What To Do ‘Til Jesus Comes
2 Thessalonians 2:15, 3:3-5
Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister
First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO
Introduction: A university student was seen with a large "K" printed on his T- shirt. When someone asked him what the "K" stood for, he said, "Confused." "But," the questioner replied, "you don’t spell "confused" with a "K." The student answered, "You don’t know how confused I am."
Confusion is a good word to summarize our next book in our journey through the New Testament—2 Thessalonians. This little book was written to a group of young Christians who were struggling with some serious confusion regarding the Second Coming and the end of history. 1 and 2 Thessalonians were probably among the first books written by Paul the apostle and missionary. He had planted the church amidst controversy and opposition. He was forced to leave the city after only a few weeks. He leaves with great concern for the new believers. He sends Timothy back to find out how they were doing. Paul’s sidekick returns with a good report and also some questions. 1 Thessalonians responds to that report.
A few months later, Paul again receives word of some confusion among these young Christians. 2 Thessalonians is the response to this second report. Our Bible translations organize the book into three logical chapters. Each chapter provides an answer to our questions about “what to do ‘til Jesus comes.
Chapter 1: Until Jesus comes, between now and then, followers of Christ must persevere in the face of persecution. Such an admonition is needed. It is easy to fall prey to the idea that the Christian life is supposed to be a refuge from all the hard stuff of life. What hard stuff is left will be taken care of when Christ returns. Our task in the mean time is to try to skate through as easily as possible, always looking for the path of least resistance. Nothing could be further from the truth!
We are called to persevere. Perseverance is more than just surviving. It is thriving even in the midst of hard times, not just wishfully hoping that they don’t come. Jesus warned his disciples, “In this world, you will have persecution.” Paul insisted that “all who are faithful will be persecuted.”
How do we persevere in the face of hard times, thrive rather than just survive. First, by continuing to grow in faith. Faith is not a static thing. You have it and that’s it! Faith is a living, growing relationship with God. Faith is either growing or shrinking. It cannot remain the same. Can we say of our faith what Paul said of those in this book? “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more …”
Second, we persevere by increasing in love for one another. That’s the rest of the verse I just read, “the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.” We are not in this alone. We need each other. Our love for one another, our dependence on each other in fellowship, keeps us strong and protects from Satan’s worst. Alone we are vulnerable. Together we are stronger. Together in Christ, we are invincible.
Note how Paul applies Christian love and unity to this subject in Philippians 1. “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God” (Philippians 1:27-28).
This brings us to the key to perseverance emphasized in 2 Thessalonians—keeping an eye on the future. We believe that Jesus is coming back. Whatever happens now must be viewed in that light. Note how chapter 1 offers hope in the face of hard times—especially hard times at the hands of wicked people. “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.”
Note the foundation: God is just and faithful. Note when all wrongs will be righted—when Christ is revealed. Note what will happen—the wicked will be punished. Christ’s people will be vindicated. That’s why we persevere. The current bad times are only temporary. We know the end of the matter.
The first chapter ends with a prayer as does each of the chapters. “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
What are we to do in the in between times? What are we to do until Jesus comes? First, we are to persevere even in the face of hard times. Secondly, (chapter 2), until Jesus comes, followers of Christ must remain unmoved by false teachings. Here’s where 2 Thessalonians turns to the confusion in the church. Frankly, 2 Thessalonians 2 is one of the hardest passages in the New Testament to decipher. This comes partly from the nature of the subject of the Second Coming. Human nature wants to dive off into all kinds of speculation. Part of the confusion comes from the fact that Paul doesn’t explain the problem. He refers to a conversation that had already taken place, leaving us to guess at some of the pieces.
Note 2:1-2. Apparently someone had caused a panic in the young church by promoting a false teaching that they alleged had come from Paul himself. “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 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.” “Unsettled” describes a ship that has lost its moorings and begun to drift. “Alarmed” describes an on-going state of agitation.
They were upset because someone had convinced them that “the coming” and “the gathering” had already come. These two terms describe what Paul had talked about in 1 Thessalonians 4, “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, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
What could have so confused these young believers? That’s a question that Bible scholars wrestle with. As you know, the world is filled with all kinds of notions and speculations about Christ’s return. The problem here might have been something like what the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach. When their prediction of the return of Christ in 1914 failed, their leaders responded by insisting that Christ actually had returned. It was an invisible return. He had simply moved to a new position in the heavens and had launched a new day of kingdom activity. Maybe someone was trying to reinterpret the meaning of Jesus’ return.
Or more likely, perhaps someone was advocating a super-spiritualized redefinition of the Christ’s coming in power and glory. Maybe they were saying, “This is it.” This is the kingdom. When we became Christians we entered into the only kingdom there will be. The Second Coming happened when the Holy Spirit came. Maybe they said that when believers were “born again” in baptism that this was the resurrection. True believers were now inoculated against physical death. But some of them died! How could that happen? How can you explain the persecution if that is true? No wonder they were upset.
