2 Thessalonians 2

Last Time, We Started Paul’s 2nd Letter to the Thessalonian Church

He Mentioned How Proud He was of Their Increasing Faith and Love During Persecution

And He Tells Them that Jesus Will Repay with Affliction the Ones Who are Offlicting Them When He Returns

And They Will Experience Glory and Rest From Oppression

In Chapter 4 of His 1st Letter to Them, Paul Explained the Day of the Lord as…

A Day When Jesus Will Resurrect the Dead and Gather His People to Himself

And in Chapter 5, We Can Infer that They Were Concerned About When the Day of the Lord Would Be

But Now it Seems that They Believe the Day of the Lord has Already Come

That is What Paul is Going to Address in Our Text Tonight

2 Thessalonians 2:1–2 (NASB)

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that 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.

Paul Doesn’t Want Them to Be Shaken or Disturbed

Why Would They Be?

Because They Had Gotten the Idea From Somewhere that Jesus’ 2nd Coming (The Day of the Lord) Had Already Come

Paul Seems Unsure Where This Belief Came From

Whether They Heard it From a So-Called “Prophet” or From a Sermon or Messenger or From a Forged Letter Bearing Paul’s Name…

Paul Didn’t Want it to Alarm Them

Surely We Can Understand Why This Would Be Alarming to Them, Can’t We?

They Were Just Promised Relief From Affliction and Oppression When Jesus Returns

But Now Someone Has Persuaded Them that Jesus Has Already Come

If This Were True, They Would No Longer Have Any Hope of a Punishment of Their Persecutors

And They Would No Longer Have Any Hope of Everlasting Deliverance

This Idea of the Day of the Lord Already Having Occured Might Have Been Somewhat Common

2 Timothy 2:16–18 (NASB)

But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (NASB)

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, 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.

Paul Tells Them Not to Fall for This False Teaching

His Proof that the Day of the Lord Hasn’t Come Yet is that There are Some Things that Must Happen First

There Will First Be a Great Apostasy/Rebellion

A Falling Away From the Faith

The Man of Lawlessness and Son of Destruction Will Be Revealed

He Will Oppose and Exalt Himself Above God

He Will Sit in the Temple of God and Proclaim Himself to Be God

All This Must Take Place Before the Day of the Lord

Of Course, Many People Like to Come Up with Lots of Crazy Ideas Based Off This Text

But Let’s See if We Can Understand What Great Apostasy Paul is Talking About

2 Thessalonians 2:5 (NASB)

Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?

Whatever Paul was Referring to, He Had Told the Thessalonians About it When He was with Them

2 Thessalonians 2:6 (NASB)

And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.

The Thessalonians Know What is Restraining this Man of Lawlessness and Son of Destruction

He is Being Restrained So That He Will Be Revealed in the Proper Time

2 Thessalonians 2:7 (NASB)

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

Whatever Paul is Referring to, it was Currently in the Works When He was Writing This Letter

It Will All Come About Once the One Who Restrains is Taken Out of the Way

2 Thessalonians 2:8 (NASB)

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;

After the One Who Restrains is Taken Out of the Way…

The Lawless One Will Be Revealed

But Don’t Worry…

The Lord Will Bring an End to Him

2 Thessalonians 2:9 NASB95

that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,

2 Thessalonians 2:10 NASB95

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.

2 Thessalonians 2:11 NASB95

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

2 Thessalonians 2:12 NASB95

in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB95

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 2:14 NASB95

It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 NASB95

So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

2 Thessalonians 2:16 NASB95

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,

2 Thessalonians 2:17 NASB95

comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.