Refining Our Understanding about the End
2 Thessalonians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewThis message will encourage us to remain obedient by reminding us about why the events in the future will transpire.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We need to know what the Bible says will happen, and we also need to know why it says it will happen.
God, in his omniscience, knows what will happen in the end, and He also knows why events will transpire in the way in which they will happen.
Paul’s purpose is to quieten the Thessalonians’ concerns by reminding them of things they know based upon what he has taught them previously.
This is a summary, and, therefore, it is not designed to break new ground.
2 Thess. 2:5.
The basics:
The rebellion (2 Thess. 2:3)
The Man of Lawless is revealed (a mirrored apocalypsis) - (2 Thess. 2:3-4).
They know what suppresses this one (2 Thess. 2:6).
The “spirit of lawlessness” is already working (2 Thess. 2:7).
“And then...” (2 Thess. 2:8).
The Rebel will be revealed.
The Lord will destroy him at his own parousia.
Two Parousias
Two Parousias
Paul has spoken of Jesus’ destructive parousia.
While he continues to describe the Rebel, he refers to his appearance now, not as revelation, a term he has already used, but as a parousia.
Consider how the two mirror one another.
2 Thess. 2:1, if need be.
Believers know the parousia of Jesus will be to demonstrate the truthfulness of his deity, and we will benefit from already submitting to that truth.
A different kind of parousia is to come.
Defining the Second Parousia.
Defining the Second Parousia.
Note the “of whom” to bring the thought forward on the matter of ὁ ἄνομος.
Paul gives three prepositional descriptors two of which parallel one another and “flesh out” the first.
“According to the working of Satan.”
In every power and signs and portents of falsehood.
In all deceit of unrighteousness.
One parousia will be because of God’s righteousness for those who have believed and lived in righteousness.
The other parousia will be because of Satan’s and humanity’s unrighteousness for those who are being destroyed.
Introduction Part 2:
Introduction Part 2:
An illustration of man accepting deceitful evidence versus the truth:
Jn. 5:43.
Even prior to the destruction of the Temple:
Mt. 24:4-5, 11, 23-25.
These illustrate what it will be like in the end. They give us some way to process and understand the level of deception.
We need to understand why events will happen in the way in which the Bible says they will happen.
From a biblical perspective, the conflict between God and Satan is real.
We are part of that conflict.
Lives lived characterized by evil and sin manifest the reality of that conflict.
God, through His word, invites us to see the world and ourselves in a different way.
Truth: reality
Righteousness
Holiness
Divine forgiveness
The above are all what really matter about human life.
Rev. 9:20: Human beings will not repent as the world is being destroyed around them, but they will believe the signs and wonders of the false messiah.
Understanding God’s Plan
Understanding God’s Plan
Man’s Will
Man’s Will
The “parousia” of the Rebel is for those who are going to perish.
He is their leader.
He comes for them.
Note the causative statement:
“Because they did not receive the love of the truth so they might be saved.”
This implies they are presented with the truth, but they refuse it.
Salvation was possible for them, but they rejected it.
What will happen to human beings leading up to the Day of the Lord will not be because of “forces beyond their control.”
Matthew 23:37 “Ἰερουσαλὴμ Ἰερουσαλήμ, ἡ ἀποκτείνουσα τοὺς προφήτας καὶ λιθοβολοῦσα τοὺς ἀπεσταλμένους πρὸς αὐτήν, ποσάκις ἠθέλησα ἐπισυναγαγεῖν τὰ τέκνα σου, ὃν τρόπον ὄρνις ἐπισυνάγει τὰ νοσσία αὐτῆς ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας, καὶ οὐκ ἠθελήσατε.”
Human beings, acting freely, fulfill God’s prophecies.
Paul concludes 2 Thess. 2:10 by indicating some bigger plan.
God’s Will
God’s Will
Divine retribution, discussed at length is 2 Thess. 1, is not just reserved for eternity.
It will be a principle that governs what is yet to come.
They will get what they want. They did not want the truth, so they will get falsehood.
At work is a principle similar to Romans 1:18-32.
Note “because of this.”
God is certain to send “working of deceit” to them so they might believe the lie.
God will not lie to them.
He will let them have what they have already affirmed they want by rejecting the truth.
Ahab: 1 Kings 22:1-23.
2 Thess. 2:12 makes this clear.
The long term goal is God’s temporal as well as eternal judgment.
His temporal judgment is letting them have what they want.
His eternal judgment will occur because they rejected the truth.