2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 Peace in Times of Turmoil

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. [2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 NASB]

God is able to give us peace because He is the Lord of peace. Notice what he does not say. He does not say, "May the Lord of peace send His angel..." Nor does he say, "May the Lord of peace, through his church..." Nor does he say, "May the Lord of peace, through the sacraments..." It is God Himself, whose spirit dwells within us, who gives us peace.

Jesus promised us peace;

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. [John 14:27 NASB]

As I write this, we are still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a time of high anxiety for many people. Fear is the watchword of the day. 

Motivated by fear, people have "panic-shopped", hoarding material goods. Irrationally, people became afraid that they would not be able to get toilet paper when they needed it, in case they were quarantined. So they panic-bought and hoarded toilet paper to such an extent that they created the very shortage they were afraid of.

There is a normal, healthy fear that helps us survive. If you are afraid to walk down a dark alley in a high crime area, that's a good thing. There is a rational fear of the coronavirus that causes us to take reasonable precautions, such as social distancing, the wearing of masks to protect ourselves and others, and the washing of hands.

All but essential businesses have shut down in an effort to control the spread of the coronavirus. As a result people are huddled in their homes, allowing time for fear to feed on itself and grow to unhealthy proportions. 

Since the churches have closed down, we no longer have the comfort of a church service, and the company of our church family. Many churches have "online church" now, but it is not the same as standing in a room with beloved fellow believers, engaging in corporate worship. Zoom meetings are great for conveying business, but they will never replace the intimacy of a face to face conversation. As a result, people feel isolated, and isolation breeds more anxiety, as well as depression. It is one thing to be isolated. It is far worse to feel isolated. There are some for whom the fear of isolation is greater than fear of dying from the virus. So they gather en-masse to protest the lockdown. They are not being brave, they are only demonstrating another aspect of irrational fear and anxiety.

Paul said;

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:6-7 NASB]

We need to make a conscious effort to come to God, and express all of our fears, anxieties, and misgivings to Him. We need to understand that we can not rely on people, churches, traditions, or any other thing for our comfort. We need to rely on the source of all comfort; the God of peace.

My God, I thank You that You are with me in all things. I thank You for Your promise, and pray that you will give me peace in the midst of the turmoil. Please keep me far from anxiety and depression. I give You praise, Father, In Jesus' name.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 Church Discipline

If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. [2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 NASB]

This is the continuation of Paul's earlier statement;

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. [2 Thessalonians 3:6 NASB]

 Church discipline is a controversial subject. There is confusion regarding when a person needs to discipline, as well as the severity of the discipline. Add in our cultural biases and it becomes a jumble.

There are those who would say that the concept of church discipline is outdated. But, if the church is to exist in a manner consistent with scriptural truth, then we must be ready to judge our brothers and sisters in Christ, and act according to that judgment. You might say, "But, we are not supposed to judge others." It's true that we are not supposed to judge the sins of the world, but, we are commanded to judge disputes, and the the behavior of undisciplined Christians. Paul said,

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? [1 Corinthians 5:12 NASB]

Also;

Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? [1 Corinthians 6:3 NASB]

Of course, we are not supposed to go off half-cocked and start kicking people out of the church. Jesus described this process;

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. [Matthew 18:15-17 NASB]

The word that is translated "church" literally means "a gathering of people." It doesn't mention the elders of the church, nor the size of the gathering. It doesn't mean we have to bring them before a council, or stand them before the elders of the church. It also doesn't mean we have to host a public humiliation before the entire body of the church.

I'm convinced that it is ideal size of the gathering in this case should be composed of the people with whom the immoral believer has fellowship. It wouldn't matter to me if Joe Blow, who sits in the front of the church has nothing to do with me. He has nothing to do with me now. But if my good friend and companion tells me that he can't associate with me as long as I maintain a sinful lifestyle, then that will have an impact on my life.

