You can open your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians 2. The sermon will be coming out of this chapter. Although, in the first part of the sermon, we will be reflecting as to what Paul taught around the same theme of the second coming out of the first letter. So that we are all on the same page as we go through this chapter. 2 Thessalonians 2.
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him. We ask you brothers not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy. Reports or letters supposed to have come from us saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way.
For that day will not come until the rebellion occurs, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you, I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work. But the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendour of His coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.
They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie, and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth, but have delighted in wickedness. But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers, loved by the Lord, because from the beginning, God chose you to be saved through the sanctification work of the Spirit, and through belief in the truth. He called you to this, through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So then brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed onto you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us, and by His grace, gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. Thus far, our reading. Will you agree with the following?
Our faith is influenced by that which we believe is true, supported by that which we already know and which we deduce from our daily lives, what we see and experience on a daily basis. We would therefore read a part of Scripture, take the truth out of Scripture, and then go to our daily lives and apply it and see whether that resounds, whether what God says truly happens in my daily life. And what do we find?
We found something of it this morning. We've been talking about it, and I'm sure you've experienced it in your spirit. Don't we experience God's presence and His practical walk with us? When the unbeliever approaches the world, he does it in a similar way. He uses his knowledge of what he thinks is true, supported by his past experiences, and then he seeks to find incidents or events in his daily life that confirms that which he is convicted of.
The unbeliever won't call this faith, but he basically uses the same internalisation as we do to make sense of his earthly reality. Sometimes I think that their experience is more truthful than ours because it involves empirical verifiable values. Maths and science can be used to show that which they are experiencing are more truthful than what we experience because we hold on to the supernatural. Whilst they are living in this earth and they experience earthly things. This forms the basis of their world view.
For the earthling, what is important now is now. Not tomorrow, not the future, not what's gonna happen in ten years time or even in a hundred years time. The future will look after itself, they say. Whilst the unbeliever can only bring certainty to his daily existence by way of what is happening in the present and leave him with no hope for the future. Aren't we immensely blessed that we are not only confronted by God's daily presence and companionship, but we hold this great expectation that God is with us in this life.
Excuse me. And that He's busy with our future. God is concerned about your and my future. The unbeliever can't say that. You will agree that you also experience your earthly life in accordance with what you know and what you experience.
So how would you sum up your daily experience, your daily life? There's a saying in this world that we have all heard. You can be sure about two things in this life, death and taxes, and you cannot escape either of them. That's why the earthling lives the way he lives. In the reality of the unbeliever's mind, this might sound like an undeniable truth.
We experience it as well to a certain extent. How would you respond to this statement of an inescapable death and taxes? I'll give you a moment to think about it. If you had heard this guy saying that to you, or the lady, how would you respond as a Christian? What would you tell him or her?
Yeah. Sorry. I'm carrying the burden as you do. If you're struggling, I will give you two words to help you formulate the response. Second coming.
Does that help? Now what does the second coming have to do with death and taxes? Nothing. Nothing, because death and taxes speak of an earthly conviction that we are hard done by in this life, that we are all subjected to this death and this taxes. There's more to this than the now and just today.
You will agree that what I believe about tomorrow will affect how I live today. That's why it's important to take into consideration the second coming. Now if that holds true, what do you know and expect around the second coming? Now we're getting to the real important stuff. Our scripture passage out of 2 Thessalonians 2 talks about the second coming as Paul is describing it to the believers.
But before we can get to spend time with these verses, we need to take note of Paul's first letter to the same believers where he touches upon His second coming in two different chapters. If what happens tomorrow affects my life and especially the second coming, who can tell me what Paul talks about in the first letter to the Thessalonians? Can you bring that up in your mind, as to what Paul talks about in these two chapters? Looking at the first letter, it quickly becomes apparent that Paul was met with some resistance inside the church, but also outside the church in relation to his message that he was bringing.
In chapter 2, he uses words that indicate that he had to defend his ministry as being authoritative and sincere and beneficial to them as believers. He calls upon the believers to bring into remembrance the examples they as apostles have set at the time when they were bringing the message, the way they conducted themselves. Why? That would be the basis for their encouragement to the believers to live the same godly lives that they were living as apostles.
