Look with me now at our text today found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17:
1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
As we begin, look again at verses one and two which say, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.”
It is important to pause here and establish the context in which the apostle is writing. You will recall in his first letter to this church Paul answered a question relating to the death of loved ones occurring prior to the anticipated return of Christ for his people. The church did not understand where they were and how their deaths fit into the narrative of Christ’s return.
He proceeded to comfort them with the truths found in 1 Thessalonians chapter four, verses 13 through 18. Those words comforted the church in that day and those words have comforted the church world-wide until this present day. From that passage we understand our departed loved ones who believed upon Christ are with him awaiting his return. Upon his return our departed loved ones will receive their resurrected bodies when they are raised first. In that moment they will be clothed upon with immortality as they experience the redemption of their body.
Next, the living believer shall be changed, that is, they too experience the redemption of the body whereupon this mortal puts on immortality and this corruptible puts on incorruption. In that moment of change the authentic church world-wide shall be caught up to meet resurrected believers in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
It is the truth concerning the resurrection and rapture of the church recorded in 1 Thess. 4:13-18 that calmed the troubled minds of early believers and filled them with wonderful assurance concerning the well-being of departed loved ones. As well, this assurance provided the comfort of living day by day with the blessed hope of the return of Christ for his church at which time we all will be reunited in his presence. This is the meaning of the phrase “our gathering together unto him” in verse one. But now the church is troubled again, however, this time they are not ignorant of the Lord’s return. Instead, they are confused about how the church relates to the day of the Lord.
In fact, they thought themselves to be experiencing the day of Christ (or the day of the Lord). Evidently one or more individuals altered Paul’s teaching on the rapture—and the day of the Lord that follows—in such a way the Thessalonians thought themselves to be in the immediate days leading up to the physical, glorious appearing of Christ at the end of the great tribulation.
Let me pause here to say an additional word about the day of Christ, or what is referred to elsewhere in Scripture as the day of the Lord. The day of Christ culminates with his glorious appearing described in Matthew 24 and Revelation chapter 19. Prophetically, Christ is destined to physically return to the earth. His first order of business is to defeat the armies of the anti-Christ at the battle of Armageddon. This great battle occurs at the end of the seven-year tribulation detailed in Scripture.
Of course, if the Thessalonians thought themselves to be living in the days of the tribulation leading up to the return of Christ, they had good reason to be shaken in mind and troubled in their heart. There is no blessed hope in the prospect of enduring the day of the Lord. Rather, our blessed hope is to be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man (Luke 21:36).
And when shall the church stand before the Son of man? At the time of our gathering unto him at the rapture.
Now look again with me at verse three which says, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”
Please take careful note of Paul’s instruction aimed at calming the troubled minds of these early believers. He says, “let no man deceive you by any means.” With this statement Paul is rebuking the misguided idea the church is destined to endure the tribulation. In fact, this statement is meant to preserve the doctrine set forth in 1 Thessalonians chapter four in which he established the blessed hope of the church. Furthermore, according to verse five Paul had already taught the proper order of things to them when he was present with them.
But now in verse three he reviews that teaching once again to re-establish the proper prophetic order of things. Paul emphatically says the day of Christ cannot occur until two things happen. The point he is making is straight forward. Since those two things had not happened the Thessalonians were not living in the tribulation period with the day of Christ unfolding.
Let me quickly say--nor are we. Down through the history of the church (with some examples in our own day) because of severe persecution and perhaps other movements in the world, segments of the visible church erroneously conclude they are living in the tribulation. Not so for the two reasons Paul states in this verse. He says except there be a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the day of Christ is NOT at hand.
It is rather easy to understand the man of sin, the actual anti-Christ, is not currently in power. Therefore, like the Thessalonians we can properly conclude the day of Christ is not at hand. However, the first part of Paul’s reasoning is not so obvious to many Bible students. Paul says except there be a falling away first with the subsequent unveiling of the son of perdition, the day of Christ is not at hand.
So, what is he talking about with the reference to a “falling away?” The more I study this passage the more I am convinced the answer is connected to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Try to stay in the context of Paul’s teaching to the Thessalonians. The falling away, or the departure, is exactly what Paul taught them in his first epistle. His argument to correct the misguided Thessalonians is the day of Christ cannot occur until the event described in chapter four of his first epistle occurs.