Be mindful that I am not talking about breaking church rules or traditions. If that were the case, I would be anathema in dozens of churches because I don't follow their traditions. What we need to be concerned about is grievous behavior. Paul said;

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. [1 Corinthians 5:9-11 NASB]

Church discipline should be reserved for strictly scriptural reasons relating to the indulgence of the flesh.

There are some churches that have a formal excommunication for transgressors. They are permanently removed from the church. But discipline is not meant to be forever. It is for a time and for a purpose - to bring the wayward believer to repentance. We should be ready to receive him back into our fellowship. In fact, we should be eager. Paul said;

Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. [2 Corinthians 2:6-8 NASB]

Discipline should not be done out of anger, or self-righteousness. It should be an act of love. We should be humble, knowing that we, ourselves, are capable of falling. Everything should be done prayerfully, honoring the Lord.

Father, I pray that You will keep me from sin. I pray Your Spirit will strengthen me to live a life that is disciplined and worthy of You. If I should fail, please give me the humility to accept correction. And if I see a brother who is acting in sin, please give me the wisdom and compassion to lead him back to righteousness. 

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Working

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. [2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 NASB]

Paul describes those who are living an unruly or undisciplined life as those who are unwilling to work. Keeping the entirety of scripture in mind, it is clear that there is no judgment against those who are unable to work, either because of age, or physical disability, or any other legitimate reason. Only don't fool yourself into thinking that laziness is a legitimate reason; it is not.

Paul served as an example. Not only did he take the time to preach the gospel, but he worked night and day, earning money for his own food. He was a tent-maker. Lest you think he worked all night and didn't get any sleep, the phrase "night and day" was an idiom in the first century. It meant that he would rise before dawn (as long as it was still dark, it was considered night) to begin work. He probably worked a half day so that he could devote the rest of the time to preaching and teaching the gospel. This is not a lie nor an exaggeration, but a simple statement consistent with the culture of the day.

Paul makes it clear that he had the right to be supported in his ministry, but chose not to be, so that he could be an example. He elaborates on this to the Corinthian church;

My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we not have a right to eat and drink? Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock? I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? [1 Corinthians 9:3-11 NASB]

Clearly, those who devote their lives to full-time ministry deserve to be supported by the church. Paul's example should not be taken as an excuse to withhold a salary from those in the ministry, but as an example of working diligently to make a living.

Of course, there are some who take advantage of others. Some "ministers" whose only aim is to fleece the flock. There are those who are lazy, and depend on the good graces of the church to provide food and assistance with living expenses.

Whatever we do, we must not let those scoundrels discourage us from doing what is good and right. Continue to support the ministry. Continue to feed the poor and hungry. Continue to help those who need help. You might ask, "How do I know the difference between a person who is genuinely in need versus one who just taking advantage?" I would say, if you don't know, then err on the side of compassion. 

Lord God, I thank You for the strength and skills that You have provided so that I can work, and provide food and shelter for my family. I pray that You will give me wisdom and grace as I do my work as unto You. 

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 Praying For One Another

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. [2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 NASB]

After blessing and praying for the Thessalonians, Paul is now asking for prayer for himself and his traveling companions.

I have seen two extremes in the church over the years. One is the needy Christian. This person is at the front of the church asking for prayer every week. They don't dispense spiritual comfort to others, They only take.

The other is the one who prays for everyone else. This person is perceived as being very spiritual and caring. They always give, and they never ask for prayer for themselves.

Just as takers often don't know how to give, so givers often don't know how to receive. But through Paul's example, we see both. He prays for others and doesn't hesitate to ask for prayer for himself.

It is important to ask for prayer. Often it is pride that keeps a person from seeking prayer. Admitting your weakness and asking others for help is an act of humility. When you ask another person to pray for you, you make that person a part of your life. 

Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray that his ministry would prosper. By so doing, he made them a part of his ministry, and those who prayed for him will share in the rewards of that ministry.

I said before that asking for prayer is an act of humility, but there's a point where that stops being true. The one who only asks and takes, and doesn't give back isn't humble, but is selfish. I have seen it on Sunday mornings; the same people time after time, adopting their humble statures and sad faces as they take and they take; soaking in the atmosphere like a sponge, but never giving back out. These are immature believers who have never grown past the need for milk.

