2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-82007 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2007.

hope and what that hope is in those times and even how to share and minister to those who are going through trials and tribulations, looking at the example from the Apostle Paul as he introduced himself and greeted them and then began to share with them regarding the tribulation that they were experiencing. And now he gets into the real point of his letter, the reason that he's writing. It's a short letter, but it's

written to correct some misinformation, some false doctrine, false teaching that was going on there in Thessalonica, dealing with the end times. Just as there was confusion that Paul was addressing in 1 Thessalonians regarding the end times, there's still a little bit more of uncertainty of those who are sharing things that are contrary to the Word of God. And Paul is writing to correct those situations.

Now, as we look at these eight verses for for some or for many, this can be a very difficult and confusing passage. And so we need to approach it with a little bit of of carefulness, understanding that it can be misconstrued or confused a little bit easily.

But at the same time, we shouldn't shy away from it because it's a wonderful passage. It's a great passage giving us an overview of the end times. And Paul's emphasis this morning is on the order in which things will take place. Because the Thessalonians were a little confused, there were people there sharing that

The day of the Lord has already come. And we'll talk about what that expression means. But they were freaked out. We're in the tribulation. You know, oh, man, we missed out on the rapture. And we have, you know, more harder times ahead with the tribulation period. And God's going to come and judge the earth. And his wrath is going to be poured out. And so the Thessalonians are all freaked out. But Paul's writing to them to say, hey, no, there's an order that needs to take place.

You can tell that you're not in the tribulation. You haven't missed out on the rapture because of these things that I will share with you. And so that's what we'll be looking at this morning. As we do, I want to remind you of something that I shared with you when we were going through 1 Thessalonians. That is that Paul was only in Thessalonica for three weeks, according to Acts chapter 17.

He was only there for three Sabbaths, teaching the people, sharing with them. And in that time, the church was established. There were not believers in Thessalonica before. Paul went and people were converted. They established the church and then Paul went on. He's writing from Corinth a few months later. And these people, new believers, converted.

But Paul had spoken to them. He had taught them about all of the things that we'll be reading today and studying today. Paul had taught them in those three weeks about the end times, about the rapture, about the tribulation, about the second coming. And so I want to point that out again to ask you and remind you the importance of sharing with others the end time events, the order in which God has set and the things that are going to take place. There's great importance there.

Sometimes people have the attitude of, you know, well, prophecy, I'm just really not into that too much or I don't really understand it. So I don't really talk to people about it. But we can follow the example of the Apostle Paul and understand if you're there for three weeks, Paul,

and you make sure to emphasize and teach about the end times, then as we minister to those who are young in the faith, as we minister to new believers, as we are building others up in the faith, we definitely need to be able to share with them. It's important that we understand and that they understand the end times events and the way things are going to happen because it really does affect the way that we live.

So this morning, if you're young in the faith, this is important stuff for you to know. If you're older in the Lord, these things are important for you. I'm sure that you've heard them before.

But do a heart check. Do you understand these things? Are you able to share them with others? Do you know them well enough to pass it on to those who are young in the faith? And so I would encourage you once again to take good notes, to write down the cross references, to spend some time on your own studying these things until you know them well enough to share them with others. Paul deals with four basic things this morning.

The order of end times events. First, the first thing that will take place, Paul deals with this morning, is the rapture of the church. Second, the Antichrist is revealed. Third, the Antichrist presents himself as God. And fourth, the second coming of Jesus Christ.

These are the four things that Paul will be looking at and putting in their proper order as we study this passage. There's many other things that we can look at regarding end times, but Paul chooses these four and make sure you have the right order for these things. First, the rapture of the church. Second, the Antichrist is revealed. Third, the Antichrist presents himself as God. And fourth, the second coming of Jesus Christ.

So, in light of that, let's get into our portion this morning, looking again at verses 1 and 2. It says this, Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to him, we ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Paul is writing to the Thessalonians saying,

He's done his greeting, he's done his introduction, he's shared with them that he's praying for them. And he says, now brethren, concerning the things of the coming of the Lord and our gathering together to him. He's beginning now this subject of the end times. He's beginning now the subject really of confusion among the Thessalonians.