And this is important to note. When we talk about the second coming, no, it's not about living about what's gonna happen in the future. It's about living now, knowing what is gonna happen in the future. And that's what Paul is trying to say in the beginning part of the first letter.
For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. He further calls them to remember the extent to which their ministry was hampered and opposed and how they themselves have suffered under the hands of the Jews. I'm reading that verse.
Killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out and displeased God, and opposed all mankind, by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles, that they might be saved. So as always, to fill up the measure of their sins, but wrath has come upon them at last. Godly lives, affliction, persecution, when he talks about the second coming. Should I go further? We have this idea of the second coming of the Lord and Him coming to take us away from all these difficulties.
Paul goes further in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Let's read that first. So bear with me, but I think it's important that we get a grasp of what Paul teaches in the first letter before we get to our text chapter. So 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.
We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with a trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage each other with these words. This is a wonderful part of Scripture that confirms that those who die in Jesus Christ, meaning those that believed in Him when they died, at the time of their death, that their bodies die, but that their soul and spirits go up to the Lord, where they will remain with the Lord until what happens? Until the Lord Jesus Christ comes back. On that day, those that are alive on earth and who still believe will see the Lord Jesus return with the accompanying who?
Saints. Those that have already gone before, who died whilst believing in Him. What will they see? They will see the resurrection take place right in front of their own eyes. They will see how these believers will reunify with their bodies in the graves, be resurrected, glorified bodies, and then something will happen to themselves.
Process of glorification where their bodies will be turned around, made the same as what the Lord Jesus' body was when He was resurrected. What happens then? Once the transfiguration has occurred, they will all be caught up by the Lord to withdraw them up to where He is awaiting in the clouds. This is a segment that Paul teaches. So what is he teaching here?
Although it's about the second coming, he talks about what has happened with those that have died. It's important that we take note of that. Paul gives this teaching for a reason. Therefore, encourage one another with these words. Encouragement is needed when times are tough and reasons for being joyful is hard to come by.
You agree? The believers Paul is writing to in the second epistle has gone through difficult times. Life is hard. Being a Christian makes it even harder. Not always just the persecution side, but to stay true to your convictions.
To live holy. Whilst everything you see and hear is the opposite. Where they want you to say and speak and do the same. Let your guard down. Now Paul says, and therefore he touches upon the requirement of a living of a life pleasing to God.
It has to do with your sanctification. They had to live lives free from sexual immorality. They had to control their bodies in holiness and honour, and not use it as an instrument over the expression of their passions or their lusts. No. We cannot partake in the sinfulness of this world nor give opportunity in our minds to let the way of thinking, their way of thinking, shape our lives.
And then what's gonna happen later, your deeds? In the reality of the believer, the saying will and should sound completely different. And I'm talking about the saying about the death and the taxes. At the end of life, and more personal, my life, is there death? At the end of your life, is there death?
And this is very important. We talk this way. He or she died. Their body died. Are they dead?
No. They're not dead. What have we just heard? That was the Lord. And by God's grace, if I'm still alive and He comes back, I know they will be coming with Him.
Strangely, Paul does not stop at chapter 4, but continues to teach on the subject of the second coming. He writes the following in chapter 5. Let's read chapter 5. Now brothers, about times and dates, we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. I know that one.
Yeah. Can remember now. While people are saying peace and safety, destruction will come on them suddenly as labour pains on a pregnant woman and they will not escape. But you brothers are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day, who do not belong to the night, nor to the darkness.
So then, let us not be like others who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact you are doing. Without going into much detail what Paul is teaching here, is he teaching that the second coming of the Lord Jesus is gonna be like a thief in the night? Is that what he's teaching here? Was he teaching something else in this passage, that the time and the date of the second coming shouldn't be an issue for you or me as a follower of Christ?
Since they are not living in the darkness or the sins of the world, and we are not. We agree. But we are living Spirit-filled lives where we are aware that the second coming is coming closer. But in the absence of it happening, we need to have our spiritual armour on, Paul says. What was that, those two armours again?
