FIRST THINGS FIRST (2 Thess 2:1-15)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2015
Given a list of options, we decide which we should do or which we should do first, often depending on what we think is more or less pleasant.
On his second missionary journey, Paul visited the seaport city of Thessalonica in Macedonia and founded a church there. Sometime later, he sent Timothy to check on the progress of those believers. Later, Timothy met Paul in Corinth and reported that they were doing well but were facing difficult tests of their new faith from pagan neighbors and even from others who were teaching peculiar notions about Jesus' return. Some were claiming that those who die before the Second Coming will have no part in the Messianic Age. ("If ya snooze, ya lose."1) Paul responds in his first letter to the church that those who die in the Lord will actually be among the first to meet him. Others were claiming that the Day of the Lord had already come (or had already begun), and the Thessalonian believers had missed it. Paul responds in his second letter that certain events must precede Jesus' return, and those events have not yet happened. This is not new information for the Thessalonians, but in the confusion of conflicting views Paul reiterates his previous instruction and exhorts them...
I. Retain what you know about Jesus' return (2 Thess 2:1-4).
No, the Thessalonian believers have not missed the savior's second advent and, in response to these false rumors. He tells them, Retain what you know about Jesus' return. To do that, however, they must keep this information clearly in mind. So, Paul issues another exhortation...
II. Remember what you learned about Jesus' return (2 Thess 2:5-12).
Some might object that such behavior is beneath God. How could He be party to a lie?'19 The answer is that in God's normal interaction, especially with His people, He does not—He will not—deceive. To those who insist upon rejecting the truth, however, God will give what they so eagerly seek—a lie.20
Paul reminds these Christians that certain events must occur before the end,21 and he exhorts them, Remember what you learned about Jesus' return. They should not believe whatever rumors may be circulating which suggest otherwise.
The Thessalonians did not live to see the events Paul describes. Despite the fact that we are two thousand years closer, we may not see them either. Did Paul know how much time would pass? ...Probably not. We are fascinated by the future, and what he writes here helps to fill in our picture of what lies ahead, but the Bible rarely gives information about the future without some instruction for the present.22 Realizing that it might be a while until the end, Paul adds another exhortation...
III. Rejoice in what you will receive at Jesus' return (2 Thess 2:13-15).
There is a peculiar notion some Christians hold that once a person accepts the forgiveness God provides through Jesus' sacrifice, that person's salvation is guaranteed, regardless of how he conducts himself thereafter. The Bible offers no such guarantee. On the contrary, how a person lives can confirm or negate his profession.28 That is why Paul also says to the Thessalonian believers...
What does the future hold? In this second letter to the church at Thessalonica, Paul states that certain events will precede the Lord's return and that believers must understand their basic order, or the conflicting reports they hear will mislead them. First Things First—the agent of Satan will appear before the Son of God returns. The Thessalonian Christians had seen neither of these events when they received this letter and, as it turned out, would not see them in their lifetime. We, too, have seen neither of these events and might not see them in our lifetime. As Paul also states, however, the delay in no way affects the certainty of what God will do for us—salvation and glorification—and in no way alters what we must do for Him, and that is to remain faithful.
Jeff's whole family—his sisters, their husbands, and their children—had gathered to welcome his newborn son. Nieces Sarah and Jessica, both five, began to squabble over who would get to hold the baby first. Jeff's mother, with her years of wisdom, suggested they sit side by side and both hold the baby. Not to be outdone, and knowing that babies do not come fully trained, Sarah piped up and said, "Okay...but I want the end with the head on it!"New experiences often require new decisions, whether how to hold a newborn or how to process information about Jesus' return. When Paul addressed converts in the church at Thessalonica, he had to advise them that some views had priority over other views, and that they should be sure to put First Things First.
On his second missionary journey, Paul visited the seaport city of Thessalonica in Macedonia and founded a church there. Sometime later, he sent Timothy to check on the progress of those believers. Later, Timothy met Paul in Corinth and reported that they were doing well but were facing difficult tests of their new faith from pagan neighbors and even from others who were teaching peculiar notions about Jesus' return. Some were claiming that those who die before the Second Coming will have no part in the Messianic Age. ("If ya snooze, ya lose."1) Paul responds in his first letter to the church that those who die in the Lord will actually be among the first to meet him. Others were claiming that the Day of the Lord had already come (or had already begun), and the Thessalonian believers had missed it. Paul responds in his second letter that certain events must precede Jesus' return, and those events have not yet happened. This is not new information for the Thessalonians, but in the confusion of conflicting views Paul reiterates his previous instruction and exhorts them...