They were enduring persecution at that time. We looked at that last week. And so because of the persecution, some people were telling them that they were experiencing the great tribulation that would come upon the earth. And people were sharing with them, see, look at all the trouble that we're having. We missed out on the rapture. We missed out on the thing that God wanted to do. And so now we're having to endure his wrath.

The day of Christ had come is what some people were saying, referring to the day of the Lord or the day of Christ. Now, the day of the Lord is an interesting expression. It's used throughout the Old Testament. It's used a couple of times in the New Testament. It refers to more than just a 24 hour day.

Instead, it refers to the whole time period of the tribulation leading up to and including the second coming of Jesus Christ. It's a time when the wrath of God will be poured out upon the earth. Joel 2, verse 11 says,

Tells us the Lord gives a voice before his army for his camp is very great. For strong is the one who executes his word for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible. Who can endure it? Joel says the day of the Lord is great, not in a good way and very terrible. It's awful and tremendous. But in a negative sense, he says, who can endure it?

It's going to be overwhelming. Unbelievable is going to be the turmoil, the tribulation that takes place in the day of the Lord, in the seven-year tribulation period that Paul is referring to. And that's what was being taught. Hey, you guys, you missed out. The day of the Lord has come. You're in the midst of it. You're experiencing the great and very terrible time that no one can endure.

But Paul is writing them to them to let them know this is not the case. It's not the case. They were freaked out, as you can imagine, young in the faith. How are they to know really any better? People are telling him they're in that horrible time period. They missed the rapture.

They're telling them that there's even worse times ahead. But Paul says, hey, don't be freaked out so quickly. Don't don't be soon shaken or troubled. Even if someone has a vision or even if there's there's this word and that someone brings this message or supposedly that there's a letter from us saying, hey, you know, you missed out and you're you're taking part in the day of the Lord.

Paul says, don't be freaked out about those things. I really like this. I think this is so important because it's kind of like Paul saying, hey, guys, think this through for a minute. Don't get freaked out. Stop and think about this. Don't check your brain at the door. Think this through with me. See, because in verse five, Paul says, do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things?

Paul is saying, look, don't you remember? Stop. Don't just get freaked out. And that's what can happen sometimes, right? We get emotional. We're going through difficult circumstances. You know, all logic and reason goes out the window. And it's just, you know, it feels like this. And someone else says it and supports it. And it makes sense.

Well, it makes us feel like, yeah, that's how I feel. And that's really what was happening with the Thessalonians. But Paul says, wait a minute, wait a minute. Remember what I taught you. Don't be freaked out and soon shaken because someone has said these things and it feels like you're going through this period. No, no. Remember what I have taught you.

Remember, because God is not going to contradict himself. He's revealed his plan. Paul says, hey, we shared it with you. Now, there's not going to be some new revelation that's contrary to that. Oh, never mind. You know, it's not going to happen that way after all. You are going to experience the tribulation. You are going through the day of the Lord. No, no.

Paul says, look, there's some specific things that must take place. Some very specific characteristics about the tribulation that are not in place. And you can tell, you can know that you're not taking part in the day of the Lord. The day of Christ has not come, Paul says. Don't be freaked out. Think about it. Remember with me, Paul is saying, the things that I have taught you. And so in verse 3, he says, let no one deceive you by any means.

No matter what they do, if they have a really slick PowerPoint presentation, well, that doesn't matter. Or they've got a big church following, well, that doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what they do. By any means, let no one deceive you. Paul's reassuring them, you're not in the tribulation period. And he's protecting us because even today there's many false teachings about the end times. There's still some today that teach that the day of Christ had come.

Already, it's past tense, some teach. Some teach that the church is going to go through the tribulation period. Some teach that we are experiencing the millennium, the rolling of Christ in the earth right now.

There's lots of confusion and many other things that we could look at it. End times teaching and the things that go around. But Paul says, hey, don't be soon shaken by those things. Don't be freaked out. Go back to what the word of God says. Don't go back to what reason says or the way that they can tie it into the news articles and projections of the future. Don't don't be confused and shaken by those things. Don't be freaked out.

