Confusion About The Last Days of The Church Age
January 10, 2020
Commentary
Paul deals with a doctrinal error concerning the last days that had crept into the Thessalonian church. Apparently someone had deceived the believers into thinking they were already living in the day of the Lord (vv. 1-2). He appealed to them to calm down on the basis of the truth he had taught them in the first letter. He had instructed them when he was with them that this period of time will begin after the rapture of the church and will include the tribulation and the Millennium. In his first letter he had taught them that the day of the Lord would come as a thief in the night (I Thessalonians 5:2). The Thessalonians were in danger of losing hope in the second coming.
Confusion arose because they could not distinguish between their present troubles and those of the day of the Lord. Paul proceeded to warn his readers against this false teaching. He referred to three events which must occur before the day of the Lord takes place. They are:
Apostasy (“The falling away”) (v. 3).The revealing of the man of sin, the son of perdition (the Antichrist) (v. 4).The removal of the Holy Spirit (verses 6-7).If our faith is strong we don’t need to be afraid of what lies ahead because we know that this man of sin has already been defeated by God. No matter how powerful he becomes or how terrible our situation seems God is in control and he will be victorious. If we are ready, we won’t have to be concerned about what or when it will happen. God is in control of all events.
Application
My task is to be prepared for Christ’s return and to spread the Gospel so that people will be prepared.
2 Thessalonians 2:1– 5 (NET)
1 Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God. 5 Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you.