I urge you to pray for others. Make a list and pray for the needs of those on the list. Pray for you pastors and those who minister the word of God. 

When someone tells you of a need, pray with them for that need, right there, out loud. You may say, "but I don't know how to pray out loud. I'm too scared." Then pray that the Spirit of God will teach you how to pray. Nothing brings you closer to your fellow believers than sharing an intimate time of prayer. 

Be bold. Step out in faith. Take a moment of silent prayer to God that He will give you wisdom to pray for others. He will give you that wisdom. You may find, as I have, that there are more blessings in praying for others than there are in receiving prayer for yourself. 

Ask for prayer that your own needs will be met, so that you may freely minister to the needs of others. In this way the whole body of Christ will be blessed.

Lord, I thank You that You have given us Your word, and the freedom to proclaim it. I pray that Your word will go out to the church and to the world, pure and true, and that all people will be drawn close to You. 

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 A Blessing

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. [2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NASB]

Paul inserts a blessing for the Thessalonian church, and by extension, to the entire church of God. His blessing is also a prayer.

He starts by reminding what God has done for us in the past. He has loved us. He has given us eternal comfort. He has given us good hope. 

The way I read this, Paul is not reminding God of what He has done in the past. That would be like a beggar sitting by the side of the road. Being compassionate, you check your wallet and give him five dollars. The next day, when you walk by, the same beggar stops you in the street, demanding more money. "You gave me five dollars yesterday, now give me at least as much today." That is simply rude. God gives His gifts freely and doesn't need to be reminded.

On the other hand, it is good for us to be reminded of what God has done. This is like two children debating whether to ask their father for ice cream money. The one child reminds the other, "He has always given us ice cream money whenever we ask for it. Surely, he will do so again."

We remind ourselves of God's past blessings to increase our faith in receiving His present and future blessings. He has given us comfort in the past, and He will continue to give us comfort.

Don't say to yourself, "I don't deserve God's blessings." You may be dealing with shame because you haven't lived up to the full measure of godliness. Or you may have genuine godly humility that says, "I am not worthy." 

It is true that you are not worthy. It is true that you don't deserve God's blessings. But God has blessed you anyway. That's what grace is all about.

Paul's prayer and blessing for us is that in every good work we do, we will experience God's comfort and strength.

In an anti-Christian environment such as the Thessalonians were experiencing, it is easy to grow weary and discouraged. The path of least resistance is to stay home and stay silent. By contrast, in an easy environment, where Christianity is embraced and endorsed, history has shown us that it is easy to become sluggish and complacent. When the fervor of spiritual worship dies down, we succumb to the trappings of religious ritual.

In any case, we need God's comfort and strength in our hearts. As he says later in this letter;

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. [2 Thessalonians 3:13 NASB]

Jesus said;

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. [Matthew 5:14-16 NASB]

Apply this blessing for yourself; that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God the Father will bless you with comfort and strength in your heart in every good thing that you do and say.

Lord Jesus, I thank you for the comfort and hope that You have given me. I pray that You will continue to comfort and strengthen me in doing good.  

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 Sanctification

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. [2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 NASB]

We have been chosen from the beginning. Many theologians argue about the concepts of predestination vs free-will. According to the arguments, one view is right and the other is wrong. God, however, is much bigger than the theologians. There is no reason they can't both be right. Take the prophets as an example. God said to Jeremiah;

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” [Jeremiah 1:5 NASB]

But Isaiah said;

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” [Isaiah 6:8 NASB]

God knew us and called us from before the foundation of the earth (predestination). But He hasn't forced Himself on us. We have the free will to accept or reject His calling.

And what has God chosen us for? Salvation. In the context of this passage, he is referring to our future salvation.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord, we are saved. That is a single even in the past. In the context of end-time prophecy, we will not be spared tribulation and persecution, but we will be saved from God's wrath, and from eternal punishment.