Go back to what the Word says. Go back to what you were taught. Go back to what God has already revealed and stick to those things and don't be soon shaken. Remember what you've been taught. And again, this is why it's so important to be grounded in the Word of God, to know these things well. Because if we get off track in our understanding of end times, it will affect the way that we live and the relationship that we have with God. Now, one other thing I'd like to point out before we go on to verse 3 is

Paul's referring to two different verses, two different verses, I'm sorry, two different events in verse one. He says in verse one, These are two different things that Paul is talking about, and we'll look at those as we go through our study this morning.

The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, referring to the second coming, when he actually comes and sets foot to earth to establish his kingdom, putting an end to the rebellion of the Antichrist. And the gathering together to him is not that. The gathering together to him is what we studied in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, when we're caught up.

Remember 1 Thessalonians 4, 17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Paul is giving us the order. He's making the distinction. There's some differences in the things that are taking place. And Paul's making sure to point this out. Now,

Some people haven't had time with this, and it's understandable. It's easy for us, again, as I shared, this passage can be a little bit confusing. As we go through it, you'll see a little bit why. But understand that this is really new revelation that God is pouring out. God had given to Paul the ministry of revealing the mysteries, the hidden truths that he wanted to reveal.

It was through Paul that God revealed the Gentile bride, the Gentile part of the bride of Christ and and the unity between Jews and Gentiles in Christ Jesus. And it was also through Paul that God revealed and introduced the subject of the rapture. It's supported by the rest of Scripture, but Paul specifically teaches about it. And he's the one who God chose to use to reveal that to us, to the church. And so again,

This is not things that have been around for many years at this point as Paul is writing these things. And that's important to know because there wasn't even really time yet for appropriate titles to be in place.

They didn't have titles and names for all the events. As we look at, you know, end times and we have the titles and names that we're familiar with that we go, well, we talk about the rapture. Well, at that time, they didn't have something called the rapture. They didn't. They had this event that they knew was going to take place where the church would be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

And Paul used the word to be caught up, which in the Latin is rapturo, which is where we get the word rapture from. And so we've come to know it as the rapture. But it wasn't classified in those terms in that time. And so Paul uses and sometimes he says the gathering together. Sometimes he uses, you know, the catching up. Sometimes he uses we shall be changed for Corinthians 15.

He's using different things to describe the same events. And we know what he's talking about because of the context and because of the things that he's describing. And so sometimes it can be confusing what Paul is talking about. And that's why we need to look at the context, look at what is going on, look at what is being described. And now we know what the rapture is and we can fit it into there or fit it into the second coming of the Lord and so on and so forth. So.

This is one of the reasons why we need to take our time putting this passage together to make sure we have a good, solid understanding of what Paul is talking about. Because it's not like chapters in a book, you know, chapter six, the rapture, and then here's everything on the rapture. But he mentions it and refers to it in different ways throughout the passage. So again, what is the order? Now, I want you...

To be somewhat responsive this morning. So if you're a little bit tired, there's some coffee out in the back table. You can pick some up. Because, again, these are things important for you to know. So what is the order? First, the rapture of the church. Second, the Antichrist is revealed. Third...

The Antichrist presents himself as God. If you haven't written it down yet, you need to write it down. There's pens on the back table or in my office. Help yourself. All right. So first, the rapture. Second, the Antichrist is revealed. Third, the Antichrist presents himself as God. And fourth, the second coming of Jesus Christ. These are the four things that we'll be talking about and putting in their proper order. So let's look at verse three.

Paul says, 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. Paul says, look, the day of Christ has not come because there's something that must happen first, which has not happened. What is that thing that must happen first? It's the falling away. He says the falling away comes first.

Paul says, you can tell, you know, you're not in the day of the Lord because there has not been the falling away that is supposed to come first. Now, what is this falling away? There's a lot of discussion about what this means. And there's two main views. What Paul is referring to when he says this falling away. The first view is that the falling away is a reference to apostasy.

That is a complete turning away from faith in God. That is, in those days or at the last days as this is about to take place, that Paul says before the Antichrist is revealed, there's going to be a big rebellion or a big fallout in the church where people are going to turn from their faith in God. The second view about what this means is,

is that this is not about apostasy, turning away from the faith, but it's actually about the rapture of the church. And this is what I believe. I believe that this verse here, chapter 2, verse 3 of 2 Thessalonians, is talking about the rapture of the church. And I'll share with you why. Three reasons why this is talking about the rapture of the church. Number one, the word that's translated falling away here is the word apostasia in the Greek.

which is where we get the word apostasy from in English. Now, in English, we use the word apostasy to mean a turning away from the faith. That's how we use it today. But that is not how the word had to be used in the Greek language. It meant to depart, to turn away, to fall away, to set apart, to separate away.

