Overview – 2 Thessalonians
Overview – 2 Thessalonians
By Dennis Huebshman
This was the 2nd letter to Thessalonica written by Paul and was probably penned shortly after the first one – 51 or 52 AD. Paul gives them further instructions on the Coming of the Lord, this time physically to Earth.
Chapter 1 – He gives his usual salutation as he does in all his epistles – “Grace and Peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”. In some other epistles, he adds “Mercy” after Peace.
He continues his encouragement against persecution and advised God will repay those who are doing the affliction and to honor those being abused. He will do it in His time though, not ours.
He talks about “away from the presence of the Lord in eternal destruction”. This is presented in Revelation 20 by John a number of years after this letter referencing The Great White Throne Judgment.
Chapter 2 – Paul talks about the Day of the Lord. Once the treaty is signed, the Tribulation period begins and the Lawless One is brought forth. (corrected from the original). The Lord’s concept of time is different than what man traditionally calls a day, week, month, etc.
Paul advised that time period could not come until the “rebellion” and the “man of lawlessness” is revealed first. The rebellion is the Tribulation and the man spoken of is the final Anti-Christ. This is the one referred to in Daniel and by Jesus as the “Abomination of Desolation” in the final temple.
He talks about an “influence” that is presently holding this action back and this “restrainer” is believed to be the Holy Spirit. The “taking away” of the restrainer takes place when Romans 11:25 – The Fullness of the Gentiles – occurs. This restrainer is still in power today, and at the Rapture will allow the lawlessness one to come forth after ALL believers are removed in the Twinkling of an Eye (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
Paul tells that the lawless one will work all kinds of signs and miracles until the Lord Jesus destroys him with one breath. All this is described in Daniel and Revelation.
In the meantime, all who are left after the Rapture will be sent a strong deluding influence (v. 11-12) by God so unbelievers left behind will believe what is false. They will take delight in evil but will be condemned into the Lake of Fire. We are seeing signs of this today, but with the start of the tribulation the delusion will be even stronger.
Believers are encouraged that they will not face this as God has promised that ALL who accept Jesus will be saved. All who possess the glory of Jesus Christ are told to stand firm and have the good hope of escaping the wrath to come.
Chapter 3 – Paul is requesting prayers that the Lord’s message will spread and be honored and that they would be delivered from all perverse and evil people.
Paul also advises the brothers and sisters to keep away from any unbeliever that refuses to accept the Word. He also advised against those who would not labor saying if they don’t work, they don’t eat.
Paul finished this epistle with a very compelling gesture of signing it in his own hand. He wanted them to know just how much importance he placed on it.
It should be noted, Paul covered both the Rapture and Physical 2nd. Coming of Jesus to earth in these two letters. He has given hope to the believers that we in no way would go through the final 7 years (or Day of the Lord) as described in other books of God’s letter to us (Bible) especially Revelation.
There are many wrath verses and in the New Testament Rapture verses. The Old Testament prophecies are about the Messiah’s actual physical coming to earth for the Millennial reign followed by the coming of the New Heavens and New Earth. After the 1000 year and the Great White Throne Judgment, all those who were saved from the Beginning to the Very End will be with Jesus forever.
As always, I encourage all who have not yet accepted Jesus to do so now. To refuse him or to put it off until later may just be the time He comes, and you will go into the wrath. That outcome would be far from pleasant. God will not accept any excuses for delaying the decision. At the perfect time, He sent His Son to this earth to prepare the way for us. Don’t add anything to the GIFT but accept it as it is. This is a decision you will not regret.
Once again, MARANATHA – Come Lord Jesus