Chosen And Called
2nd Thess.2:13-17 (2:1-17)
July 18, 2010
As 2nd Thess.2: begins Paul is giving details of events that shall take place prior to the Second Coming of Christ to comfort the Thessalonian believers who were being so heavily persecuted, that they thought they had missed The Rapture. V1 As he speaks of “gathering together unto Christ” he is referring to The Rapture of The Church described in 1st Thess.4:13-18 and John 14:1-3.
2 Thes 2:2
Then v2 Paul begins to address the state of agitation that had gripped The Church. They had become greatly distressed because they had expected The Rapture to take place before The Day of The Lord and not be left to persecution and Divine Wrath which Paul said that believers would miss 1st Thess.5:2-5 and Rev.3:10. But because of messages from the spirit of false prophets claiming to have divine revelation as in 1st John 4:1-3 and the false accusation that these sermon messages and letters came from Apostle Paul, caused the Thessalonians to be in shock, afraid and alarmed, and they were confused because of the persecution they suffered. No doubt they expected The Rapture to happen before The Day of The Lord, for if they had expected it after, they would have rejoiced because His coming would be soon. The lie that The Day of The Lord had already come, conflicted w/what Paul had previously taught about The Rapture.
2 Thes 2:3
V3-12 Paul corrects that lie and shows that The Day of The Lord had not come and could not come until certain realities were in place, and most especially “the man of lawlessness” or “man of sin” v3. Before The Day of The Lord, Apostasy must also take place v3, and this apostasy is not the general apostasy which exists now and always will. But The Apostasy v3 is a specific event, the consummate act of rebellion, an event of final magnitude that involves the main person and that is “the man of sin” lawlessness” “1st John 3:4 who is called “the prince who is to come” in Dan.9:26 and the “little horn” Dan.7:8 and “the beast” Rev.13:2, 10 and 18 and he is known as the Antichrist. He is also referred to as the “son of perdition” or destruction. This “Apostasy” is the abomination of desolation that takes place at the midpoint of the Tribulation Dan.9:27; 11:31 and Matt.24:15. This man is not Satan, but Satan is the force behind him 2nd Thess.2:9. Satan is to the Antichrist as God is to Christ, The false prophet which is the 3rd person of the unholy trinity is opposed to The Holy Spirit The True Prophet 3rd Person of The Holy Trinity, Consider Rev.16:13 for the unholy trinity.
2 Thes 2:4
Satan the Dragon, the Antichrist the beast, and the false prophet will make themselves appear to be supportive of religion until the ultimate Apostasy when the Antichrist v4, which is when he shall demand complete worship of the world beginning at the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation, which is called the Great Tribulation. The 1st 3 ½ years the Antichrist maintains good peaceful relationship w/Israel and breaks the peace treaty after the 1st 3 ½ years of Tribulation Dan.9:27. The last 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation the Antichrist reigns Dan.7:25, 11:36-39 – Matt.24:15-21; Rev.13:1-8, and the Tribulation, Great Tribulation event culminates, and brings in The Day of The Lord when Christ judges the world and sets up His New Earthly Millenial Kingdom and you and I the saints of God shall reign w/Christ. The Rapture takes place before the Tribulation events.
2 Thes 2:5-6
V5 Paul reminds them of what he taught them about this before, and then v6 Paul tells them that they knew what was restraining the Antichrist and although Paul does not specifically say, and there are suggestions, no doubt the restraining force is supernatural, The Power of God keeping the Antichrist from being revealed, for he can’t be revealed until his time comes, which is according to God’s time, for God’s Purpose and Plan for humanity. Note: The restraints shall remain until God removes it.
2 Thes 2:7-10
V7 He says this lawlessness is already at work secretly and shall remain secret until The One who is holding it back steps out of the way, Consider 1st John 2:18 and 4:3. Now when the wicked one is revealed v8 at God’s Divinely appointed time at the mid-point of the Tribulation, and he fulfills his desire to imitate God indwelling a man who will perform his will as Christ did God’s, this man and the false prophet shall be cast into the lake of fire Rev.19:20; 20:10. This evil man v9 will do the work of Satan w/counterfeit power and signs and miracles and v10 he will use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are, own their way to destruction, because they refused to believe The Truth that would save them, 2nd Cor.4:4, but God’s people cannot and shall not be deceived Matt.24:24.
