Page 1 of 13 The Book of 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 Part 1 Closer than they Appear Ever wonder why those right hand mirrors on your car say Objects are Closer than they Appear? The reason, is that these mirrors are specially constructed with Convex glass that allows the person looking through it, to have a much wider angle of vision. This chapter of the Book of 2 Thessalonians is like one of those mirrors By the end of this study, by looking through the specially constructed mirror of The Word of God, you will have a much wider angle on your life and the rest of the World. As long as we use the mirror of the Word of God the way that Jesus 1/2 brother James encourages us to do: James 1:23-24 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. This study in the Book of 2 Thessalonians, is undoubtedly one of the most important Studies in the Bible that you will ever hear in your life. But, it will only achieve it s true effect, if after you leave here this morning, you have taken this from your head, 18 inches to your heart, and live like you believe these things. Erwin Lutzer once wrote: Many Christians long for the Rapture, not because of their intense love for the Lord, but because it symbolizes an escape from the distress of our age Paul wrote to the Church at Thessalonica, because teachers had come in after he had taught them about the Rapture, and Jesus second coming, and taught them something completely different. This different Doctrine, led them to believe that the Day of the Lord had already come. Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians to explain The Rapture 1
Page 2 of 13 Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians to explain The Second coming of Jesus and The Day of the Lord. A correct understanding of the Rapture and Return of Jesus will determine how you live your life in the present PERILOUS days that we live in 2 Thessalonians 2 2:1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, In the book of 1 Thessalonians, chapter four, Paul wrote to the believers there about The Rapture of the Church. How, we who are alive and remain when Jesus comes for us, Shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and shall forever be with the Lord. Paul is writing 2 Thessalonians, concerning the physical coming again of our Jesus and Our gathering together with Him. 2:1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2:2 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. There was such terrible trials and persecution against the church in Thessalonica, that many of the believers there began to wonder if they were in the tribulation, period. So Paul is saying, I don t want you to be worried about this. In other words, when you go through your trials, don t begin to question the goodness of the Lord towards you, He does still love you! The term in verse 2 By Spirit, means that it is possible that there were those who were acting as if they were under the anointing of the Holy Sprit, teaching by what they may have said was A prophetic Word that they said was from the Lord, saying, We are in the Great Tribulation. This is why it is so important to not just take the word of any teacher or minister who claims to have a Word from the Lord, measure everything that is said by whether or not it lines up with what the Word of God has already said. It is also possible that there were those that were coming and saying, I heard Paul say that this is the Great Tribulation, the Day of the Lord has come. So he said I don t want you to be troubled in your sprit and all, as though the Day of the Lord had already come or is here now. So the first thing that Paul tells them is This is not the beginning of the Day of the Lord. There are some that are teaching today that we are living today in the Day of the Lord, that the Tribulation has already began. 2
Page 3 of 13 Matthew 24:21 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be During the Beginning of the Liberation of Iraq, there was to be what they described as Shock and Awe When asked when Shock and Awe would begin, the military leaders said: When it begins you will know it, because it will be like nothing you have ever seen before. This is what Jesus said about the Tribulation Period, when it begins no one will have to say Do you thin this is the Tribulation? In other words, These are difficult days, but not the days the Bible describes as The Tribulation. When that begins, it will be unmistakable. 2/3rds of the people that live on the earth, some 5 Billion people will die. The Tribulation begins with a 7 year peace treaty between Israel and Many Nations, then 3 1/2 years into this peace plan, The wrath of God will be poured out against the world that has rejected Jesus and is worshipping the beast. Daniel 9:27 27 Then he (antichrist) shall confirm a covenant with many for one week (7 Years); The Tribulation will begin with the revealing of the antichrist, the son of perdition. Then Jesus comes again with His church to establish the glorious Kingdom of God upon the earth for 1,000 years 2 Thessalonians 2:3 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, Some have interpreted that this verse in 2 Thessalonians indicates that the Antichrist will come first before the Rapture of the Church. They use this text to try and prove that the Rapture does not happen first before the Tribulation begins. The context of all of these first 4 verses are The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together with Him Let no one deceive you for that day will not come unless 1. A falling away happens 2. The man of sin is revealed 3