A form of this word was used for separation or divorce. It meant a breaking away or a departure. And depending on the context, depending on what it was referring to, would depend on what it was talking about. So separation from one another in divorce or separation from the faith, so on and so forth. That's the word that was in the Greek language. And so you would determine by the context that

What was being referred to by whoever is using the word? Now, you can check this out on your own. I would encourage you to if it interests you at online at pre-trib.com. It's pre-trib.com. It's a website by Thomas Ice, who is a very, very great scholar and so forth of the Greek language and pre-tribulation rapture.

He says this. So the word has the core meaning of departure, and it depends upon the context to determine whether it is used to mean physical departure or an abstract departure, such as departure from the faith. Depending on the context will depend on what the word is talking about. But simply, if you just take the word by itself, it just means a departure. In addition to that, Paul uses a definite article in referring to this departure.

He says the falling away or the departure. It's not a general falling away, but it's a very specific thing that he's talking about. It's a specific departure or falling away. Making reference to, hey guys, the one that I've been talking to you about, the one that I've been telling you about, you know that departure I've been telling you about, that's the one I'm referring to. Before the Antichrist is revealed, first there must be the departure.

A specific one, the one that I've been telling you about. What is that departure, that separation that Paul has been talking to the Thessalonians about? Well, we know from 1 Thessalonians chapters 4 and 5, he's been talking to them about the rapture of the church. Before the Antichrist is revealed, the rapture must take place. The departure must take place first. Let no one deceive you by any means, Paul says, for that day will not come soon.

Unless the departure comes first. So that's the first reason the word falling away really just means departure. And it depends on the context of what he's talking about. The departure, that departure specifically referring to the rapture of the church. The context also indicates to us that this is talking about the rapture. As you look at the passage as a whole.

We've been looking at verses 1 through 3. Verse 4 continues on, talking about the Antichrist. Verse 5 is kind of a side note. Hey, don't you remember these things? And then in verse 6, he says that he may be revealed in his own time. Who's that he? Well, referring back to verse 4, the Antichrist, he's really continuing his train of thought. It's a continuation or an elaboration of

On what Paul has already been talking about. And then as you go in verses 6, 7, 8. Talking about the restraining force. Which is believed to be the work of the Holy Spirit in the church. And when that restraining force is removed. It's a reference to the rapture of the church again. The same event is being described. As you compare verses 7 and 8 and verse 3. You see that the same event is being described. There's something that takes place.

And then the Antichrist is revealed. There's something going on. The falling away, the restraining. And then when that is taken away or when that is taken place, then the Antichrist is revealed. It's the order of events. First, we have the rapture of the church, the departure, the restraining. And when that is taken away, when the Holy Spirit is caught up,

to meet the Lord in the air, through the church, with the church, then the Antichrist will be revealed. And so I believe the context shows and indicates that this is dealing with the rapture of the church. And then the third reason why I believe this is dealing with the rapture is, is it safe? And by it's safe, I mean it's not the only reference to pre-tribulational rapture. You know, it's not as if this wasn't a reference to the rapture that, you know,

Our whole faith would be shaken and all the teaching would be destroyed. There's...

Still a particular event that takes place before the revelation of the Antichrist. If it's a falling away from faith or if it's a falling away in departure and rapture of the church. Either way, it really means the same thing. It's not a big difference either way. This is not the case of torturing a text to get it to say what you want, you know. Beat it up and bloody it until, okay, now it says the thing that I wanted it to say. No, this is not twisting it to try to support, you know, some doctrine that's not taught anywhere else.

No, we know that the rapture takes place before the tribulation period. Even if this is not speaking about the rapture, we have verses 7 and 8, which I just made reference to. We have the Church of Philadelphia, taught in Revelation chapter 3. We have Revelation chapter 4, verse 1, and the rest of the evidence in the book of Revelation that we don't have time to get into.

