2 Thessalonians 1:610
Are you troubled about the things happening in the world? Nothing has gotten out of control. There are three categories of people: those who are afraid, those who don't know enough to be afraid, and those who know their Bibles.
What does the Bible say about the End Times?
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 says, “…It is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels…”
The word apocalypse means an unveiling. The Bible says, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11b). The Son of God, the is coming literally, bodily, back to this Earth.
“He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe…” (2 Thessalonians 1:10a) When Jesus comes, we will be made like Him. Is Jesus perfect? So will we be. Is Jesus prophet, priest, and King? So will we be. We will look at that redeemed multitude and admire the Lord Jesus!
False Prophets & the Antichrist
As we get closer to the Second Coming of Christ, false prophets will teach all kinds of things “from God.” (See 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2.) That is all the more reason to open God’s Word and read it.
Paul explains what will happen: “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” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). This refers to the Antichrist. The prefix anti means two things: “against,” and “instead of.” He will be Satan’s messiah, the counterfeit Christ.
“And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7).
Paul is saying there is a demonic conspiracy against Mankind called “the mystery of lawlessness”—but there is something holding it back.
The Rapture of the Church
The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to help the saints, but also to hinder Satan. Satan is on a leash now, but when the Church is taken out, all Hell will break loose.
“He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7b). The Church will be taken out at the Rapture, along with the Holy Spirit, who indwells the Church. The Church is salt and light. (Read Matthew 5:13-16.) Salt cleanses and preserves. When the salt is taken out of this Earth, there will be rottenness, filth, and stench like never seen before.
The Reign of Christ
“Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
This speaks of the battle of Armageddon, when Heaven will be opened, and the saints will come with Christ. Revelation 19:15 says that out of Jesus' mouth will go “a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.” Christ will sit upon the throne, and “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9b).
If you are not excited about Jesus Christ coming again, you are too much in love with this world, and not enough in love with the Lord Jesus Christ.
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