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2THESSALONIANS 2:1-8
LESSON #14
GODS PLAN FOR THE WORLD
v MEMORY VERSE: 2THESSALONIANS 2:2
§ BY THE COMING OF OURLORD JESUS CHRIST (1)
· THIS PHRASE REFERS TO THE EVENTOF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
§ AND BY OUR GATHERINGTOGETHER UNTO HIM (1)
· THIS PHRASE REFERS TO THE RAPTUREOF THE CHURCH.
¨ PAUL IS REASSURING THE BELIEVERS INTHESSALONICA THAT THE RAPTURE COMES BEFORE THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. (2)
§ THE DAY OF CHRISTIS AT HAND. (2)
· THERE IS SOME CONFUSION HERE WITHTHIS PHRASE. THE OLD KING JAMES VERSION USES THE PHRASE DAY OF CHRIST.HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL HEBREW USES THE PHRASE DAY OF THE LORD.
¨ REMEMBER THAT THE PHRASE THE DAY OFCHRIST REFERS TO THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.
¨ THE PHRASE DAY OF THE LORD REFERSTO THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
· IF THE INTERPRETATION MEANT THERAPTURE OF THE CHURCH (DAY OF CHRIST), PAUL WOULD NOT BE CONCERNED THAT THESE BELIEVERSWERE SHAKEN IN MIND. THEY WOULD NOT BE SHAKEN IN MIND IF THERAPTURE WAS AT HAND. BECAUSE THEY ARE WORRIED, THE PHRASE MEANS THAT IT IS THE TRIBULATIONPERIOD (DAY OF THE LORD) THAT CONCERNS THEM.
§ LETTER AS FROMUS (2)
· SOMEONE HAD WRITTEN A LETTER ANDSAID IT WAS FROM PAUL. THIS LETTER EVIDENTLY SAID THAT THE RAPTURE HAD OCCURRED AND THEYWERE LIVING IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THE PEOPLE WERE WORRIED.
§ PAULS WARNING INVERSE 2:
· DONT LISTEN TO EVERYMESSAGE THAT A PERSON SAYS IS FROM GOD WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING IT OUT WITH THE TRUTH OF THEBIBLE.
Ø JOELS DESCRIPTION OF THE DAY OFTHE LORD (THE TRIBULATION PERIOD):
§ READ JOEL 2:1-11
· JOEL WROTE HIS PROPHECY BEFORETHE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY. HE SAYS THE ARMIES OF ASSYRIA AND BABYLON WILL SWARM OVER THELAND OF ISRAEL LIKE LOCUST BLOTTING OUT THE SUN. THEY WILL DEVOUR EVERYTHING, INCLUDINGTHE PEOPLE.
¨ THIS PROPHECY WAS FIRST FULFILLED WHEN THEISRAELITES WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE TO BABYLON.
¨ BIBLE PROPHECY HAS A DOUBLE FULFILLMENT.THEREFORE, WE MUST LOOK FOR A SECOND FULFILLMENT. THE SECOND FULFILLMENT WILL BE IN THETRIBULATION PERIOD.
Ø PHYSICAL DEATH AND TOTAL DESTRUCTION WILLSWEEP OVER THE EARTH LIKE A SWARM OF LOCUST. IN OTHER WORDS, IT WILL NOT BE PHYSICALLOCUST BUT IN THE FORM OF ARMIES WHO BRING DESTRUCTION TO THE LAND AND THE PEOPLEWORLDWIDE. THESE ARMIES WILL BE LED BY THE ANTI-CHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET AGAINST THOSEWHO OPPOSE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ANTI-CHRIST.
§ READ REV 9:1-11
· IT WILL BE SATAN WHO INSPIRES THEEVIL SPIRITS BEHIND THESE ARMIES.
Ø THE TRIBULATION PERIOD WILL END WITH THEBATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON WHEN THE SUN IS BLOTTED OUT. (MAT 24:29-31 LUK 21:25-28 ACTS 2:20 REV6:12-17)
· THE CHURCH AT THESSALONICA HADTHE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES ABOUT THE DAY OF THE LORD. THEY KNEW THEM. THAT WAS THEREASON FOR THEIR TROUBLED MIND.
v READ 2THE 2:3-5 THE FALLING AWAY AND THE MAN OF SIN
Ø PAUL TELLS THEM THAT TWO EVENTS MUST COMEBEFORE THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:
§ -1- THE FALLING AWAY(APOSTASY):
· NUMEROUS SCRIPTURES TALK ABOUT AFALLING AWAY IN THE LAST DAYS. (1TIM 4:1-16 2TIM3:1-17 MAT 24:23-26)
· THE DEFINITION OF APOSTASY:
¨ APOSTASY REFERS TO ONE WHO KNOWS THE STANDARDOF TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD, TURNS HIS BACK ON IT AND FALLS AWAY FROM THATTRUTH.
