Sermon Tone Analysis

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2000

 

Second Coming of Christ

 

The primitive church thought more about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ than about death or about heaven.

The early Christians were looking not for a cleft in the ground called a Grave but for a cleavage in the sky called Glory.

They were not watching for the undertaker but for the uppertaker.

--/ Alexander Maclaren/ 

 

Introduction

 

In 2 Thessalonians ch 1 we saw how Paul encouraged the Thessalonians in their trials through/ praise, promises/ and/ prayer/.

In chapter 2 he corrects their misunderstanding about the day of Christ and the revelation of Antichrist.

The Thessalonians had received a letter supposedly from Paul claiming that the Day of the Lord had begun.

Paul corrected this lie with the truth.

The purpose of Bible prophecy is not for us to make a calendar, but to build character.

The blessed hope should spur us on to godly living not lead us into retirement.

Paul describes for us three major events in God's prophetic timetable.

*/They are:/*

 

I.

The Rapture Of The Church

II.

The Revelation Of Antichrist

III.The Return Of Jesus Christ

 

/Firstly/  The Rapture Of The Church

 

*2 Thessalonians 2:1* /Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, /Paul gave the Thessalonians both*/ correction /*and*/ comfort./*

/a.

Correction/

 

To calm the Thessalonians down, Paul started by assuring them that the Church would be taken out before the Day of Christ began.

Paul had given them much detail about this in his first letter.

*1 Thessalonians 4:13-18* gives many details about the rapture.

The word */coming/* parousia means */presence, advent, arrival /*or*/ coming/*.

This describes the time when Jesus Christ returns for His Church.

Paul says that we will be /gathered together/ unto Him.

The word gathered together ejpisunagwgh" means */to assemble together, to meet for worship/*.

The Lord will gather together all believers to Himself in the clouds.

*1 Thessalonians 4:16-17* refers to this:

/ /

/For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

/The rapture will gather all Christians together unto Christ.

They will never be parted after this.

/ /

/b.

Comfort/

/ /

*2 Thessalonians 2:2*/ 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./

Paul assured the Thessalonians/ /that they would be gathered unto Christ before the Day of the Lord began He then told them /not to be shaken/.

In other words, they should be steadfast in the Blessed hope.

The teaching they had previously received from Paul was correct.

The false teaching about the day of Lord had shaken their solid faith in God's Word.

The letter supposedly from Paul and the instruction of false teachers was to be rejected.

God's Word was certain.

They had no reason to be concerned about the Day of the Lord.

Illustration From A Jewish Wedding

 

In Hebrew culture certain protocols were observed at weddings.

An engagement period culminated with the wedding ceremony.

The bridegroom prepared a house for his bride during this time.

The bride knew that the wedding ceremony was approaching but not exactly when it would take place.

When the bridegrooms father was satisfied that the house was ready and everything was in order he would send the groom to her house.

The groom would then collect the bride and bring her to their new home where the wedding feast took place.

In the same way the Church is the bride of Christ.

Jesus Christ is our Heavenly Bridegroom.

He is engaged to His bride and has given her an engagement ring, the Holy Spirit.

After He returned to heaven Jesus built a place for His bride, even as He said He would.

When everything is in order the Father will send Christ to earth to collect His bride.

He will take her to heaven where we will celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Application

 

/Are you looking for Jesus' return?

Will you be caught up to Christ in the clouds at the rapture?

/The rapture could happen at any time.

/Are you ready?

Have you given your heart to the Savior?

Or will you be left behind?/

It will be too late to receive Him when He comes.

/ /

/Secondly/ The Revelation Of Antichrist

 

Paul now gives details about the revelation of Antichrist.

He presents a timetable for Antichrist and details of his reign.

God is sovereign and He will not allow Antichrist to appear until His appointed time.

/a.

His Rise To Power /

/ /

*2 Thessalonians 2:3a* /Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, /

/ /

1. Apostasy First

/ /

Paul says, /that the Day will not come unless the falling away happens first./

The words */falling away/* ajpostasia means */rebellion, abandonment, apostasy, defection from the truth, to forsake.

/*/Apostasy/ describes people who have departed from the truth.

The same word is used in *1 Timothy 4:1* /Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some *will depart* from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

/We can see apostasty everywhere today.

Many prominent Church leaders deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Others claim that there are many ways to God, /Jesus is not the only way as He claimed/.

The Holy Spirit does not inspire this sort of teaching.

This is the work of */deceiving spirits/.*

These are the/ *doctrines of demons*/*.*

/How have these errors come into the Church?/

They have come in because people lack knowledge.

Most Christians don't test what is being taught with God's word.

They don't follow God's warnings given in *1 John 4:1-2.*

/Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, / *The result is departure from the true faith!*

 

2.

Ascension Second

/ /

*2 Thessalonians 2:3b-5*/ and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?/

/ /

After the apostasy of the Christian Church, Christ will come for His people.

*Luke 18:8 b */Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” /Christ would not have said this */unless there was going to be a falling away./*