2 Thess 2, Footprints of the Messiah’s Coming Judgment.

                                                  Wednesday August 9, 2023 

2Th 2:1-4

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 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 [is present]. 3 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, 4 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.

Eschatological Order

Church – Rapture – Interim – Tribulation – Second Coming – Millennial Reign – Final Judgment (GWTJ).

[click for “Preparation of Israel and Wrath of God]

The apostasy of the Tribulation is the rebellion against God both politically and religiously that occurs all over the world.

This Tribulation is a seven year period.

The Lord tells us in Mat 24 that the great tribulation (some think this to mean the second half) is such a time that the world has never seen nor will see again.

Jesus, in Mat 24 tells us that if the days were not shortened (7 years) no flesh would be saved.

Strong evidence points to the fact that the church will not experience this time, but at some point, imminently, she will be caught up or raptured from the earth before the start of the Tribulation period.

The things of the future Tribulation have been forming throughout this age, but they have been restrained by God.

2Th 2:5-7

Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 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.

When one looks back through the pages of secular history, he finds a continuous and unbroken record of rebellion against God.

2Pe 3:3-10

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

These mockers in the last days will mock the second coming of Christ. In our experience, those who mock distain the whole future plan of God that involve change (Rapture, Tribulation, second coming).

This is the idea that things are always going to remain the way they are.

“The earth was formed out of water and by water,” is most likely a reference to Gen 1:1-2. The HS moved over the waters and from that which was formless and void, God began the seven days of creation. The point: God interfered with the world and changed it.

And then He changed it again in vs. 6 with the flood.

Peter’s point: God interfered before; He is going to interfere again.

Those who think things will always be the way they are have forgotten or ignored creation and the flood. God will interfere again.

For God, time is somewhat elastic. The events themselves are concrete. God is not bound by time.

To God, time is elastic.

Everything is going and will go exactly to His plan.

The day of the Lord will come like a thief. We already saw this very wording in 1Th 5:2-3, where the day is like darkness, while we are sons of light.

Isa 34:4

And all the host of heaven will wear away,

And the sky will be rolled up like a scroll;

All their hosts will also wither away

As a leaf withers from the vine,

Or as one withers from the fig tree.

During the Tribulation, many of the judgments are fire judgments, as seen in the Book of Revelation. Contrary to the claims of the mockers, the earth is not eternal, nor will it change by slow evolution, but by God’s rapid interference.

How does the future judgment of God’s wrath apply to us?

2Pe 3:11-18

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

1Jo 2:15-17

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Make sure your soul and heart is an environment that looks just as the coming kingdom of God.