Rapture
This could refer to both comings—the coming in the air for the saints (notes, 1Th. 3:13; 4:13–18), and the coming of the Lord to the earth with the saints (notes, Mt. 24:3).
[gathering together] Greek: episunagoge (GSN-<G1997>), a gathering together in one place (2Th. 2:1; Heb. 10:25; cp. the verb in Mt. 23:37; 24:31). Here is a gathering together to Him in the air (1Th. 4:13–18). This could only refer to the rapture, not the second coming.
2 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.
Three things disturbed the Thessalonians:
1. Spirit—spirit-communication, pretended revelation, or spirit-demonstration
2. Word—teaching, preaching, discourse, reasoning, argument, fluent speaking
3. Letter as from us. False teachers had come to Thessalonica with a letter that had been forged in the name of Paul containing false doctrines about the day of the Lord being at hand (2Th. 2:2–3
Two Events Precede the Day of the Lord
1. The Falling away. Greek: apostasia (GSN-<G646>), defection, revolt, apostasy. Used only here and in Acts 21:21, but the same as apostasion, divorce, in Mt. 5:31; 19:7; Mk. 10:4. The Greek here has the definite article, “the apostasy,” referring to the great apostasy during the tribulation days between the rapture and the second coming of Christ (Mt. 24:4–31; Rev. 6:1—Rev. 19:21). At the rapture of all dead and living in Christ in a moment (1Cor. 15:23, 51–58; 1Th. 4:13–18), not one soul will be left on earth who is a Christian. Multitudes will soon be saved afterward through an awakening (Acts 2:16–21; Rev. 6:9–11; 7:1–17; 12:17). The rest will become so hardened as to seek to destroy these being saved in those days (Rev. 9:20–21; 16:2, 9–11). The great whore of Rev. 17 will destroy multitudes of Christians during the first 3 1/2 years of Daniel’s 70th week, while the Antichrist is coming to power over the 10 kingdoms inside the old Roman Empire (Rev. 6:9–11; 17:6). When Antichrist comes to full power over the 10 kingdoms in the middle of Daniel’s 70th week, he, together with the 10 kings, will destroy the great whore, establish the worship of the beast, and kill multitudes who will not worship him and his image or take his brands (Rev. 7:9–17; 13:1–18; 14:9–13; 15:2–4; 16:6–11; Rev. 2–4; 17:16–17).
2. The man of sin is revealed (2Th. 2:3).
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
What was it that they knew hindered the mystery of iniquity or spirit of lawlessness? If they knew what it was can we not know the same thing, especially in view of this added revelation about it?
4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth
Seven Things Incited by the Mystery of Iniquity
1. Departing from the faith (1Tim. 4:1). Greek: aphistemi (GSN-<G868>), to put away; remove; separate; to revolt from. Translated “depart from” (1Tim. 4:1; Lk. 2:37; 4:13; 13:27; Acts 12:10; 15:38; 19:9; 22:29; 2Cor. 12:8; 2Tim. 2:19; Heb. 3:12); “refrain from” (Acts 5:38); “fall away” (Lk. 8:13); and “withdraw” (1Tim. 6:5). It is possible to depart from the faith and apostasize if such passages are true. No man can depart from something that he is not in or does not have. All men do not have faith (2Th. 3:2). Only men of that class wold find it impossible to depart from faith for they have no faith to depart from. Men are warned to take heed, lest their hearts become evil and unbelieving and cause them to depart from God (Heb. 3:12).
2. Giving heed to seducing spirits (1Tim. 4:1). Greek: planos (GSN-<G4108>), leading astray. Translated “seducing” (1Tim. 4:1) and “deceiver” (Mt. 27:63; 2Cor. 6:8; 2Jn. 1:7). These are deceiving demons that seduce men. To seduce means to lead astray; draw into evil; specially to entice to surrender chastity. Demons are charged with carrying out the program of enticement to forfeit virtue or surrender chastity. This is the same as forbidding to marry (point 6, below).
3. Giving heed to doctrines of devils (1Tim. 4:1). To urge departure from the faith is the first work of demons. This results in departure from holy living, and acceptance of doctrines that will damn the soul. Men who pretend inspiration and revelation and false teachers of all kinds are the agents of demons (2Cor. 11:14–15). Every religion that denies the reality of God; Christ; the Holy Spirit; the atonement; the death and the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; sin; sickness; Satan; demons; hell; heaven; and the other fundamental doctrines of Scripture are as much of Satan and demons as the Bible and Christianity are of God.
