The Thessalonians: Introduction to Second Thessalonians
Second Thessalonians might be only three chapters but don’t let its length fool you; it is full of hidden treasures just waiting for you to discover! But before you dive in to look for the gems, first get your feet wet with some introductory information that will help you appreciate even more the riches you are about to discover!
The Thessalonians: What the Bible Says About the Rapture
Movies, art, and literature heavily influence what people believe about the Rapture. Sometimes what we see and hear is accurate, but other times our eyes and ears are deceived by culture’s misrepresentation of this significant event. While certainly entertaining, we need to know what the Bible says about the Rapture. So let’s find out.
The Rapture: But When?
There are many views on when the Rapture will occur. Some think it will happen before the Tribulation. Others believe it will happen mid-way through the Tribulation, and still others at the end of the Tribulation.[1] All three opinions are scripturally based; however, the main difference in interpretation is determined by whether the scriptures are taken metaphorically or literally. Using the literal approach and taking into account all that the Bible says on the Rapture, we conclude that the Rapture happens before the Tribulation. Christ Promised the Church’s Deliverance If the Rapture occurs mid-tribulation or at the end of the Tribulation, that would mean that the Church would be forced to endure God’s wrath. Yet, Paul tells us that Jesus will rescue us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10), and Jesus himself promises that He will deliver the Church from the hour of testing (Revelation 3:10). Christians Are Not Appointed to Wrath In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Paul reassures the Thessalonians that they, as believers, will not experience the Tribulation. He goes into great detail about the Day of the Lord, the time when Jesus comes to judge unbelievers at the end of the seven-year Tribulation. He assures the Thessalonians that they will not experience this “day” because they no longer walk in darkness but are children of the light destined for salvation. From this Scripture, we can be reassured that we, as children of the light, will not experience the Tribulation since it occurs before the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord Has Not Yet Come In 2nd Thessalonians, we see that the Thessalonians were concerned that the Day of the Lord had already come and that they had missed the Rapture. They were experiencing persecution, making them believe reports that the Day of the Lord had begun. Paul reassures them that the Day of the Lord had not yet come because before it does, the apostasy by the man of lawlessness must occur (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8). This apostasy is described by Paul as a religious rebellion where the man of lawlessness holds himself out as God. Daniel prophesies about this same man and event in Daniel 9:26-27, which begins the 7 year Tribulation. We refer to this man of lawlessness as the Antichrist. The Church is Absent In Revelation’s Account of Tribulation The first three chapters of Revelation mention the Church seventeen times. However, when the Spirit of the Lord shows John what is to unfold during the Tribulation, the Church is not mentioned. We don’t see the Church again until Chapter 19, when we see her return to earth with Christ during His Glorious Appearing. The only logical explanation for the Church’s absence in John’s account is that the Church isn’t part of the Tribulation; Jesus Raptured it before the time of testing began. The Rapture is Imminent The return of Christ is imminent. Imminent means it is ready to take place, or it is happening soon. There is nothing else that must take place before His return for the Church. Christ could return at any moment. Scripture after Scripture admonishes us to watch, be ready, and look for Jesus to come at any time. Hebrews 10:24-25, 37 tells us that day is drawing near and in a little while, Jesus will come and not delay. James 5:7-9 tells us that the Lord is standing at the door. And Jesus himself tells us in Revelation three times that He is coming quickly (Revelation 3:11; 22:7; 22:20)! Regardless of whether you take the pre-tribulation approach, mid-tribulation approach, or post-tribulation approach, the Bible’s admonishment is the same: BE READY for HIS return! Scripture details what we should be doing while we wait for His return. It says that we should turn to God (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10), stimulate one another to love and do good deeds, not forsake meeting together, and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24-25). It also admonishes us to be of sound judgment and sober spirit and to conduct ourselves with holiness (1 Peter 4:7, 2 Peter 3:11-18). And last but not least, to fix our hope on Jesus (1 John 3:2-3). [1]
The Rapture and His Glorious Appearing
No one disputes that Jesus will come again; the dispute is whether His Second Coming will be in one phase or two and when He will come for His Church. Here, I will show why I believe His Second Coming will be in two phases: the Rapture and His Glorious Appearing.
