Introduction:
A. Rumors are an interesting phenomenon – once they get started, they can have a life of their own.
1. It has been said, “Some people will believe anything if it’s whispered to them.”
2. We hear about Elvis sightings around the world, alligators in NYC sewers, and Madelyn Murray O’Hare circulating a petition to ban religious broadcasting from TV.
3. These kinds of rumors peak our interest, create fear, or indignation.
B. After Abraham Lincoln’s death there were rumors that he was alive and that the body buried in his coffin was not his.
1. So, in 1887, 22 years after his death, Lincoln’s coffin was exhumed and the body was verified as Lincoln’s.
2. Even more amazingly, 14 years later a rumor circulated again that Lincoln’s coffin was actually empty.
3. The furor so gripped the land that the only way to silence it was to dig up the coffin again.
4. This was done and a handful of witnesses viewed the lifeless body of Abraham Lincoln.
C. Unfortunately, tabloids like the Examiner and the National Enquirer often create or perpetuate rumors to sell their newspapers.
1. Today, the internet is even a more convenient way to spread rumors than newspapers.
2. I’m thankful for internet websites like urbanlegends.com and snopes.com that research and debunk many rumors that get circulated.
D. The reason that I’m starting with a discussion of rumors is the fact that the Christians at Thessalonica had somehow been led to believe that the Day of the Lord had occurred and that they had somehow missed it.
1. This faulty conclusion of the Thessalonians was based on either a misunderstanding of what Paul had written in the first letter, or some misinformation they had received from someone claiming to be Paul.
2. So Paul immediately wrote them this second letter to clear up the misunderstanding, and to put to rest this rumor.
3. Paul’s primary concern was not with how the claim reached them, but with its content.
E. Let’s work our way through this passage and see what lessons we can learn from it.
1. This chapter is one of the most difficult in all the Bible.
2. Commentator William Barclay wrote: “This is undoubtedly one of the most difficult passages in the whole New Testament; and it is so because it is using terms and thinking in pictures which were perfectly familiar to those whom Paul was speaking but which are utterly strange to us.”
3. After working with some of the verses in this passage, the great Theologian Augustine said: “I frankly confess I do not know what he means.”
4. One of the reasons I like to preach expositorily through entire books of the Bible is it forces me to work with difficult passages like this one.
5. In spite of the fact that this is a difficult section to interpret, there are some helpful and powerful things for us to learn from it.
I. Understanding the Text
A. Paul begins the chapter with these words: Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. (2 Thess. 2:1-2)
1. Paul started by clarifying the topic – concerning the coming of our Lord and our being gathered to him – you will remember that he addressed both of those topics in his first letter.
2. Then Paul gave them an admonition – don’t be disturbed.
a. He encouraged them not to be easily unsettled or alarmed.
b. The word literally has to do with being easily shaken, or blown to and fro.
3. Next Paul pointed to the thing that had alarmed them – they had been alarmed by some prophesy, report or letter that had supposedly come from Paul.
a. What had this message/rumor been about?
b. The prophesy, report or letter said that the day of the Lord had already come.
c. That certainly would have been unsettling and alarming news.
d. In the first letter Paul had given them information about what would happen when Christ returned – the dead would be raised and those still alive would be caught up in the clouds to live with the Lord forever.
e. You can imagine why they may be upset if they had been told that Jesus had returned and they had been left out or left behind!
B. So Paul began with saying, “Don’t be disturbed” and then told them “don’t be deceived.”
1. Look at verses 3and 4: 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. 4 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. Paul’s main point is that any claim that the Day of the Lord has arrived is false because certain things must happen before that day comes and those things have not yet happened.
a. The two things that must happen first are the occurrence of the rebellion and the revealing of the man of lawlessness.
3. Paul takes it for granted that his readers know what he means by the “rebellion” and therefore says nothing further about it.
a. The term Paul used could denote either a political or religious rebellion.
b. But like other NT writers, Paul is probably talking about a time of increased wrongdoing and general opposition to God (like he described in 2 Tim. 3:1-9).