4. Speaking lies in hypocrisy (1Tim. 4:2). Greek: pseudologos (GSN-<G5573>), speakers of lies in pretended revelations; putting on an act of self-denial and mortification of the flesh in order to prove their false doctrines to be truth.
5. Having the conscience seared with a hot iron (1Tim. 4:2). Greek: kauteriazo (GSN-<G2743>), to sear with a red hot iron; to brand; to be seared in conscience. Only here. It means to make callous, withered, hardened, and insensible to right and wrong. It was customary in ancient times to mark criminals with a hot iron so that (according to the heathen) the infernal judges would know their vices and appoint them punishment according to their sins.
6. Forbidding to marry (1Tim. 4:3). To forbid means to prohibit, hinder, oppose, or operate against. Seducing spirits influence people to hinder and operate against wedlock by enticing them to meet the demands of the sex drive apart from the sanctity of marriage. To heed (as in “giving heed to seducing spirits,” 1Tim. 4:1) means to pay attention to and act under the leadership and control of. Hence, those who satisfy their sex needs through perversions—any of the ways contrary to what is approved by Scripture—are under the control, more or less, of demons (Rom. 1:21–28; Lev. 20:13; Joel 3:3). This also applies to religions that discourage or forbid marriage to anyone among laymen or clergy. Marriage is honorable to all and the bed undefiled (Heb. 13:4; 1Cor. 7).
7. Commanding to abstain from meats (1Tim. 4:3). Among the heathen and even some of the so-called Christians, certain meats and food are forbidden in utter disregard of 1Tim. 4:3–4. Such unscriptural commanding under the new covenant is prompted by demons arrayed against the gospel and the liberty it provides regarding food (Gen. 9:1–7; Rom. 14:1–6).
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Chart: The Hinderer of Lawlessness
1. It is something already known (2Th. 2:6).
2. It now hinders lawlessness (2Th. 2:6–7).
3. It is strong enough to prevent the revelation of the Antichrist (2Th. 2:6–8).
4. It will hinder lawlessness until it is removed from the earth (2Th. 2:7–8).
5. It is called “he” (2Th. 2:7).
6. It will be removed from the earth before the second coming (2Th. 2:7–8).
7. It will not be here when Christ comes to destroy Antichrist (2Th. 2:7–8).
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
27 Now mye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Rapture Before Antichrist
The church will continue to hinder lawlessness until the rapture. And then the Antichrist will be revealed. This is conclusive proof that the rapture takes place before Daniel’s 70th week and the tribulation of Rev. 6:1—Rev. 19:21. According to Dan. 9:27, Antichrist will be here for 7 years, for he makes a 7-year covenant with Israel. If he is here for 7 years, which will be the last 7 years of this age, and if he who hinders lawlessness refers to the church and is taken out of the way before he comes, then the rapture will take place before the last 7 years of this age and before the Antichrist comes at the beginning of those 7 years. See other proofs of this fact, Rev. 4:1, note.
[And then shall that Wicked be revealed] And then. When? When he who hinders will be taken out of the way, “then shall that Wicked be revealed” (2Th. 2:7–8). Antichrist cannot possibly come until after the rapture of 1Th. 4:13–16. All who go in the rapture will not be here during the days of Antichrist and during the tribulation of Rev. 6:1—Rev. 9:21; Mt. 24:15–21; Dan. 12:1.
[consume] Greek: analisko (GSN-<G355>), to kill, destroy (2Th. 2:8; Lk. 9:54; Gal. 5:15). Other scriptures speak of his being slain by Christ (Dan. 7:11; 8:23–25; 9:27; 11:45; Isa. 11:4). This does not contradict Rev. 19:20, for this passage only shows that after he is slain he will be cast into conscious and eternal torment along with others (Mt. 25:41, 46; Rev. 19:20; 20:10).
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
[coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders] His preparation and revelation will be a work of Satan.
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
[all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish] With every cunning art and wicked practice men and demons can produce in order to deceive men who reject truth (2Th. 2:10–12; 1Tim. 4:1–8; 2Tim. 3:5; 4:1–5; Mt. 24:24; Rev. 13; 19:20).
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect
[because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved] This states the reason God will permit such strong delusion at this time (2Th. 2:10–12).
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