Or did you miss it? Breastplate and helmet of salvation. Righteousness and hope of salvation. That sounds like Ephesians 6. So there's something we have to do when we await the Lord.
Sanctification, keep ourselves holy. But we are in a spiritual fight, but that's a sermon for another day. The essence is living a life where we are living with Jesus Christ every moment of the day, whether it's nighttime or daytime, midday or midnight. We need to build one another up, says Paul.
So it's also not something that just happens at home or at work, but it's to happen here. How many times a week do we see each other? Once, mostly? For how long? An hour, two hours perhaps.
So how much building up is happening? We need to realise what we are called to each other in each other's lives as we await our Lord's return. We cannot even contemplate letting our guard down by participating in the practices. Yes. But we cannot even let our guard down by thinking we're not to be involved in each other's lives.
In the rest of the chapter that we didn't read, Paul looks at the practical way how believers are to live their Christian lives. Now almost half past, halfway through the sermon, we're gonna get to the text part, but I think it was important. Remember that what following the second epistle or letter comes directly upon what has happened in the first, on which Paul had taught there. Why? We'll get to that soon.
We have made it out for ourselves that our expectations surrounding the Lord's second coming should have some bearing on how we live. Perhaps your expectation is that the second coming is imminent. Meaning, any day, any second, any morning, any evening, mid afternoon, or midnight. Is that your expectation? There is amongst believers several different expectations and even understandings with regards to the second coming of the Lord.
But whatever our expectation, we must be truthful as well and say, could it be that my expectation is wrong? That's why Paul is writing this letter. Because there was a wrong expectation. How long after he's written the letter? Not very long.
And they're already thinking differently about when and where the Lord Jesus is coming. Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together with Him, we ask you brothers not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed either by a spirit or a spoken word or a letter seeming to be from us to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. It seems that there was a conviction amongst some believers that the day of the Lord was imminent, meaning it could happen any moment now. This has resulted in them having nothing better to do than to sell off their property and wait. Because they thought the Lord Jesus is gonna come today or tomorrow, they don't need to work.
Therefore, can sell everything, Jesus to come back. Paul warns them, get back to work or you won't be able to eat. Did we not see the same happen as I said in 2000? Paul wants us to correct this error. This is what the second letter was about for those believers.
But if you think that the Lord Jesus is gonna come tomorrow, after the teaching of the second coming in the first letter, Paul writes the second letter to the believers in Thessalonians to correct this misunderstanding that has developed. The believers should be reminded and not wavered in their understanding of the events that surround the second coming, and this is where the teaching has gone wrong. So Paul writes this message so that they and us can better deal with what? Not just the second coming, but our current situation, where we are, where we are called to. Before Paul gives further teaching on the second coming, he starts off by explaining, and you would so easily read through that, when you read the first few chapters.
Or the first chapter before is chapter 2. But what does Paul do when he starts teaching about the second coming? He envelopes it at the background of what these believers are going through. These believers were growing abundantly in their faith and love amid what? Continued persecutions and afflictions.
Have you not wished and perhaps sometimes prayed during a difficult time that the Lord Jesus should return and end your suffering? I think all of us have. Lord Jesus, I'm really going through a difficult time now, but if Your second coming could happen now, that would be the end of my suffering. Yet this is not Paul's words of encouragement, that the believer should hold onto this thought that the Lord Jesus is gonna come now or tomorrow and therefore my troubles will be over. Instead, Paul focuses not on us being saved out of this world from our afflictions, but provides us the insight and the promise that Jesus will return.
And when He returns, this is actually quite interesting. The Lord Jesus will be the one that will afflict. So when the Lord Jesus comes back, not to save us from our difficult time, He's gonna come and He's gonna be doing some reckoning. Quite surprising, but the tone is direct and clear. Jesus is coming to bring the doers of unrighteousness to face up for what they have done.
I don't know whether this helps you at. But in my line of work as a police officer where I see unrighteousness, I think to a greater extent than most do, to sometimes walk away knowing that this guy or this girl is gonna get scot free. It helps me to say, Lord Jesus, I know one day he or she will have to stand before You and explain.