4. The leader of this rebellion is describe here by means of a series of parallel phrases.
a. First, he is described as “a man of lawlessness” – Lawlessness is a word that describes willful opposition to God as well as a sinful condition.
b. Paul further characterizes this individual as one who not only opposes God but also exalts himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped.
c. This is a description that echoes Daniel 11:36-37.
d. The result and climax of this arrogant and audacious self-exaltation is the attempt by this person to usurp the very power and position of the one true God.
e. This occurs when he sets himself up in God’s temple.
f. The identity of the “temple” in which the lawless one sets himself up is a matter of some debate.
g. When Paul wrote this letter, the temple in Jerusalem was still standing, but it was destroyed in 70 AD and has never been rebuilt. So what temple is Paul talking about?
C. Paul continued: 5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
1. One reason for some of our difficulty with interpretation is that Paul takes for granted that the Thessalonians know what he is talking about.
2. Paul indicates that he had taught them about this matter previously and so he feels no need to repeat the details of what he is reminding them about.
3. As a consequence, we are left in the dark regarding some aspects of what he wrote.
D. Paul continued: 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 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.
1. The basic meaning of what Paul is talking about here is clear enough.
2. The power of lawlessness is already at work, but it is operating in a manner that is somehow restrained or held back.
a. When Paul talked about this restraining influence, what or who did Paul have in mind?
b. The suggestions have been many and wide, including: the Roman empire, the principle of law and order, the Jewish state, Satan, God and his power, the Holy Spirit, the church, the proclamation of the gospel, and an angelic figure – so obviously nobody really knows.
3. At some future time, the one who is holding back the lawless one will be taken out of the way.
4. What will happen then?
E. Paul continued: 8 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.
1. The lawless one will then be revealed or have his own “coming.”
a. That is, he will no longer be working in secret.
2. But his power and influence will not last long because he will be overthrown and destroyed by a far greater power and splendor of the Lord’s own coming.
3. The outcome of the struggle between Christ and the lawless one is certain beyond a shadow of doubt: in the end, Jesus wins!
F. Paul continued: 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
1. The counterfeit signs and wonders of the lawless one exercise their deceptive effect on “those who are perishing.”
a. They are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved – their fate is a consequence of their own choice.
b. When presented with an opportunity to love the truth and thereby experience salvation, these people instead reject it.
2. For some people, the language Paul used in 2:11 where he says that “God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie” is troubling and seems to raise questions about God’s fairness.
a. But even as we saw last week in chapter 1, God’s judgment is a response to people’s refusal to obey the gospel.
b. Whatever action God takes is a response to people’s refusal to love the truth.
c. The basic idea here is similar to that expressed in Romans 1:18-32 where God’s actions are a response to and not the cause of the actions of the people.
G. Let me summarize what we have looked at so far:
1. Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians had become unsettled by rumors that the coming of the Lord had already occurred.
2. Paul responded emphatically that the Day of the Lord cannot have yet occurred because the man of lawlessness had not yet been revealed.
3. The balance of the passage provided further information about this satanic figure, including, most importantly, his inevitable destruction along with those whom he has deceived.
II. Applying the Text
A. So what lessons can we learn from this challenging section of Scripture?
B. First, we learn to keep our focus on Jesus
1. In 1933, as the storm clouds of WWII gathered and the speculation about the antichrist arose accordingly, Arno Gaebelein, a noted evangelical leader and magazine editor, wrote: The Editor has no use for day-and-year-setters, nor has he any use for figuring out the duration of the times of the Gentiles, nor has he any sympathy with men who prophesy that Mussolini, Hitler, Feisal or any other person is the Antichrist. It is a morbid condition which seems to suit certain minds. We wonder whom they will name next. An any rate why should a Christian have any interest at all in that coming man of sin? We have nothing to do with that lawless one. Our interest must be in Christ and not in Antichrist.”
2. Today, many decades later, interest in and speculation about Antichrist is even more intense.
a. When novels about Antichrist outsell books about Jesus, it seems that there is something seriously out of balance.
3. Christ our Savior, not the Antichrist His antagonist, is the one who deserves our attention.
4. The familiar song, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” expresses clearly what we need to do:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
5. If we focus on the person and power of Jesus, then there is little else we need to focus on.
6. And one of the clearest points of this passage and one of the most important truths about Jesus is that He is the Victorious One.
a. We know the end of the story…Jesus Wins.
b. How many times have we watched a sporting event or a movie or read a book and been anxious about the outcome, because we don’t know how the game or movie or book will end?
c. But once we know that our team or the good guy wins, then when we re-watch the game or movie or re-read the book, we are not anxious at all.
