envelop spinner search close plus arrow-right arrow-left facebook twitter

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2:12 Thy Kingdom Come

by fol CHURCH on September 18, 2019

In the first chapter yesterday, Paul affirmed and encouraged the young church he had planted with Silas over a year ago. Now in the first part of the second chapter Paul’s thoughts and words turn to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul refers to some false prophecy of the time that tried to teach that this day had already passed. He encourages them again by telling them that the day will not come until the rebellion occurs. The man of lawlessness referred to by Paul here is the devil. Paul is clear that before Jesus’ return the antichrist will set himself up in God’s temple.

As believers in Christ, in our day, we are His temple and should guard against this man of lawlessness being able to take the place of God in our hearts. We should remember that he is sneaky and will prowl around like a lion looking for his prey. When he finds a weakness in our faith he will pounce and try to take the place of God in our hearts and minds. We can be sure that the devil is and has, since the fall, been hard at work in the world trying to steal from Jesus all that he redeemed through His own sacrificial death. Jesus is more than up for the battle, however. Paul continues to warn that the antichrist will even perform miracles and signs and wonders in an attempt to take Christians from Christ for himself. This is why whenever we see or hear of a move of God, be it in a prophetic word, sign or wonder it should always be tested against God’s word before we can be sure it is from God. For this reason also, we should strive to know God’s word so that that testing is a second nature and an automatic reaction. Paul continues by saying that only after the devil has that moment will Jesus return and in a breath destroy Satan forever.

We should also follow Paul’s advice to the Thessalonians, that is: in the meantime we work responsibly and be joyful testing everything, continually praying, holding on to good and avoiding every kind of evil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

As our saviour taught us Lord please deliver us from all evil and give us wisdom to discern your good gifts.  Amen.

return to Through The Bible