2 Thessalonians – Lesson 2
2THESS 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
When Jesus comes and stops in the clouds, He is not revealed. He does not come all the way to the Earth. He just comes and sounds the trumpet and takes us out of here before the plagues and wormwood and all the rest of that.
When He comes and stops in the clouds it is NOT in flaming fire taking vengeance.
2THESS 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2THESS 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2THESS 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Paul continues this topic in Chapter 2. The chapter break did not change the subject being talked about.
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
The day of Christ is a term that is referring to when Jesus comes all the way to the Earth and sets up His 1,000 reign.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
There are 3 major comings of Jesus in the Bible that are foretold. The first was when He came to go to the cross to pay for our sins. The second is when He comes almost all the way back and stops in the clouds to get His own before the tribulation.
And the 3rd is when Jesus comes all the way back and sets foot on that mountain and splits it in two. And then judges the nations and sets up his Millennial reign.
2THESS 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
And in between when Jesus comes in the clouds and when He comes back all the way in power and judgment many things must happen.
And the Bible has a lot to say about what happens during the time between those 2 comings.
And Paul is telling us in verse 3 and 4 that before Jesus comes all the way back in judgment that first the man of sin must be revealed and that he will sit in the temple of God.
He will exalt himself above all that is called God and he will be worshipped as if he was God.
But does not Jesus teach that no man knows when He is coming?
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Yes Jesus does teach that no man knows when and that Jesus is coming suddenly and without warning like the thief in the night does.
And Jesus also teaches what Paul is teaching and that is you will not see Him coming until the son of perdition sets himself up as God in the temple.
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
That is 3 ½ years
Jesus confirms Daniel. And that is 3 ½ years after the abomination of desolation is set up in the temple He is coming back. So when that happens, everyone will know when He is coming back. The Bible even gives the exact number of days.
There is no contradiction here. The no man knows the hour is talking about when Jesus comes in the clouds and does not come all the way back.
And Daniel and Matthew ch 24 and 2nd Thessalonians are all talking about when Jesus comes all the way back. They are two totally separate events.
I think it would be helpful if before we continue in 2 Thess. 2 that we remind ourselves of some of the things that will happen during those years that we call the tribulation.
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
When Jesus comes in the clouds all believers leave this Earth. But there are still Bibles left and websites and salvation messages on YouTube and X and Chick Tracts and so on.
And some people start getting saved.
And the lost people on the Earth start killing people who get saved. By the time we get to Rev chapter 6 there are a lot of people who have been killed for their faith in Heaven.
And in verse 11 we learn that they are waiting in Heaven for more of their fellow servants on the Earth who will be killed for their faith.
So this is an ongoing thing. Some people get saved and they witness and are killed, some of those they witnessed to get saved and it is rinse and repeat.
And the destruction keeps stepping up and getting worse and worse as the tribulation progresses.
Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Lots of destruction. But notice the lost people know exactly what is going on. They said hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.
They know this is the wrath of Jesus. They believe it. They do not believe some delusion. They know what is going on, they just will not repent.
Look at chapter 7.
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
People are getting saved and witnessing and then killed and they are getting wiped out. It seems they are getting killed at faster rate than people are getting saved. So God moves and seals 144,000 witnesses and gives them protection from getting killed for a time.
And so God’s Word of salvation is going out.
The wicked people know that Jesus is sitting on the throne and they know He is God and that His wrath is being poured out.
And they are hearing the Gospel. And the witnesses are sealed and they cannot stop it being told. They are hearing the truth and hearing the truth and hearing it again.
And the destruction and plagues keep on coming.
Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
They see the judgment all around them, they hear how to escape it. And they will not repent.
Rev 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
And God does not stop. He does not let up trying to reach them. He now sends 2 special witnesses.
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Rev 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Rev 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
When the 2 witnesses are done, and not one second before, the beast kills them. The wicked people rejoice and make merry and send gifts to each other and will not let them be buried.
Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
More evidence on top of more evidence of God’s power and His will and His love displayed still trying to reach these wicked people. And the wicked people will have none of it.
O’ they completely understand what is going on. They believe the truth in that aspect. They just refuse to believe as in repent and turn. They refuse God’s offer of mercy and forgiveness. They reject what Jesus did for them on the cross.