Page 4 of 13 This has been a very troubling verse for me because many men that I look up to have made their commentary concerning this verse that the Falling Away can also be translated Departure. In other words, they believe that this verse is speaking of the Rapture because Falling away can also be translated Departure 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the DEPARTURE comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, In my own personal study of this verse, I did not get this result. The Greek word for Fall Away as used here in verse 3 is Apostasia, which is only found 2 times in the New Testament and in both cases, means To Forsake the truth, or A defection from the truth, or To fall away from the truth. Acts 21:21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 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, It does not mean to Depart in the context of Departure at the Rapture or to be removed at the Rapture. Other Critics of the Pre Tribulation Rapture claim that Verse 3 is the verse that proves that the Rapture comes after the Tribulation period. They claim this because the verse clearly says: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 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 (The Rapture) will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition In other Words, The coming of Jesus will not come before the falling away and the antichrist comes first. If interpreted this way, this means that the Rapture must happen after the antichrist comes. 4
Page 5 of 13 I also so not believe this is what these verses are saying 1. The key to understanding these verses is in verse 2: Paul is writing this letter to clarify the fact that as though the day of Christ had come. This term Day of the Lord is a term that is discussed 27 times in the Old Testament and 4 times the New Testament, as the Time beginning with the 7 year Tribulation period. The term The day of Christ, is only a New Testament Term, listed 3 times. The Rapture is never labeled as The Day of the Lord, or The Day of Christ. It is clear then that Paul having already taught the Thessalonian church in 1 Thessalonians the doctrine of the Rapture, here in 2 Thessalonians, Paul explains The Second Coming of Jesus, which is a part of the Day of the Lord, which is a different event from the Rapture. Are you totally confused? Present Day Israel in Land Peace plan Needed Rapture 1 Billion Believers Vanish! Intro. of antichrist From European Union Nations The Man of Sin First 3 1/2 Years Peace Plan Rev 6:1-2 Day of the Lord Abomination of Desolation Antichrist enters Temple Commands World to Worship him as god Last 3 1/2 Years Rev 6:3 Through Rev 18 2/3rds Earths People Die The Return of Jesus At The Mount of Olives Enters Eastern Gate Beginning of 1,000 Year Reign of Jesus Believers Reign W/Jesus White Throne Unsaved Judged All in Lake of Fire What I am saying, is that these verse here in 2 Thessalonians that say that the antichrist will come before the day of the Lord, is talking about antichrist coming before the second coming of Jesus at the end of the Tribulation period. It is not saying that antichrist will come before the Rapture of the Church. That Day, the day of the Lord, and the Time of the Wrath of the Lamb that is another name for the tribulation period. It will not come until first there is a great time of Falling Away from Jesus, A departure from the true faith in what Jesus has done and the Word of God. It is then that the man of sin, antichrist, is revealed. The Thessalonians were concerned that if they were already in the Tribulation Period, because they were being persecuted so severly. Because of these questions, Paul explains to them 5
Page 6 of 13 2 Thessalonians 2 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, So, before the Day of the Lord comes, 1. There s going to be A falling away. (Jesus said: Will I even find faith 2. There will be a revealing of the Son of Perdition, The man of sin. John calls him The antichrist.. There are more than 30 different titles in the Scripture for this one that is described here in 12 Thessalonians 2, John s title of antichrist seems to have stuck more that the rest. The man of sin, the son of perdition, will be revealed at the beginning of the Tribulation period. In The Book of Revelation, Chapter 5, John sees The Lamb coming and taking the scroll out of the right hand of Him who is sitting upon the throne. This of course is Jesus, As He begins to break open each of the 7 seals on this scroll, with the breaking of the first seal, comes the white horse with its rider, conquering over the earth. Revelation 5 1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals? 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Revelation 6 1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, Come and see. 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer 6
