One Christ, One Hope

2 Thessalonians 2:1–17 ESV

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

Sermon: One Christ, One Hope

           Regardless if you’re from the Corsica congregation or the Harrison congregation, if it seems like I’ve been preaching a lot in recent months about the end times, I agree with you. It started as I was wrapping up our study of the Belgic Confession at the end of August with a focus on “The Last Judgment,” what should we expect with and after Jesus’ return, and we looked at 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5. Since that service, I finished my morning series through the Gospel of Mark, and chapter 13 was all about what to be watching for and expecting as we wait for that day. Now, on Sunday mornings, I’m preaching a series related to grief, and in the last month, we’ve considered what happens to our bodies when we die and what happens to us. Where do we go after death until the resurrection of the dead?

I don’t know exactly what it is, but I do believe that God has a reason for all these messages on this topic. I don’t feel like I know a great amount about the end times, about the coming again of Christ, and what exactly eternity holds. I don’t claim to be someone who can go through the book of Revelation and interpret exactly what it’s talking about. If anything, I want to be cautious and not say too much that would go beyond the Bible. I’m telling you this, because in my current planning, which means it could change, this afternoon is likely the last message for some time that intentionally looks at the end of the world as we know it.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, when we read the Bible to learn what will happen before Christ comes, what should be expected, we don’t find a fairytale ending. Certainly, for believers, there are wonderful things to look forward to in eternity, but for the end of this age, things appear to get rather dark and grim. We read about destruction, wars, natural disasters, betrayal, rebellion, plagues, pain, and death. We’re not given all the details: dates and years, what part of the world will these things happen in, will it be the same everywhere, but it’ll be clear when the time comes.

One of the most intriguing pieces that different Christian traditions and Christians themselves come to different understandings and different measures of importance on regards an “antichrist.” Our first point this afternoon is what does Scripture tell us about this one who will rise up against Christ and his church before Jesus’ return? Perhaps Pastor Gary has hit on this in his series through the letters of John, but those letters are the only place where we find the Greek word “antichristos” It’s used 5 times. 3 of them are in 1 John 2 verses 18 and 22, where John writes, “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour…Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.” John makes a similar statement in 1 John 4:3, and then in 2 John 7. There John declares that any person who denies that Jesus came in the flesh is “the deceiver and the antichrist.” 

In the days of the early church, with the apostles present, perhaps they knew exactly what this all entailed, but we’re left wondering is the antichrist a general term for anyone who is adamantly against Jesus, or is it someone specific? Is the devil manifesting himself on earth or sending someone to try and lead people astray and against the Lord God? 

In Mark 13, as some of you might remember, Jesus drew from the prophet Daniel as he shared about “the abomination that causes desolation,” and he warned that “false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible.”  Based on those readings, it does seem kind of general, but then we get to 2 Thessalonians 2, where we encounter this “man of lawlessness, the man doomed to destruction.” Those of you who grew up with the New American Standard Bible or the old or new King James Versions, maybe you’re more familiar with the terms “the man of sin, the son of perdition” or “the son of destruction.” 

Paul teaches his readers here in the first 4 verses of this chapter that they should not be confused; they should not be alarmed if someone has falsely told them that they missed the Day of the Lord; “it’s already past.” No, this man must come first. What is he going to do? “He will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” 

This does make it seem like it’s more likely to be an individual. That there will be a specific person who rises up in fame, and make it his aim to destroy anything and everything that belongs to God. The book of Revelation talks about 2 beasts, 1 coming out of the sea, 1 out of the earth, who have a similar goal. These beasts are deceivers. They have power to do signs. And the number of the beast is 666.

If you’ve read the Left Behind series or seen the movies, the name Nicolae Carpathia might be coming to mind. The authors, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, created a character named Nicolae Carpathia as the Antichrist. He was this attractive and charismatic world leader who drew many people in despite his evil intentions. He was basically sent by the devil and was adamantly against Christ and his believers.

I can’t say for certain whether there will be one particular antichrist or a couple, or as some of these passages talk about, there will be numbers of them. However, the Bible does seem to describe spiritual warfare ramping up as the end gets closer and closer. The decision of the battle between good and evil, between our holy God and the wicked devil, is already known to be for the Lord. But as Christ’s return gets nearer, the devil will be mounting his final stands. He will be doing everything in his power to lead people away from God, a way that leads to nothing but their own destruction. With that being the case, it does seem likely that someone or some ones could rise up, seeking to wrongly take worship from God, as is described about this man of lawlessness.      

