The Strand Study Bible

Written From Corinth During Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

II THESSALONIANS 1:9 - 2:9

2015

9 Whoshall bepunishedwith 2 everlasting destruction 1 from the presence of the LORD , and from the glory of his power; P 10 When 1 HE shall come to be 3 glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. P 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: 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. II Thessalonians 2 Paul comforts the Thessalonians concerning CHRIST’S return Date Written - c. AD 52 1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the 4 coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST , and by 5 our gathering together unto him, P 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by 6 spirit, nor by 7 word, nor by letter as from us, as that the 4 DAY OF CHRIST is at hand. Two events that precede the Rapture: * A falling away (a defection from God; apostasy) * The Antichrist (man of sin) will reveal himself to the world as a “peacemaker” before the beginning of Daniel’s Seventieth Week begins (See - Dan 9:27)

3 8 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that 4 DAY shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that 9 man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; P P The Antichrist (man of sin) will reveal himself to the world as “God” during the middle of Daniel’s Seventieth Week (See - Dan 9:27 & Rev 13:4-6) 4 10 Who opposeth and 11 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. P 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of 12 iniquity doth already work: only 13 HE who now 14 letteth will let, 4 until HE be taken out of the way. P The promise of the Antichrist’s destruction (Fulfilled - Rev 19:20) 8 And then shall that 10 Wicked be revealed, 15 whom the LORD shall consume with the spirit of 16 HIS mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of 1 HIS coming: PP P

1. Fulfilled - Rev 19:11-21 (Christ’s Second Coming) 2. Mt 25:46 & Mk 9:43,45,47 & Heb 6:2 & II Pet 2:17 & Jude 11-13 & Rev 20:10 3. Mt 25:31 4. Fulfilled - Rev 4:1 (Rapture) 5. I Thess 4:14-17 6. or, “ spirit of some false prophecy” 7. or, “ word of some false teaching” 8. Deut 11:16 & Mt 24:4 & Eph 5:6 9. Fulfilled - Rev 6:1-2 & 13:1-4 (Antichrist as Peacemaker) 10. Fulfilled - Rev 13:5-6 (Antichrist as God) 11. Rev 13:5 12. or, “lawlessness” 13. or, “Holy Spirit” 14. or, “restrains will restrain” 15. Fulfilled - Rev 19:20 (See - Dan 7:11,26 & 8:25 & 11:45 & Rev 17:8,11) 16. Isa 11:4 & Rev 1:16 & 2:12,16 & 19:15 17. Rev 13:2,4 (Antichrist’s Destruction)

9 Even 9 him, whose coming is 17 after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, P 1:9 This word ( destruction ) is the Greek word οOHθUοQ ( olethpon ) and means “ to ruin .” Hell is a place where people will experience devastation ( everlasting ruin - Psa 37:9 ), not obliteration ( Mt 10:28 and Phil 3:19 ). 2:1 “... our gathering together unto him ” is a reference to the Rapture (I Thess 4:14-17). J. Vernon McGee in Thru The Bible (I Cor. - Rev.) notes: “Our gathering together unto him” is the Rapture of the church. The first aspect of Christ’s coming is in view in this verse. There is no judgment at this time. 1 2:2 a An anonymous letter ( nor by letter as from us ) had been written to the Thessalonians stating that the “ DAY OF CHRIST ” had already taken place (Lk 21:9), and that they were in the midst of the Seven-Year Tribulation Period. They were not. 2:2 b There are two schools of though concerning verse two. One school of thought believes the phrase “ DAY OF CHRIST ” should be read “day of the Lord” (in reference to the Second Coming). J. Vernon McGee in Thru The Bible (I Cor. - Rev.) notes: “For that day shall not come.” Which day? The Day of the Lord–not the Rapture. 1 The second school of thought believes the phrase “ DAY OF CHRIST ” is correct and thus refers to the Rapture (I Cor 1:8 & 5:5, II Cor 1:14, Phil 1:6,10 & 2:16 and II Thess 2:2). In each case the “ DAY OF CHRIST ” refers to the Rapture of the Church ( Rev 4:1 ). 2:3 “ except” the following two events take place, “that DAY ” (the Rapture of the Church) cannot occur: 1. A falling away (global apostasy; a defection from God) This word ( falling away ) is the Greek word DSοστDσLD ( apostasia ) and means “ a defection from God and His Word ; a revolt .” In papyri documents this word was used politically of “rebels.” Dr. John F. and John E. Walvoord in Armageddon Oil and the Middle East Crisis note:

Until our present generation, Western civilization was quite content with its scientific progress and its rational and evolutionary explanation of the world. Today, however, things are different. The secure and rational world of the past is already beginning to collapse. On a scale never thought possible in a modern world, astrology, psychic phenomena, witchcraft, and the occult are permeating our culture. This is the same world that formally denied the reality and importance of anything science could not measure and control. A new, mysterious world of superstition,