Jesus Is Coming Again Pt. 23 Christ Will Put Down All Rebellion With His Word

In our last post, we learned about the restraining work of the Spirit of God. He will continue to restrain the advancement of the mystery of iniquity until He is taken out of the way. 

The Spirit of God will cease His restraining work on earth.

2 Thessalonians 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

The words translated "he be taken" are used extensively in the New Testament. It is most often translated "came" 88 times, "made" 73 times, and "done" 63 times.

The word means to create something, cause something to come to pass, or to be finished with something. 

The idea here is that the Father will decree that the end of the church age has come. At that time, He will send His Son, Jesus Christ, to resurrect all the dead in Christ and to catch up all the living saints in the clouds with Him.

When the church is taken home to heaven, the presence of the Holy Spirit indwelling each Christian on earth, is removed. 

This is what Paul is getting at when he speaks of the restraining power of the Holy Spirit being taken out of the way. 

This simply means that the Holy Spirit's work on earth during this era of gospel preaching, is complete. The Father has an end date for this age of the church, but He has not revealed it (Acts 1:6-8).

This does not mean the the Spirit of God has surrendered any of His power. He, as God, is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. 

Gpd is always at work and the scope or mission of His work will be bringing judgment on the earth, while ministering to the Jewish nation, during the tribulation period. 

Christ will destroy antichrist with His Word and glory.

2 Thessalonians 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

What happens on earth after the dead in Christ are raised, and the living Christians are caught up together in the clouds with Christ? 

There will be no more worship of the One, True God of heaven. There will be no more gospel preaching, no more Christian families living out their faith as salt and light. 

The Holy Spirit will no longer strive with wicked sinners. 

Thus, what happens next on earth is that Hell will break out. The Antichrist will reveal himself and introduce a global false religion. You will convert or die. 

However, notice what the Spirit guided Paul to say about this wicked man of sin. Jesus Christ will consume him with the spirit of His mouth and destroy him with the glory of His coming.

This is the idea that Jesus will speak the Word and undo the antichrist. His glorious appearance will cause all men everywhere to plead for mountains to fall upon them. Wicked sinners will not be able to bear the brightness of the coming of Christ.  

The sword in Christ's mouth is the Word of God.

Revelation 19:11-15  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 

This connects with Revelation 19. Notice that King Jesus is described as having a sharp sword that goes out of His mouth that will smite all nations. It will undo the antichrist. 

This sword is called the sword of the Spirit and it is the Word of God (See Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12). 

All scripture is inspired by God, through the Holy Spirit (See 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21). 

Thus, the sword that goes out from the mouth of King Jesus, is the Word of God. He will speak the word and His will shall be done on earth as in heaven. 

Remember, that Jesus is called the "Word of God" in John 1:1-5. He is the Word who spoke all things into existence and who will create a new heaven and a new earth, after the millennial kingdom is complete.

Christ rejecters will perish in eternal condemnation.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10)  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

The antichrist will arise to power through the evil working of Satan. The operation of God’s Holy Spirit sends His holy messengers, but the operation of Satan’s spirit sends evil emissaries. 

The antichrist will be able to produce signs and wonders that will deceive all people on earth. 

The same three Greek words used for describing  miracles of Jesus (See Acts 2:22; Hebrews 2:4). They show us that as the Egyptian magicians imitated Moses (2 Timothy 3:1-8), so antichrist will try to imitate Christ’s works as a “sign,” or proof of his divinity.

Those who worship the antichrist shall perish. They will spend eternity in Hell. They will be people who accept the mark of the beast in their right hands or foreheads (See Revelation 13:16-17; 19:20; 20:4).

Why would anyone believe false signs and follow the antichrist? Because Satan is a master deceiver. He can cause people to believe his lies and reject the truth from God. 

However, Paul tells us that those who worship the antichrist, received not the love of the truth. 

They heard gospel preaching, or observed Christian families being salt and light. They maybe even read a Bible, but they willfully rejected truth from God. 

They did not want to give up their sin. They preferred to wallow in the lust of their flesh. Therefore, by turning away from Divine truth, they damned their own souls. 

God will send a strong delusion based upon their rejection of truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12)  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

Our All Glorious God, who knows all things and the beginning from the end, will send a strong delusion. All the Christ rejecters will believe Satan's lies. 

God's perfect foreknowledge means that He knows every single soul that is going to reject gospel light. He will predispose that Christ rejecting soul to believe a lie, because that is what they truly want. 

Thus, by their own free will, they will reject truth from God and embrace the lies of the Devil. In doing so, they damn themselves to Hell.

Thoughts to Ponder...

Psalm 2 is eschatological in nature, that is, it is concerned with end times. This Psalm  displays God's reaction to all who reject the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

It shows us what God will do when the final rebellion instigated by Satan takes place.

Jehovah will see the heathen raging and laugh at their feeble efforts to thwart His purposes. 

He will laugh at their thoughts of overthrowing His kingdom.

He will be unperturbed by their rebellion because His kingdom will advance just as He said it would.  

Jehovah always does what He says He will do. He will faithfully keep His covenant and He will make good on every single promise that He has made. 

As the world waxes stronger in rebellion against God's holy standards, let us pray with renewed energy for Christ to return for His church, so that all final things may unfold exactly as the prophets foretold.

Let us praise God for the sure word spoken by His prophets and for the great hope He gives us.

Bob

Psalm 2:1-12  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2)  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3)  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4)  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5)  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6)  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7)  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8)  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9)  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10)  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11)  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12)  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.