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Message
2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
Jesus Never Forgets
When it comes to our faith journey we need to recognise that it never really stays in the same place. We pray that we will keep on maturing and growing … but that is not always the case.
Sometimes we have doubts.
Sometimes we get confused.
Sometimes we forget.
This happens to the church of the Thessalonians.
Let me show you what I mean.
Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you.
1 Thessalonians 5:1
Now let’s read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
I didn’t need to write to you about times and dates … but now I do.
Paul needs to write because there has developed in the minds of the Thessalonian church the idea that, somehow, they might have missed out on the coming of Jesus.
Which seems like a really strange spiritual doubt to have – doesn’t it.
Today there are differences in the Christian world about things like rapture, and millennial views, and the new heaven and the new earth.
But, when it comes to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, nearly every Christian believes the same thing. When Jesus comes to this earth … we will know.
Not just believers … everyone will know.
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:27
At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10-11
Even to the Thessalonians Paul has said
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God
1 Thessalonians 4:16
The coming of Jesus is like a pimple on your nose on your wedding day
Nobody will miss seeing it.
This reality raises a significant question.
Why would the Thessalonians come to the conclusion that they have missed the coming of Jesus?
There are two factors and they are both related to the historical context.
Factor 1:- The Impact of Redemptive History
Redemptive history is a description used to think about when believers are being confronted by the work of God.
The Exodus and Exile happened at a specific time in redemptive history.
The birth of Jesus and the ascension of Jesus are at different times in redemptive history.
Our place is in redemptive history is approximately 2000 years after the resurrection of Jesus when 2 Thessalonians can be found in a Bible which contains all 66 books of Scripture.
The Christians in Thessalonica don’t have any of that. At the most … the very most …
• They may have access to a copy of the Old Testament written in Greek – this book was called the Septuagint and had been available for about 200 years.
• Maybe, by this point, the books of James and Galatians have been written … add to that 1 & 2 Thessalonians. So 23 of the 27 books of the New Testament are still not written. Everything that they learn is being passed on orally.
When we read the Scripture we need to remember the situation. The Thessalonians live in a context where their access to Scripture is nowhere near what we have.
And it doesn’t help that there are people who are making prophecies that the day has already come, or they are hearing reports from others that the day has already come, or they have seen a letter which is being understood as coming from Paul that the day has already come.
My point is this.
Everybody has a place in redemptive history where they are growing and learning.
We don’t know everything at the same time.
That is true even today isn’t it.
Each of us has different areas of struggle, or the need to grow in an area of spiritual discipline, or having an instruction repeated or reemphasised.
When this is the case it doesn’t make us wrong, or immature, or a lesser Christian.
Our journeys all look different.
Even here – think about the journey of the Thessalonians.
You became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. (1 Thess 1:7).
Your faith in God has become known everywhere. (1 Thess 1:8).
You are standing firm in the Lord. (1 Thess 3:8).
About your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. (1 Thess 4:9).
Among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. (2 Thess 1:4).
Today we have unprecedented access to resources, study aids, bible helps, and google searches, and multiple commentaries on Scripture. With all our learning, and access to study tools, and capacity to exegete, and history … with all that … are these things being said of us? Is our reputation so extensive.
Not just us as individuals.
Or us as NEC.
But us as the church.
It is not a crisis of faith that is taking place, but the journey they are in , at the timing of God’s work in their lives has caused them to be easily unsettled and alarmed.
In this case the alarm is connect to the end times.
But other aspects of the Christian life can bring the same outcome. We are talking about that point in our life where we say, “God I don’t understand … have I missed something?”.
You resonate with that don’t you?
Let your mind rest on that moment you have gone through … maybe you are even there now.
“God I don’t understand … have I missed something?”
Because this is the reason the Thessalonians have their question.
Factor 2:- The Impact of their Daily Spiritual Journey
The spiritual journey of the Thessalonians is one where they are strong and ready; growing and faithful, being a model and an example. At the same time it is a journey that has been forged in the face of constant persecution. Paul was so concerned about the persecution he writes in his first letter “I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labours might have been in vain.” (1 Thessalonians 3:5).
Even when 2 Thessalonians is written it is clear that the labour is still not that which is being done in vain. But the impact of ongoing persecution having a spiritual impact.