We have 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5. We have the example and picture of Enoch and the flood in Genesis 5. We have Jesus' command to pray that you'd be counted worthy to escape in Luke 21, 36. And on and on and on we could go. And so it's not, you know, this is the one verse and we have to torture it to get, you know, the right meaning out of it and that's how we can know. It's not. It just supports everything else and it falls in line with what the rest of the Scripture teaches.

So, to sum up, the rapture takes place before the tribulation period, before the day of the Lord, which means that it could happen at any moment. And after this falling away, that's what happens first. Then, back in verse 3, the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. Now we have the revelation of the man of sin, the son of perdition. Who is this man of sin?

Of course, we know this is referring to the Antichrist. He has many different titles throughout Scripture, but we know him most commonly as the Antichrist. He's the world leader who will come, who will step in in a time of crisis and bring a type of peace, will unite the world.

And will ultimately call the world to worship him. He's known as the man of sin, the son of perdition, the lawless one, the prince who is to come, the beast, Revelation, and many other titles throughout the Bible. So it's the order of events. First, the rapture. And then, secondly, the Antichrist is revealed. Now, this revelation, this event, marks the beginning of the seven-year tribulation.

A lot of people think that the rapture of the church is the beginning of the seven-year tribulation. They're probably close and they probably go hand in hand, but according to the word, what actually starts the seven-year tribulation is the revelation of the Antichrist. Because of Daniel 9, verses 24-27. If you're not familiar with that portion of scripture, get familiar with that portion of scripture. Daniel 9, verses 24-27.

There we have what is known as the 70 weeks of Daniel. The 70 weeks of Daniel. A week not referring to seven days, but seven years. It's a total of 490 years. Now, of those 490 years that's made reference to there in Daniel chapter 9, 483 have been fulfilled. They've taken place according to what Daniel prophesied.

But there's seven years left. There's one week, one set of seven years that is yet to be fulfilled. And that week starts, that week begins, Daniel tells us in Daniel 9.27, then he, that is the prince who is to come,

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week or for seven years. This is the seven year period that we call the tribulation. It's a seven year period that's known as Jacob's trouble. It's the seven year period that we're looking at. And Paul is dealing with as he's writing to the second Thessalonians. This is the day of the Lord that's referred to throughout scripture. And Daniel says he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week.

The 483 years were fulfilled when Jesus Christ rode in to Jerusalem on a donkey. It was fulfilled when he was crucified and cast off for his people. And it's as if the timer stopped. Those 483 years were concurrent. They all happened one right after the other. But there's been a great pause for a couple thousand years where God is dealing with the church.

The bride of Christ and preparing the bride of Christ for his son, Jesus Christ. And when God is done preparing the bride of Christ, when the number of Gentiles is fulfilled, then the church will be caught up, taken out of the way. And God will again start the clock for the nation of Israel.

Going into the 70th week of Daniel, or the last seven-year period of Daniel's prophecy, the seven-year tribulation. The beginning of which is when the Antichrist signs the covenant with many. This is when he will be revealed. This is way after, long after the church is gone. So, what is the order? First, the rapture of the church. You guys sound real excited about it, too. Okay.

Come on, I need you to be responsive. You need to know these things. What happens first? The rapture of the church. Good. What happens second? The Antichrist is revealed. Very good. Let's move on to verse 4. Continuing to speak about the Antichrist, it says, "...who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

It's interesting. God is mentioned so many times in this verse, but it's not talking about God at all. It's talking about this man who presents himself as God. And this is the third order of events that Paul is dealing with. First, the rapture. Then the Antichrist is revealed. And here, third, the Antichrist presents himself as God.

The Antichrist revealed marks the beginning of the seven-year tribulation. That's what starts the 70th week of Daniel. But here in verse 4, what is described is,

When the Antichrist presents himself as God, this marks the middle of the seven-year tribulation. After the first three and a half years, the Antichrist will present himself as God in the temple. This is the event that Jesus is referring to in Matthew chapter 24, verses 15 and 16. He says, Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, Daniel chapter 9, standing in the holy place...

Whoever reads, let him understand. And then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Jesus says there's going to be a horrible event, the abomination of desolation. What is it? It's when the Antichrist comes and stands in the holy place. Or as it says in verse four, in the temple, he's going to go into the temple and present himself as God. He's going to demand the entire world to worship him.