That seems a bit grim and depressing to think about someone trying to lead believers away.  But again, it’s wonderful news that the battle for eternity is won. Verse 8 in our passage, “Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.” So often, we focus on the breath of God that gives life in creation, and yet all it takes to put down his opponents is the taking of that breath or God’s word of defeat and condemnation being spoken. Revelation chapters 19 and 20 give us vivid images of the beast and the false prophet being “thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur,” the place where some time later, “the devil, who deceived [God’s people], was thrown. In that place, “they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” 

I said earlier that the subject of the antichrist is an intriguing topic, and I say that because there’s some mystery. But it’s clear, these are terrible times, and if there is a man of lawlessness, an antichrist, then he must not to be taken lightly. The work of deception, which the devil is the father of, is something believers need strong spiritual defense for. We need Christ’s power, if we are to face such enemies successfully. Praise be to God that he promises to be with his people.

That’s our first point this afternoon, what can we understand about this man of lawlessness, this potential antichrist, and where things are headed? Because he will be defeated, Paul moves on to what many people are really wondering about the future. We talk about this blessed eternal life and we talk about this fiery lake; we talk about heaven and hell. But what difference, what distinction is there between those who go to one rather than the other? The simple answer for us is that some believe in God, but many do not. Paul adds some substance to this.

Because it comes first in our passage, we look at the question which is our second point, why aren’t some people saved? We look at verses 10 through 12, where Paul writes, “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”

When Jesus was on trial, having been turned over by the Jews to Pontius Pilate so that he could offer a judgment that would sentence Jesus to death, Pilate asked him about being “the king of the Jews.” Eventually in John 18 verses 37 and 38, Jesus says, “‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked.” There’s no further answer by Jesus recorded to that question, but it would seem that Pilate doesn’t understand him, and either Jesus is crazy or there’s something way bigger going on here.

The truth that Scripture speaks about, that needs to be accepted, is that we are sinners, who deserve death. Meanwhile, there is an always holy and perfect God who created us, created us to be here on earth and to rule over and to flourish, to enjoy, and to worship him. Our sin and our sins are heavy, they need to be repented of. We need to turn to God, which involves turning away from chasing after that which feels good or right or not a big deal. We need forgiveness, which God alone can provide; we need to be healed of our sick, deathly nature. God offers this freely because Jesus, perfect and holy, died on the cross obediently and sacrificially.

If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time and you know that you believe that truth, you have received God’s grace. It can be difficult, even near impossible, though, for us to understand why people would refuse that—and yet they have. They’ve bought into lies—false religions, pursuing selfish desires and pleasures, not seeing value to honoring God. Some people might believe there is some God out there, but what does he really matter? Bad things and good things seem to happen randomly, so I’ll do what I want. Hopefully, I’ve lived well enough to get to the good place, or else I guess I’ll have fun in hell because of who’s all headed there. 

Notice how different the life that chooses God’s truth is from the life that doesn’t. Even when a person lives a seemingly nice, charitable, decent, and quiet life, if they haven’t sought the Lord—there’s no hope for them. There’s no hope because the purpose we were created for must be found in God. It’s one of the hardest doctrines to hold, but Paul seems to be quite clear that people who are going to hell have made that choice for themselves. God punishes the choice, but he gives them a “powerful delusion,” an acceptance that how they are living right now, without him and without eternal hope, isn’t that big of a deal. It may seem cold, and yet we are to trust the justice of God.

 A choice has been made for those who will not be saved from punishment and condemnation. We move now to our final point: what about those who are saved? What happens to them, and we pray that includes us? We look to the final verses, verse 13 and on, “Brothers loved by God…from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ…Stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed onto you…May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 

I’ve said what the truth is. It’s clear that those who are not saved make a choice to not find the truth. Yet why do some people believe the truth of the gospel at all? Are they inclined themselves? Are they smarter? Are they genetically predisposed to knowing better? No, Paul makes clear that through and through it is the gracious work of God that leads a believer to salvation. That any of us and anyone else in our churches and anyone throughout the world can know the Lord for salvation, it all begins with God’s choosing of us. 

We can look a number of places for evidence of this. We might look to Ephesians 1 where we hear the language, “In love God predestined us to be adopted,” and “In him we were also chosen.” It’s all about God’s work first. How does he do this? We look to Colossians 1 verses 21 through 23. Paul writes, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.” That is the mix of our belief, a gift from God, and the sanctifying work that the Holy Spirit continues to do in our lives.

           That any of us have saving faith is a gift and a mercy of God. It’s not that we would have just come to this conclusion on our own. It doesn’t matter how faithful and pious and godly we might think ourselves to be. We, who are saved, needed God to give us the truth and a love for the truth. What a humbling reality that is! Our salvation is truly because of one Christ, and our hope is found alone in the work of our Triune God. 

Brothers and sisters, I pray that when it comes to trying to understand end times’ matters, when it comes to wrestling with how some can be saved and others not, that in the mysteries of the faith, you and I would cling to the abundant gifts of God.  Let us take any burdens, any challenges of not understanding or even questioning God right to him. Do not be afraid to ask him strengthen our faith and make these realities, these truths clearer, if he wills. And finally, because are grateful in ways that are never enough, let us endlessly and wholeheartedly pursue our holy God, seeking to do his will and carry his message of hope for all who will turn to him. Amen.