Page 7 of 13 The white horse with the rider as the antichrist. In Revelation 19, we see Jesus riding out of heaven on a white horse back to earth. Antichrist is the counterfeit of Jesus, so he appears also on a white horse of peace, bringing a Bow but no arrow, a Bow like the Rainbow of Genesis, that had God s promise of peace, but antichrist s peace is short lived. After just 3 1/2 years, he commands the whole world to worship him as god. Daniel 9:26 Then he (antichrist) shall confirm a covenant with many for one week (7 years); But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate. He will come in peace, making peace between Israel, the Palestinians, and the world. He will permit Israel to rebuild their temple on the original temple site. We know that this is true because this verse here in Daniel 9 says that he will Bring an end to sacrifice and offering He couldn t stop the sacrifices if there were no Temple. Then he will commit The abomination of Desolation that Daniel speaks of here, and Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24. Matthew 24:15-16 15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains Daniel says that the antichrist will actually bring in an time of great prosperity. You can imagine the prosperity that will ensue immediately following the removal of the church from the earth. As people scramble after the rapture to possess those things that were owned by perhaps 1 Billion believers That have disappeared from the earth and left everything behind. People will be frantically going in and looting our houses, taking whatever they can get. There will be a time of great prosperity. All this will change at the mid way point of the 7 year Tribulation, as the demonic forces are let loose and the powers of darkness take full control over the earth. This is triggered by antichrist commanding the world to worship him as god. So Paul says, Let no man deceive you by any means for that day will not come unless there is a falling away first. The word translated, falling away, is the Greek word, Apostasia. 1 Timothy 4:1 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, 7
Page 8 of 13 Expressly : Gr. Rhetos (Hray-toce) Only place this word appears. Distinct, Out-Spoken The reason that people will depart from their faith in Jesus: 2 Timothy 3 1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Jesus Said of His return to earth: Luke 18:8 8 when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth? Much of The church, today, is in the state of apostasy. All you have to do is read what is going on in some of the major denominations. And you realize that the church is in a state of apostasy, departing from the faith. A classic example is the Jesus Seminar, where these supposed scholars meet and they discuss the New Testament, trying to determine which of the statements were really made by Jesus and which ones were made up by the Apostles. Liberal Theologians today that do not believe that Jesus was born of a Virgin, do not believe that Jesus actually claimed to be God. The statistics are that somewhere between 50 and 60 percent of pastors in the denominational churches do not believe that the Bible is entirely the Word of God People today that fill churches and do not themselves know what the Word of God says, because their Pastors are not teaching them what the Word of God says. People who claim to know Jesus, but have ceased from going to any Bible teaching church. People who claim to know Jesus, but live a lifestyle that is no different from the rest of the world. Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus said: 21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 23 And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! Jesus will base His judgment as to whether or not we really belonged to Him, by the lifestyle we live. As soon as the church departs, the man of sin, the antichrist, son of perdition, will be revealed. The title, son of perdition, was only given to 2 people, antichrist, and Judas Iscariot. (John 17:12). 8
Page 9 of 13 Speaking here in 2 Thessalonians, of The antichrist, The son of perdition. He is described as opposing God and exalting himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he, as God, sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 2 Thessalonians 2 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. When the antichrist takes over the present European Community, he will make a covenant with the nation of Israel. As I previously told you, he will grant them the privilege of rebuilding their temple on the temple mount. Many have believed that the Dome of the Rock Would have to be destroyed. But I don t believe that it will be in the area where the Dome of the Rock mosque is sitting in Israel Dr. Asher Kaufmann, who has made quite an extensive study of the Temple Mount, has come to the conclusion that Solomon s temple and the second temple actually stood north of the present dome of the rock, about 322 feet. What the Temple Mount Looked Like The Present Site w/temple Overlay Where Temple would be East Gate Location of Dome of the Rock Where New Temple Would Be Built 9