7. God has told us to focus on Jesus, because He is the Victorious One.
8. How ironic it is that some people get so caught up in speculation that they end up giving more attention to a doomed Antichrist than they do to the Victorious Christ.
9. Let’s keep our focus on Jesus!
C. Second, we learn to be aware of the deceptiveness of evil.
1. From Paul’s description of the character and activities of the “man of lawlessness,” it is clear that he is describing nothing less than a counterfeit Christ.
a. This counterfeit Christ – or Antichrist, to use more common terminology – seeks to deceive people into believing that he is the genuine Christ.
2. The effectiveness of a counterfeit depends on how closely it approximates that which it is imitating.
a. A counterfeit $100 bill produced on a black and white copier will not likely fool anyone.
b. But it is possible, using the right tools and equipment, to produce counterfeit $100 bills good enough to fool even experts on occasion.
3. We must keep in mind that the effectiveness of evil has much to do with how it presents itself.
a. If Satan knocks on your door and it is obvious that it is Satan, you are likely not going to accept his offer in any way.
b. So what does Satan try to do? He masquerades as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).
c. So Satan camouflages his invitations to us – rather than giving us a clear invitation to do evil, he makes an invitation to do something that appears to be good, but it really isn’t.
4. So how do we guard ourselves against the deceptiveness of evil? We do so by focusing on the truth.
a. Experts in detecting counterfeit money only focus on the characteristics of genuine money – the paper, the ink, the markings, the portraits, and the watermarks.
b. We must know the truth and we know the truth by studying the Word of God.
c. When we know the truth, then we won’t be taken in by the deceptiveness of evil.
5. This leads to my last point.
C. Third, we learn to stand firm and cling to the truth.
1. Let’s look at the way that Paul ended the chapter: 13But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2. Notice how many times in these verses Paul brings up the importance of God’s Word.
a. They were saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
b. They were called through the gospel.
c. They were to hold to the teachings that were passed on to them by word of mouth or letter.
3. On September 4, 1987, The New York Times carried an amazing story of survival.
a. Henry Dempsey, a 46 year old pilot and his co-pilot, Paul Boucher, were flying an empty Beechcraft 99 passenger commuter plane from Lewiston to Boston.
b. The pilots heard a rattling sound toward the rear of the plane, which can seat 15 people.
c. Dempsey turned control of the plane over to his co-pilot while he went to investigate.
d. When the aircraft hit some turbulence, Dempsey leaned against the door, which was hinged at the bottom.
e. Suddenly, the stairway door opened, and Dempsey tumbled forward out the door and down the stairs.
f. As he fell, Dempsey grabbed the railings and lay there upside down on the stairs as the plane cruised at 190 miles an hour at an altitude of 4,000 feet.
g. The co-pilot saw the “door ajar” indicator light come on and realized that something had happened.
h. It took 10 minutes for the co-pilot to make an emergency landing at Portland International.
i. As the plane landed, Dempsey’s face was about 12 inches above the runway, and his hands held so tightly to the railings that his fingers had to be pried open.
4. That life and death grip with which Henry Dempsey held on to the stair railing at the back of that plane is the kind of grip we should have on the teachings of the Bible.
5. No matter what we face in life, we must stand firm and hold on tightly to the truth.
D. Paul was concerned for the Thessalonians so he wrote 2 letters to them.
1. In the 2nd chapter of that that 2nd letter he basically told them three things:
a. Don’t be Dismayed.
b. Don’t be Deceived.
c. Don’t be Distracted.
2. We can be sure that we are not dismayed, deceived or distracted by giving attention to the things we have just covered.
a. We must keep our focus on Jesus.
b. We must beware of the deception of evil.
c. We must stand firm and cling to the truth.
3. My prayer for you and for me is the same one that Paul prayed for the Thessalonians in verses 16 and 17: May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Resources:
The NIV Application Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Michael W. Holmes, Zondervan, 1998.
The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, John MacArthur, Moody, 2002.
The Bible Exposition Commentary, 1 Thessalonians, Warren W. Wiersbe, Victor Books, 1989.
The Daily Study Bible Series, 1 Thessalonians, William Barclay, Westminster Press, 1975.
Who’s In Charge Here, Anyway? Sermon by John Beehler, SermonCentral.com