The Church
When people hear the word “Church,” they often think of a brick-and-mortar building or an institution of some kind. But the Church is much, much more than that. It is not just a collection of churches across the world; it is also a body of Jews and Gentiles who know Christ and whose sins are forever forgiven by God. Because Israel rejected Jesus at His First Coming, God paused His program for Israel for an undetermined period, which we call the Church Age. This Age encompasses the period between the 69th and 70th week of Daniel, as discussed in Time of the Gentiles: Daniel’s Prophecies. During this Age, the Church was established as the “called of God” with a specific destination and purpose. In this post, we will discuss the anticipation and beginning of the Church. We will also explore how the Church is an heir of God and partakes of the New Covenant. God’s Plan From the beginning, God’s plan of salvation included the entire world. God chose the nation of Israel to bring the message of light to the world. From Israel came Jesus, the Light God had promised, yet his people, Israel, rejected Him. This rejection was no surprise to God; it was part of His ultimate plan to save us all. Because the Jews rejected Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, He extended His invitation to all who would follow Him, Jews and Gentiles alike. God’s plan that both Gentiles and Jews who believe in Jesus share equally in His inheritance was not made known in the Old Testament. It was only after Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit that this mystery was revealed. When either a Jew or Gentile trusts Jesus as their Savior, they become a child of God and are part of the Church. Promise of the Holy Spirit Jesus had been ministering with His disciples for nearly three years. He tried to prepare them for what was to come by telling them He wouldn’t be with them much longer. He said that He was going somewhere and they couldn’t come now, but not to worry because He was preparing a place for them in His Father’s house and would return for them (John 13:33-35, John 14:1, John 14:2-3). He told them that after He leaves, He will send a Helper, the Holy Spirit, who will be with them and in them forever (John 14:15-17). He promised that the Holy Spirit would teach them all things, help them remember all that He has taught them (John 14:26), and guide them into all truth (John 16:12-13). The disciples’ hope died with Jesus on the cross – only to be resurrected with Jesus three days later. Jesus appeared and instructed them to wait for the Father’s promise, the Holy Spirit. He told them that when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they would receive power and be His witnesses worldwide (Acts 1:4-8). Not even Jesus’ words could prepare the disciples for the reality of the moment the Holy Spirit appeared: they were gathered together under one roof when suddenly they heard a loud noise like a violent wind filling the house. Next, what seemed like tongues of fire rested on each of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking languages previously unknown to them. Because it was Pentecost, Jews from every nation had gathered in Jerusalem. When they heard the noise of the rushing wind, they came to investigate. They were “amazed and astonished” because they heard “mighty deeds of God” spoken in their language! Emboldened by the Spirit, Peter, the same Peter who had denied Jesus three times, stood before an audience of Jews and preached the Gospel for the first time. He explained that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was now exalted to the right hand of God; He had received the gift of the Holy Spirit and now poured the Spirit on the disciples (Acts 2:33). Peter then told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). He went on to tell them that the gift of the Holy Spirit was not just for them and their children but for all who are far off, as many as the Lord will call to Himself (Acts 2:39). 3,000 were baptized that day: the Church was born! The Church is for Jew and Gentile Alike The Jewish Christians soon learned that the Messiah and the gift of the Holy Spirit were not just for the Jews but also the Gentiles. This truth became apparent to Peter when he went to Cornelius, a Gentile, and began to tell him and his family and friends about Jesus. The Holy Spirit fell on them as he spoke, and they started to speak with tongues exalting God. Peter then baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:44-48) By revelation through the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul was given wisdom concerning the Church. The Church was a mystery hidden in the Old Testament and only made known after Jesus’ first coming. The mystery revealed to Paul was that “the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6). Both Jews and Gentiles are reconciled to God through Christ. Both have access in one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:14-18). The Church’s Inheritance The word “Church” is a translation of the Greek word Ekklesia, which comes from the verb “Kaleo,” which means “to call.” The Church is the “called” of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6). As the called of Jesus, we are citizens of heaven and not earth. Our spirit testifies with the Holy Spirit that we are children of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). Our inheritance is imperishable and undefiled; it won’t fade away and is reserved in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4-5). We eagerly await Jesus