BIBLE PASSAGE:
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being
gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become
easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether
by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day
of the Lord has already come.
(2 Thessalonians 2:1-2)
MEDITATION:
Throughout history,
mankind has always had concerns and questions about the return of Christ.
When will He return? What can be expected before He returns?
Will there be signs that His return is drawing near?
During Paul’s days, they had the same concerns as people do today.
But there were some people who were claiming that He had already returned.
They were even claiming that Paul was teaching that He had returned.
Why would they do that?
We don’t know, but we know about the one who was influencing them.
First and foremost, Paul wanted everyone to know that those claims were untrue.
He used this as a launching pad to discuss the return of the Lord,
and mentioned some things that must take place before Christ returns.
For one thing, there would be rebellion by the ‘man of lawlessness’ (Satan).
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come
until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed,
the man doomed to destruction. (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
What will this rebellion look like?
It will be a strong opposition to anything regarding God and worship.
It is something we are witnessing today as society (driven by the rebellious one)
has removed God, and any references to Him, from many places.
He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God
or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming
himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
In addition, there has been a steep decline in the number of people attending
worship services, which has caused the closing of an alarming number of churches.
As the Christian religion declines, other ungodly religions increase,
which tells us that people have a desire to believe in something.
Satan has lured many away from the faith and caused them to find other things
to replace attending worship services (not necessarily bad things, except for the
fact that they have taken the place of following and worshipping God).
Paul reminds the people of his day of the things he had told them in the past.
He also informed them that the evil one was being restrained by God
until the day He determined to expose him to the world.
Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at
the proper time. (2 Thessalonians 2:5-6)
But, look at this – Paul explained that the rebellion had already started.
If it started in those early days, then we could it expect it
to increase over the years (within the limits established by God).
However, in God’s chosen time, the restraints will be removed
and we will see the fury of Satan unleashed on the world.
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds
it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7)
Even though Satan will exalt himself and his purposes to what he considers the
highest level, he will be overthrown by the mere breath of the Lord and His return.
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow
with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
(2 Thessalonians 2:8)
When God loosens the restraints on Satan, the people will suffer the brunt
of his godless efforts to control the world, and cause the ultimate destruction
of those who have refused to claim Jesus as Lord of their lives.
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works.
He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve
the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They
perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
(2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)
Lastly, Paul gives a stern warning of the fate of those who have chosen to
refuse God’s free offer of salvation, and have opted instead to delight in
sinful activities, or things they have given a higher priority than
worshipping and obeying God.
For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will
believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed
the truth but have delighted in wickedness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12)
ACTION:
By no means does this devotional include an exhaustive list
of what we can expect prior to the return of Jesus,
nor is it intended to claim that His return is at our doorstep.
However, we should all pause, evaluate our relationship with the Lord,
and be aware of indications that God is loosening His restraints on Satan.
Additionally, we should be aware of (and alarmed) at how the world
is bent on eradicating the name of God and anything related to Him.
Lastly, we should be concerned about those who have rejected God’s offer of
salvation to those who believe in His Son and have made Him Lord of their lives.
When those who have rejected God die, they don’t cease to exist,
but they will suffer God’s punishment eternally.
The scriptures may not be able to adequately describe the splendor of heaven,
nor the pain and agony of hell.
But we know that: (1) heaven will be unimaginably wonderful, and
(2) hell will be greater than any agony we have ever experienced
on earth (and it will be eternal).
If you believe in Jesus Christ and have committed your life to Him,
know that God is calling His people to return to Him and to commit
to serving and worshipping Him with renewed passion and enthusiasm.
If you have rejected God’s merciful offer of salvation,
know that He loves you and is calling you to no longer reject His free offer,
but to come to Him as if your life depends on it (because it does).
When the scriptures tell us that “God loves the world”,
it means He loves everyone in the world and does not want anyone
to face the eternal punishment resulting from the rejection of His Son.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, I am thankful that all things are under Your control.
I am thankful that You love me and want what is best for me. As a result,
You have offered me Your free gift of salvation so that I can spend eternity
in Heaven and not hell. Help me to know and realize the importance of how
You want me to worship and serve You now. I pray that my life will be one
that points others to Your Son, Jesus.”
blog: UTVOLWOODY.WORDPRESS.COM
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