Coming of the Lord
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-7. Paul addresses a concern that the Thessalonians had from something he said in his first letter about the Second Coming of the Lord. Paul indicates that there are two parts to Christ’s coming. In Paul’s first letter, he talks about the coming of Christ to gather the church or Christians. That is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.
Apparently, there was some confusion in the church and the people thought the day of the Lord had already come or that they were in the middle of it. Paul tells them that he didn’t want them to be confused or troubled in their spirit, by things they heard, or by his letter concerning the day of Christ.
Paul warns them not to let anyone mislead them concerning this, because the Lord wasn’t coming back until certain events took place. One of those events is the great falling away from God. The other thing that has to happen is that the man of sin or the son of perdition is revealed. The word “perdition” means destruction. That man is also known as the antichrist.
He is the one who opposes God and everything God stands for, so that he can try to place himself in authority over the world. He’ll set something up in the temple of God in Jerusalem for worship. Daniel speaks of this in Daniel 11:31, “And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.”
Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he told them about this when he was with them before. In 1 Thessalonians 5:2 Paul said, “The day of the Lord would come like a thief in the night.” Matthew 24:36 says, “No man knows the day or hour that the Lord will return.”
These events won’t all take place in one day, but over a period of time. The first part the gathering of the church will take place first. The second part the great tribulation will take place over a period of time after that. It is a time of great judgment from God, which the Scripture talks about in Matthew 24:1-31. Paul had told them about the rapture of the church in his first letter. Obviously, they were concerned that they had missed the rapture since they believed they were already in the tribulation period.
God will allow the antichrist to be revealed in His time. Sin and wickedness is already at work in the world today, but the Holy Spirit has restraints on it. In God’s perfect timing the Holy Spirit will reveal the man of sin.
Daily Bible Reading:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-7
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Things to think about:
- What was Paul’s concern for the Thessalonians in this Scripture?
- What does Paul warn them about in this Scripture?
- Have you ever studied about the Second Coming of Christ?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for this Scripture in the book of 2 Thessalonians. Here Paul talks to the people about the second coming of Christ and the antichrist. Even though we don’t like to think about some of the things that will take place in the end of time, we need to know these things. Help us to study Your Word so we’ll have knowledge of the things to come and not be led astray by people who try to teach anything other than the truth of the gospel. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Daily Bible Verse:
and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
– 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
Featured Book:
The Book of 2 Thessalonians: Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. The book of 2 Thessalonians is one of the Apostle Paul’s Epistles (letters). It’s part of the New Testament of the Bible.
In the book of 2 Thessalonians, Paul encourages the Thessalonians to glorify the Lord, to stand fast, and to not grow weary in well doing. He also talks about the Second Coming of the Lord.
The Book of 2 Thessalonians: Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians contains four Daily Bible Reading lessons. Each lesson contains a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer of the day. This is a great study for an individual or group Bible study.
For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.
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Deborah
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