Paul said that we are saved through sanctification. This can best be defined as separation from the world and unto God.

Some have taken the concept of separation from the world and created a legalistic doctrine. When I was a young Christian, I was told that attending a movie theater was a sin because it was "worldly". There were many other rules in place to keep Christians safe from worldliness, and anyone who failed to follow these rules was "backslidden". Now, I know that these rules are no different than trying to follow the Law. And Paul devotes several chapters in Romans arguing that it is impossible to be sanctified by following the Law.

Instead we are told that our sanctification is "by the Spirit and faith". It is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us, and not we ourselves. Our role is to have faith enough to follow Him. The Spirit will not sanctify if there is not faith.

At the same time, faith alone will not sanctify. There are many false gods in this world, and people place their faith in the gods. These people are not sanctified. It is the same of those who put their faith in science or humanism. It is even true of those who place their faith in the church. In many peoples' minds, the church takes the place of God. Its leaders are seen as the representatives of God. But, at its core, the church is simply an assembly of people. At its purest, the church is an assembly of people who have come together to worship God - not through ritual and dogma - but in Spirit and in truth.

Most churches come with a set of rituals and traditions of men. It is important to remember that these things don't bring you closer to God. I am not suggesting that you rebel against traditions, but be mindful of them. Don't place your faith in them. Your faith belongs to Jesus Christ, and to Him alone.

One final word. Paul says in this passage, "hold to the traditions which you were taught." He is not referring here to the traditions of men. He is referring to the teaching of the gospel that he had delivered to them, whether by word of mouth or by letter. Since we no longer have an Apostle to teach us by word of mouth, then it is our duty to hold fast to the scriptures.

Father, thank You for saving me. I pray that Your Spirit will continue to work in me for sanctification, so that I may glorify You in every way. 

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 Final Judgment

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. [2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NASB]

In the preceding verse, Paul makes reference to those who will perish "because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved." To those people, God will send a deluding influence.

I know there are some Christians who find this concept confusing. How can God cause them to believe a lie? How is that right?

The simple answer is that if God does it, it is right. He defines what is right and what is wrong - not you or me. In another place, Paul said;

So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? [Romans 9:18-21 NASB]

We have to remember that He is the Potter, and we are only the clay.

But it's not like God is arbitrarily singling people out. Nor is He deceiving people. Those to whom He sends the delusion are those who have already rejected the truth. This is in line with what Paul says in Romans;

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. [Romans 1:21-25 NASB]

God doesn't tempt anyone to sin. But those who have chosen a lifestyle of sin in defiance of Him will be given over to their sin. Why would He do this? "In order that they all may be judged." (vs 12)

The book of Revelation describes the final judgment;

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. [Revelation 20:11-15 NASB]

For those who are in Christ, judgment is not a thing to be feared. It is only those whose names are not found in the book of life who are judged for their sins. Our sins have already been forgiven. Paul said;

For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, [1 Thessalonians 5:9 NASB]

Therefore take comfort. We don't have to live with the fear of death as the world does. When we stand before Jesus, it will not be to receive punishment, but our reward.

Father, thank You for delivering me from Your wrath, for the forgiveness of sins, and for the fellowship of Your Spirit. Thank You for the hope you have given me that when I see You face to face, it will be a time of worship and celebration. 

2 Thessalonians 2:5-10 The Lawless One

Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. [2 Thessalonians 2:5-10 NASB]

When Paul was in Thessalonica, he told them all about the end times, in detail, so that they knew everything that he referenced. Unfortunately for us, he didn't repeat all of those teachings in his letters, so that there is now a lot of speculation and, in some cases, vicious disputes about the meaning of the prophesies. 

Paul said, "And you know what restrains him now." He is referring, of course to the rise of the Antichrist. The Thessalonians knew what restrains him, but we do not. We can only speculate. And there are a lot of theories.

Those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture believe this is referring to the church. They say that when the church is taken out of the way, the lawless one will arise. The problem I have with this theory is that only a few verses earlier, Paul said;

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, [2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 NASB]

The man of lawlessness must be revealed before "our gathering together to Him." Which means he is revealed before the rapture.