I. Retain what you know about Jesus' return (2 Thess 2:1-4).
2 Thess 2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. [Notice that Paul equates "the day of the Lord" with Jesus' return and with "our being gathered to him." They are all part of the same series of events.] 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.Whatever the purported source of these rumors, whether a spirit-inspired utterance by the apostle, a conversation with Paul, or a letter from him,2 he assures these believers that the information they are hearing is not true and that they should give those ideas no credence.
A. Do not let false reports disturb you, despite their alleged authority.
The pressure they are experiencing from the pagan community to renounce their faith and return to the fold of idolatry is heightening their sense of urgency that God must soon provide relief. Surely, nothing more needs to happen before He sends Jesus back to judge the wicked! "Perhaps the Day of the Lord has come (or has begun), and we've missed it!"3 Paul writes...
- The Day of the Lord has not already come.
B. Do not let false beliefs deceive you, despite their apparent urgency.
Who is this man of lawlessness, and what will he do to precipitate the end that is worse than what anyone else has done? Paul lists three offenses in v. 4 that make this individual's rebellion so utterly heinous
- The man of lawlessness must first be revealed.
a. First, he will challenge God's authority.
- "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped."
b. Second, he will profane God's sanctuary.
- He will set "himself up in God's temple."
c. Third, he will assume God's identity.
Daniel described this same individual.
- He will proclaim "himself to be God."
Dan 7:25a He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws.
Dan 9:27 ...he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation....There was a person who came close to this description.4 Two hundred years before Paul wrote this letter, King Antiochus IV of Syria controlled Canaan and oppressed the Jews there (167 B.C.E.). He challenged God's authority by attempting to outlaw obedience to God's commandments. He profaned God's sanctuary by sacrificing a pig on the altar. He assumed God's identity by adopting the title of deity, Epiphanes, which means the "manifest one".5 Some commentators identify Antiochus as the one about whom Daniel prophesied,6 but Jesus says the abomination will be future and states, as Paul does here, that the lawless one's shameful conduct will immediately precede the end.
Matt 24:15 ...when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel... 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.... 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.... 29a Immediately after the distress of those days.... 30 ...the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the Clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels...and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.The apostle John in his Revelation also describes this individual, whom he calls "the beast."
Rev 13:2b [Satan] gave the beast...authority.... 4 Men...worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" ...6a He opened his mouth to blaspheme God.... 7a He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them.... 14b [Moreover, his followers] set up an image in honor of the beast....However contemptible Antiochus was, far worse will be the man of lawlessness, the beast, the antichrist as John also calls him,7 and his coming, Paul says, will precede Jesus' return.
No, the Thessalonian believers have not missed the savior's second advent and, in response to these false rumors. He tells them, Retain what you know about Jesus' return. To do that, however, they must keep this information clearly in mind. So, Paul issues another exhortation...
II. Remember what you learned about Jesus' return (2 Thess 2:5-12).
2 Thess 2:5 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back [or "what prevails"], so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back [or "who prevails"] will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.Paul asks them to recall his earlier visit and what he had taught them about this lawless one.8 For them, it was review. For us, this may be our first exposure to some of this information. They knew what he was talking about. We are not entirely certain, especially concerning vv. 6-7 and what or who is holding back the lawless one at this time. Commentators have proposed several possible identifications:
- It is the restraining influence of the church, which will cease to have affect when God removes believers in the so-called "rapture."9
- It is the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit, which will also cease to have affect when God withdraws His Spirit during that same event.
- It is the restraining influence of government, which will break down when the antichrist comes to power.10
A. The Lord will eliminate the lawless one.Again, Paul assures his readers that they have not missed the boat...
How long this situation will continue, Paul does not say,"but the next event before the final event is that...1. The power of lawlessness is now restrained.
Even then, the Lord will not return at this time, for...2. The man of lawlessness will be revealed.
B. Satan must first establish the lawless one.Paul explains that the antichrist's rise to power will be the result of impressive "miracles, signs and wonders.12 John also speaks about "great and miraculous signs,, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men" (Rev 13:13). These displays will impress those who are looking for leadership but who want nothing to do with God's rule.13 They will view the antichrist as an alternative to God, like another candidate in a political election. Indeed, that is how the Antichrist will present himself and, so doing...
...all who support him.14 Unfortunately for them, the process will not be a democratic one. Their only alternative to "the truth" will be "the lie" (vv. 11-12). The only choices will be salvation or condemnation and, having rejected the former...1. The man of lawlessness will deceive.
Notice that Paul describes no great battle in which the forces of our Lord and the forces of the Antichrist vie back and forth to see who will prevail. There is conflict here but no contest, no doubt as to the outcome.15 Jesus will completely overwhelm the opposition at his "public and powerful manifestation". With such an obvious victor, you might wonder how anyone would deliberately choose to be on the losing side. Part of the answer, of course, is that it will not be so obvious to them as it is to us.16 Another factor, though, is that people sometimes refuse to accept even the obvious, especially if it conflicts with their own selfish agenda.172. The followers of lawlessness will perish.