2 Thes 2:11-12
For those who refuse to believe v11-12: Note: As God has always judged willful rejection giving men over to impurity and degrading passions Rom.1:24-28, in the last days God shall also Sovereignty seal the fate of those who persist in following Satan and his counterfeit Christ. As in all ages those who habitually reject The Truth are judged as God leaves them to the consequences of their own sin.
2 Thes 2:13-14
And so now v13 Paul marks a sharp contrast between the unbelievers mentioned in v10-12 and the Thessalonian believers to whom he was writing. Just as there are specific elements in the character of the Antichrist v10-12, which are reflected in unbelievers, there are also specific characteristics of the saved. In v13 and 14 Paul swept thru the features of Salvation, nothing that believers are beloved, which means that although God loves all people, God has a very special perfect love for believers John 13:1. And unlike unbelievers cannot ever be separated from The Love of God, not even by death, Rom.8:38-39. And like the Thessalonians although we are hated by the unbelieving world, we can be and should be comforted and secure in The Love of God. Paul also points out v13 that we are chosen by God for Salvation from Eternity Past Rom.8:29-30 and Eph.1:4. And we are chosen for Salvation thru Sanctification of The Spirit. Which means that by The Spirit of God believers are set apart from sin, for special services unto God’s and God is also continuously sanctifying, transforming and conforming believers into the image of His Son Jesus Christ which He Predestinated Rom.8:29-30 and Promised to finish Phil.1:6, and shall bring us to a greater perfection than what it was in The Garden of Eden when God created Adam and Eve.
Paul makes note of the fact that believers are called to eternal glory v10 and that is the sharing of the very Glory of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ, Col.3:3-4 1st John 3:2. Thru all of what God has done we have the responsibility to live holy, pure lives before God, for God saving us gives purpose and meaning in life and a reason to live for something other than the temporary things of this world, but we have hope beyond this world, Heb.11:13-16. God also gives us desire, power and ability to do His Will Phil.2:13. Now v14 Paul calls the Gospel of Christ his, because it was so much a part of him personally of his life, ministry and his very being. It was not another gospel Consider Gal.1:6-9.
Note: All who are saved will share in The Glory of Christ for He will personally make it happen 1st Thess.5:24 and 2nd Thess.1:10-12. Now let us understand what we know about “Glory”. Although Glory is Much more than light and brilliance, Glory is strongly related to light and brilliance Consider Matt.17:2 – John 1:14-2nd Peter 1:16- Exod.36:29-30. Glory and Light also permeate The New Jerusalem Rev.21:10-11 and 23. This kind of Brilliant Glory may be what is meant in the prophecy given to Daniel, Dan.12:3, also Consider Matt.13:43 and Phil.3:21.
Note: As believers Heavenly Glory is already ours, but like Jesus while He ministered on earth, our Heavenly Glory is apparently hidden by our “earthen vessels” 2nd Cor.4:6-7 –Phil.2:15 – Col.3:3-4 -1st John 3:2. Paul’s main point here was to remind the Thessalonian believers that there was no need to be agitated or troubled, thinking they had missed The Rapture and thus was in The Day of The Lord’s Judgment. They and all believers are destined for Glory Rom.8:29-30, not judgment as those who are deceived and shall be judged in that day, 1st Thess.5:9-10.
2 Thes 2:15
The fact that we as believers have been chosen and called by God, the appropriate response to these great Doctrinal Truths Paul had written and taught is v15. They and us are expected by God to stand fast in our faith, love and hope in spite of the pressure from persecution, false teachers, worldliness and cultural influences that could cause us to waver from The Truth and leave The Faith. We must be steadfast for our own spiritual health and growth and encouragement to other believers, that we do not become engulfed in the spiritual darkness of this world, mentally, emotional and psychologically, becoming prisoners in our own minds, Consider 1st Thess.1:3, 6-7.
2 Thes 2:16-17
Here in v16 and 17 Christ and God our Father work together in giving love and eternal comfort to believers. V16 Also emphasizes unity of The Father and Son, for They are One in essence and purpose John 10:30 and 17:21. Paul also emphasizes the personal relationship we have w/Christ “Himself” and God our Father our Creator. God’s Love thru Christ for us is the foundation of our eternal comfort Rom.8:38-39. Our persecution is temporary, but God’s comfort never ends Rom.8:18-1st Peter 4:12-13 –Rev.21:3-4-Ps.16:11.
In Jesus Name Amen
