“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, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (vv.1-4)
Here in chapter 2 Paul addressed questions raised by his first letter, where he instructed the Thessalonians about the catching away of the church (The Rapture) to be with Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Paul clearly wrote of the return of Jesus, but the wording in verses 1-2 implies a difference between the coming and our gathering.
Many Christians believe that the second coming of Jesus will be in two phases. First, He will come for believers, both living and dead, in the “rapture” (as described clearly in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18), and the second phase He comes with His church, to judge a rebellious world (Revelation 19:11-21). This is completely consistent with other passages of Scripture that indicate that there must be two aspects of Jesus’ second coming, and the aspects must be separated by some appreciable period of time.
Apparently, a misunderstanding of Paul’s teaching (or an incorrect application of it) had caused the Thessalonians to be shaken in mind and troubled. Here Paul used a strong wording, speaking of both a sudden jolt (shaken in mind) and a continuing state of upset (troubled). Their fears centered on the idea that the day of Christ had already come. The Thessalonians were not afraid that the day of Christ was coming, but that they were in it.
Paul then goes on to assure them, “that day will not come unless the falling away comes first.” The ancient Greek wording for falling away indicates a rebellion or a departure. Bible scholars debate if it refers to an apostasy among those who once followed God, or a general worldwide rebellion. In fact, Paul may have both in mind, because there is evidence of each in the end times (1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and 4:3-4). Nevertheless, Paul’s point is clear: “You are worried that we are in the Great Tribulation and that you missed the rapture. But you can know that we are not in the Great Tribulation, because we have not yet seen the falling away that comes first.”
Also, the man of sin must be revealed: Before the Great Tribulation can be identified with certainty, a particular person – known as the man of sin, – must be revealed. Paul’s point is clear: “You are worried that we are in the Great Tribulation and that you missed the rapture. But you can know that we are not in the Great Tribulation, because we have not yet seen the man of sin … revealed.”
The man of sin, when he exalts himself, will demand to be worshiped as God (see Revelation 13:1-6). He will set himself up as God in the temple at Jerusalem (Revelation 13:14-15 and Matthew 24:15, 21, 29-31). This is the ultimate blasphemy that results in certain judgment, the abomination of desolation spoken of by both Daniel and Jesus.
Clearly, the man of sin is Satan’s imitation of the true Messiah. Yet in the end, the man of sin can only show himself that he is God. The coming of Jesus and the judgment of God will make it clear that the man of sin is not God at all.
Paul concludes this chapter with an exhortation to the Thessalonians to “stand fast” and “hold” to what they were taught “by word or our epistle” and not to be deceived.
Good advise for us as well in these trying times to “stand firm” on God’s Word not man’s. For it is only God’s Word that can enable us to stand fast under the weight of our present tribulation, and the weight of our coming glory.
The Truth: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)