Ø THIS FALLING AWAY FROM TRUTH BEGINS IN THELAST DAYS OF THE CHURCH AGE BEFORE THE COMING OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
§ WE CAN SEE IT TODAY.ORGANIZED CHRISTIAN CHURCH DENOMINATIONS THAT USED TO PREACH THE BASIC CHRISTIAN DOCTRINESIN THE WORD OF GOD, NO LONGER PREACH ABOUT SIN, REDEMPTION, AND SALVATION THROUGH THEBLOOD OF CHRIST.
Ø THIS FALLING WAY FROM TRUTH ENDURES INTO THETRIBULATION PERIOD WHERE PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE THE LIE THAT THE ANTI-CHRIST IS THE TRUECHRIST.
§ THIS TOTAL APOSTASY WILLOCCUR BECAUSE THE TRUE CHURCH WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WORLD IN THE RAPTURE BEFORE THETRIBULATION PERIOD BEGINS.
· THE FINAL FORM OF APOSTASY:
¨ IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD THERE WILL BE A MANTHE BIBLE CALLS THE FALSE PROPHET.
Ø READ REV 13:11-18
§ HE WILL BE SECOND INCOMMAND UNDER THE ANTI-CHRIST.
§ HE WILL BE THE LEADER OF AWORLD FALSE RELIGION.
· READ REV 17:1-6
§ -2- THE COMING OF THE MANOF SIN (3-4)
· PAUL TELLS US HERE IN 2THE 3 THATTHERE IS A FALLING AWAY BEFORE THE MAN OF SIN IS REVEALED.
· WHO IS THE MAN OFSIN?
¨ HE IS THE ANTI-CHRIST. (1JOH 2:18,22) THETERM ANTI-CHRIST HAS TWO MEANINGS.
Ø IT MEANS SOMEONE WHO IS AGAINST CHRIST.
Ø IT MEANS SOMEONE WHO TAKES THE PLACE OFCHRIST.
§ THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL BE AREAL HUMAN BEING WHO GAINS CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WHOLE WORLD DURING THETRIBULATION PERIOD. THE BOOK OF REVELATION CALLS HIM THE BEAST.
· READ REV 13:1-10
¨ HE IS THE SON OF PERDITION(LAWLESSNESS) (3)
Ø THIS PHRASE REFERS TO THE FACT THAT THEANTI-CHRIST WILL BE INDWELT BY SATAN AT THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. HE WILLFOLLOW NO LAWS BUT THOSE OF SATAN. (REV 12:7-17 REV 13:4)
Ø AS A PREFIGURE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST, THISPHRASE, SON OF PERDITION, WAS ALSO USED TO REFER TO JUDAS. (JOH 17:12)
¨ THERE ARE MORE THAN 40 NAMES THAT THE BIBLEUSES FOR THE ANTI-CHRIST AS WELL AS MANY PREFIGURES. SOME OF THE MOST COMMON NAMES ARE:
Ø THE MAN OF SIN (2THE 2:3)
Ø SON OF PERDITION (2THE 2:3)
Ø THE WICKED ONE (2THE 2:8)
Ø SATANS SEED (GEN 3:15)
Ø THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE (REV 6)
Ø THE LITTLE HORN (DAN 7:8)
Ø THE WILLFUL KING (DAN 11:36)
Ø THE IDOL SHEPHERD (ZEC 11:17)
Ø THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION (MAT 24:15)
Ø THE PRINCE THAT SHALL COME (DAN 9:26)
Ø THE KING OF FIERCE COUNTENANCE (DAN 8:23)
Ø THE ASSYRIAN (ISA 30:30-31 ISA 14:25)
Ø THE CHALDEAN (HAB 1:6,11)
Ø THE PRINCE OF TYRE (EZE 28:2)
Ø THE KING OF BABYLON (EZE 30:10 ISA 14:4)
· IN 2THE 2:4 PAUL TELLS US THATTHE ANTI-CHRIST WILL SEEK TO BE WORSHIPPED AS GOD.