Some say that the Holy Spirit will leave the earth to make way for the Antichrist. But God is Omnipresent; there is no place His Spirit does not exist. And if He stopped His work on earth, then there would be not tribulation saints.

Others make it a purely political climate. As long as the world governments restrain him, he will not come to power.

We know that all things happen according God's timing. It seems to me that when it's time for the Antichrist to rise, God will make sure the political climate, as well as the religious climate of the world is ready for him. It is possible that God is the one who is holding him back, and when the time is right, God will be "taken out of the way". Not in the sense of being physically removed, but in the sense that He will no longer restrain him.

When the Antichrist arrives, he will show signs and wonders, and will deceive many (see Revelation 13:11-18). Jesus said,

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. [Matthew 24:24 NASB]

Whether it be the Antichrist in the end days, or false prophets in the days before the end days (that would be now), we must not seek after signs and wonders. The sign of a true prophet is not the miracles he performs, but the truth of his message. From the earliest days of the church, false prophets have tried to lead people away from the faith, or discourage them from following the truth.

Paul said that there would be an apostasy in the end times. "Apostasy" means "a falling away from the faith". People fall away when their faith doesn't line up with reality. I have known of Christians who lose their faith when they become sick, or when a loved one dies, because they have a concept of a God who is a "genie" who grants their wishes and makes sure nothing bad will ever happen to them. 

Imagine a world where the majority of Christians believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. They suddenly find themselves in a world controlled by the Antichrist, and in the midst of the Great Tribulation. One of their foundational beliefs has been shattered; and if the the pre-tribulation rapture is untrue, what else is untrue? A great many will be shaken in their faith, and many will fall away.

Whether you agree with my interpretation of scripture or not; whether we are living in the end-times or not, it is essential that you not allow yourself to be shaken in your faith. Put your faith in the person of God, and not the teachings of men. Don't be so adamant about any doctrine that you can't consider the alternatives and be persuaded by scripture. You should know what you believe and why you believe it, but you should also be teachable. There is always more to learn. In this life. "we know in part... [1 Corinthians 13:9 NASB]

Father, I pray that You will give me wisdom, that I may keep my eyes open to the unfolding of prophecy, and understanding of the scriptures. If these events are to unfold in my lifetime, I pray that You will give me the strength to endure. 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 The Timing of End-time Prophecy

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. [2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 NASB]

Let me start by saying that I don't believe the scriptures support a pre-tribulation rapture. In order to believe that, this and other scriptures have to be reinterpreted to mean something other than what they are clearly saying. You should never interpret scripture base on your preconceived theology. Rather, you should let the scripture define your theology.

The "coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him" is one event - not two. The "and" doesn't separate the events, but unites them. Consider the grandpa who, when he come to visit, always brings presents to the grandkids. The children may speak of the coming of Grandpa and the giving of presents. It's all one event. 

This is consistent with Jesus' prophecy;

“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. [Matthew 24:30-31 NASB]

Jesus will appear, and we will be gathered together to Him. One event.

When will this happen? Of course, nobody knows the day and time, but Christians who know the scriptures will not be caught off guard. Paul said;

For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. [1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 NASB]

We know from today's passage that the day will not come "unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed." The "man of lawlessness" is the Antichrist who will set himself in the temple of God, demanding to be worshiped as God. This coincides with Jesus' statement;

“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. [Matthew 24:15-16 NASB]

In Daniels prophecy of seventy weeks, the seventieth week has not yet been fulfilled. Daniel prophesied of the Antichrist, saying;

“And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” [Daniel 9:27 NASB]

We see that the abomination of desolation will occur in the middle of the seventieth week of years - that is 3 1/2 weeks into the final seven years of this prophesy.

