Order of Events – Part 2

In yesterday’s blog we began a discussion about God, that He is a God of order.  Today I’d like to discuss an important part of Scripture that deals with the order of events concerning the end times. 

No one would doubt that the world we live in is filled with turmoil, strife and war due to the sinfulness of man.  Nations fight against nations, there is civil war, and people fight with each other.  If you are a Christian reading this, not only do you see turmoil in the world, but you may be experiencing turmoil in your own life.  Perhaps you are not allowed to make a public confession of your faith in your workplace or school.  Or perhaps you are frustrated by all the injustice you see and yet you can’t even mention the Bible or God, for fear you will be you labelled a religious fanatic, fined, fired or worse.  If you grew up in the 60s, 70s or 80s, you can remember a time when the word “politically correct” didn’t even exist.  You had much more freedom to express your religious beliefs and things were more straight-forward than they are today.  Because some of our religious freedoms are threatened, and more and more “politically correct” propaganda is pushed our way, we can’t help but wonder what this world is coming to.  And if you add the earthquakes, tsunamis, wars, civil unrest, and Hollywood’s often perverted version of normal life, not to mention the prophetic warnings that have been uttered, I believe and I know many others would agree, that we are indeed in the last days. 

Yet still, we need more clear definition of what the Bible says about it. Similar to today, during Paul’s time, the Thessalonians thought they were indeed in the last days because they were undergoing such intense persecution.  So in 2 Thess. 2, we have an invaluable account of Paul’s assurance to them that they were not “in the Day of the Lord,” or the Great Tribulation period as described in Revelation, just preceding Christ’s Second return.  This is an extremely important passage of Scripture that every believing Christian needs to read and understand: 

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2Th 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

2Th 2:14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Th 2:15  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

2Th 2:16  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

2Th 2:17  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.  

So what is Paul saying here?  Paul is saying that there are three distinct things that must happen before the Second Coming of Christ (and not the rapture which Paul distinguishes as a separate event preceding the second coming in I Thess. 4:13-18).  They are: 

1.     There is a falling away of people who say they are Christian, but really are not; also called the apostasy (verse 3).

2.     The anti-Christ is revealed, referred to as the son of perdition (verse 3).

3.     The Holy Spirit no longer acts as a restrainer of evil, but is taken away (hence the Rapture of the Church – the Holy Spirit indwells every true believer and is taken away with the Rapture of the Church).  See verse 6 & 7.   

But again, it is very important to notice the order of events.  Notice verse 7 and 8 below in the NIV version:

2Th 2:7  For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.

2Th 2:8  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

The Holy Spirit will be taken away (i.e. – the Rapture of the Church) and then the lawless one will be revealed (the anti-Christ) (vs. 8), and following that the Second Coming of Christ.  

Note: it is generally agreed that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit since He is the only One that can hold back the anti-Christ and all his evil workings, until it is time for him to be revealed to the world.  No man or government has the power to do this!  Even now, evil is restrained because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the position of the “praying” Church.  And if things seem really bad now, imagine what it will be like when the Church is taken away!! 

But in giving this message, Paul is not only enlightening the Thessalonians on the order of events preceding Christ’s return, He is also encouraging them that with this knowledge, to be comforted.  Today, perhaps some people don’t even want to discuss the end times or last days because it makes them feel uncomfortable and that their safe and ordered world is about to be upset.  When we are upset or ill-at-ease or worried, it is often only pacified when we start to come to terms with it.  Once we find an answer, we regain a sense of order, and yes, we start to feel at peace.  This is the same message Paul is trying to convey to the Thessalonians.  Let’s go back to the passage of Scripture:

 2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2Th 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

2Th 2:14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Th 2:15  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

Look at verse 15, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught.  There are all kinds of doctrines out there, not necessarily based on a thorough study of the Word of God.  Some of these doctrines are not sound, meaning they haven’t been thoroughly tested or understood by comparing them to other passages of Scripture.  And it is also wise to talk to a trusted theologian, like your pastor, who likely reads and researches important Biblical passages all the time.  He or she may be able to give you further literature that is Biblically based. (But of course we must always discern any source against the truth of God’s Word).   

And there is something else that Paul is saying right after verse 15, namely to remember how God acts towards us.   

2Th 2:16  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

2Th 2:17  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.  

Just because there is turmoil in the world around us, doesn’t mean that God has suddenly changed towards us and now it’s time to be afraid.  God has loved us and given us everlasting consolation.  This is hardly the picture of the wrath of God poured out on a wicked and evil world endangering His people (the Church) during the tribulation period spoken of in the Book of Revelation!     

There was still work to be done for the Thessalonians and there is still work for us to do!  But, how can we go about doing good work if we are too exhausted from the worry and fear about our future?  Like the Thessalonians, we are to be filled with hope and encouragement.  Our job remains the same (and this discussion will take another separate discussion) – to go out into the world to bring the lost to Christ (the good word and the work that Paul refers to in verse 17).  

Thanks for reading and may God Bless You & fill you with His love and comfort.