"OVERVIEW OF 2 THESSALONIANS"

“Overview of 2 Thessalonians”

Review the themes –

Background info –

Author – Paul

Written from – Corinth

Date – 51 AD – How far apart were 1 and 2ndThessalonians written?

Audience – Church at Thessalonica (2 Thess. 1:2)

Theme – “Second Coming”

Interesting Fact - This book is the shortest of all the books that Paul wrote.

Is there a difference between the rapture and second coming?

A time line of Eschatology– Draw on the marker board

What caused Paul to write this epistle?

False prophets have gone into the church saying that the second coming has already taken place Idleness within the church 3:11 – what does idleness mean? - this is not the first time that Paul addresses this issue.

1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 (NASB95)

11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NASB95)

14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

2 Thessalonians 3:6–15 (NASB95)

6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. 13But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

They simply sitting back, being lazy because they were told that Christ has already come (remember that the false prophets told them this and they are believing it) Others are sitting back being lazy b/c they are waiting for Christ’s return. They don’t see any point in working because Christ is going to come.

Paul wrote this epistle in order to address the issues within the church.

Specifically –

To address the teaching of the False Prophets To address the idleness within the church

Paul’s care and concern for this church – (He prayed for the people)

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (NASB95)

3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 (NASB95)

11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NASB95)

13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (NASB95)

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NASB95)

5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:16–18 (NASB95)

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! 17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

1. Living in anticipation of the Second Coming – 1:1-4

2 Thessalonians 1:1–4 (NASB95)

1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is onlyfitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; 4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

· Walking Faithfully

o Faith is growing Abundantly

o Brotherly Love is increasing

o Steadfast when it’s easy, challenging, as well as in the midst of extremely difficult circumstances.

o Standing up for Christ in the midst of persecutions and afflictions.

How do you live in anticipation of the second coming? (You don’t become content where you are at in the walk. You do as Paul called us in 1 Thess. 4:2 – You excel still more)

1 Thessalonians 4:1–3 (NASB95)

1 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;

2. Warning about Second Coming – 2:1-2

2 Thessalonians 2:1–2 (NASB95)

1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

In vs. 1 Paul is referring to the Rapture. You got to get the picture of what is going on right now-

· The new believers are told in 1 Thess that Christ is coming, and that He (God) has not destined them for wrath.

· Now they are being told that Christ has already come

· On top of all that they are going through persecution. I can only imagine what is going through their minds right now – maybe something like this Paul told us in 1 Thess. 5:9 that God has not destined us for wrath - then why in the world are we being persecuted??

Paul answer that question by giving them a warning in verse 2

Do not be mislead by people who say that Christ has already come –

Paul’s is point is don’t be so quick to believe what you hear, or see.

1. Spirits

2. Spoken Word

3. Letters

3. Events leading up to the Second Coming – 2:3-13

2 Thessalonians 2:3–13 (NASB95)

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

Leading up to and during what is called the Tribulation –

· Deception – 2:3

· Man of Lawlessness – 2:3-5

o Rebellion will come

o Apostasy will increase

o MOL revealed

§ Opposes every so – called gods

§ Opposes objects that people worship

§ Claims to be God (Blasphemy)

At the end of the tribulation that is when Christ comes to the earth to usher in the Millennial Kingdom. (This is referred to as the second coming)

· The MOL will be killed by Jesus Christ - 2:8-10

2 Thessalonians 2:8–10 (NASB95)

8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

Can you say well I am going to live my life the way that I want and then during the tribulation I will repent and place by faith in Christ? Is there a problem with this question?

· No second chance – 2:11

2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NASB95)

11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

In fact the very words of God say – that during this time there is going to be strong deception, and people are going to believe the lie.

Are you willing to take the risk that you might be the one who will be deceived?

Challenge –

Believers – Live in anticipation of the Lord’s coming –

Matthew 24:42 (NASB95)

42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NASB95)

13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Ephesians 6:18 (NASB95)

18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alertwith all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Colossians 4:2 (NASB95)

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude ofthanksgiving;

1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NASB95)

6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

1 Peter 5:8 (NASB95)

8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

How can this be demonstrated in our everyday life?

Unbeliever – Are you banking on the fact that people will be saved during the tribulation?