2 Thessalonians 2 — The Gathering Together to Christ
Introduction: Paul is very much aware that waiting for the return of Christ while in the midst of severe persecution can be very difficult, but confidence in the Lord’s promises should sustain our hope for our future with Christ. Christians should have no concern that the day of Christ has come about in some secret manner since Paul has taught that the event will be unpredictable as to when it will come, but also unmistakable when it happens. Therefore believers should continue in good works as they wait patiently for the Lord’s return.
NOTE: Scripture passages are from the World English Bible.
A — Concerning the Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ
2 Thessalonians 2 “1 Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to him, we ask you 2 not to be quickly shaken in your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as from us, saying that the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. 5 Don’t you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things?”
Comments: Paul now turns his attention to the core of the concern that motivated his second letter to the Thessalonians. He does not want them to be troubled by their own thoughts and rising doubts about the timing of the coming of the Lord — somehow the word had started spreading among them that the day of Christ had already arrived. This would be especially distressing to those who remained in the same day-to-day struggles of life if they believed somehow they had missed the gathering together with Christ at his coming. Paul puts into writing things he had told them while he was with them. The departure or falling away will come first, then the man of sin will be revealed — one who will exalt himself to take the place of all that is called God, sitting as God in the temple of God (Philippians 1:10–11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15–5:3; Colossians 3:4; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 1:7–9; Hebrews 9:28; Romans 8:16–18).
B — There Is One Who Restrains until He Is Taken Out of the Way
2 Thessalonians 2 “6 Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; 9 even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; 12 that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Comments: Paul said that the Thessalonians knew what was restraining the appearance of the lawless one, so he must have taught about this while he was at Thessalonica. When this servant of Satan is revealed he apparently will have only a permitted season to operate after having been previously restrained. The hidden secrets of lawlessness are already in operation, but the full impact will not be in effect until the one who restrains is taken out of the way. After that the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth and destroy by his clear and obvious appearing. His coming is according to the working of Satan who will enable him to create false signs and lying wonders, deceiving those who are being lost because they didn’t receive the love of the truth. Paul says the Lord will judge those who did not receive the love of the truth, allowing them to receive even more deception — consistent with the words of Jesus himself (John 8:42–45; 1 John 3:8; 2 Chronicles 36:15–16; Luke 13:34).
C — Chosen and Called for Glory in Jesus Christ
2 Thessalonians 2 “13 But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth; 14 to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter. 16 Now 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 you in every good work and word.”
Comments: God chose the Thessalonians, and we can be assured that we who have faith in Christ were also chosen from the beginning. The Lord has provided salvation by setting us apart from the world by giving us the Holy Spirit and by bringing us to believe in the truth. This is not that we obtained our own glory, but for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:29–31; 1 Peter 1:1–5). Because of the things that Paul has covered to this point, he now encourages the Christians at Thessalonica to stand firm in their faith and remember his teaching. Paul wants them to know that it will be the Lord Jesus Christ himself who establishes them in every good work and word (Romans 5:2; Titus 3:7; 1 Peter 1:13–16; Titus 2:13–14; Hebrews 10:23–25).
Reflections in Prayer
Thank you Lord for the words written by Paul through inspiration of the Holy Spirit so I can confidently share in the comfort the Thessalonians received from his letter. In this day of such rapid and widespread distribution of human philosophies and false teachings, I need a solid source to stabilize my thoughts and my faith. I believe that I can fully trust that your return will not happen without the gathering together of all believers from the distant past and up to the time of your appearing. This guarantees that my inheritance with you is absolutely secure. I do not need to know every detail of how and when the key events will be brought to pass. It is enough for me to know that your coming will be unpredictable as to the time, but also unmistakable for believers when it happens. I thank you Lord that by your grace, I will not be among those who will be drawn in by even greater deception than is already prevalent in the world. May I stand firm and hold to the sound doctrine of all of the scripture, and encourage other Christians to do the same. Now I ask Lord Jesus that, as you have loved me and have given me eternal comfort and good hope through grace, that you would continue to comfort my heart and establish me in every good work and word. Amen.
Published 22 May 2012