Jesus puts the order of event like this;

“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)...[Matthew 24:15 NASB] 

“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. [Matthew 24:21 NASB]

“But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. [Matthew 24:29-31 NASB]

To summarize, the Antichrist will make a treaty with Israel and her enemies. Three and a half years later, he will proclaim himself to be God, and usher in the Great Tribulation (which begins midway through the seven years, not at the beginning). The length of the tribulation is unspecified, but it will be short. Jesus said;

“Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. [Matthew 24:22 NASB]

After the time of tribulation, Jesus will appear and gather his saints together to Himself (the Rapture). God's wrath will come on the earth after the church is taken out of the way.

Jesus, I thank You that You are coming back for Your church. Thank You that we will be spared from God's wrath. I pray that You will give me strength to endure the trials of this life, whether it be persecution or hardship. Please strengthen my spirit so that I will remain faithful to You. 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 Intro to End-time Prophecy

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us... [2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 NASB]

We are about to enter the realm of end-time prophecy. For many people, this is a very confusing subject, and many try to avoid it altogether. I think that would be a mistake, and I will try my best to remove the confusion. 

As you read this and the following entries about the end-times, I ask that you keep an open mind. If I present a viewpoint that you may not have heard before, or that contradicts what you have been taught before, I ask that you not reject it outright, but study for yourself, and decide what the scriptures are saying. 

If you think that I am in error, please feel free to point it out in the comments. I am open to correction. Only, let your corrections be scriptural in nature, and not based on tradition or "That's not what my pastor teaches."

We will be talking about timing of end-time events. I know that there are many people who think that it is unimportant, "peripheral" theology. I disagree. I have heard the cute statement, "I am 'pan-tribulation'. It will all pan out in the end." It's good for a chuckle, but it is a lazy way to avoid digging into the scriptures to see what they say on the subject.

The reason I think this is an important subject is because Paul thought it was an important subject. Paul was in Thessalonica for only three weeks before persecution by the Jews forced him to leave. During those three weeks, he preached the gospel of salvation, and gave them the bare basics of the faith. One of the basics of the faith that he taught them was end-time prophecy.

End-time prophecy is more than just an intellectual exercise. It is intended to be understood by every Christian, and not just a few chosen theologians.

It is the basis of our hope in Christ. One day, we will see Him face-to-face, whether we die and come into His presence, or whether we are alive at His coming and are taken up to meet Him in the air.

The early church lived with the expectation of Jesus' return during their lifetimes. The fact that He has not yet returned shouldn't be discouraging to us, but should make us realize that His coming is closer now than it was then.

Why is it important to know the timing of the end-time events? For the same reason that Paul gave the Thessalonians; "that you not be quickly shaken from your composure."

If you have been taught that you will never suffer as a Christian, and then you have to endure suffering, you can easily become discouraged, and fall away from the faith. If you have received a certain teaching for all of your Christian teaching, and then find that the Lord is doing something else, it may shake your faith. if you know, and are prepared, then your faith can remain strong.

Starting tomorrow, we will begin digging into the scriptures, to gain an understanding of end-time events.

Jesus, I thank You for Your promise of Your return. I pray that You will open my heart and mind to understand what You are teaching Your church. 

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 The Name of Jesus

To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. [2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NASB]

Paul is finishing this section of his letter with a prayer before moving on to another subject. 

First, he prays that "God will count you worthy of your calling." In this context, our ultimate calling is taken from the previous verses; that is, we are to glorify Jesus at His coming. Paul said,

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, [Ephesians 1:18 NASB]

Jesus' inheritance is us. We are His riches. It is in us that He is glorified. This is a high calling indeed, that we would glorify the Son of God, who is glorious beyond our comprehension.

Paul prays that God will fulfill His every desire "for goodness, and the work of faith with power." It is God's desire, not ours. It is God who fulfills, not us. It is all so the name of Jesus will be glorified.

From the beginning, our salvation is by God's grace. Paul says;

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, [Titus 3:5 NASB]

And it is by His grace and for His glory that we continue to grow and mature in the faith. In Philippians, Paul says;

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. [Philippians 2:9-13 NASB]

It is God who is at work in us. We work out our salvation by walking in that grace. We can't earn salvation, and we can't sanctify ourselves by our works.