Now, again, we know him as the Antichrist. Anti does not just mean against, but it can also mean in place of. Not only is he against God, but he will present himself in place of God. Worship me instead of God. Worship me instead of Jesus Christ.

He will be against the Lord, but also seeking to replace the Lord. This man, the man of sin, will be empowered and inspired by Satan and will present himself in place of Christ to be worshipped as God. It says he opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped.

You know, it's easy to note and to look around and see that the world seems to be moving more and more to a worldwide religion. There's much effort to kind of bring everything together, everybody together, kind of put down the differences and just hold on to the similarities between the different religions and all, you know, gather together as one big happy family.

You know, there's much effort of people sharing that all paths just lead to God. You know, they all teach the same thing and so on and so forth. And this definitely is preparation for the one world religion that will come. But understand as well that what Paul is talking about here is not just a uniting of all the world religions, but a replacing of all the world religions, because the Antichrist will exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped.

He's not going to present himself as Allah, but he's going to exalt himself above Allah. He's not going to present himself as Jehovah, but going to exalt himself above Jehovah. He's going to present himself above everything else that he is the one to be worshipped. And so all those other religions will be put aside in order to worship this man, the Antichrist. In Revelation chapter 3, or 13 rather, we read about the beast, the

And another beast, the first beast being the Antichrist, the second beast being the false prophet who comes alongside the Antichrist to point all of the world to worship. It says in Revelation 13, 12, and he that is the false prophet exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence and causes all the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast and

which is the Antichrist, whose deadly wound was healed. So first, the rapture of the church. Second, the Antichrist is revealed. Third, in the middle of the tribulation period, the Antichrist presents himself as God. And then in verse 5, Paul says, Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? Quick reminder, Paul says, Hey guys, remember, don't you remember what I told you when I was there? Again, this is so important.

There's not going to be some new revelation from God that is contrary to what he has already given. We have the scriptures. So do not be deceived. Do not be soon shaken. It's kind of like what Paul said to the Galatians. Hey, if someone comes and preaches a different gospel than what you received, let them be accursed. Don't have anything to do with them. People will come and present different gospels. People will come and present different end times events, different claims, different

It's not going to be a new revelation. We have the full revelation of God here in his word. And this needs to be our authority. This is what we need to stick to. There's not going to be a new gospel or a different gospel. There's not going to be a new revelation of end times. We have it all right here in the word. Verse six. And now, you know, what is restraining that he may be revealed in his own time.

Again, that who may be revealed, we're still dealing with the Antichrist. Continuing on from verse 4, he's going to be revealed, but there is a restraining. This man who will present himself as God, he will not yet be revealed and cannot be revealed because there is something restraining. There is something keeping the Antichrist from being revealed. What could that be? Verse 7,

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. He who now restrains. It's not a it that's restraining or a what is restraining. It's who is restraining. He who now restrains will do so. He'll keep on restraining until he is taken out of the way. Now, think about this for just a moment. Who is the only one who can resist lawlessness?

or restrain the work of Satan. Who can restrain the work of the devil? Can you? I can't. Not even Michael the archangel. If you remember in Jude chapter 1, where Michael is disputing with the devil over the body of Moses. I'm starting to teach blasphemy. He's disputing with the devil over the body of Moses. And it says that he dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, the Lord rebuke you.

Not even Michael, the archangel, the chief of the angels, can restrain the devil. The only one who can is God. It's not Michael. It's definitely not you or me. It's the Lord who's restraining. It's a reference to the Lord, specifically the Holy Spirit.

As the Holy Spirit is preparing the bride of Christ, he is holding back the work of the enemy, bringing as many as will come to a saving knowledge of God. But at some point he will be taken out of the way. When will that be? Go ahead and answer. It's responsive. When will that be? When will the Holy Spirit be removed in a way that he will not be restraining any longer?

The rapture of the church. His work in the church is complete. Now, it doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit member is omnipresent. The Holy Spirit will still be here. But his work in the church, his work restraining the work of the enemy so that he may perfect and present the bride of Christ will be finished. It will be completed. The church will be in heaven with the Lord. And then, with that restraining force gone, lawlessness will be unleashed.

