Christ’s Return and Standing Firm — 2 Thess 2 Daily Word

Paul urges believers not to fear the Lord’s return.

This is because the Lord’s return is the completion of salvation and a spiritual celebration. Thus, verse 1 speaks of our being gathered before Christ at His coming. Jesus prophesied in
(Mark 13:27) that when the Lord returns, He will gather His people from the four winds: [27] And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. (Mark 13:27, ESV)

The Apostle Paul also tells the believers of the Thessalonian church that they must know the Word of God correctly. This is because, as stated in verse 2, forged letters falsely attributed to Paul were being circulated at that time, and certain fanatics within the church were spreading false teachings and leading people astray. Therefore, Paul exhorts them not to be easily shaken in mind or alarmed by such things.

In fact, Jesus had already spoken of such apostasy as a sign of His return. [10] And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. [11] And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. [12] And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. (Matt 24:10-12, ESV) These false prophets are referred to in today’s passage as “the man of lawlessness.” This man of lawlessness refers to the Antichrist, who exalts himself as God.

Throughout history, there have been many antichrists who persecuted the gospel in their respective eras. In Paul’s own time, the Roman Emperor Caligula (Caligula, AD 37–41) was one such figure. He claimed to be a god and attempted to erect a statue of himself in the Jerusalem temple. It is against such a figure that Paul declares in verse 4, [4] 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. (2 Thess 2:4, ESV)

Caligula’s plan to exalt himself above God was never realized, as he was assassinated by his own subjects. Though he craved to be worshiped as the highest being, he died ingloriously by the sword of his servants, thereby proving that he was no god. Paul explains that this was because his time had not yet come. The man of lawlessness who opposes the Second Coming had not yet appeared, and therefore the Second Coming had not yet taken place.

The Antichrist will rise not only throughout human history but also at the time of the Lord’s return, and will cause many believers to stumble. Knowing this, Jesus declares in (Matt 24:13), “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Indeed, God is the One who sovereignly governs all of history. This is to say that even the man of lawlessness and the Antichrist exist within the providence and plan of God. When the Lord comes, those who hold only a shallow faith will be deceived by the powers and miracles performed by Satan.

Why does the God of salvation test believers just before the final judgment?

It is to separate the weeds hidden among believers, just as one sifts out the chaff from the grain. [12] in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess 2:12, ESV) In other words, the faith required in these last days is not a shallow or halfhearted faith. We need the discernment to clearly distinguish between the powers, signs, and wonders performed by Satan and the power of God. Therefore, what we truly need is not to focus on visible miracles themselves, but to fix our eyes on the God who performs those miracles.

Prayers arising from our daily lives