Home thoughts from abroad.wordpress.com

 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12: God rules.

Here are some important points to consider:

• Remember what you know (5): Remember what you believe. It isn’t always at the forefront of your mind is it? If the Thessalonians had simply remembered what they knew, they would not have come to believe that the Second Coming of Jesus had already taken place. You could get the impression from (5) that Paul had repeated some of these truths that were now forgotten. Remember what you know. It is important! Believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts.
• There is a timing in God’s purposes (6,7): Although the spirit of lawlessness is abroad in the world, ‘’the man of lawlessness’’ will not get up to go about his work until God’s alarm clock sounds. ‘’You’ll also remember that I told you the Anarchist is being held back until just the right time. That doesn’t mean that the spirit of anarchy is not now at work. It is, secretly and underground. But the time will come when the Anarchist will no longer be held back, but will be let loose.’’ The Message.
• Jesus is greater than all evil (8): The most important thing to remember about the antichrist is that he is ‘’the man doomed to destruction’’ (3); the one ‘’the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming.’ (8). Yes, he’s going to get into the ring, and will put up a ferocious fight for a time. For a little while it will look like he’s going to wind up heavy weight champion of the world. But we’ve been allowed to read the back pages in advance of their publication! We know he’s going down!! The outcome of the bout is not in question. ‘’But don’t worry. The Master Jesus will be right on his heels and blow him away. The Master appears and – puff! – the Anarchist is out of there.’’ The Message. (Notice that, just like Jesus, the antichrist will have both a ‘’revelation’’ (8; see 3 and 6 also) and a ‘’coming’’ (9). This is the counterfeit ‘Messiah’ who will want the entire world to follow him. ‘Antichrist’ literally means ‘in place of Christ’. This man will want to substitute himself for Jesus.
• All that glitters is not gold (9,10a): Miracles are not necessarily a sign that people are genuine. You have to check out what they say; observe how they live. Test it all against the Bible. ’Beware ‘’prophets’’ who contradict what God has already said in His Word (v.15). If you stand on the Word, you will not fall for the devil’s lies.’’ Warren W. Wiersbe.
• Note the order: Verse 10 comes before verse 11! The rejection of the truth comes first! (See Romans 1:18ff.) Again, we see God underlining the choices people have already made. ‘’The Anarchist’s coming is all Satan’s work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake, evil sleight of hand that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them. And since they’re so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it – gives them what they want. Since they refuse to trust truth, they’re banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions.’’ The Message.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17: Stay focussed

When I was a teenager, there was a lot of speculation in the air about the Second Coming. There’s nothing new about that of course, and it’s interesting in the light of the fact that when the Bible speaks about Jesus’ return it is with a view to our sanctification, and not for speculation. Be that as it may, it was not uncommon back then to hear some Christians say, ‘’Keep your eyes on…’’ and then mention a leading American diplomat as a possible candidate for the role of antichrist. Again, there’s nothing particularly novel about such talk, and repeatedly Christian writers and preachers have got it wrong. While it is important to know that ‘’the man of lawlesslessness’’ will appear at the appointed time, it is much more important that we should keep our eyes on Jesus.

It is more important to think about the coming again of Christ, than it is to concentrate on the coming of antichrist. The second coming of Jesus is mentioned first in this chapter, and it should fill our minds and hearts more than any thoughts about the appearance of His arch-enemy. The simple thought that we are going to be ‘’gathered to him’’ (1; see 1 Thessalonians 4:17) is one of the most precious truths about the Second Advent. We will be ‘’with the Lord for ever.’’ What a comfort and encouragement that is. We are going to be drawn to Jesus like iron filings to a powerful magnet.

Nevertheless, it is important for us to know that the Christ will not come until the antichrist has first appeared. It seems that when Paul was in Thessalonica, he gave a lot of teaching about the return of Jesus. We know that this theme figures in his first letter. It seems that since he had left, the Thessalonian Christians had received messages, purporting to have come from Paul and his team, saying that Jesus had already returned. So he wrote his second letter predominantly to correct this false understanding (3).

If any of us should be alive when ‘’the man of lawlessness is revealed’’ it will be important to remember that he is ‘’the man doomed to destruction’’. For a little while he will be allowed to run riot on the world stage, and his reign will be bitter for all religious belief. But he will be no match for Jesus (8) and his day will be relatively and mercifully short.

I came across a comment in ‘The New Bible Commentary’’ pertaining to his rule: ‘’The principle of rebellion against God is already operating…but it is not openly enthroned in the world as it will be for the brief duration of antichrist’s domination…’’

Here are some other Biblical references to look at that probably refer to the same person: Daniel 7:25; 8:9ff; 11:36; Mark 13:14; Revelation 13. Although ‘’many antichrists have come’’ it remains true that ‘’the antichrist is coming.’’ (1 John 2:18).

Prayer: Lord keep me from wild speculation, as exciting as it may be. Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus.

 2 Thessalonians 1: 11, 12(please click here for todays passage)

Paul practiced what he preached! (11a; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). It wasn’t a case of just, ‘Do as I say’, but ‘Do as I do.’ We can’t be continually saying prayers, but we can live in a spirit of prayer. It’s been said that you can take the teaching of Jesus on prayer, as you find it in the gospels, and essentially summarise it in one word – perseverance. Stick with it. Never stop praying for the church; don’t stop asking for each other’s spiritual growth. There is a link between what is requested and what happens. Do you believe this?

‘’Understand that God hears every prayer you pray in Jesus’ name – and that he will either do exactly what you ask, or something even better, which he probably would not have done had you not asked (Mt.7:7-11).’ Steve Fuller.

What did Paul pray here?

• That God would count them worthy of His calling (11c). He already saw this happening in their persistence and progress through persecution (5), but Paul was not one to rest on his laurels. We have seen elsewhere in the Thessalonian correspondence that where Paul saw a good fire going he was quick to put on another log or two (1 Thessalonians 4: 1, 2; 9, 10).
• That God would enable them to do everything that was in their hearts to do (11b). He wasn’t asking that the Lord would enable them to do every single thing that entered their heads, but everything that God put into their hearts to perform.
• In all of this, his heart’s desire was to see Jesus ‘’glorified’’ in His church (12a).
• But he also looked to the ultimate goal of believers being ‘’glorified’’ in Christ (12b). When someone becomes a Christian, a process is set in motion that will lead finally to their glorification – to their being made perfectly in the image of Jesus and shining with His glory. This final outcome is so certain that Paul could write about it as if it had already happened, even when it hadn’t. But, for him, God’s sovereign purposes were so certain and sure it was as good as done. God finishes what he starts.

Prayer: Lord remind me to pray for the spiritual growth of my brothers and sisters, and help me to believe, as Paul clearly did, that praying will make a difference.