told the Thessalonians about the antichrist when he was with them in person, but they needed a reminder. There is a hindrance to his appearing. It is debated what exactly that is based on the word he (he who now letteth). There is no pronoun he in the original language. One opinion is that it is the Lord Himself. Some say it the body of Christ – the church. The passage indicates that the timing of the fulfillment of God’s word is also holding it back. There is something not yet revealed about this lawlessness because it is not time. The devil knows God is in control of the timing (Revelation 12:12). We should also know. We don’t have to be worried about when things are going to happen (Acts 1:7-8). We just need to serve the Lord, and have confidence that no matter what is going on in the world, He is ultimately in control. Global warming is the latest in a long string of world-ending calamities the unbelievers propose. We do not have to fear anything but God Himself. God created the earth, and He still owns it (Exodus 9:29, Psalm 24:1, 1Corinthians 10:26-28).

 

Day 3 – they received not the love of the truth

Verses 8-10

Once the hindrance is out of the way, that lawless man will be revealed. The Lord will destroy him with His word and the manifestation of His glory (Revelation 19:15 & 21, Zechariah 14:12).

The antichrist will do false miracles (Revelation 13:14, Revelation 16:14, Revelation 19:20). We cannot follow miracles (Deuteronomy 13:15, John 2:23-25). We must follow the Bible (Mark 16:17-20). Miracles will happen for those who follow the Word. The revelation of the word of God is the greatest miracle we can receive. The Lord will not ask us how many miracles we did when we stand before Him to give account. Whether or not we kept His word is all that will matter (Matthew 7:21-23, John 12:48, Revelation 20:11-15). Deception accompanies sin. Truth accompanies righteousness (Psalm 85:10, Proverbs 12:17, Zechariah 8:8, Ephesians 5:9). It is not enough to know what the truth is (Romans 1:18-32). We must walk in it (John 8:31-32). That is the only way to be saved.

 

Day 4 – God shall send them strong delusion

Verses 11-14

When people willingly reject truth, there is only one other option – a lie. God has been extremely patient and merciful with man. He came into this world as a man and died so we could have the truth. When man despises it, he opens himself to the worst judgment of all. God Himself sends them delusion, so they will believe a lie and be damned. The problem is not a lack of revelation from God. The problem is man chooses sin and delusion over righteousness and truth (Jon 3:19-21). Man thinks he chooses what delusion goes along with his sin. He does not. God does. Here are some examples:

   1. Hardens heart

      a. Pharaoh - Ex 7-14 (14x)

      b. Sihon – Deut 7:30

      c. Israel – Is 6:10, Is 63:17

   2. Midian – Jud 7

   3. Micaiah - 1Ki 22:22-23

   4. Moab sees water as blood - 2Ki 3:20-24

   5. Syrians hear noise - 2Ki 7:6

   6. The deceived and the deceiver are his – Job 12:16

   7. I will choose delusions - Is 66:4

   8. Thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived – Jer 20:7

   9. If prophet deceived, I have deceived – Eze 14:9

   10. I gave them statutes that were not good – Eze 20:25

   11. God gave them up – Rom 1:18-32 (vs 26)

There is no remedy for that. God has predestined from the beginning of the world that there is to be a church that knows the truth in sanctification. That is our calling. God does not predestine individuals, only the plan. We must choose to participate or not. God calls, but we must answer. Those who do will possess the glory of God. God predestined the church, but not individuals (Acts 3:21, Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:5 & 11, 2Timothy 1:9, 1Peter 1:2). There is a difference between individual predestination and the prophetic foreknowledge of God about the church. Israel was elect but did not make it sure (Romans 2:25-3:2). They did not attain it (Romans 9:1-8 & 27-33). They did not obey (Romans 10:21). God foreknew His people (Romans 11:1-2), but they did not obtain (Romans 11:7) their election (Romans 11:28-29). Predestination of individuals means there is no choice, no personal responsibility, and no morals. Then it’s all God’s fault, and therefore He cannot judge us. This is contrary to the Bible (Romans 3:5-8, Romans 9:14-24). God will judge every man individually according to his works (Deuteronomy 24:16, Proverbs 5:22, Proverbs 24:12, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Ezekiel 18:4 & 20, Ezekiel 33:20, Matthew 7:2, Matthew 16:27, John 12:48, Romans 2:16, Romans 14:10 & 12, 2Corinithians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27, Jude 15, Revelation 20:12-13).

 

Day 5 – therefore, brethren, stand fast

Verses 15-17

Since God has called us to such a high privilege, we need to stand fast in the truth of the word of God we have received. Tradition is usually a negative thing in the New Testament. It usually means religious practices invented by man which supplant the word of God (Mark 7:3-13). It can also mean good Biblical practices (1Corinthians 11:2, 2Thessalonians 3:6). God and Jesus are not 2 separate persons. The word and in verse 16 has nothing to do with persons. It is the Greek word kai, which means also, even, or indeed as well as and. The one God, the Father, manifested Himself in the flesh and loved us (John 1:1-3 & 14, John 14:7-11, 2Corinthians 5:19, Colossians 2:9, 1Timothy 3:16). He gave us an eternal calling, encouragement, comfort, and hope by His grace. He puts it into our hearts, and firmly places us in every good word and deed.