Future-Proof Faith

Theme: Enduring in truth

Scriptures: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

Objectives (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School lesson book)

Know: False teachings had upset and alarmed the Thessalonian believers. Paul pointed them back to the truth and encouraged them to stand firm in the truth.

Think: Christ’s triumph over evil gives me hope and encouragement to persevere.

Do: Hold fast to the teachings of Scripture in order to stand firm and endure.

Notes and questions:

B1 The saints in Thessaloniki have been troubled by someone who has claimed that the Lord Jesus has already returned. Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7, NKJV)

B2 Outline

C1 Regarding the coming of the Lord Jesus and our gathering to Him 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8

C2 Exhortations to be steadfast and for comfort. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-17

B3 The first sentence: Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, NKJV)

C1 Paul is speaking to the Thessalonians, which can be applied to all Christians.

C2 The topic is in response to false teachers who have taught that the Day of Christ has come.

B4 The word wrath

C1 Greek word

D1 G3709 ὀργή orge

D2 Strong’s definition:

E1 (properly) desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind).

E2 (by analogy) violent passion (ire or (justifiable) abhorrence).

E3 (by implication) punishment.

C2 Verses

D1 Amalek: “Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. (1 Samuel 28:18, NKJV)For further information see 1 Samuel 15:1-3.

D2 David: O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! (Psalms 38:1, NKJV)

D2 Israel: Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for wrath came upon Israel because of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David. (1 Chronicles 27:24, NKJV). For further information see 1 Chronicles 21:1-7.

D3 This is not just wrath but a special wrath, the worst of all wraths. This is revealed in the Revelation, especially seen starting in Revelation 6.

C3 God wants to spare the Christians this special wrath.

D1 And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10, NKJV)

D2 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Thessalonians 5:9, NKJV)

D3 There are no words for Christians to prepare to live through God’s wrath. There are only words of comfort. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, KJV)

E1 Christians have hope

E2 Believers come with Jesus

E3 Resurrection of Christians who had died, not all saints from Adam for the Word states in Christ.

E4 Transformation and snatched up to be with Jesus, who is in the air, not on earth.

C4 1 Thessalonians 5:10 speaks of the Day of the Lord. The events of 1 Thessalonians 4 seem most reasonably to occur before chapter 5.

C5 Note the idea of Imminence. Imminence is something to happen soon or at any time. The Rapture can happen at any time. For the Second Coming ito be seen by all, various events have to happen before He returns. See here, here, and here for more information. Some other verses on imminence:

D1 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. (James 5:8, NASB).

D2 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:5, NKJV)

D3 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20, NKJV)

B5 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8,

C1 What is the warning in 1 Thessalonians 2:3?

D1 Falling away

E1 The Greek word is G646 apostasía (from 868 /aphístēmi, "leave, depart," which is derived from 575 /apó, "away from" and 2476 /histémi, "stand") – properly, departure (implying desertion); apostasy – literally, "a leaving, from a previous standing." HELPS™ Word-studies copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc.

E2 A departing from something.

F1 Thus a departing from Moses as in “but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. (Acts 21:21, NKJV)

F2 And most commonly translated apostasy or falling away as in Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, (2 Thessalonians 2:3, NKJV)

E3 Most believe the word in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 refers to apostasy, while others believe it refers to the rapture, a departing from here to be with Jesus. If it is apostasy, it is the worst of all apostasies, because there have been terrible apostasies even in the days of the Apostles.

E4 The typical Christian church today is Biblically illiterate, doctrinally illiterate, way-of-life illiterate, and illiterate of what truth is. No wonder there is apostasy. Survey after survey show that the nones are a growing percent of the population.

D2 What two things must happen before that day (Day of the Lord)?

C4 2 Thessalonians 2:4-5,

D1 Who is the man of sin (antichrist)?

D2 Note, about 5% of manuscripts have man of lawlessness. There have been lawlessness since Adam, so it seems the context fits man of sin better.

D3 What are the characteristics, attitudes, of this man of sin in our passage?

D4 When Paul wrote this, the temple was still standing in Jerusalem. Another temple must be built. According to the Temple Institute all is ready to build and to worship according to the laws Moses received from God. Why would the antichrist want to sit in the temple?

C5 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7,

D1 The word restrains in 2 Thessalonians 2:6 is G2722 κατέχω katechō and means hold down securely. It is translated variously as suppress, bound, keep, hold fast, etc. The idea here is to prevent, suppress, something. Many believe this that hinders is the church, which will be removed in the Rapture. Personally, I believe the Holy Spirit is the restrainer. After the rapture, God will not suppress evil. He will take His hands off the reins and let people sin. There will be no control, just evil without any hindering. Is it a punishment to not hold down sin?

D2 What is the mystery of lawlessness? This lawlessness is a mystery, that is, something not well understood. We see lawlessness every day with its frequency increasing. Mystery is the opposite of being revealed. The core, the motivations, of this lawlessness is hidden from view. The lawlessness has a facade that will fully be revealed in that day. Why would the devil and his man of sin want to cloak the intentions and goals from people?

C6 2 Thessalonians 2:8,

D1 After the conditions have been meet, the antichrist is revealed. What is the end of the antichrist, and who did it?

D2 As Christians, we get our strength from the Holy Spirit. Where does the antichrist get his strength? Why would anyone want to get their strength from that source?

B6 2 Thessalonians 2:9-17,

C1 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10,

D1 How does the antichrist convince and win over his converts?

D2 Why would these lying signs convince people?

C2 2 Thessalonians 2:10,

D1 Why is truth important?

D2 Why don’t people love truth? See 1 Corinthians 1:18, John 14:6,

C3 2 Thessalonians 2:11,

D1 Why is God the one sending the delusion (or error)? (It is a punishment for sin).

D2 What did they do to deserve this? (Hardened their heart). See Psalm 81:12 and Romans 1:24. These people choose to believe the lie. Jimmy DeYoung teaches that the lie is that the antichrist IS the Messiah. See Romans 1:25 and 1 Timothy 4:1. We can resist or not resist truth.

C4 2 Thessalonians 2:12,

D1 What are the 2, and only 2, choices every person must make?

D2 Why are these people judged?

D3 See Romans 2:8 and John 3:15-17.

C5 2 Thessalonians 2:13,

D1 Why did God choose these people? They were chosen because they met God’s conditions. God is so wise and knowledgeable that He knows.

D2 Salvation is through (literally in). What 2 things, according to this verse,? The work of the Holy Spirit (sanctification, which is here, a separation from the kingdom of satan into the Kingdom of God. It is a transfer. God also requires faith. We must believe His truth. See the contrast the two groups. Those in 2 Thessalonians 2:12 did NOT believe the truth. See 1 Peter 1:2

C6 2 Thessalonians 2:14,

D1 We hear the Gospel through what means?

D2 If we meet God conditions, what do we receive?

C7 2 Thessalonians 2:15,

D1 What do we have to hold on to?

D2 The word traditions is G3862 παράδοσις paradosis, and it means something handed down. The Lord Jesus condemned Jewish traditions as in Matthew 15:2 and Galatians 1:14. The teachings of the Apostles, however, are the teaching of Jesus as in 1 Corinthians 11:2.

C8 2 Thessalonians 2:16,

D1 What has God given us?

D2 How can we know these in our lives?

C9 2 Thessalonians 2:17,

D1 Paul prays for the people. What is the work of God in our lives?

D2 How has God done this in your life?

B6 Next week

C1 Doing my part

C2 Theme: Living with integrity

C3 Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18