You have to rely on God's grace for everything. The obedience He wants from you is total trust. Don't try to earn God's pleasure. You can't earn what He has already freely given to you.

Lord God, Thank You that You have so freely given me Your grace, and have counted me worthy and good; not because of my goodness, but because of Yours. I pray that Your name will be glorified in me. 

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 Punishment

For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. [2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 NASB]

Paul is continuing his encouragement to the Thessalonians regarding the persecution which they were enduring. It is encouraging to know that, since we suffer at the hands of sinners, they will suffer in the next life while we will be comforted.

The enemies of God and the gospel will be repaid with eternal destruction; denied the presence of God.

In the beginning, Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden. They were eternal beings living in God's presence. The serpent, who personified Satan, lied to Eve, tempted her, and said, “You surely will not die!" [Genesis 3:4 NASB] She believed the lie, and ate of the fruit. She then repeated the lie to Adam, who also ate of the fruit.

Of course, Adam and Eve died. Not instantly, but slowly, they grew old and died. But their worst punishment wasn't the death of their bodies, nor the thorns and thistles that grew out of the earth, nor the labor with which they worked the ground. The worst punishment was that they were driven from the presence of God.

Therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life. [Genesis 3:23-24 NASB]

Being driven from the garden was synonymous with being driven from the presence of God. Mankind has never again had that kind of personal presence and interaction with God.

Our hope and promise as believers is that the relationship between mankind and God will be restored. In the spiritual sense, it has been restored by the death of Jesus on the Cross. In the physical sense, we are still waiting for our resurrection bodies, which will be without the stain of sin. In that day, we will stand before our God, in all of His glory, and we will glorify Him.

We can take comfort in knowing that justice will be done to those who persecute the church, and to those who deny God.

It may appear, in this world, that evil often prevails. Bad guys get talented lawyers and, although they are guilty, they walk away without punishment. The soul of a righteous man is disheartened to see injustice in the world. That's the way it has to be for now. Satan is called, "the god of this world" [2 Corinthians 4:4] and he blinds the world to the ways of God and righteousness.

In time, God will punish evil. He has said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." [Romans 12:19] Take courage in knowing that justice will prevail.

Father, I thank You that I will be spared Your wrath; not because of my righteousness, but because of Your grace. I pray that You will bring every soul who is chosen into Your kingdom, so that they, too, will be spared. 

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5 Trials

Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. [2 Thessalonians 1:1-5 NASB]

The second letter to the Thessalonians was written only a few months after the first one from Corinth. In that time some false teachers arose and caused some fear and confusion in the church. Also some of the people were becoming lax in their moral standards. Paul wrote to address these issues.

Overall, however, the church in Thessalonica was thriving. Paul had received reports concerning their faith, that it was growing. The faith of the Thessalonians was manifest in their love for one another.

From the beginning, The Thessalonian church suffered persecution. Paul was in Thessalonica for only three weeks before being driven out by Jews who were stirring up the crowds.

Far from being a curse, Paul views their tribulation as "a plain indication of God's righteous judgment." This doesn't mean that they are being judged for any wrong-doing. The persecution they endured was a vindication of their righteous faith in God. James says;

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. [James 1:2-4 NASB]

Jesus promised blessings on those who sacrifice to follow Him. He said;

“Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life." [Mark 10:29-30 NASB]

Notice that one of the blessings we were promised is persecution. This is counter to everything in our natural state. But, in Christ, we can transform our attitude. Jesus gives us this encouragement;

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” [John 16:33 NASB]

 It is a simple fact of life that we are going to have to endure trials of various kinds. When the trials come, you have a choice. You can complain and moan about your sad state. Or, you can choose to view it as a test of your faith, and give thanks to God for this blessing.

This is not a natural reaction. It is a godly reaction.

Father, I pray that You will give me the grace to endure suffering for Your name's sake, without complaint. I thank You for the hard times as well as the easy times.