¨ SITTETH IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD (4)
Ø IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD,SATAN WILL INDWELL THE ANTI-CHRIST. THEN THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL PUT HIS IMAGE (IDOL) IN THEJEWISH TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM FOR WORSHIP.
§ JESUS CALLED THIS EVENT,THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION IN MAT 24:15.
v READ 2THE 2:6-8 THE RESTRAINER AND THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY
Ø THE RESTRAINER (OR THE ONE WHO HINDERS) (6)
§ WHO IS IT THAT RESTRAINSEVIL IN THE WORLD TODAY TO PREVENT THE ANTI-CHRIST FROM APPEARING ON THE WORLD SCENEBEFORE THE TIME IS RIGHT?
· THERE ARE VARIOUS SUGGESTEDINTERPRETATIONS FOR HIS IDENTITY THAT HAVE COME DOWN TO US THROUGH TIME:
¨ THE ROMAN EMPIRE OR HUMAN GOVERNMENT AND LAW.
Ø THE ROMAN EMPIRE OR ANY HUMAN GOVERNMENT HASCONTINUALLY FAILED TO RESTRAIN EVIL IN THE WORLD. IN FACT, TO THE CONTRARY, HUMANGOVERNMENTS HAVE DONE MUCH TO PROMOTE EVIL IN THE WORLD AS WELL AS INHUMANITY TO MANKIND.
¨ SATAN
Ø SOME BELIEVE THAT SATAN IS RESTRAINING THEFULL EXTENT OF EVIL IN THE WORLD TODAY. THIS IDEA WOULD BE CONTRARY TO REASON. SATAN DOESNOT HAVE FULL POWER IN THE WORLD TODAY. GOD RETAINS FULL POWER. THEREFORE, IF IT WERE NOTFOR GOD, SATAN WOULD PROMOTE AS MUCH EVIL AS HE COULD.
¨ AN ANGEL OR THE ANGEL MICHAEL (DAN 10:21 DAN 12:1)
Ø THESE VERSES TALK ABOUT MICHAEL AND THETRIBULATION PERIOD. HOWEVER, MICHAEL IS NOT TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY IN THE TRIBULATIONPERIOD. INSTEAD HE HAS A PART TO PLAY IN THE TRIBULATION, PROTECTING THE JEWS FROMCOMPLETE ANNIHILATION BY THE ANTI-CHRIST. (REV 12)
¨ THE HOLY SPIRIT
Ø IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT CONVICTS THE WORLDOF SIN (JOH 16:8). THEREFORE, IT IS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT A PERSON REALIZES HIS SIN ANDRECEIVES CHRIST AS HIS SAVIOR. IF THE HOLY SPIRIT WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE WORLD, NO PERSONWOULD BECOME SAVED IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION WE CAN SEE A GREATMULTITUDE OF BELIEVERS COME OUT OF THE TRIBULATION. (REV 7:9, 13-14) THEREFORE, THE HOLYSPIRIT MUST BE PRESENT IN SOME WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET SAVED.
§ THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRITTHROUGH HISTORY:
· IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES:
¨ THE HOLY SPIRIT DID NOT INDWELL BELIEVERS.
¨ THE HOLY SPIRIT ANOINTED BELIEVERS TO PERFORMSPECIFIC TASKS FOR GOD.
¨ THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME AND WENT FROM TIME TOTIME FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.
· IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES (THISPRESENT CHURCH AGE):
¨ THE HOLY SPIRIT PERMANENTLY INDWELLSBELIEVERS.
¨ THE HOLY SPIRIT ANOINTS BELIEVERS TO PERFORMSPECIFIC TASKS FOR GOD.
¨ THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTIZES WITH POWER,INDWELLS, SEALS, FILLS, AND GIVES GIFTS TO BELIEVERS.
· IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD:
¨ THE HOLY SPIRITS ROLE WILL BE MUCH LIKETHAT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT TIMES.
¨ THE TRUE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
Ø THIS SEEMS TO BE THE MOST LIKELYINTERPRETATION.
Ø THE TRUE BODY OF BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRISTWILL BE REMOVED FROM THE WORLD IN THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.
§ THE TRUE BODY OF BELIEVERSHAS THE LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST THAT CARRIES THE TRUTH AND WITNESS TO THE WORLD.
§ THE TRUE BODY OF BELIEVERSHAS THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT THAT CONVICTS OF SIN.
