The Truth About The End

Intro: Many years ago a friend in ministry told a story about when he was in grade school. He went to a small Christian school and one day while in class he asked to go to the bathroom, as a joke the teacher took the whole class out of the classroom and hid them, when my friend returned he thought the rapture had taken place and he alone was left behind.

The church in Thessolonica suffered greatly for their faith and allowed false teachers to deceive them into believing that they had missed the rapture and were living in the Great tribulation.

CPS: They had been deceived and became dismayed and discouraged.... we must not let the same happen to us.

I. Do not Be deceived 1-4

It is sad and unfortunate to see believers fooled into believing something that is not biblically true. That is why Paul, for emphasis uses a double negative in vs.3 perhaps better translated… “Let no man deceive you, by no means!” Deceive (v)(exapataō) means beguile or tricked into believing.

Rather by word or a counterfeit letter from the Apostle the Thessalonians had been led astray, and Paul was bewildered by how easily it had happened {The devil and his agents are slick!}.

Through faith, we must know what we believe and why believe it.

ILL: Its interesting that people in the banking world, closely study real bills so that they can quickly spot the phony stuff right away. We must study God’s Word.... get out from living under God’s word and live constantly in God’s word so that we never are deceived.

A. The Day of The Lord has arrived(The Revelation of Jesus)(prophesied in OT)

The day of the Lord is a great and terrible day, it is the day when God will punish the wicked and justice will triumph. Is. 13:9, Zeph. 1:15, Mal. 4:1-2.

It is a period of time that climaxes with Jesus and His gathered saints return to earth. A day that is heralded with great signs, The sun darkened, the moon will not be lit, stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Matt. 24:29) and judgment is completed on earth! Jesus says no one knows the day or time..... but there is something that must first come. “The Tribulation (Matt. 24:29a. Here Paul confirms....

Falling Away

Falling Away (n) (apostasia) means rebellion, abandonment, apostasy. Meaning THE religious revolt. From the faith and the Word of God to demonic spirits, doctrines (1 Tim. 4:1), and people will be joyfully and blatantly unholy while still holding to a form of godliness (2 Tim. 3:2).

2. The Antichrist

The prefix Anti has a double meaning, against and instead of. As Jesus was God come in the flesh, the Antichrist is Satan come in the flesh. A world dictator who is the embodiment of sin. His coming is found in Rev. 6:1-2, he rides a white horse, has a crown and bow yet no arrows, he will come first in peace then after the 2nd seal is broken take away peace (Rev. 6:2) and all hell breaks loose.

3. The Abomination of Desolation.

The antichrist wants to be worshipped in stead of Jesus… In the 2nd Century the Seleucid King Antiochous IV. Epiphanes desecrated the Temple by sacrificing swine upon the alter and declared himself God..... The antichrist will do the same....opposing everything that belongs to any other religion, true or false. He will organize a world church that will, by worshipping him, worship Satan. At that time it will be worship him or be slain /starve to death.

B. The Gathering of The Lord has arrived,(The Rapture of the Saints)(In NT a Mystery 1 Cor. 15:51)

In the N.T. the gathering of the church is called a mystery. It was not spoken of in the O.T. yet we see some examples… Enoch and Elijah.

This is when Jesus comes in the air for His bride the church, it is preceded by signs and unlike the Revelation it is a time of blessing. It will take place in the twinkling of an eye and we will all be changed and together with Him.

If you are a true believer and obedient to the Gospel, Do not be deceived into believing you have missed the rapture and are now living in the Great Tribulation.... you are not.

II. Do not be dismayed 5-12

The very thought of the day of the Lord is troubling to many. During it, there will be trial and tribulation like the world has never seen. It will literally be hell on earth. The embodiment of Satan will seemingly rule the world! Seems like a good reason to be distresses or anxious. However, Paul explains… the agent of Satan is destined to doom! Our God is sovereign over all things and times… And right now He is holding back the coming of antichrist until His time is ready then He will set him loose to be destroyed!

A. The restrainer

Paul explains, the coming of antichrist is in God’s sovereign time. He is being withheld or restrained (NASB)… (v)(katechō) meaning prevented, hindered, or kept from coming.

ILL: Fonzie and Saban are walked on a leash, when they see other dogs they bark, growl, and pull forward, but we hold them back.... Satan is on a leash my friend and the Holy Spirit of God is holding the other end!

But the day will come after the church is removed from the world that the Holy Spirit will let go the restraints and evil will be loosened on the earth.

B. The Delusion

God truly doesn't desire (long for) anyone to parish but all to repent. But there comes a time when God says “your will be done” and He hands the people of earth over to their sin. At this point there has been an all out rejection of Jesus and now they will be deceived by false powers, signs, and wonders… so that their hearts will be hardened.

ILL: Moses day, Aaron’s staff through the power of God became a serpent and the sorcerers and magicians of Egypt replicated it through the power of Satan and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened Ex. 7:10-12.

Paul is not saying the Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth (some… very few.... will be saved) but that He is no longer restraining evil.

C. The Victor

At the end of the 7 years, Jesus (The King of kings and Lord of lords) will physically return with His church and the army of angels, with His breath He will destroy the antichrist and all others who oppose Him! Vs. 9 is an illusion to Is. 11:4.... Rev. 19:15-17… the carnage will be great and vast, all the birds will gather for the great supper of God. Then Satan will be bound fora millennium.

Do not be dismayed..... The devil and his agent is destined for destruction!

III. Do not be discouraged 13-15

The Thessalonians were discouraged, troubled and shaken (2) but Paul gives a word of encouragement..... you have been saved!

In verse 5 Paul tells the Church to “remember what I told you while I was with you.” He told them “to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thes. 1:10. “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” 1 Thessalonians 5:9. He told them they will not be here when the Great Tribulation begins..... because Jesus opened the seals loosening hell on earth signifying God’s wrath and we by grace through faith have been saved from God’s wrath.

Not one little hair on your head will be singed by the fire of God’s wrath. God’s loves you and has chosen you from the foundation of the world in Christ and He will keep His promise to safe guard you bringing you home safely to the other side!

Conclusion: Do not be deceived… know the truth, Do not be dismayed the Devil is a defeated foe, and Do not be discouraged your future is bright and resting in the bosom of Jesus! Now, stand firm in faith and share the truth with the unbelieving world around you because their future if left unchanged is doom and destruction.