"A Glimpse Into The End Time"

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

“A Glimpse Into The End Time”

By: Rev. Kenneth Sauer

Pastor of Parkview United Methodist Church, Newport News, VA

Three or four years ago, I was talking to my best friend about the End Times....and he

said, “I’m scared.”

I replied, there is no reason to be afraid....for those of us who are in Christ....for we are

in the palm of Christ’s hands....we are saved....and it will be a great day for those who have put

their trust in the Lord.

This is what the early Christians looked forward too....and we should have the same

attitude....

For when Christ returns in final victory...evil will finally and forever be done away

with....everything that causes pain....will be a thing of the past...all diseases....all fears....all

persecution....all competition....all meanness...all madness...will perish along with the ruler of

this age.

And we will live with God---in His love forever!

Yes, the coming of the Lord Jesus is something for Christians to look forward

too....something for Christians to watch for...something for Christians to pray for...it is our

hope...not our fear!

I remember, as a little boy, I went to stay with my Aunt for a brief time during the

summer...and she would tell me about the second coming of Christ....she would describe it with

such joy....and awe....and excitement....that I spent my entire time with her watching the

sky....watching and waiting for Jesus to return....I was excited...not afraid!

She was living...and is still living as if Christ could come at any minute/at any

time....and this is what we all should be doing as Christians...

But this is not to stop us from doing what we are called to do...which is to serve the Lord

here on earth.....to continue to work...to continue to play....and to continue to make plans....for

the Bible says that no one knows the day or hour...

A wise person once said, “Plan as though Christ were not coming for ten years, but live

as though He were coming in ten seconds.

And Francis of Assisi, hoeing in his garden, was asked, “What would you do if you knew

Christ were coming back today?” He answered, “I would keep on hoeing.”

He would keep on doing what the Lord had called him to do...he would keep on

working...for he knew that what he was doing was within the will of God....there was nothing to

be afraid of...

Is what we are doing within the will of God?

Are we prepared to say that if we knew Christ were to come today...we would keep

on doing what we are doing?

If so, there is nothing to fear.

Because God is for us, and not against us.

He’s not some evil task master who is just waiting for the right moment to catch us doing

something wrong....God is on our side....He’s routing for us...even more than our closet

friends or family members are routing for us...He died so that we would not have to fear

His return.

The Thessalonians were afraid that Christ had already come...and that they had missed

the boat....so of course they were scared...

They were suffering as much as human beings can bear...

They were being savagely persecuted....and many of them were being martyered....

So some people were spreading rumors that Christ had already come...leaving them

behind....

But Paul quickly settles their fears....

He tells them “not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or

letter” saying that the Day of the Lord has already come, because believers are exempt from the

judgement of the Lord’s Day.

The day of the Lord’s return is to be a judgement day for unbelievers....not believers.

Therefore believers are not to fear the day of the Lord.

We are to be looking forward to the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior,

Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, so many of us look to that Day with fear....

Since the events of September 11th, millions of people have been running in all sorts of

directions--trying to figure out whether or not this is the end.

And maybe it is...but that possibility should not bring fear.

I’ve noticed that in grocery store lines....that all kinds of quicky books on ‘end time

prophecies’ have sprung up....some claim to be taken from the Bible....some from other sources

such as a guy named Nostradamus.

Inevitably, the pictures on the covers of these books and the titles are meant to stir up

fear....and anxiety....but this is not what God is all about......as a matter of fact....God is all about

the exact opposite.

God is not the God of fear...but of love and peace.

And Paul is telling the Thessalonians to let nothing shake or trouble them about the

Day of The Lord...not a spirit, nor some so-called spiritual message, nor a writing from some

so-called spiritual man.

Amazing how little things have changed!