2010-04-11
2 Thessalonians - Chapter 2
Steve Lane

A. Review/Introduction
1 Thessalonians was written in the Spring of 50 A.D. and 2 Thessalonians in the late Summer.
Paul was thanking God, because of their growing faith, love and perseverance.
With this in mind, do everything to bring Him the maximum glory!
Urging them on to get the maximum joy, by bringing the maximum glory to Jesus Christ, both now and on that day. They get to participate in the greatest cause in all of eternity. Should we not pursue this with gusto?
The bookends of 1: 11 - 12 and 2: 16 - 17

B. Don't be Unsettled
parousia from 1 Thessalonians 2: 19 and 1 Thessalonians 4: 16 - 17
The Day of the Lord is complex, and can refer to the seven-year tribulation period, and...
We know some of the teaching Paul has already given concerning the parousia.
The Day of the Lord does not mean just the coming of Jesus to this earth following...

2 Thessalonians 2: 1 - 3
The Day of the Lord, the man of lawlessness and rebellion.
The Thessalonians were not living in the Day of the Lord, having missed the parousia.
Come: enistemi (en-IS-tay-mee) technically means the present, in contrast to the future; "You are not in the middle of the Day of the Lord. It is not here now, or you would be seeing these things."

The rebellion in verse 3 is one of the things early in the Day of the Lord.
This rebellion or apostasia is a deliberate abandonment—a world-wide fighting against. In conjunction with this will be the revealing of the man of lawlessness.

2 Thessalonians 2: 4
He will be in direct opposition to the true God, and will lead the way.
This appears to be the abomination that causes desolation spoken of in Mark 13: 14
This even takes place at the beginning of the second half of the seventieth week of Daniel's prophesy in Daniel 9: 24 - 27. All of the sixty-nine weeks have already been fulfilled, literally.

Since the coming of the Lord spoken of here happens at the end of the seven-year period, and certain things must happen first...
He will be a man who Satan is energizing to do his will in the world.

2 Thessalonians 2: 5 - 9
I told you what was holding this man back.
The coming of the Lord in verse 8 is a coming to the earth and putting an end to...

C. Conclusion
2 Thessalonians 2: 16 - 17 and the other book end of 2 Thessalonians 1: 11 - 12
They were being distracted and unsettled.
Live for the purposes of God, and fulfil that to which He is calling you.
Mark Shultz: "Time that is left"
The picture Paul is painting - are you taking action—thinking and living for that day?