Yes, there will be a tribulation. Yes, Daniel’s 70th week of prophecy concerning Israel will unfold in time. Yes, there is one more world leader destined to rule globally. Yes, Christ will consume him with the spirit of his mouth and destroy him with the brightness of his coming. But none of those events can occur until after the “falling away” or the rapture of the church takes place!
Now let us tie verses six and seven to this point and allow the Word of God to drive this truth home to our hearts. These verses say, “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”
First, note carefully Paul says to the Thessalonians you know what withholds the revealing of the man of sin in his time. How did they know? Paul had taught them previously.
Next, note he says, “for the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” The mystery of iniquity speaks of the willful rebellion against the living God fostered by the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. Satan is behind that spirit and he seeks to ultimately dominate the world with his man of sin—whom he longs to bring on the world scene.
I must say, the church is adept at discerning the desire of the world system to move to a global rule without God. However, despite the obvious desires of the world to bring this new world order to fruition, they just cannot get there. There is a person who is delaying and hindering the appearance of the man of sin and his global kingdom.
Look again at verse seven which says, “only he who now letteth (delays/hinders) will let, until he be taken out of the way.” The person referred to here can be none other than the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent back to the church from the Father. It is the Holy Spirit who providentially, as well as through the body of Christ, is holding back the appearance of the man of sin. It is only after He is taken out of the way that the antichrist can appear on the world scene.
Now I ask you, how can our Comforter who indwells us be taken out of the way unless we are taken out of the way? He will not leave us as orphans! His world-wide influence manifesting through the church will be taken out of the way when the church departs this earth and is caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:17). Then shall that Wicked be revealed who will meet his doom when the Lord returns with his bride to rule and reign on this earth. Praise his name!
Conclusion
Now look again at verse 13 as I conclude:
13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Do you believe the truth? The Lord is calling you to Christ through the truth of the gospel. Give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved today. Enter the blessed hope of the return of Christ for all who believe upon him!
1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
As we begin, look again at verses one and two which say, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.”
It is important to pause here and establish the context in which the apostle is writing. You will recall in his first letter to this church Paul answered a question relating to the death of loved ones occurring prior to the anticipated return of Christ for his people. The church did not understand where they were and how their deaths fit into the narrative of Christ’s return.
He proceeded to comfort them with the truths found in 1 Thessalonians chapter four, verses 13 through 18. Those words comforted the church in that day and those words have comforted the church world-wide until this present day. From that passage we understand our departed loved ones who believed upon Christ are with him awaiting his return. Upon his return our departed loved ones will receive their resurrected bodies when they are raised first. In that moment they will be clothed upon with immortality as they experience the redemption of their body.
Next, the living believer shall be changed, that is, they too experience the redemption of the body whereupon this mortal puts on immortality and this corruptible puts on incorruption. In that moment of change the authentic church world-wide shall be caught up to meet resurrected believers in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
It is the truth concerning the resurrection and rapture of the church recorded in 1 Thess. 4:13-18 that calmed the troubled minds of early believers and filled them with wonderful assurance concerning the well-being of departed loved ones. As well, this assurance provided the comfort of living day by day with the blessed hope of the return of Christ for his church at which time we all will be reunited in his presence. This is the meaning of the phrase “our gathering together unto him” in verse one. But now the church is troubled again, however, this time they are not ignorant of the Lord’s return. Instead, they are confused about how the church relates to the day of the Lord.
In fact, they thought themselves to be experiencing the day of Christ (or the day of the Lord). Evidently one or more individuals altered Paul’s teaching on the rapture—and the day of the Lord that follows—in such a way the Thessalonians thought themselves to be in the immediate days leading up to the physical, glorious appearing of Christ at the end of the great tribulation.
Let me pause here to say an additional word about the day of Christ, or what is referred to elsewhere in Scripture as the day of the Lord. The day of Christ culminates with his glorious appearing described in Matthew 24 and Revelation chapter 19. Prophetically, Christ is destined to physically return to the earth. His first order of business is to defeat the armies of the anti-Christ at the battle of Armageddon. This great battle occurs at the end of the seven-year tribulation detailed in Scripture.