Page 10 of 13 North New Temple will be built Here separate the holy place from the profane. If you will come north from the Dome of the Rock mosque, three hundred and twenty-two feet, you will find actually a little area of flat bedrock, which is called the Dome of the Spirit. It has a little building over it, an open type building, just pillars and a roof. It was also called the Dome of the Tablets. Dr. Kaufmann believes that the name, Dome of the Tablets, is because this is where the Tablets, the Ark of the Covenant stood, in Solomon s Temple. It is interesting that when in the Book of Revelation, chapter eleven, John sees the new temple that will be built. He is given a ruler and he is told to measure the new temple (Revelation 11:1-2). The Lord said, Don t measure the outer court. It s been given to the Gentiles. Where the Dome of the Rock and the al Aqsa Mosque stand, would be in the outer court, which the Lord told John, not to measure, because it was given to the Gentiles. Ezekiel gives us quite an interesting description, giving you the measurements of the new temple. And as Ezekiel gives to you the measurements of the new temple, he describes a wall that is built around it. And he said (Ezekiel 42:20), this wall was to Ezekiel 42:20 So the area was 875 feet on each side with a wall all around it to separate the holy places from the common. There are probably some twenty acres of ground north of the Dome of the Rock Mosque. This gives plenty of room for the Jews to rebuild their temple and to have the area of worship, the southern half of the temple mount given to the Moslems, that they might continue their worship there. The northern half of the Temple mount, as you can see, is given to the Jews, for them to worship there. So, the open area just to the North of the Dome of the Rock, is an ideal place to build the new temple. It is also directly across from the Eastern Gate, which at present is sealed up, and can only be opened and entered through by the coming of Jesu. Ezekiel 44:1-3 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looks toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be 10
Page 11 of 13 opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince; the prince! Because Jesus will come again touching down on the Mount of Olives directly across from the Mount of Olives, He will then enter the New Temple through the East Gate, Moslem leader Saladin had the East gate sealed in 1187 A.D. The eastern gate remains shut and is awaiting the coming Prince of Peace! Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. Close up of Eastern Gate, Sealed up Eastern Gate slightly farther away The Temple as seen from The Mount of Olives Today the Moslems will not give up the Temple Mount. Should the Jews, by force, try to take it. It would immediately start a Holy war. The Jews are wanting to rebuild their temple. 11
Page 12 of 13 There are several groups today in Israel that have dedicated themselves to the rebuilding of the temple. They are planning to rebuild the temple, at all costs They have said, that they might have to by force, go and take back the temple mount. They are not really interested in just having a part of it. They want all of it. 2 Thessalonians 2 2:3 the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 2:4 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. But the man of sin will make a covenant with the nation of Israel, whereby they will be granted the right to rebuild their temple. It also will be a signal to the Jews, that this man is their messiah. For the Jews today are looking for a man who will lead them in the rebuilding of the temple. This man will have the power of the European Community behind him. He will powerful, because he will be given the powers of darkness. Satan gives to him his throne, which is the earth. He gives to him great power and great authority. And the world will say, Who is able to make war with the beast? Revelation 13:4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? He will have the forces of the worlds armies. He will speak with authority and people will respect his authority When he establishes this peace plan with Israel, and the Jews are able to rebuild the temple, they will say This is the Messiah. This is the one we are looking for. If you ask the rabbis in Israel today how they will recognize the Messiah? They will tell you, He will lead us in the rebuilding of our temple. John 5:43 Jesus Said I have come in My Father s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. That is, the antichrist, the beast, the son of perdition. And they will receive him and acclaim him as their messiah. Daniel said that in the middle of the seven year period, that he will come to the temple. He will profane the temple. He will set up an abomination, which will cause the desolation or the Great Tribulation period. Jesus, when He was talking to His disciples about the signs of His return (Matthew 24:15), His coming again to establish the Kingdom of God. 12
Page 13 of 13 Jesus said, when you see the abomination of desolation, that was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place. Daniel speaks about this abomination of desolation (Daniel 11:31; 12:11), which will be the man of sin coming into the rebuilt temple, after three and one half years, intruding into the Holy of Holies, and declaring the he is God. so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. As Paul tells us here, that he, as God, sits in the temple of God, declaring that he, himself is God, demanding to be worshipped as God. That is the final straw. That is the final event that will trigger the wrath and the judgment of God. 13