2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-6 - BE THOU NOT ALL SHOOK UP

2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-6

BE THOU NOT ALL SHOOK UP

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Notice that Paul does not plead with them on his on authority, but on that of Jesus Christ and His certain return.  In his previous letter, Paul had told the believers at Thessalonica about the coming of the Lord who would bring the dead in Christ with him and those still alive would join them in the clouds.  In light of those facts, he shares the following.

2 Thessalonians 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.

Paul is telling the Thessalonians to not let false teachers and their teachings get them in an uproar. There was information that was falsely accredited to Paul and his followers saying that the Day of the Lord had already come. Paul writes to the Thessalonians saying, “Don’t you believe it!”

2 Thessalonians 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; 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.

http://prophecysigns.com/revelation-13/

One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound (this is the exact same Greek word that is used to describe of our Lord’s “fatal wound” in Rev 5:6), but the fatal wound had been healed. (Antichrist's mortal wound is healed and he will be restored back to life) The whole world (no nation, including the United States, will be exempt from the influence and authority of Antichrist) was astonished and followed the beast. (The whole world will be amazed at Antichrist's supernatural ability to cheat death. We are not told when this wound occurs, but it would seem that it occurs during the first half of Daniel’s 70th Week. This event secures the base of Antichrist’s power and provides a justification for the Abomination of Desolation, when Antichrist proclaims himself God in the rebuilt Temple.)

The Day of the Lord signifies a day of judgment in scripture.  Christ will not return in final judgement until a great time of falling away, of people believing the Antichrist is God.  Whether the events in 1 Thessalonians 4 indicate a pre-tribulation “rapture” or the saints all coming with Jesus in the clouds to set up His kingdom on earth is not clear.  It definitely establishes that Jesus will come down; and believers, both dead and alive, will meet Him in the clouds.  It may be to return to Heaven with Him temporarily or it could be to accompany Him to earth to triumphantly take over and reign. The current passage seems to indicate this “catching up” to the clouds happens sometime after the Antichrist sets himself up as God in the restored temple at mid-tribulation.

2 Thessalonians 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Paul had taught about these events while he was with the Thessalonians. He wrote to review and reinforce the truth he had already shared with them. This letter was to remind them and encourage them that they, nor those who had already passed away, had missed the event.

1 Thessalonians 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

Father God ordained at what moment in history Jesus would be born, crucified, and resurrected.  In the same way, Father God has a specific day and time for each of what we call the “end time events.” However, Jesus said that even He does not know the day or hour, but only the Father. The certain thing here is that Jesus WILL return.

Ponder This: Susan and I neither one profess to be experts in eschatology (the study of the final events). However, we both agree that the main point is Jesus WILL return. The question is, when the time for judgment comes, will you be with Jesus forever in a home He lovingly prepared for you as His child, His very own precious jewel, or will you be separated from Him forever in a place of eternal torment? Those who believe in, place their trust in, surrender their lives to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are eternally secure.  Whether we are taken out of this world in a pre-tribulation “rapture” or Christians are present during the tribulation matters very little because those who know Jesus will have the strength and peace that relationship provides.