THE DAY OF THE LORD
2 THESSALONIANS 2
JULY 12, 1992

INTRODUCTION

A. No new subjects in 2 Thess. : errors in views of the "parousia"

1. Some taught that it had happened
2. False letters, prophecies, reports

B. Loafers & busybodies continuing to destroy
C. Paul's second letter continues to reinforce the teaching of the first

I. SOME ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED (1-2)

A. Tension about the second coming

1. They had become "Shaken in mind" and "Troubled"

Second Coming should:

a. Comfort (1 Thess 4:18)
b. Build up (I Thess 5:11)
c. Motivate to good works (2Thess 2:17)

2. False sources:

a. "Spirit" or "prophecy" -- place of prophecy in the NT diff than the OT
b. "Report" -- i.e. witnesses without any evidence
c. "Letter" -- false letter from Paul

B. What we know with certainty: Jesus is coming back

II. THE APOSTASY, THE MAN OF SIN, AND THE RESTRAINER (3-5)

A. The Apostasy (3)

1. "Departure" as in rebellion & a physical leaving or theological departure
2. "Departure" as in a rapture -- weak case
3. Theology of the Jews was that an apostasy would occur

B. The Man of Sin (3)

[Little Horn: Dan 8; Prince: Dan 9; King: Dan 11; the Beast Rev 13]
1. "Lawlessness" and therefore doomed to "destruction"
2. Will be revealed as opposed to Jesus' revelation of Himself (he is there now...)
3. Will "oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped"
4. Will "set himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." figuratively, literally, both

C. The Restrainer (6-7)

1. Problem: they already knew what Paul was talking about, so some info is missing
2. St. Augustine in City of God, chapter 20 said, "I admit the meaning of this completely escapes me."
3. Clues: Holy Spirit, Church, another spirit being

III. THE COMING & VICTORY OF CHRIST (8-12)

A. Anti-Christ: revealed (8a, 10)

1. In accord with Satan
2. Counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders
3. Deceptive evil (10) Satan is the father of lies, "angel of light"
e.g. the temptation in the garden -- Gen. 3

B. Anti - Christ destroyed

1. By the "Breath of HIS mouth" or "sword" out of HIS mouth (Rev 19:15)
[Power of the Word: Heb 4:12; Rev 12:11]
2. By the "splendor of His coming" (i.e. his parasias)

C. The Depth of Sin (10-12)

1. "they refused to love the truth and so be saved"
e.g. Romans 1:18-21
2. the "have delighted in wickedness"
e.g. Romans 2: 32 "they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."
3. Believe "the lie"
God's judgment will be deception i.e. in Romans when at each step people are given over to the sin they perpetuate

IV. THE GOOD NEWS

A. We are looking for the "Blessed Hope" not a tribulation period (Titus 2:13)
B. We are looking for "the gathering together unto Him" i.e. the rapture (I Thess 4:17)
C. We are "not appointed unto wrath" (I Thess 5:9)
D. We are "closer than when we first believed" (Rom. 13:11)