And the lawless one will be revealed when he's finished gathering up the bride, when the church is caught up to the Lord, then the restraining will be gone. Then the Antichrist will be revealed. Look at verse eight. And then notice the then it's not until after that the church will not see the Antichrist. And 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.

It's afterwards, after the rapture of the church, that the lawless one will be revealed. It's not until after the church is taken out of the way that the Antichrist is revealed. I keep repeating it because it's so important. We're not to be looking for Antichrist. We're to be looking for Jesus Christ. The rapture of the church is the next event on the prophetic calendar. Now, the Antichrist will come upon the scene. He will be a great world leader that will come and bring really a false peace and

Everyone will worship him. He'll be empowered by the devil. And he'll reign on this earth for seven years. These seven years are known as the Tribulation, the Day of the Lord, the 70th week of Daniel, Jacob's Trouble, and many other ways throughout Scripture.

We find references to these things in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Revelation 6-19, Daniel 9-12, Isaiah 2, Joel 2, Amos 5, Zephaniah 1, and of course we could go on and on and on. This is a major event prophesied through the scriptures.

Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 24, 21, For then there will be great tribulations such as not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor shall ever be. It's going to be the worst thing the world has ever seen. Worse than the flood. Worse than the Holocaust. Worse than anything else that you can imagine. It's going to be hell on earth for those seven years. It's going to be terrible. And it will conclude with the return of Jesus Christ to earth.

He says he will consume him with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming. The reign of the Antichrist, that seven year tribulation period, will be concluded when Jesus Christ comes again and sets foot here on this earth. He will cast down the Antichrist and his armies. We find this in Revelation chapter 19. As they're gathered together for the battle of Armageddon, Jesus Christ comes back.

And they turn their weapons upon the Lord and he wipes them out. He consumes them with the breath of his mouth and destroys them with the brightness of his coming. So what is the order? First? Very good. Second? Keep it up. Three?

Very good. Fourth, the second coming of Jesus Christ. These are the events that Paul is dealing with here. This is the order. It will not change. It cannot change. For them to change would be contrary to the word of God. So don't be soon shaken. Now, turn with me to Matthew chapter 24 in closing. Matthew chapter 24.

Here in Matthew chapter 24, Jesus is talking about the great tribulation. And for your homework, I would like you to spend some time in Matthew 24 and 25 this week. Spend some time, put these things together, consider them, contemplate them, pray over them, because it's very important what you believe and that you're able to pass these things on to others.

In Matthew 24, Jesus is talking to his disciples about the signs of the end of the age. He's talking to them about the great tribulation. But when he concludes that, he gives them three parables. And I want to share these briefly with you. We won't read through them, but I'll just make reference to them. Because these three parables are really the so what of this morning.

So we know this is the order. So what? Now what? What does that mean to us? Why is it so important that we know this is the order of end times events? Well, Jesus is explaining the tribulation period. He's explaining the horrors that will come and the things that will be there. And then he shares three parables to point out this is what you and I need to do about it. No.

Knowing this and understanding this, we need to. But there's also the next step. OK, now what? What do I do now that I know this is the order, that these are the things? Well, the first parable he gives is at the end of Matthew 24, verses 45 through 51. If you have titles in your Bible, it says the faithful servant and the evil servant. The faithful servant is the one who

Verse 45, who then is a faithful and wise servant whom the master made ruler over his household to give them food in due season? Verse 46, blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find him so doing.

So the good servant, the faithful servant, is the one who is faithful doing what his master asked him to do. And he finds him doing that when he comes back. But, verse 48, but if that evil servant says in his heart, my master is delaying his coming. Who's the evil servant? The one who says, my master is delaying his coming. See, if we get out of line in our end times, it will...

Turn us into we will begin to live as the evil servant. If we're not looking for Jesus Christ, if the rapture is not what's going to be taking place, then here's what we're in danger of. My master is delaying his coming. He's not. Jesus isn't coming back soon. There's going to be some other things. There's going to be some other events that take place. I don't have to be ready for my master to come back.

The first thing that we learn from this parable is what Jesus was just teaching in the prior verses. We need to be watching like the faithful servant, ready, looking for his coming, believing Jesus Christ is coming back soon. Understand that, believe that, hold on to that so that you will find yourself faithful, doing what God has called you to do, that when Jesus comes, he'll find you doing the things that he's asked you to do.

