 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
More II Thessalonians commentaries
II Thessalonians 1:1-5
The keys to surviving persecution
II Thessalonians 1:6-12
What kind of future does the unbeliever face?
II Thessalonians 2:1-5
Confusion about the last days of the Church age
II Thessalonians 2:6-12
Who is the restrainer of evil in our world?
II Thessalonians 2:13-17
The believers responsibilities to God’s truth
II Thessalonians 3:1-5
Concern for believers going through trials
II Thessalonians 3:6-18
Slackers and busybodies in the Church
© Family Times | About Us | Donate | Contact Us
Search for sermons by: Commentaries | Scripture search | Topics
Confusion about the last days of the Church age
II Thessalonians 2:1–5
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
The Jehovah’s Witnesses have embraced and then discarded a number of dooms days. Their founder, Charles T. Russell, was greatly influenced by a man who thought the world would end in 1874. When that didn’t happen Russell next fastened on 1918, which turned out to mark the end of … More
Paul deals with a doctrinal error concerning the last days that had crept into the Thessalonian church. Apparently someone had deceived the believers into thinking they were already living in the day of the Lord (vv. 1-2). He appealed to them to calm down on the basis of the truth he had taught them in the first letter. He had instructed them when he was with them that this period of time will begin after the rapture of the church and will include the tribulation and the Millennium. In his first letter he had taught them that the day of the Lord would come as a thief in the night (I Thessalonians 5:2). The Thessalonians were in danger of losing hope in the second coming.
Confusion arose because they could not distinguish between their present troubles and those of the day of the Lord. Paul proceeded to warn his readers against this false teaching. He referred to three events which must occur before the day of the Lord takes place. They are:
If our faith is strong we don’t need to be afraid of what lies ahead because we know that this man of sin has already been defeated by God. No matter how powerful he becomes or how terrible our situation seems God is in control and he will be victorious. If we are ready, we won’t have to be concerned about what or when it will happen. God is in control of all events.
Application
My task is to be prepared for Christ’s return and to spread the Gospel so that people will be prepared.
II Thessalonians 2:1-5 (English Standard Version)
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »
Post your comment or question below.