The Falling Away Comes First

Alba 3-17-2024

THE FALLING AWAY COMES FIRST

II Thessalonians 2:1-12

My wife, Janine, tells about a dream she had when she was very young, likely no more than four years old. At that time her family lived on a farm in North Dakota. There was a long driveway from the road to the house.

In her dream she was playing, and she looked up and saw Jesus coming at the end of the driveway. She said in her dream, all of the family became very excited and started to run out to meet Him.

But, because she was feeling guilty about some little thing, she didn't go with them. Instead, in her dream, she hid herself under the bed and felt ashamed. Being so young, it would be difficult to tell what terrible thing she had done to make her afraid, but even little minds are capable of big thoughts.

The church in Thessalonica also had some fears. In their case, their fear appears to be that they thought “the day of Christ had come” and they had missed it.

1. So the apostle Paul writes in II Thessalonians 2:1-2 to give them comfort saying, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled.” And he assures them “that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first.”

I don't know if little Janine thought she had fallen away, or just experienced a childish feeling of guilt for some naughty thing she had done. It is true that even four year old's can do something wrong at times.

And it is true that the prospect of Jesus' return to this earth can be frightening for some. For others it will be a time of rejoicing. The Thessalonians were looking forward to His coming. But something caused them to be “shaken in mind and troubled.”

The assurance Paul gives to them gives assurance to us as well: the Lord has promised to return for His own, and we have not missed it. Many have tried to predict a specific date when Jesus should return. But obviously they were wrong.

We know from Jesus' own words that no one knows the day nor the hour. I agree with the fellow who said that we can be quite sure that any date that someone predicts for Jesus to return will not be the day that He comes. But that does not mean that He will not fulfill His promise. So do not be “shaken in mind or troubled”. Jesus is coming again!

The apostle Peter had to deal with a similar issue in his second letter chapter three. He acknowledges “that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'” (II Peter 3:3-4)

And after pointing out what the scoffers had missed in history (like the flood), Peter offers this comfort to believers.“ But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

( II Peter 3:8-9)

Jesus, when describing end time events in Matthew chapter 24, said that there are things that must come to pass before He returns. What Paul tells the Thessalonians agrees with that. As I said, many have tried to figure out where we are in that time line. For me, I'm willing to leave the timing to the Lord.

We have much to look forward to, we have not missed it! So don't become discouraged or troubled. Keep the faith!

2. Then Paul, assuring them “that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first,” warns them in verse three, “Let no one deceive you by any means.” In this letter to the Thessalonian church, it appears that they had been deceived with information, either by spirit or word or letter, that Jesus had already come. And they apparently thought it was from Paul. Right away, he wants to correct that fake news.

But what the Thessalonians were told should make us aware of the kind of deception that we will face before Jesus returns. It will come from the one described as “the man of sin”, “the son of perdition”, “the lawless one.”

At this point, don't get distracted by picturing someone dressed in a red outfit with horns carrying a pitchfork. Or a comical little guy sitting on your shoulder trying to tempt you. The words are pretty serious: sin, perdition and lawless. He is a deceiver.