II Thessalonians (3)

Introduction: How important is a truthful sign? Example of road signs. What if bed bath and Beyond had a Cabellas sign? That false sign would be a terrible trick. Drive thru signs. Airport signs. Etc..

Today we are continuing in our series thru II Thessalonians. Focusing this morning on signs of the coming of Christ. Signals that should alert us to His soon return. Last week we covered the first couple verses of chapter two and discovered that we should not be deceived about the coming of Jesus because God has an ordered plan for His return that will involve certain details that have not yet occured. Today we are gong to study one of those details. Specifically the rebellion. So lets read again 2:1-15.

Signals of Christ’s coming

The Rebellion (2:3b)

Define the word as apostasy. Military term meaning , “The abandoning of a position”. In Acts 21:21 the same word is used when the elders of the church in Jerusalem are warning Paul that some believe he had been teaching people to forsake or rebel against the law of Moses. We can understand that apostasy is in relation to the rebellion against a specific teacher or teaching. When Paul uses the word here in II Thessalonians he seems to have a specific future moment in mind where there is going to be an upheaval and many will become apostate against the fundamental teachings of Jesus. Notice that he attaches a definite article “The rebellion”. The reason this is important to note is because he is referencing something more severe than a causal falling away of false professions. He alluding to an apostacy that is more than a slow drift away from Christ. The word holds with it the idea of an intentional and massive rebellion that is motivated by Satan and very closely linked to the reveling of the man of lawlessness.

Pause for a point: False signs/teaching has enormous impact upon our relationship to God. This connection of falsehood and rebellion is a constant theme throughout history.

Example: The very first rebellion humanity suffers the consequences of false signals.

Example: People of Israel came out of Egypt into wilderness. Falsehood lead a rebellion that ended up 40 yrs later a generation dying before permitted to go into promise land.

Example: Falsehood and lies surrounded the trial of Jesus which was ultimately an apostacy against God, that God was using to accomplish His purposes.

Example: We see false teaching impacting the church all throughout history. Right here in Thessalonica there were some trying to push lies upon the church. ll throughout the growth of the church there have been those with some warped ideas about the coming return of Jesus. More recently you may have heard of 88 reasons the rapture will occur in 1988. Also, various cults that have formed and contain similar theme of trying to declare the return of Jesus.

Transition: False words have drastic implications. We would do well not to swallow everything we hear and to test everything with God’s written Word and hold fast to what is good.

Reminder: Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ we are told that first there will be a rebellion or an apostacy. What is this rebellion? Notice: Paul doesn't offer much detail here because he is simply reminding the Thessalonian church of things that he had already taught them.

However, we can gain a better understanding of apostasy when we allow Scripture to interpret Scriptures. So… let me reference and read a few other passages. Luke 8:13, Matthew 24:10-13, I Timothy 4:1-2

Luke 8:13 ESV

And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.

Matthew 24:10–13 ESV

And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

1 Timothy 4:1–2 ESV

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,

These verses help to give us a better understanding of what this future apostacy will look like. Point is this: the mystery of lawlessness is already at work (2:7) And that lawlessness will increase more and more as the day of Christ approaches. This increase is a form or prelude to the intense rebellion that Paul is referring to here will be a particular apostasy where many will depart from the faith and follow after the teachings of demons.

Transition: This leads us to our next question.

How is this apostate rebellion a part of God’s plan? Read II Thess 2:10-12 What does this mean? In accordance with their true nature and desire for deception, God sends a delusion upon these rebellious ones so they will believe what is false and as a result be condemned. True justice will be shown upon true rebellion.

How does this happen, or why is this the case? Departure from the sound doctrine of the faith reveals a false profession of faith. Much like what Jesus describes in Matthew 7:21-23

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Do we see this kind of apostacy today? Illustrate with II Timothy 4:1-4

Transition: Point: When we observe this rebellion occuring we know that Jesus has not yet returned, but will be soon. Keep in mind that the intention of this truth is not to manipulate devotion but rather to magnify the glory of our eternal God and Father!

Encouragement: If your faith is in Christ alone today, if you believe and love the truth... then you have a very different destiny. Not of deception and delusion but rather deliverance. Notice the contrast offered in verse 13-14.

How can I walk worthy while waiting for Jesus?

2:15 Stand firm in truth of the gospel. One practical way Hillcrest is seeking to be faithful in the midst of a time of falling away is making available a reminder of foundational basic Biblical doctrine. Our GAP opportunity is an attempt to stand firm and established in the truth!