Jesus Is Coming Again Pt. 21 False Teaching Dispelled As Christ Is Exalted.

The apostle Paul masterfully teaches us about the second coming of Jesus Christ, in both its aspects. 

He weaves the coming of Christ in the clouds at the rapture of the church, and the resurrection of life, together with the coming of Christ in flaming fire, for the final judgment and resurrection of damnation. 

The rapture comes first, followed by Judgment Day! 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2  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. 

Verse one of this text speaks of the rapture and the dead in Christ being raised (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The second verse speaks of the coming of Christ in fiery judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:1-12).

The "gathering together" refers to the dead in Christ rising first, followed by all living Christians being "caught up together" with the resurrected saints. 

Notice the order of the coming of Jesus Christ. First is the gathering together of all believers, a meeting that will take place in the clouds. Jesus will take us home to heaven at that point. 

This is followed by Christ returning to punish all sinners and to establish His kingdom.

Incorrect interpretations of these two distinct events of Christ's return, caused much consternation among the Christians at Thessalonica. 

This is why Paul told them not to be immediately agitated, nor have their minds perplexed by false teaching. 

Paul stated very emphatically, "Do not be thrown into a state of turbulent unrest in your minds. Do not cry out in panic and alarm."

The words "nor by word" means that the apostle commanded them not to listen to false teachers who incorrectly interpret the scriptures. 

The words "nor by letter as from us" mean that some false teachers wrote false teaching in letters, and tried to pass it off as an authentic letter from the apostle Paul.

The words "that the day of Christ is at hand" clearly refers to the day when Jesus comes in flaming fire to take vengeance on wicked sinners. 

This particular day of judgment is the time that Jesus said no man knows, except the Father in heaven (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7).

Paul elaborates on this final judgment day which is connected with the apocalypse and the books of Revelation, Jude, Daniel, Ezekiel and other Old Testament prophets.

Do not be deceived. A great apostasy will happen first. 

2 Thessalonians 2:3  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;

The apostolic instruction is blunt and to the point. "Do not be deceived by those who say the final day of judgment is at hand."

One can readily imagine why this caused so much turmoil in the hearts of the Christians at Thessalonica. 

If the day of Christ coming in final judgment was imminent, this meant that the rapture of the church and the resurrection of the dead in Christ, already happened. 

This meant that they were either unsaved, or that God's word was wrong. Paul's own testimony makes it very plain that these believers were genuinely born again (See 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10; 2:9-16).

God cannot lie. His Word is Truth. 

Numbers 23:19  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 

We know that God's word is never wrong, because "God cannot lie" (See 1 Samuel 15:29; Psalm 89:35; Romans 3:4; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18).

This is why Paul gives some very detailed description about the timing of Christ's return in flaming fire.

Paul issues a strong warning. He tells us "let no man deceive you by any means." This phrase means by oral teaching, by forged letters, or any other method of communication. 

Paul's warning has a broad application for Christians today. We can be deceived by what is posted in every venue of social and tradition media. In fact, many people are easily swayed by what they see, hear or read electronically. 

A great falling away from true faith in Christ will occur.

Matthew 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 

Matthew 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 

First, a great apostasy will happen. The word "apostasy" refers to someone who once professed saving faith in Jesus Christ, and who later completely rejects the Christian faith. 

Jesus taught His disciples that over time, many people will gain prominent followers by claiming to be Christ. All of them are liars and deceivers. 

Jesus continued by telling His disciples that many false Christs and false prophets will arise. Some will be able to produce great signs and wonders that might even deceive the very elect, saved ones of God. 

They will follow seducing spirits & devilish doctrines. 

2 Timothy 4:3-4  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4)  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

Paul wrote to Timothy about the day of Christ returning in flaming fire to judge the wicked sinners. His descriptions which are briefly noted in the texts, are graphic indicators describing apostasy. 

Apostasy is different from heresy. Apostasy is a rejection of Biblical Christianity as whole, by turning away from it altogether. Heresy is a rejection or false teaching of certain doctrines of Christianity.

The idea of not enduring sound doctrine shows apostasy taking root as professing Christians denounce the faith they once claimed to believe. They will turn from God's eternal, immutable truth to follow lies and myths.  

In the end times, many professing Christians shall depart from the faith, and follow seducing spirits or believe doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-5). 

Perilous times will precede Christ coming in flaming fire. 

2 Timothy 3:1-7  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6)  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7)  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul said the end times will be "perilous times." Men will be self absorbed, self conceited, and spend all their time pursuing pleasure.

Read through the texts above carefully, and you will see they certainly describe much of what we see in modern culture. 

After the great apostasy, the antichrist will be revealed. 

2 Thessalonians 2:3  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; 

Paul calls the antichrist the man of sin and the son of perdition. He is called the man of sin because he is wicked and lawless at his core. Antichrist means against Christ. Whatever God is for, he is against, for the Devil is his father. 

Perdition is his final destination. He will ultimately be judged by Christ and sent to the eternal lake of fire.

Antichrist will introduce a new false religion.

Daniel 7:24-25  And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25)  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 

Daniel's prophecy is closely correlated with John's visions in Revelation. They both describe a ten nation confederation that will usher in a global government. 

Paul speaks of the antichrist as the man of sin. Daniel says that he will arise, consolidate his power, and begin blaspheming Jehovah.

He will persecute saints with the intent of making martyrs of them. He will introduce a new religion. to replace the true faith in Jehovah as described in the Bible. 

He will rule for 3 1/2 years, essentially governing the last 3 1/2 years of the 7 years of tribulation. 

Those who refuse to worship the antichrist will be martyred. 

Revelation 13:11-18  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12)  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13)  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14)  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15)  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16)  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17)  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18)  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. 

This is John's vision about the man of sin, the antichrist. Notice how it connects with Jesus' teaching about many shall rise up claiming to be Christ, and doing signs and wonders. 

The man of sin will introduce a new world religion and rigorously enforce it, much like King Nebuchadnezzar did in the time of Daniel (See Daniel 3). 

He will do great wonders and call fire down from heaven in the sight of men. By this means, he will deceive man. They will believe his miracles.

He will demand that all people on earth worship the image of the beast, and all those who refuse, will be killed. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Confusion still exists today in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. People confuse the two distinct aspects of Christ's coming.

The rapture of the church and the resurrection are one event that will occur first.

The coming of Christ in flaming fire to judge the world is a second event that will happen after the seven years of tribulation run their course.

Confusion can be overcome by simply taking God at His word. 

There is a resurrection of life and a resurrection of damnation. There is the rapture of the church and meeting Christ in the air. 

There is Christ coming with fiery judgment upon the wicked, the antichrist and the global system of Satan. 

These two events are separated by at least seven years according to Daniel, Ezekiel and John.

What happens during the seven years for a believer in Christ? 

We will be home in heaven with our Lord. We will be given new, glorified bodies. 

We will be participants in the marriage supper of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. 

We will receive reward and commendation from Christ for our service to Him. Or we will suffer a loss of reward because we did not serve Him. 

Wonderful, marvelous, indescribable things await each Christian. Jehovah will do what He said He will do and He will keep every promise that He has made. Thus, we look forward to that day with great anticipation and delight. 

May these truths inspire us to seek God more earnestly as we pray, and read scripture. 

May we seek to faithfully love and serve the God who saved us.

Bob