Of Alarm, Anti-Christ and BIG HOPE

2 Thes. 2:1-17 [show] Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, [2]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. [3]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, [4]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. [5]Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? [6]And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. [7]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. [8]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. [9]The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, [10]and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. [11]Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, [12]in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. [13]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. [14]To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. [15]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. [16]Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, [17]comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (ESV)

• context: something stirring up the Thessalonians, received some sort of letter that makes them think Paul was talking about something contradictory (but he never did)
  • Paul writes new letter saying this is how he writes
• wrong preliminary assumptions: 1) Paul is laying down list of events for end times 2) [missed] 3) conversing with book of Revelations

Correct Preliminary Assumptions:

1. Paul is… addressing the unsettled/upset
2. adding info to what is known
3. doesn’t know any sign of when Day of Lord starts
4. Paul ISN’T referring to Revelations: Thes letters were 50AD, Revelation was 90AD

• what’s the alarm? Thessalonians thought Day of Lord came already!

Bighope 1:

• CHILL! (v3)
  • 2 things you’d notice if you were in the Day of the Lord (cannot/no way/unless…)
    • as mentioned by Jesus: THE Defection (Matt 24:10-13 [show] [10]And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. [11]And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. [12]And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. [13]But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)
      )
      • related to revolt against God; something that will b every obvious when it happens
    • as mentioned in Daniel: THE man of lawlessness (Dan 7:25 [show] [25]He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
      ; Dan 8:25 [show] [25]By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken--but by no human hand. (ESV)
      ; Dan 11:36-37 [show] [36]"And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. [37]He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. (ESV)
      )

Bighope 2:

• when this thing lets go it will be bad, but right now there’s a holdback (v6,7)
  • signs and wonders NOT the mark of a Christian
    • miracles and healing…man of lawlessness may have a lot of healing going on in order to deceive and drag you in
  • Rom 1:25 [show] [25]because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (ESV)
    ; the lie that God isn’t God, and to have faith in anything but God

Bighope 3:

• overthrow is certain (v8)
  • Jesus will overcome all

Bighope 4:

• good hope (v13-17) “don’t you remember everything that has happened?…”
  • stand firm!
  • purpose of knowing Jesus is coming is to be encouraged and prepare self&others; not to live in fear
  • based on grace of God

Are you living in the Truth of Jesus, or living the lie of the world?