Reflections on 2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 02 (Contemporary English Version)


1. When our Lord Jesus returns, we will be gathered up to meet him. So I ask you, my friends,
2. not to be easily upset or disturbed by people who claim that the Lord has already come. They may say that they heard this directly from the Holy Spirit, or from someone else, or even that they read it in one of our letters.
3. But don't be fooled! People will rebel against God. Then before the Lord returns, the wicked one who is doomed to be destroyed will appear.
4. He will brag and oppose everything that is holy or sacred. He will even sit in God's temple and claim to be God.
5. Don't you remember that I told you this while I was still with you?
6. You already know what is holding this wicked one back until it is time for him to come.
7. His mysterious power is already at work, but someone is holding him back. And the wicked one won't appear until that someone is out of the way.
8. Then he will appear, but the Lord Jesus will kill him simply by breathing on him. He will be completely destroyed by the Lord's glorious return.
9. When the wicked one appears, Satan will pretend to work all kinds of miracles, wonders, and signs.
10. Lost people will be fooled by his evil deeds. They could be saved, but they will refuse to love the truth and accept it.
11. So God will make sure that they are fooled into believing a lie.
12. All of them will be punished, because they would rather do evil than believe the truth.
13. My friends, the Lord loves you, and it is only natural for us to thank God for you. God chose you to be the first ones to be saved. His Spirit made you holy, and you put your faith in the truth.
14. God used our preaching as his way of inviting you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15. My friends, that's why you must remain faithful and follow closely what we taught you in person and by our letters.
16. God our Father loves us. He is kind and has given us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father
17. will encourage you and help you always to do and say the right thing.
    
    

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    Throughout his first letter to the Thessalonian Christians and also in this second letter, Paul has had only good to say about them. His main concern was that they continue to mature spiritually and that their teaching might be completed in what they were lacking. He was especially complementary of their faithfulness in light of persecution they were experiencing. It is this issue with which Paul is concerned in this present chapter.
    
    The Thessalonians had evidently received messages, some purporting to be from Paul, claiming that the "Day of the Lord" had come evidenced by their present persecution. The "Day of the Lord" referring to God's judgment. If there was truth to these claims, it would mean that their persecution came, not from those who rejected the gospel and were influenced by Satan, but from God Himself who was judging them. Paul had already told them in his first letter, though, that those who believed in Jesus' death and resurrection for their salvation would be caught up with Him into heaven at Christ's second coming, (1 Thess. 4:14-17) and only after this event would the Day of the Lord arrive. (1 Thess. 5:1-5) Therefore, the fact that they who were believers in Christ's death and resurrection for their salvation were still present in the world was indication that the Day of the Lord had not yet come. Thus, their persecution was not God's judgment as some would have them believe.
    
    Paul had taught the Thessalonians these things when he was with them earlier, but due to the conflicting messages it was necessary for him to remind them of his earlier teaching. In this passage Paul gives some teaching about the Day of the Lord that is not found elsewhere in scripture. He points out that the Day of the Lord will not come until after "the apostasy comes . . . and the man of lawlessness is revealed." (2:3) But the man of lawlessness is presently being restrained so that he will not be revealed before his time. (2:6) Paul says "the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way." (2:7) Paul is not explicit about the one who restrains the man of lawlessness, but many believe it is the Holy Spirit who is present in believers. Then when believers are caught up with Jesus at His return, the Holy Spirit is removed from the world and restraint is removed and the man of lawlessness is revealed.
    
    According to Paul's teaching in these two letters to the Thessalonians, those remaining in the world at the time the man of lawlessness is revealed are unbelievers. And it is due to their unbelief that they are, at that time, deceived by the man of lawlessness. For due to their unbelief, "God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe what is false." (2:11) It appears that this strong delusion comes through the ability of the man of lawlessness to perform "all kinds of false miracles, signs, and wonders." (2:9) And this ability comes, not from God, but from Satan. They are counterfeit acts of God. The unbelievers made a choice by which they are then condemned to unbelief and destruction.