Monday, June 16 – 2 Thessalonians 2, 3

1. Who will come before the coming of the Lord? (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

2. What did Paul say regarding those who were unwilling to work? (2 Thessalonians 3:10–12)

We are reading the second letter of the apostle Paul to the church in Thessalonica. This city was in Macedonia, a province of Greece. During his second missionary journey, Paul established the church in this city. We admire the missionary drive of Paul’s team, who went as far as founding a church in Europe. It is believed that this congregation was mostly composed of Gentile Christians. Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the church was clearly “breaking out of its Jewish shell” and becoming firmly established among the Gentiles.

Paul wrote both letters to the church in Thessalonica from Corinth, another Greek city. It is believed that the second letter was sent only about three months after the first. Let us consider the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (SDABC):

“Probably the messenger who bore the first epistle returned and brought information to Paul that there was a feverish, fanatical spirit of unrest spreading among the members at Thessalonica owing to a feeling that the Lord’s advent was about to take place. This condition demanded immediate attention. Any delay would be fatal to the best interests of the church, for among these humble Christians were fainthearted ones who were in grave danger of falling a prey to the deceptions of agitators.” (SDABC, Introduction to 2 Thessalonians, Historical Setting)

The message of this second letter emphasizes the important theme of how we should await the coming of the Lord. When Paul wrote about the second coming in the first letter, the believers understood it to be imminent. Some members had become fanatical on the subject, stopped working, and began living at the expense of others in the congregation.

The apostle calls for balance and reason. Before the Lord returns, something must take place:

“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, 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.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4, NKJV)

This references the prophecy in Daniel about the Antichrist, who would usurp the place of Christ to oppose God and His people. The “falling away” refers to the introduction of false doctrines into the Christian church during the Middle Ages. The “man of sin,” the “son of perdition,” the “lawless one,” the Antichrist, opposes God and “sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” This alludes to the papacy, which in later times fulfilled this prophecy by declaring itself the Vicar of Christ and head of the church, asserting its infallibility, claiming the power to forgive sins, usurping Christ’s ministry, claiming authority to change God’s law, placing itself above His Word, and persecuting the church.

Paul also speaks of the enemy’s counterfeit of Christ’s second coming: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders…” (2 Thessalonians 2:9, NKJV). This lawless one will be destroyed by the Lord at His second coming.

All these events that Paul had previously explained to the church had to take place before the Lord’s return. The brethren were not to listen to false messengers and prophets, nor be swayed by fanaticism, sensationalism, or false teachings. Instead, they were to remain steadfast in their faith, fulfilling their duties while awaiting the Lord.

How should we await the second coming of the Lord? The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary provides an excellent summary of this letter:

“Thus the theme of the second epistle, as that of the first, is practical godliness (ch. 1:11, 12). The fainthearted must be comforted and established (ch. 2:17); the agitators must be silenced (ch. 3:12). The church must know of the deceptive work of the great adversary in bringing about the apostasy and the reign of the antichrist, and also of the final overthrow of all the power of Satan (ch. 2:3–12). With the glorious hope of the triumph of God’s cause before them, the Thessalonian Christians are urged so to live that they may be accounted worthy of the Lord’s calling (ch. 1:11, 12).” (SDABC, Introduction to 2 Thessalonians, Theme)

Jesus put it this way: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.” (Matthew 24:45–47, NKJV)

It is my prayer that God delivers us from the snares of fanaticism. May the Lord find us “so doing” when He returns.

May God grant you a very blessed day.