The End Times and God’s Timetable
(2 Thessalonians 2:6-12)
1. Things can change quickly in modern society. Take this Associate Press story.
2. PARIS - From next week, one of France’s most iconic institutions — the smoky cafe — will be but a hazy memory.
The extension of France’s smoking ban to bars, discotheques, restaurants, hotels, casinos and cafes on Jan. 1 marks a momentous cultural shift in a country where thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir once held court while clutching cigarettes in Left Bank cafes.
For smokers, this is the most distressing part of a phased smoking ban that began last February in workplaces, schools, airports, hospitals and other "closed and covered" public places like train stations.
But many bartenders and restaurant staffers are looking forward to breathing easier and to clothes that don’t stink of seeped-in odors from the clouds of smoke where they work.
Just about anywhere indoors will be off-limits for smoking, except homes, hotel rooms, and sealed smoking chambers at establishments that decide to provide them."
3. In my lifetime, I have seen smoking become taboo while homosexual relationships are considered good and healthy.
4. Right now, in younger generations, Christianity is under attack as never before. Christians are being blamed for all the abuses and problems in our world. Paganism is filling in the religious void. We are seeing a polarization of society, and people must choose if they are going to identify themselves with Jesus Christ or with the anti-Christian element. The middle ground, occupied by most Americans for decades, is disappearing.
5. Who knows where this is all headed in regards to Bible prophecy. America is only about 6% of the world’s population, and we need to stop evaluating what is happening in the world by what is happening in our corner of the world.
6. Nonetheless, when we see how quickly things can change, it is very easy to believe that the end times can begin at the drop of a hat. It is possible that the antichrist is alive today. But, having said that, it is possible that the end times are centuries away.
MAIN IDEA Paul provided us with significant bits of information about the End Times and the coming of the Antichrist.
Let’s examine those bits of information.
I. God Has Been RESTRAINING the End Times from Coming (6-7)
A. WHAT is holding him back (6)
B. WHO is holding him back (7)
Robert L. Thomas comments,
"Now" should be connected with "what is holding him back" to indicate that "holding back" is a present phenomenon. To katechon ("what is holding back") is a neuter title for this restraining force. The word recurs in the masculine in v. 7 where it is translated "who ... holds it back." Proposed identifications of to katechon have been multiple. Because of inability to explain the neuter-masculine combination, such suggestions as the preaching of the gospel, the Jewish state, the binding of Satan, the church, Gentile world dominion, and human government are improbable. To identify to katechon with a supernatural force or person hostile to God is difficult in a paragraph such as this because the restrainer is limiting Satan (vv. 7-9), not cooperating with him (Best, pp. 298-301). [Source: Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Frank Gaebelein, editor)
Two particularly notable views:
(1.) The Holy Spirit’s restraining ministry (the Holy Spirit will not be removed during the Tribulation, but perhaps His restraining ministry will)
(2.) Angels behind the scenes…
Marvin Rosenthal has suggested this refers to Michael, as referred to in Daniel 12:1, "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered."
According to the Talmud, "Michael [reaches his goal] in one [flight], Gabriel in two, Elijah in four, and the Angel of Death in eight. In the time of plague, however, [the Angel of Death, too, reaches his goal] in one." Berakoth 4b (vs. 33)
--- Or perhaps another Angel who is not mentioned…
Revelation 7:1 reads, "After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree."
Note how they "hold back’ the winds (different Greek word, but similar concept)
(3.) What matters is that God has this timed; the Thessalonians knew exactly who Paul meant here, but we can on make conjectures…
C. This takes us back to BABEL
II. The LAWLESS One Will Be Revealed (8-10)
A. How he will be REVEALED (8a)
1. To those who know the SCRIPTURES
2. To the WORLD at large
Daniel 8:23-25, "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power."
Application: Let me get you in on a secret: sometimes winsome people can be the nastiest people while quiet people who can initially come across as cold can be some of the sweetest. Not always, but sometimes. You don’t really know someone until you’ve seen them in a variety of circumstances.
The antichrist may come across as loving, compassionate, and certainly a leader with direction. But then, especially after 3.5 years, he shows his nasty colors. And he leads the world toward his evil ends one step at a time.
B. His DESTINY (8b)
Killed and relegated to the Lake of Fire as Jesus returns…
But why all this drama in the first place? To glorify God. Why do we exist? To glorify God.
C. His SATANIC Powers (9-10a)
Many people have been demonized/possessed, but the Antichrist will be possessed not by an ordinary demon, but by Satan himself!
Because something is supernatural does not mean it is of God
• Most astrologer/fortune tellers/mediums are fakes
• But there are occasional Satanic miracles…
• During the Tribulation, antichrist will work many of them
III. His FOLLOWING (10b-12)
A. Not TRUTH Lovers (10b)
1. As Christians, it is important for us to be truthful and fair. It is okay if we don’t win every argument, it is more important that we conduct ourselves with integrity.
2. I don’t know about you, but I get disgusted when people are so slanted that their party is always right, their theology never questionable, their decisions always right. Personal agendas do not change objective and clear facts.
3. Being a godly Christian means being a truth lover; this does not mean jumping to conclusions or being manipulated by human persuasion, but it does mean embracing clear objective truth while rejecting what proves to be untrue, after careful examination. Yet we must make a distinction between fact and interpretation of fact.
B. DELUDED by God as a judgment (11)
I Kings 22:19 Micaiah said, "Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
"The LORD said, ’Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this while another said that.
"Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, ’I will entice him.’
"The LORD said to him, ’How?’ And he said, ’I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ’You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.’
"Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you."
Will people who had the chance to believe in Christ and rejected him before the Tribulation begins be able to receive Him by faith afterwards? Certainly! These verse have been used as scare tactics to hurry people to make decisions for Christ. Yet Jesus urges those who would be His disciples to first count the cost.
C. CONDEMNED because they would not believe (12)
• What is the truth that they are rejecting?
Application: Are you condemned because you will not believe the truth? There is obviously a choice involved. Have you made the choice to embrace Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