We are now somewhere in the middle of the tribulation. And Satan who has had access to the throne of heaven to accuse Christians starts a war in Heaven.
Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Woe unto those on the Earth because Satan and all of his wrath and hate is now 100 percent confined to the Earth and he knows his time is short. So things on the Earth get even worse.
This is why some refer to the last part of the tribulation as the great tribulation.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
And when he does that the 144,000 witnesses are killed along with the other Christians. And since there is almost no one left to witness God will send an angel to fly over all the earth giving out the gospel.
Now Satan does his counterfeit miracles.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
42 months is 3 ½ years. This is the same 3 ½ years that Daniel and Jesus spoke of. From this time forward the exact time of Jesus return is known.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
You now have open Satan and Beast worship and in the Temple that was built for our Lord.
Talk about spitting in the face of the one trying to save you. And the destruction and plagues keep coming.
Rev 16:8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
Rev 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
And they know the score. They know what this is all about and instead of repenting they blaspheme the name of our Lord.
This goes on with the open worship of Satan and the Beast in the Temple for 3 ½ years.
So exactly right on time Jesus will come all the way to the earth and put a stop to this.
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
And now Satan is chained in the pit for 1,000 years. Jesus will rule with a rod of iron and He will set up His millennial reign and we will reign and rule with Him for 1,000 years.
Now back to 2 Thessalonians.
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Paul is talking about when Satan and Beast worship starts in the temple. He is talking about that 3 ½ year to go mark. And how that must happen before Jesus comes all the way back.
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Verse 8 is after the 3 ½ years when Jesus comes back in judgment.
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
The context the entire time in 2 Thessalonians has been entirely about when Jesus comes back at the end of the Tribulation.
There is not even the tiniest thing in all of these verses that point to Jesus coming at the rapture. It is all 100 percent about when He comes back at the end of the tribulation.
So both verse 10 and verse 11 are talking about people who are alive at the end of the tribulation. It is a huge error to take verse 10 and 11 out of context and then apply them to the people alive when the rapture happens.
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
If you move that from the time the tribulation ends to the rapture and it does not fit well.
Some will teach that anyone who hears the gospel before the rapture cannot get saved. But Rev. tells us that a lot of people keep getting saved in the tribulation.
But leave verse 10 and 11 in their context talking about people at the end of the tribulation and it fits perfectly.
Look at the end of verse 12. But had pleasure in unrighteousness. They worshipped Satan and the Beast, they murdered Christians, they blasphemed God, and on and on their list of wickedness goes.
They heard and heard the gospel and rejected it. They rejoiced when the 2 witnesses were killed.
They have seen the power of God over and over again. They knew it was Him. They heard the gospel from Christians from sealed witnesses and from 2 two witnesses and then they saw and heard and angel fly over all the earth giving out the gospel.
And they would not repent of their murders and wickedness and Satan worship.
And so when Jesus comes back to the Satan worshippers that are still alive He says.
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
God sends them strong delusion. This is God sent supernatural delusion to believe a lie.
They rejected the love of God and rejected and rejected and rejected. They rejected the truth that they might be saved. Not once but over and over and over.
And so God says that is it. They will now believe a lie and because of that never be saved.
God does not do this to someone who heard the gospel once before the rapture and force them to not get saved.
That does not fit with His nature, or His love, or mercy. That does not fit with every other example of Jesus’ heart for the lost.
It took 10 times for the children in the wilderness before God said that is it no promised land for you. And it took a lot before they pushed God too far and the Babylonians took them into captivity.
He is patient and longsuffering. But not forever suffering.
Forcing them to believe a lie so they can’t get saved DOES fit when applied to those who are worshipping Satan and the Beast at the end of the tribulation.
And this answers another question. How could these people see Jesus reign in perfect righteousness for 1,000 and then rebel when Satan is released from the pit?
The answer is they were given strong delusion to believe a lie that they will not get saved. The lie could be. Just a suggestion. Hardly even a theory. Just speculation. The lie could be that Satan could win. If that is the lie, or something like that, then that would explain why they would immediately rebel and follow Satan and march to war against Jesus as soon as Satan gets released out of the pit at the end of the 1,000 year reign.
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