- Pharaoh refused accept the obvious superiority of God and attempted to keep the Israelites as slaves in Egypt.
- Certain Pharisees refused to accept the obvious authority of Jesus and rejected his message.
- Likewise, some people at the end will refuse to accept the obvious supremacy of God and will turn to the antichrist instead.
Some might object that such behavior is beneath God. How could He be party to a lie?'19 The answer is that in God's normal interaction, especially with His people, He does not—He will not—deceive. To those who insist upon rejecting the truth, however, God will give what they so eagerly seek—a lie.20
Paul reminds these Christians that certain events must occur before the end,21 and he exhorts them, Remember what you learned about Jesus' return. They should not believe whatever rumors may be circulating which suggest otherwise.
The Thessalonians did not live to see the events Paul describes. Despite the fact that we are two thousand years closer, we may not see them either. Did Paul know how much time would pass? ...Probably not. We are fascinated by the future, and what he writes here helps to fill in our picture of what lies ahead, but the Bible rarely gives information about the future without some instruction for the present.22 Realizing that it might be a while until the end, Paul adds another exhortation...
III. Rejoice in what you will receive at Jesus' return (2 Thess 2:13-15).
2 Thess 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.Back in the '70s, Campus Crusade for Christ produced a little booklet entitled, The Four Spiritual Laws. Do you remember the first law or principle? "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." That is essentially what Paul writes to these Thessalonian believers: Brothers, loved by the Lord...23
A. You will have a wonderful role....when Jesus returns. This stands in stark contrast to the fate that will befall those who reject the truth and embrace the lie—either the "power of lawlessness [that] is already at work" or the man of lawlessness who "will be revealed"—the fate that will befall those who reject the truth will not befall you who have embraced the truth and are living in obedience to the Author of truth. Paul writes: God, in His foreknowledge, chose you for something else...
Whereas, those who follow the opposition "will be condemned" (v. 12), there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1). The wonder of God's plan, however, is not just in what His people will miss; it is also in what they will gain, for...241. He chose you for salvation.
Paul does not specify here what it will mean to "share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ," but in other passages he informs us that...2. He called you to glorification.
a. It will be physical.
- It will entail the transformation of "our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body" (Phil 3:21);25
b. It will be incomparable.
- It will be unlike anything we have ever experienced, because it has the investment of God's "riches";26 and
c. It will be eternal.
You will, indeed, have a wonderful role, and looking forward to such a marvelous prospect should fill your heart with joy and strengthen your resolve to maintain a commitment to Him, even in difficult times.
- It will never fade or expire, grow old or get tired, dissipate or disappear!27
There is a peculiar notion some Christians hold that once a person accepts the forgiveness God provides through Jesus' sacrifice, that person's salvation is guaranteed, regardless of how he conducts himself thereafter. The Bible offers no such guarantee. On the contrary, how a person lives can confirm or negate his profession.28 That is why Paul also says to the Thessalonian believers...
B. You will have a significant responsibility....when Jesus returns. So...
As false teachers spread conflicting ideas about the time and events preceding Jesus' return, the temptation for believers is to throw up their hands in despair and say, "This is more than I can handle" or "This is just too complicated" and give up. Paul wants them to "hold to the teachings" he passed on. That is easy for him to say. He is convinced he is right and the others are wrong, but how are his readers (or believers today) to determine which message is the right one, especially when preachers and teachers often contradict each other? The implicit message here is that we must examine what we hear to determine if it accords with what God has revealed29 and not just with what others say or with what we prefer.130 The Thessalonian Christians could compare what they were hearing about the Day of the Lord, including what Paul had to say, with what God had revealed about it in the Old Testament. We have an even larger corpus with which to compare what we hear. This can require some careful study, and the answer may not always be satisfying. Nevertheless, to gain as correct an understanding as possible of what God intends for the future and of what God expects now, it may be necessary at times to make this kind of careful evaluation. In any case, as Paul exhorts his readers, including you, Rejoice in what you will receive at Jesus' return.
- Remain faithful to what you learned.
What does the future hold? In this second letter to the church at Thessalonica, Paul states that certain events will precede the Lord's return and that believers must understand their basic order, or the conflicting reports they hear will mislead them. First Things First—the agent of Satan will appear before the Son of God returns. The Thessalonian Christians had seen neither of these events when they received this letter and, as it turned out, would not see them in their lifetime. We, too, have seen neither of these events and might not see them in our lifetime. As Paul also states, however, the delay in no way affects the certainty of what God will do for us—salvation and glorification—and in no way alters what we must do for Him, and that is to remain faithful.
For a pdf including Bibliography and Endnotes see here.
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Jim Skaggs