(Part 2 of 2)
ANSWER: “IN 2nd
THESSALONIANS HE WRITES ABOUT THE RAPTURE, ANTICHRIST
AND SEPARATION FROM UNRULY BROTHERS
2nd
THESSALONIANS BACKGROUND
Paul
writes soon after 1 Thessalonians.
He
corrects
any misunderstandings they might
have as to how close the rapture is.
He
says there are many intermediate events to
happen
before the
rapture.
He
writes about their consolations under
sufferings.
He
also urges them and directs them in their
Christian duties.
Chapter 1
Paul
says hello (v1-2)
has
high esteem for them (v3-4)
comforts
them in their afflictions and persecutions (v4-10)
and
tells them he prays to God for them (v11-12)
Chapter 2
Paul
supresses the rumours that the rapture is near (v1-2)
tells
them of the general apostasy that will lead up to the
rapture (v3)
and
the revealing of the antichrist straight after the rapture
with
details of his character, rise, fall, reign and the ruin of his
subjects (v4-12)
and
comforts them against the terrors of the apostasy and
urges
them to stand fast in the faith (v13-15)
concludes
with a prayer (v16-17)
Chapter 3
Paul
wants
them to pray for him (v1-2)
he
urges them
to trust in God, follow Paul’s instructions,
be
patient
and withdraw from disorderly brothers (v3-5)
commands
and
directions to correct their errors (v6-15)
closes
with
prayers (v16-18)
Chapter 1
1:1
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the
Thessalonians
in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
1:2
Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
1:3
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is
meet,
because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every
one of
you all toward each other aboundeth;
1:4 So
that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience
and faith
in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
1:5
Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that
ye may
be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
1:6
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense
tribulation to
them that trouble you;
1:7 And
to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed
from heaven with his mighty angels,
1:8 In
flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey
not the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1:9 Who
shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord,
and from the glory of his power;
1:10
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be
admired in
all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in
that
day.
1:11
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count
you
worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his
goodness, and
the work of faith with power:
1:12
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you,
and ye
in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Chapter 2
Paul
supresses the rumours that the rapture is near (v1-2)
2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
and by our gathering together unto him,
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.
tells them
of the general apostasy that will lead up to the rapture (v3)
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;
and the
revealing of the antichrist straight after the rapture
with details
of his character, rise, fall, reign and the ruin of his subjects (v4-12)
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.
2:5
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these
things?
2:6 And
now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
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.
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:
2:9
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all
power and
signs and lying wonders,
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.
2:11
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that
they should
believe a lie:
2:12
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but
had
pleasure in unrighteousness.
and comforts
them against the terrors of the apostasy and
urges them
to stand fast in the faith (v13-15)
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:
2:14
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the
glory of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which
ye have
been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
concludes
with a prayer (v16-17)
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,
2:17
Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and
work.
Chapter 3
Paul wants them to pray for
him (v1-2)
3:1
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may
have free
course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
3:2 And
that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men
have not
faith.
he urges them to trust in
God, follow
Paul’s instructions,
be patient and withdraw
from
disorderly brothers (v3-5)
3:3 But
the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
3:4 And
we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will
do the
things which we command you.
3:5 And
the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient
waiting
for Christ.
commands and directions to
correct
their errors (v6-15)
3:6 Now
we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye
withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not
after
the tradition which he received of us.
3:7 For
yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves
disorderly among you;
3:8
Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with
labour
and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of
you:
3:9 Not
because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you
to follow
us.
3:10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if
any would
not work, neither should he eat.
3:11
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly,
working
not at all, but are busybodies.
3:12
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus
Christ,
that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
3:13
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
3:14
And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man,
and
have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
3:15
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
closes
with
prayers (v16-18)
3:16
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all
means. The
Lord be with you all.
3:17
The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in
every
epistle: so I write.
3:18
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
**** ****
Harley Hitchcock
www.
AustralianBibleMinistries
.com
www.AustralianBibleMinistries.com