Helps me to cope and keep me positive. I think that's just what Paul is writing about. Why is she going through these difficult times? Why is she the one that's being afflicted? Remember what the Lord Jesus is going to do when He comes back.
Therefore, Paul clearly knows that they are suffering for the kingdom and that there is meaning to their suffering. Whilst they are suffering, they should know that they have been deemed worthy by God to go through this. This speaks of God not only being present, but also involved in their lives and sufferings. What is God doing? He's personally carrying them.
He's the one that will give them the strength to endure. How beautiful is the words in chapter 3:3? But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. According to Paul, there will be a time when the Lord Jesus will grant relief to those who are afflicted.
And yes, it will be at His return. That this relief spoken about is to occur at the second coming is clear since why? The believers to which Paul is writing this letter, they have died since. Did they find relief? Not in that time.
No. Because the Lord Jesus didn't come. But the same truth holds. Those that afflicted them will have to own up when the Lord Jesus comes back. Those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, it's on him that He will bring the affliction.
That includes the rest of humanity. Again, it's clear that it's not directed at the unbelievers of that time, but the whole of humanity. Remember when we talked about the resurrection, I didn't say and refer to the unbelievers, but we know that when the Lord Jesus comes back, every human being that ever lived will also be resurrected. Now imagine that whilst all the believers are gonna be resurrected with glorified bodies. How are their bodies gonna look like?
Void from everything that speaks of glory and holiness. The Lord Jesus warned the disciples of the persecution they were to face. He reminded them of the fact that He was persecuted and so would they. He did this so that they would be prepared well in advance and be able to deal with it. I don't know about you, but the injustices as I referred to earlier on needs to be in our minds.
We have to work through that and leave it to the Lord so that we can get on to what He calls us to do. Now Paul comes to verse 3. Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. Paul could not have been more clear on this. Any other understanding that has another approach, then the Lord Jesus won't come until two things happen.
One, rebellion. If we go look at the Greek word apostasia, it has a meaning of, in the end, defecting from the truth or apostasy, where it has to do with falling away or forsaking that which was the truth. So if Paul teaches about two things that has to happen, the first one is about people turning away from the truth. Paul uses the same word when he talks about an event that will also occur later in the end of times prior to the second coming. We read of this in 1 Timothy 4:1-2.
Now, the Spirit expressly says that in later times, some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teaching of demons through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared. So it's not just Paul's theology that before the Lord Jesus comes back, there will be a falling away. Of whom? Not unbelievers. But before the Lord Jesus comes back, there will be believers turning their back on God.
On the truth. And the most pitiful part of it is what will they hold onto? Paul calls it deceitful spirits and teaching of demons. Basically, whatever Satan tells them at that time, they will believe it. So are we there yet?
We're seeing some signs of it. I've not seen it clearer than in the spiritual formation movement and to what's also called a progressive Christianity movement. Centering prayer, labyrinth walk, guided imagery, the repetition of sacred words, even the name of the Lord to help you to make contact with Him and hear His voice. Those are the substitutes for prayer. Even yoga is now acceptable in Christian schools.
And some of the teachers say there's nothing wrong with it. This has to occur first because it has to prepare the world, basically create the fertile grounds for something even more devoid of truth. That's the second thing that we need to look out for, the appearance of the antichrist. For that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so called god or object of worship so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. How serious are you taking, to have an attitude that I don't have to think about or know who the antichrist is?
Others have an interest in it. I don't. The book of Revelation is so difficult to understand and I don't think I need to spend some time reading it, understanding it, studying it. I can almost see Paul shaking his head when he writes this verse. Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things?
Time constraints stop me from going into the following verses, but we need to read them again. Surely, if it hasn't come up, there should be a few questions popping up now. And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore, God sends them a strong delusion so that they may believe what is false.
In order that all may be condemned who do not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Any questions? Who's gonna answer them for you? What do you need to answer them? By yourself?
No. You don't have to do it by yourself, but you can ask someone else. We can join a Bible study group for the sole purpose to study eschatology. Eschatology meaning the doctrine about what happens in the last days. Aren't you living in the last days?
I think we need to say yes, we do. And we've got a responsibility, and we've heard about it. It's now further than just sanctifying, keeping away from the sins of the world. We have to hold the truth dear.
