2 Thessalonians 2
2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2 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.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,
14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
There is preparation and moving towards the coming of Christ that was even in motion and expectation so very long ago. While this may prompt skepticism as if where we’re at is just another false alarm, there is an attitude of the heart established back then that must be maintained for any who hope to join Him. At the end, when all of the wickedness is consumed with the breath of His mouth and destroyed by His brightness, the passage of what feels like a long time now will seem to be brief. What is withholding the revealing of the evil one who will set himself up as God is a restraint that is the presence of the Holy One, possibly in His body. It is then our part to not necessarily get caught up with various teachings that lead to the delusion of a lie allowing for unrighteousness, but to have a passionate love of the truth in Christ that positions us in salvation against any perilous falling away. We will fulfill our role in the presence of the Lord as hearts are kept in the hope and assurance of His love.
The more movement towards the following of darkness, the greater our fixation can be on the only hope of safety in Him.
Called me by the gospel, to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that I can bring glory and honor to his name!!!