That's the state that we want to be in when Jesus comes back, doing the things that he's asked us to do. The evil servant is the one who says, hey, my master is delaying. He begins to beat his fellow servants to eat and drink with the drunkards and so on and so forth. And when the master comes, he's not ready. He's not prepared. Be ready. That's the second thing we learn from Jesus's parables. Number one, we need to watch. Be watching.

The Lord's not delaying his coming. The second thing is to be ready. And that's found in chapter 25, verses 1 through 13. The parable of the wise and the foolish virgins. The young maidens. Ten virgins. Five wise, five foolish. You know the story. Five brought extra oil for their lamp. Five didn't. And so when the time came and they woke up, those who had oil for their lamp, they were ready. They trimmed their lamps. They were able to go in with the bridegroom.

But those who didn't, they woke up, their lamps were out, they had to go buy oil. By the time they got back, the gates were already closed. Jesus' point, be ready. Pack your bags. Are you ready to go? Jesus could come back at any moment. Are you packed? Do you have extra oil? Are you prepared right now to be caught up together with the Lord in the clouds? We need to be ready. We know what's next. We know what's coming. What's the first event that's going to happen?

The rapture of the church. There's not something else that needs to take place in between. We need to be watching. We need to be ready. We need to have our bags packed and have a real sense. Jesus could come back today. He's coming back soon. He's not delaying his coming, but he's on his way. And then the third parable that Jesus tells, found in verses 14 through 30, the parable of the talents. You're familiar with this one as well, probably. The master was going away.

He calls three servants and he says, I'm going away. Here's some money. Put it to use. And when I come back, you'll give an account for it. So he goes away. The servants put it to use. Two of them double what they were given. The other one says, I'm kind of nervous and scared. He just buries it in the ground. When the master comes back to the first two, he says, hey, well done, good and faithful servant. You've been faithful to little. I'm placing you in charge over much.

But to that last servant, he says, you wicked and lazy servant. The last point from these parables, serve the Lord. Don't be the wicked and lazy servant. And we could talk a lot about what these parables mean and how that impacts our life. I would challenge you again. This is your homework. Read Matthew 24 and 25. Meditate on these things because Jesus is coming back soon.

You need to be watching like the faithful servant. You need to be ready like the wise virgins. You need to be serving the Lord like the good servants, the faithful servants who put what their master had given them to use and got back double for it. Are you ready? Are you watching? Are you serving? Because Jesus Christ is coming back. After that,

It's got to be horrible. The tribulation period, the revelation of the Antichrist, him proclaiming himself as God, the second coming of Jesus Christ. Those are days you do not want to see. Don't wait to then to try to be committed to the Lord, to be watching and be ready and be serving. No, the time is now. Are you ready? Are your bags packed? Are you watching? He's not delaying his coming. Are you serving and doing the things that he's called you to do? Let's pray. Heavenly Father,

Lord, your word tells us to prepare ourselves, to remember these things, to not be soon shaken, but not to be distracted or forgetful. Lord, I pray that you would help us to keep these things on the forefront of our hearts and minds. God, that we would remember you are coming again quickly. You're coming again soon. Jesus, you could come today. And so, Lord, we look for your coming. That's our hope for when we get to be with you.

to forever be with the Lord. So Jesus, we pray, we cry, come quickly. We ask, Lord, come quickly. And Lord, as you fix our eyes and hearts on your coming, help us to be watching. Help us to be ready. Help us to be serving you, knowing that the time is short. It's near, even at the doors, that you're going to be coming again. God, may it stir us to reach out to those who are lost.

May it stir us to reach out to our neighbors and our coworkers and our family. Lord, may it stir us to draw close to you and spend time with you in your word and worship and prayer. God, may it stir us to serve you, reaching out, ministering, dying to ourselves. Lord, may we live as you've called us to live because we know you're coming quickly. Thank you, Lord, that we have hope. Thank you, Lord.

for your death upon the cross, which enables us to be ready, to be watching. Not fearful of this day, but excited and spurred on with anticipation of what you're going to do. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen.

We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of His Word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.