Something needs to be done. And you need to do something. Paul spells it out in verse 13 to 17 in relation to our salvation. God has done what is necessary to attain it. But verse 13, we ought always to give thanks to God for you brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruit to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
To this, He called you through our gospel so that you may, the second coming is there. It's for us to experience. But as we have just heard between where we are this morning, and when the Lord Jesus comes back, two distinct events await. Apostasy and the antichrist. So what are you to do?
Paul has the answer in verse 15. So brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or understanding of Scripture. It's perhaps time to get our kids back into catechism classes, to be retaught the truth of the Reformed tradition.
Whilst other churches are looking to unify Presbyterian, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, all the churches, it's for us to stand up and say, we've got a concise understanding where God has shown His truthfulness through history, through the Reformation. This is our understanding. I can't say like the pope say. I can't be in a church where Mary is worshipped. Or I can't be in a church where the Holy Spirit alone is expected to guide me in my relationship with Him, and it's all about experience and emotions.
Why then will we be going through difficult times? I'm gonna recap that in three points. Firstly, we will be an outward witness to each other, strengthening our faith. Being joyful under affliction does not make sense in the mind of the unbeliever. But there's a real peace and joy that can only come from the Lord whilst you're amidst affliction.
An experience of God's presence and peace like never before can only be experienced when there's nothing else to hold on to. And you became imitators of us and the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. Secondly, you will be formed and changed to become more holy in your walk with the Lord. This is also the work of the Lord undertaken and brought to completion during this time. In verse 23, now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He who calls you is faithful. He will surely do it. And then thirdly, we will become objects of glory before the Lord. And hear how Paul refers to that when he writes to the believers. For what is our hope or our joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming?
Is it not you? Do you hear that, brother and sister? Whilst you await the Lord? But we need to help each other to become objects of glory before our Lord. Amen.
Let's bow our heads. Heavenly Father, You are the truth. Therefore, Your word as written down through the ages, through men, called by You, experiencing that which they are writing. But also under the power of the Holy Spirit, they have written down that which You wanted us to read today.
Your word is a living word, because You are also part of it. You have revealed Yourself in Your word to us. Not completely, so that we may understand You in Your being. But that we may know enough to acknowledge, without You, Lord, we are nothing.
And we would be lost. And yet, what have You made us? Your word confirms that we are Your children and we've said it to each other this morning. And we sang about it and we've prayed about it. And Father, in our prayer, we rejoice in it, that we know that we belong to You.
Thank You that the future belongs to You. That when You say to Your Son, Father, that the time has come, that the day is already known to You. And that You're steering our lives, our futures to come in alignment with that. Thank You that we don't have to be bothered and troubled and afraid for when these two things happen. You will prepare us.
And we come this morning and we say, Father, do prepare us. If it's called by You that we should endure persecution and affliction, what an honour it would be to glorify Your name in this way. But at the same time, we acknowledge and we are grateful, Father, that we have peace in Australia. That we, at this time in our lives, that we can get together like this without fear, without uncertainty, ample opportunities like Gary prayed, to inform those around us of what awaits them. And on top of that, how good You've been to us.
Will You guide us, Holy Spirit, to work through what we've heard this morning? To go back home, and perhaps for the first time, take up those passages that talk about the second coming and the antichrist and even a study of Revelation. Because You have said, blessed are those who read and spend time in Revelation. Bless us all, Father, as a congregation. We pray for that.
Let the elders and our pastor lead us and equip us so we can equip each other, that we can be a blessing to each other further. We can help each other to become objects of glory on the day when You return. And we know that there has been fruit in our existence as a community, as believers, and that there's already fruit of glorification that will come to You on the day of Your appearance. But we do pray that it will grow in our midst, that we will grow the same in love, like we've read of those believers.
The testimony has gone to the rest of the world that this group of believers are tight knit in love, in the expression of it. And we do experience it in our congregation this far, and we do ask that You will safeguard us against the evil one, as You've promised, Lord Jesus, that he won't get his fingers into little holes that we've left in our relationships. Wonderful name we pray, Lord Jesus. Amen.