Let me address about a very common teaching regarding the Second Coming. Many Bible believing Christians teach the Christ’s coming happens in two stages—one for the church and a second in judgment and triumph. The two stages are separated by up to seven years of tribulations. True Christians (the church) will be gathered out (raptured) before the tribulation begins. This secret rapture teaching is the basis of the very popular Left Behind Series. Make no mistake about it, there will be a rapture. The church will be caught up to meet Christ in the air. That’s what 1 Thessalonians 4:17 describes. 2 Thessalonians 2: 1 refers to “the gathering.” The issue is not if, but when (and what follows afterwards). There are very solid Bible-believing teachers on all sides of this issue. The last thing we ought to be is arrogant and condescending toward those we disagree with. Nor should we back away from doing our best to make sense of what Scripture says on this subject.
You can understand how these young believers could be upset if they believed in a secret rapture that had supposedly already come. That would mean they had been left behind! Not a desirable prospect for those who teach the modern version of this. But I don’t think this is an adequate explanation of this passage at all. If that were the problem, then all Paul would have to say was, “Look, I’m still here. You’re still here. We are all true believers. Obviously the rapture hasn’t happened.” I think it is very difficult to make plain sense of this passage and square it with the doctrine of a secret rapture before a period of great tribulation. I respect the Bible scholars who take a different view. I just don’t see how it fits.
What does Paul say to counter whatever the problem was that had so confused these believers? He reminds them about what he had told them before. Hard times will come. Satan isn’t done for. A man of lawlessness will arise. He will oppose God. He will deceive many. Paul writes about this as if it were something that Christians should be prepared to recognize when it happens, whenever that is. If Paul taught a secret rapture prior to all of this, his words make little sense.
I think the key to Paul’s words is the assurance that God is still in control. Paul says something is restraining or holding back this rebellious force for now. Eventually God will remove that and (literally) all hell will break loose. I haven’t a clue what the “restrainer” is. Bible scholars debate that endlessly. I am not sure it really matters. Paul’s point is that whatever it is and when ever it/he will be removed, it will be on God’s terms. Nothing is out of control. Everything is happening according to God’s schedule. That’s what you need to hold on. There is no need to panic.
Listen to Paul’s admonition and prayer at the end of this discussion. “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 16May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (15-17).
What are we to do until Jesus comes? First, we are to persevere even in the face of hard times. Secondly, we are to stand firm in our convictions about Christ’s return. We are not to panic at every deceptive teaching that comes down the pike. Finally (Chapter 3), in the in between times we should stick to business, the business of living for and following Christ. Chapter 3 turns to a very practical issue in the Thessalonian church. We don’t know how it is connected with the other problems. We can only guess. Paul doesn’t say.
Note how Paul describes the problem in verse 11, “We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.” It is in this context that he appeals to the proverb, “If a man will not work, he shouldn’t eat.” The issue is not government welfare or even Christian benevolence—though a principle might apply here. The problem was Christians who had turned from being busy to being busy bodies. Maybe it was the confusion about the Second Coming that fueled their misbehavior. Perhaps convinced that the end was upon them, they quit their jobs, refused to plant their crops, and just waited around with time on their hands. Like the foolish virgins in Jesus’ parable, they perhaps turned to their more responsible brothers and sisters to bail them out when their predictions turned out wrong.
Paul calls for Christian responsibility. We are not to be free-loaders but hard workers. He who can work should work. He who refused to work has no claim on the good-will of his Christian brothers. And responsible Christian brothers in turn should not encourage such misbehavior. Paul calls for tough love which is the only real love in some situations. Coddling and supporting bad behavior is not love no matter how hard you try to redefine it or how hard someone tries to make you feel guilty for not helping them every time they want it.
What are we to do until Jesus comes? In the third chapter Paul calls for several specific behaviors. We are to pray for the lost and for the spreading of the gospel. “Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.” We are to pray for believers who are undergoing hard times and persecution. ”And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.”
We are to act responsibly and demand responsibility from each other in the church. “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.” We are to work hard and live self-reliant lives. “Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.” We are to be firm but gracious with the disobedient. “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”
Note how this chapter ends with a prayer as did the other two, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
Conclusion: People then and now make two opposing mistakes regarding Christ’s return and the end of history. Some think they have the timing all figured out so they pretend that they have all the time in the world. Others think they have it all figured out and they panic. Both are foolish mistakes. We do not know when. But we do know what.
In between, regardless of whether the wait is short or long, our responsibility remains the same. We are to persevere even in the face of persecution. We are to stand firm against any and all teachings that would cause us to lose faith. Lastly, we are to keep busy about the work of Christ, living for him and extending the kingdom.
During his election campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. One day in 1789, the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Quelling a clamor for immediate adjournment, Davenport rose and said, “The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.”
So it should be with us!
***Dr. Roger W. Thomas is the preaching minister at First Christian Church, 205 W. Park St., Vandalia, MO 63382 and an adjunct professor of Bible and Preaching at Central Christian College of the Bible, 911 E. Urbandale, Moberly, MO. He is a graduate of Lincoln Christian College (BA) and Lincoln Christian Seminary (MA, MDiv), and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (DMin).