Ø THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY (7)
§ THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITYWILL RUN RAMPANT IN THE WORLD WHEN THE CHURCH OF TRUE BELIEVERS IS REMOVED IN THE RAPTURE.
· WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY?
¨ THE WORD MYSTERY IN THE BIBLEMEANS = SOMETHING THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY HIDDEN AND IS NOW BEING REVEALED.
¨ THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY IS THE PLAN ANDPROGRAM OF SATAN THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORLD SINCE THE TEMPTATION OF ADAM AND EVE ANDGENESIS 3.
Ø ITS PURPOSE HAS BEEN TO BLIND ANDDECEIVE MANKIND ABOUT THE LOVE AND GOODNESS OF GOD AND THE TERRIBLENESS OF SIN AND EVIL.
Ø IT IS SATANS PLAN TO CONTROL THE HEARTSAND WORSHIP OF MAN.
¨ IT IS WHEN THE CHURCH IS REMOVED THAT GODWILL ALLOW SATAN FREE REIGN OVER THE EARTH WHICH WILL ALLOW GOD TO POUR OUT HIS WRATH ONALL EVIL.
Ø WHEN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD COMES UPON THEEARTH, THE FULLNESS OF EVIL AND SIN WILL BE REVEALED. THERE WILL BE NOTHING TO HINDER MANFROM EXPRESSING HIS FULL DEPRAVITY.
· THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MYSTERY OFINIQUITY (8)
¨ AT THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OFCHRIST, THE EVIL IN THE WORLD WILL BE DESTROYED.
Ø THE ANTI-CHRIST AND THE FALSE PROPHET WILL BECAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE (ETERNAL HELL).
Ø ALL NON-BELIEVERS LIVING ON EARTH AT THE TIMEOF CHRISTS COMING WILL BE KILLED.
Ø SATAN WILL BE BOUND FOR 1,000 YEARS.
¨ CHRIST WILL ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ON EARTHFOR 1000 YEARS. IT WILL BEGIN WITH:
Ø SOME MORTAL HUMAN BEINGS:
§ LIVING GENTILES WHO AREBORN AGAIN AND SURVIVE THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
§ LIVING JEWS WHO ARE BORNAGAIN WHEN THEY SEE HIM COME AND RECEIVE HIM AT THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING.
Ø SOME NEWLY RESURRECTED HUMAN BEINGS:
§ DEAD GENTILES WHO ARE BORNAGAIN BUT DIED DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. (THEY GET A NEW RESURRECTED BODY AT THE EVENTOF THE SECOND COMING.)
§ DEAD JEWS WHO ARE BORNAGAIN BUT DIED DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. (THEY GET A NEW RESURRECTED BODY AT THE EVENTOF THE SECOND COMING.)
§ DEAD OLD TESTAMENTBELIEVERS WHETHER JEW OR GENTILE. (THEY GET A NEW RESURRECTED BODY AT THE EVENT OFTHE SECOND COMING.)
Ø RAPTURED CHRISTIANS FROM THE CHURCH AGE WHORECEIVED THEIR NEW RESURRECTED BODIES AT THE RAPTURE. THATS US!
v SUMMARY:
Ø GODS PLAN FOR THE WORLD CONSISTS OF AFALLING AWAY FROM TRUTH IN THE LAST DAYS. THEN THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH WILL TAKE LIGHTAND TRUTH FROM THE WORLD. THIS WILL ALLOW THE ANTI-CHRIST TO BE REVEALED DURING THE PERIODOF THE TRIBULATION. THE ANTI-CHRISTS REIGN WILL CONSIST OF EVERY KIND OF EVIL.CHRIST WILL COME AND DESTROY IT ALL AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION IN THE BATTLE OFARMAGEDDON.
HOMEWORK
2THESALONIANS 2:9-12
v APPLICATION OF 2THE 2:1-8
Ø ARE YOU PRESENTLY A LIGHT TO THIS EVIL WORLD?IN WHAT SPECIFIC WAYS ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART TO HINDER SIN IN THE WORLD?
v PREPARATION FOR 2THE 2:9-12
Ø READ 2THE 2:1-12
§ WHY WILL PEOPLE BELIEVE THELYING WONDERS IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD? (9)
§ WHAT IS THE STRONG DELUSIONOR LIE THAT PEOPLE ON EARTH WILL BELIEVE DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD? (11)
§ WHY DO YOU THINK THISSTRONG DELUSION WILL COME FROM GOD?
v MEMORY VERSE: PSALMS 19:9
