Let’s take a walk through an exciting and compelling passage of scripture for a couple of days. As we look at world events, it seems that the world is in a very tight place. We long for the days of old. And yet, we are wondering with the level of lawlessness and open sin, is possible to have those ways of life again?
 
We wonder if we are nearing the end, or will things in the world get better – is the return of the Lord a long way off?
 
2 Thessalonians 2:1–2 (ESV): 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.
 
These poor people were in a state of struggle. Their lives were so intense, they thought they were left behind or that they were in the thick of the end times scenario presented in scripture.
 
That kind of mistake didn’t simply swell up from among the people, there was help. Someone had been teaching these people things that were contrary to what Paul had already taught them. Notice he even references the sources, he says it came from a spirit, spoken word or something in writing that misinformed them.
 
I think this is significant, because elsewhere in another letter, Paul warns of these misinformed intrusions.
 
2 Corinthians 11:4 (ESV): For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
 
A good minister of the Word is always going to be concerned with what people use as a guide for their life. We might all learn from this and be very clear concerning what truth is, that is, what we call truth.
 
2 Thessalonians 2:3 (ESV): 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…
 
Paul knew based on the teachings of Christ and what had been revealed to him through the Holy Spirit (which he had told the Thessalonians all about when he was last with them) exactly what the conditions of the world would be when Christ returns to earth.
 
Yet, he anticipated cataclysmic end times events at any moment. Therefore, there had to be two separate cataclysmic events that occurred at the end of things on earth. One that could occur at anytime and one that had seasons and worldwide implications preceding it.
 
Paul operates with the belief (as do other New Testament writers) that he was (we are) in the last days.
 
2 Timothy 3:1 (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
 
Paul refers to last days, as do Peter and John.
 
2 Peter 3:3 (ESV) …knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
 
1 John 2:18 (ESV): Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come.
 
Yet, based upon the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 24, which were well known at the time of Paul’s writings, the earth was no where near the cataclysmic condition that Jesus said would be. So, we know the early church and the church today is not in the position for the end of the last days.
 
Therefore, there must be separate events that the writers are referring to. One that can happen at any moment and another that requires the lining up of constellations, geopolitical schemes and other global events – all of which are described throughout scripture.
 
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Paul is helping his reader understand that there is a set of events that precedes the very end of the last days. He is saying that there is a rebellion and a revelation that will occur. There is an aspect of the church that is going to rebel and there is a revelation of a person of significance to the end of days that will be revealed too.
 
Today, let’s ask the Lord to reveal. He certainly does not want you to be in the dark regarding what He is doing. Rather, He wants you to know. He even teaches us in Matthew 24:42,44,46 to watch, be ready and keep working toward the building of the kingdom. 
 
Let’s pray as we embark on a biblical journey.
 
Father, we are so looking forward to being with You in heaven forever. We know that is what we were made for. We also have very strong ties to this world. You put us here to know and to love. So, give us wisdom and strength to see and to do the right things. We desire to be led by the Holy Spirit into Your truth. Open our hearts to Your Word. Jesus, thank You for making possible our journey to the Father.
 
Blessings,
Pastor D