II Thessalonians Chapter 2
The Day of the Lord is a period of time in which God pours out his wrath and judgement on this earth. The church at Thessalonica were living in fear because they thought they were living in that very season. There was so much fear amongst them that it was affecting their walk with the Lord and Paul had learned of their current condition and felt prompted to write to them.
They had become confused as to the two very different and distinct returns of Christ. The first return will be when the believers are caught up to meet Jesus in the clouds. And the second return is when Jesus will return to the earth in judgement. This is known as the second coming of Christ. There is a short period of time between the two returns of Christ which are called the Tribulation period. It is during this time that the world will experience the wrath of God that is described in the Bible.
Let's Reflect
1. We have a modern term that we use, the word rapture, that means to be caught up. What words in verse 1 did Paul use to also define the rapture?
2. It was unclear how the church at Thessalonica had become confused thinking they were experiencing the Day of the Lord (living in the Tribulation). Paul quickly dispels their fears by explaining the order of events as written in the scriptures. According to verse 3 Paul encourages the church to know what the scriptures say about the end times so that they will not be what by others?
3. Before the Day of the Lord begins there will be one key sign that the end times are upon the earth. There will be a man who will sit in the temple, and he will proclaim what?
4. This man is known as the anti-Christ who exalts himself above every god or object of worship. Who is the power behind this anti-Christ? See verse 9.
5. Directly preceding the rise of the anti-Christ will be a period of rebellion or a departure. This could mean those who once taught the truths of the Bible will teach a false doctrine or it could mean a general world-wide rebellion against the things of God. We are certainly getting close to that period of history if that is the meaning! What other title does Paul give to the anti-Christ? See verse 3.
Prophecy of the anti-Christ - I John 4:2-3 (NKJV) By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the [spirit] of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
6. The man of lawlessness or the anti-Christ will be restrained by Jesus, and he will come to an end because Jesus will kill him. How will He do that?
7. All people who rejected Jesus Christ and did not believe, they will not be caught up with the believers to meet Christ in the clouds. They will be the ones to experience the Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. Because they rejected Christ, God will send them a strong delusion and they will believe what?
8. Paul ends the chapter with encouragement for the believers. The believers are chosen, they are the firstfruits of God’s eternal plan. They will inherit all the good things that God has planned for them. Paul encourages them to stand firm in their faith. He shares with them what is the ultimate comfort to relieve their fears. What is that comfort?
