At first reading, verses six and seven are mysterious. " And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way."
What is restraining the lawless one (the Anti-Christ)? What did Paul mean when he said the mystery of the lawlessness is already at work? Was the Anti-Christ alive in Paul's day and if that were true, what would be the implication for today?
The spirit if the Anti-Christ is Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9) and yes Satan was alive during Paul's lifetime and at work in the hearts of men. But, the individual whom will be called the Anti-Christ was not yet born. If left unchecked Satan would have inspired an Anti-Christ millenniums ago. Who has kept that event from taking place before the church was ready?
The Holy Spirit. Paul's words convey that God is in control of when the Anti-Christ will appear and God will make sure all his children are ready (John 17:11-12, 15, 17; Romans 8:36-39, 14:4, 8-10; Jude 1:14; Colossians 1:21-23; Revelation 12:11).
Monday, August 12, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
Mountain Ranges
I had a Bible school professor who taught that prophecy is like looking at a mountain range. You can see the peaks of the mountains but the numerous valleys are hidden from view. It was a fitting metaphor. With in one prophecy there may be an immediate fulfillment, a fulfillment yet to come, and one that is many years in advance. This principle makes it difficult at time to correctly interpret what we are reading.
We encounter such a spiritual mountain range here in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. The passage talks about the Lord coming for his saints in verse one, then the Anti-Christ ruling in verse four, his destruction in verse in verse eight and God sending a delusion to the disobedient in verses eleven and twelve. Some see the gathering of his saints as one event and his coming to judge the World as another, while others believe they occur simultaneously.
With all respect to differing understandings, whether the fulfillment is near or far, the underlying message is the might and judgement of God against those who do not love the truth and his great mercy toward those who love his appearing (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 2 Timothy 4:8).
We encounter such a spiritual mountain range here in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. The passage talks about the Lord coming for his saints in verse one, then the Anti-Christ ruling in verse four, his destruction in verse in verse eight and God sending a delusion to the disobedient in verses eleven and twelve. Some see the gathering of his saints as one event and his coming to judge the World as another, while others believe they occur simultaneously.
With all respect to differing understandings, whether the fulfillment is near or far, the underlying message is the might and judgement of God against those who do not love the truth and his great mercy toward those who love his appearing (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 2 Timothy 4:8).
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Is He Coming Now?
Someone had started the rumor that Jesus had returned and taken his children with him. Some of the Thessalonians had believed the rumor and were frightened that they had missed the Lord's return. Paul writes about specific things that must happen before The Lord gathers his children to himself and that those things had not yet taken place.
Paul said, "Let, no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so- called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God" (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).
Yet scripture also tells us to be continually ready for Christ's return (Matthew 24:24). How do these two pieces of the puzzle fit together? We do not yet know who is the Anti-Christ so why should we be ready at all times. Won't there be time to get ready after we know who the Anti-Christ is?
No there won't, because, as Paul makes it clear, when the Anti-Christ is revealed he will perform signs and wonders (miracles if you will) that will deceive those who are not obeying God before the Anti-Christ appears (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10).
The time to be ready is now.
Paul said, "Let, no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so- called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God" (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).
Yet scripture also tells us to be continually ready for Christ's return (Matthew 24:24). How do these two pieces of the puzzle fit together? We do not yet know who is the Anti-Christ so why should we be ready at all times. Won't there be time to get ready after we know who the Anti-Christ is?
No there won't, because, as Paul makes it clear, when the Anti-Christ is revealed he will perform signs and wonders (miracles if you will) that will deceive those who are not obeying God before the Anti-Christ appears (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10).
The time to be ready is now.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
An Opportunity
Trouble has a tendency to bring out the worst in us. We are grumpiest when we are sick or do not feel good. It is not hard to imagine how frightened the Thessalonians felt having people determined to harm them. Our natural tendency is to pray that the trouble is relieved, but Paul prays that The Lord may be glorified in the Thessalonians and the Thessalonians will be glorified in The Lord Jesus according the the Grace of our God and The Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:12).
I wonder how our attitude would change if we viewed trouble as an opportunity for God to be glorified.
I wonder how our attitude would change if we viewed trouble as an opportunity for God to be glorified.
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