Of course, if the Thessalonians thought themselves to be living in the days of the tribulation leading up to the return of Christ, they had good reason to be shaken in mind and troubled in their heart. There is no blessed hope in the prospect of enduring the day of the Lord. Rather, our blessed hope is to be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man (Luke 21:36).
And when shall the church stand before the Son of man? At the time of our gathering unto him at the rapture.
Now look again with me at verse three which says, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”
Please take careful note of Paul’s instruction aimed at calming the troubled minds of these early believers. He says, “let no man deceive you by any means.” With this statement Paul is rebuking the misguided idea the church is destined to endure the tribulation. In fact, this statement is meant to preserve the doctrine set forth in 1 Thessalonians chapter four in which he established the blessed hope of the church. Furthermore, according to verse five Paul had already taught the proper order of things to them when he was present with them.
But now in verse three he reviews that teaching once again to re-establish the proper prophetic order of things. Paul emphatically says the day of Christ cannot occur until two things happen. The point he is making is straight forward. Since those two things had not happened the Thessalonians were not living in the tribulation period with the day of Christ unfolding.
Let me quickly say--nor are we. Down through the history of the church (with some examples in our own day) because of severe persecution and perhaps other movements in the world, segments of the visible church erroneously conclude they are living in the tribulation. Not so for the two reasons Paul states in this verse. He says except there be a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the day of Christ is NOT at hand.
It is rather easy to understand the man of sin, the actual anti-Christ, is not currently in power. Therefore, like the Thessalonians we can properly conclude the day of Christ is not at hand. However, the first part of Paul’s reasoning is not so obvious to many Bible students. Paul says except there be a falling away first with the subsequent unveiling of the son of perdition, the day of Christ is not at hand.
So, what is he talking about with the reference to a “falling away?” The more I study this passage the more I am convinced the answer is connected to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Try to stay in the context of Paul’s teaching to the Thessalonians. The falling away, or the departure, is exactly what Paul taught them in his first epistle. His argument to correct the misguided Thessalonians is the day of Christ cannot occur until the event described in chapter four of his first epistle occurs.
Yes, there will be a tribulation. Yes, Daniel’s 70th week of prophecy concerning Israel will unfold in time. Yes, there is one more world leader destined to rule globally. Yes, Christ will consume him with the spirit of his mouth and destroy him with the brightness of his coming. But none of those events can occur until after the “falling away” or the rapture of the church takes place!
Now let us tie verses six and seven to this point and allow the Word of God to drive this truth home to our hearts. These verses say, “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”
First, note carefully Paul says to the Thessalonians you know what withholds the revealing of the man of sin in his time. How did they know? Paul had taught them previously.
Next, note he says, “for the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” The mystery of iniquity speaks of the willful rebellion against the living God fostered by the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. Satan is behind that spirit and he seeks to ultimately dominate the world with his man of sin—whom he longs to bring on the world scene.
I must say, the church is adept at discerning the desire of the world system to move to a global rule without God. However, despite the obvious desires of the world to bring this new world order to fruition, they just cannot get there. There is a person who is delaying and hindering the appearance of the man of sin and his global kingdom.
Look again at verse seven which says, “only he who now letteth (delays/hinders) will let, until he be taken out of the way.” The person referred to here can be none other than the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent back to the church from the Father. It is the Holy Spirit who providentially, as well as through the body of Christ, is holding back the appearance of the man of sin. It is only after He is taken out of the way that the antichrist can appear on the world scene.
Now I ask you, how can our Comforter who indwells us be taken out of the way unless we are taken out of the way? He will not leave us as orphans! His world-wide influence manifesting through the church will be taken out of the way when the church departs this earth and is caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:17). Then shall that Wicked be revealed who will meet his doom when the Lord returns with his bride to rule and reign on this earth. Praise his name!
Conclusion
Now look again at verse 13 as I conclude:
13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Do you believe the truth? The Lord is calling you to Christ through the truth of the gospel. Give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved today. Enter the blessed hope of the return of Christ for all who believe upon him!
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