People are dying as a result of standing up for the faith.
People are wondering if the efforts are being acknowledge by God.
If we are so faithful, why is this happening.
If God is so good why are his people suffering?
Are we worthy of the calling? Are we worthy to participate in his kingdom?
The questions are flowing around
Then someone
… through a prophetic word, or a report or a letter of misinformation
… someone plants the idea.
“All this is actually happening because you have missed the coming of Jesus.”
You have missed out on Jesus.
Can you think of anything worse than that.
Wondering if you have missed it all.
If Jesus has just passed you by.
It is a serious pastoral concern.
As Paul answers the concern he teaches about a number of spiritual truths.
The Restrainer
Augustine – Church Father Bishop 396-430AD
I confess that I am entirely ignorant of what he means to say.
Ben Witherington
There has been almost as many conjectures about the “Restrainer” as there have been commentaries on 2 Thessalonians.
The most suggested options are:-
• The Roman Empire
• A Roman Emperor
• The principle of Law and Order
• The Jewish State
• Satan (waiting for the right time)
• God’s power
• The Holy Spirit.
• The preaching of the Gospel
• An Angelic Figure.
• The Angel Gabriel
So there is a lot to think about in terms of our spiritual journey and the possibilities.
But there is even more to think about – The Lawless One
He cannot come until the rebellion occurs (2 Thess 2:3)
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
(Matthew 24:10-11)
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
(1 Timothy 4:1)
This could describe many times in history – even today. So we should always be in a state of readiness.
He will set himself up as a false Saviour –
• Exalt(ing) 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 Thess 2:4).
• He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie (2 Thess 2:9).
• For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:22)
Whoever this person is we will know.
But let’s keep perspective.
The Lawless One has already failed.
• The man doomed to destruction. (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
• The Lord Jesus will overthrow (the Lawless One) with the breath of his mouth (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
Who is the lawless one.
Whoever it is it the Scripture makes it very evident that when he comes we will know.
Yet, as we wait for him to be revealed we need to be discerning.
We taste the impact of the lawless one daily.
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work (2 Thessalonians 2:7)
Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18)
The spiritual experience of the Thessalonians was one of persecution. And it was terrible persecution.
But here is the reality – more people have died for their faith in the last century than all of the previous centuries combined.
Even in our own memory history is full of stories of apostasy.
Nations where the church numbers just keep getting smaller and smaller.
The end is near. The Messiah is coming soon.
People have been discerning the signs and saying since the days of the Thessalonians that we are at the end.
People have been looking for the apostasy and for the lawless one.
It all looks to be important to do so.
Don’t get me wrong - being discerning is important.
Thinking about the end is important.
Knowing about the return is important.
But it is not the most important issue. The key verse in this section here is verse 3.
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way
Everything that Paul talks about in this section is directed towards making sure the Thessalonians haven’t been pulled in by the deception.
When you are in Christ you will never be forgotten or miss out.
The people in the Thessalonian church thought they had missed out.
The spiritual issue there is needing to understand the end times more.
What is our issue today?
The deception that has made us, or is making us, or might make us think
God I don’t understand … have I missed something?
It might be related to our health journey …
It might be related to our past …
It might be related to the voices we allow our mind to listen to …
It might be related to our sense of shame and failure …
It might be related to our fear that we are not good enough …
Where other people plant the seed … even without realising it … you are going to miss out.
Where we don’t even need other people because the questions and doubts are so strong … I’m going to miss out.
In the face of these truths there is a coming.
The apostasy will happen.
The restraint will be lifted.
The lawless one will be revealed.
And then we see Jesus.
We might see him from behind … because we were those who have died in Christ and we are coming with Him for the triumphant return.
We might see him from the front … having heard the trumpet call.
I see him … I see Jesus.
That is going to be a wonderful part of the day.
But the more wonderful part of the day is this.
The Lord Jesus will say Allan – I see you.
I have seen you from before the creation of the world.
I have seen you in all your sin and doubt and fear and weakness.
I have seen you as you have lived, and loved, and served.
I saw you even when you didn’t think I cared.
And when you didn’t understand when you were wondering … have I missed something.
I was right there.
Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you.
Don’t let anyone ever deceive you that you have missed out.
Prayer
