2 Thessalonians 2:1 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.
Paul knew that in the last days many thing will come to shake the foundation of what we believe. He did not want us to be fooled by any of it. We are to search the scripture to see if it is so.
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;
One thing we can say about this verse, it is an admonishment, to not look for the Lord's coming until everything has been revealed....the mystery is finished.
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
We know that this has yet to occur, not that there has not and are not those who are sitting on a throne saying that they are the god on earth in one form or fashion. I believe that there will be not a man but the devil himself as great imitation of Jesus Christ himself. We have all looked forward to that moment. So this admonishment to not look until the evil one is revealed is important and the climax will be when the great imitator goes to sit in the temple and declare himself to be god.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
I think we are the ones that are withholding Satan from revealing himself. He has to get us all under the delusion that Jesus will come before the wrath, before tribulation. He needs us to believe Jesus doesn't need to come in the flesh. He needs for us to down play the importance of knowing scripture, which is our manual on being able to tell the difference. He needs to create a situation where he will have the whole world caught up in such terrible situations, that they are willing to get under one government system, sell our souls for peace. When all that is accomplished, then there will be no restraint. We will have invited him in.
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: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Then the second coming can happen, for there is nothing left but for the Lord to come and rescue the apples of His eyes.
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. 11 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.
This is the group that is going to join forces with the deceive, you know might in numbers, like the sand of the sea, all lemmins running with the crowd and not seeing where this is headed.
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now are you not thankful to be holding in your hands, the manual that will show you all these things through the Holy Spirit. It is like one of those things that you would get in the cereal box, where the secret message was not revealed unless you had the read film Dr. Sherlock's magnifying glass. Then the words hidden will become clear. SO it is with us today. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal to you what the scriptures is saying. IT is by His leading and guidance that we will learn the truth. It will lead us not the way of the world, but away from everything you thought is right so far. Our dimentional understanding is flat and without life. The words do not lift off the page and speak to your heart. When they do, it is the Lord leading, it will be away from what everyone around you is saying and believing. In your heart, God has given you an installment, if you follow this, you will learn more and slowly be lead into all truth. If you can not follow Him in these seemingly little things, how can he trust you will the larger matters. You are to be changed with the transforming and renewing of your mind by the Word.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the (biblical) traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
God bless.
