The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #5146 KC2Thes1

The apostle Paul talked about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ in every chapter of his first letter to the Thessalonians.

However, even though the Thessalonians continued to remain steadfast in their faith and charity despite severe persecutions and tribulations, there remained some wavering and confusion among them and a lack of clear understanding regarding the second advent and our gathering back to Jesus Christ, which some still believed was imminent.

There were several reasons for this which Paul addresses in chapter 2.

Let's jump ahead and see what they are:

2 Thes. 2:2
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.
Some among them professed to have revelations and know from the "spirit" that Christ was returning soon while others claimed that is precisely what Paul told them when he was with them.

And although there may have just been a misunderstanding of Paul's first letter, as there obviously is today among the majority of Christians, it appears there had also been an unauthorized use of the apostle Paul's name, possibly even a forged a letter "as from us" referred to in vs. 2:2, for in vs. 3:17 Paul points out that he is "authenticating" this second letter with his own handwriting so there is no doubt it came from him.

Yes, some people will go to any lengths to support their own agendas and doctrines, even by lying and using deceptive practices and devices.

That should come as no surprise to any wise person who follows either politics and/or religion today!

Actually deceptive practices should be considered carefully in these last days because one should be fully aware that artful deception can be practiced much easier, on a wider scale, and with even more believability today than ever before.

For example, the technology exists this very day to not only play video and audio sound bytes out of context to make it appear someone said something they did not (a regular practice of the mainstream media), but to actually create video and audio files that show someone being somewhere they have never been or saying something which they have never said.

Ever watch the movie "Forrest Gump"?

And did you know that you can cut and paste spoken words from an audio file at home on you very own PC just like you cut and paste written words in a document file.

Just wait until the master of deception arrives.

The question to consider is this, "Would seeing or hearing a man or woman you have trusted as a teacher speak contrary to the word of God sway you from the truth?" Hopefully not!

So in this second letter to the Thessalonians Paul is going to set the record straight once and for all concerning the events that MUST take place before Jesus Christ returns.

Not only that, but as Dr. E.W. Bullinger notes in his introductory remarks to 2nd Thessalonians in the Companion Bible, pg. 1795, "The prophecy is given in such language that the simplest reader may understand".

That was his scholarly way of saying this is a "no-brainer"!

2 Thes. 1:1
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Silas and Timothy are still with Paul which shows that this letter was also written from Corinth and not very long after Paul wrote the first one in 52 or 53 AD.

Again, it was written to repair the damage done by false teachers, just as it should be used today to repair the damage done by the many false teachers who have come in His name (Mk. 13, Mat. 24), i.e. as Christian ministers, and espouse a different doctrine concerning the second advent than the one written in the second chapter of this epistle.

[2] Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let it be known that these words of Paul's which follow are graciously given to us by God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore let them be your authority for those things which you choose to believe and not the words and theories of man.

[3] We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
The Thessalonians were certainly a lovable and caring group of people.

It even shows in their sincere and unselfish concern for desiring to know what would happen to their loved ones who had died before Christ returned, which Paul explained in chapter 4 of his first letter to them.

Also, Paul and his companions had been praying for the Thessalonians and they were extremely thankful and overjoyed for the precious fruit that grew in Thessalonica.

2 Thes. 2:4
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
You can just see and feel from Paul's words how happy He was.

He and Timothy and Silas were proud, in a righteous sense, of the Thessalonians because those wonderful folks remained patient and faithful while withstanding severe persecutions and tribulations brought about by the Jews (kenites), which you can read about in Acts 17:5-9.

It was a tough period of time to be a Christian.

Take heed!

Then too there were evidently trouble makers within and false preachers who were trying to teach the Thessalonians that the second advent was at hand.

Others, believing it to be so, refused to work and mooched off the charity of others while awaiting the Messiah. Paul will have a few words for them later on in chapter 3.

Here is what the Word of God says concerning enduring persecution and tribulation for His sake:

2 Thes. 1:5
Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
Hey, if you suffer persecution and tribulation for righteousness sake you should be happy, for that in itself declares the righteous judgment of God.

In other words, by suffering at the hands of the wicked you have proved yourself and your Father counts you worthy of the kingdom while at the same time you have become a witness against those persecutors showing just cause for the punishment they shall receive on the Day of Vengeance when the King of kings and Lord of lords returns.

As it is written, our Father is no respecter of persons, which means He is completely fair, which means His judgment is righteous, which means everyone will get exactly what they have coming to them.

Meanwhile the wicked always seem to prosper in their corruption, don't they?

But then, when it's all over at the "shouting", that is all they will ever have had.

What a shame!

Here is what the apostle Peter who loved the wisdom in Paul's writing (2 Pet. 3:15) has to say about suffering for righteousness sake:

1 Peter 3:14
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
[15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Be knowledgeable in His Word and always be prepared to teach someone the truth using wisdom and common sense.

Then too, never be afraid to tell it like it is.

[16] Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
Their day is coming and they will receive their just "rewards".

Meanwhile, let us do as Paul instructed us in his first letter and always "follow after that which is good."

2 Thes. 1:6
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
God takes care of His own.

Again, it is completely fair (a righteous thing) that the wicked shall receive tribulation in return for that which they "dished out".

You know the old saying, "If you dish it out, you better be able to take it!"

You see, a person actually declares his or her own judgment by his or her own actions whether it be persecution or condemnation, etc.

That is one reason why you should always "do unto to others as you would have others do unto you" because that which you do unto others will be done unto you.

In other words, it's coming back to you!

Matthew 7:1
Judge not, that ye be not judged.

[2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

It doesn't get any fairer than that!
2 Thes. 1:7
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
Jesus Christ is our rest, which is to say He is our sabbath, which means "rest".

We may suffer trials and tribulations and persecutions for a time while we dwell in these flesh bodies while at the same time the wicked may revel in their piles of gold and silver.

But know this: When the 7th Trump sounds it will be Payday for some and Paybacks for others who will receive the pouring out of His wrath.

[8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Yes, God is a "consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29) and the Lord appeared in a "flame of fire" in a bush to Moses (Acts 7:30) and Christ's eyes are described as a "flame of fire" in Rev. 1:14, but Paul is describing exactly the same thing John describes in Revelation 14 concerning that "hour of judgment" (vs. 7), that Day of Vengeance when the wrath of God is poured out on the ungodly "and they shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:" (Rev. 14:10).

So you might say that flaming fire will be "red hot" when He returns.

2 Thes. 1:9
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Again, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes at the last Trump, the 7th Trump, it will be both a day of rejoicing for God's children and a day of just recompense for the wicked.
[10] When He shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Do you, will you, believe the clear and simple testimony of the apostle Paul in these last days concerning the return of Jesus Christ or do you, will you, believe the popular "He-can-return-at-any-moment" theories that men who claim to represent Christ teach before their congregations instead of "reading this epistle unto all the holy brethren" (1 The. 5:27)?

We are going to read it!

Then you can decide for yourself!

2 Thes. 1:11
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
Are you worthy of His calling?

You are if you are a doer of His Word and not a hearer only.

You see, we MUST exercise the power He has given us and work our faith, because as the apostle James said, "faith without works is dead", like a dead battery, i.e. there is no power!

Stay plugged into His Word and you will always be charged up.

And let us pray for one another and edify one another and do His will.

That makes our Father so happy and He blesses us.

[12] That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us all bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ according to the grace (which means "graciousness") of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In other words He is so good (gracious) to us and He blesses us far beyond that which we even comprehend.

If you are one of His, just wait until you see your "resting place" (mansion) which He has prepared for you when He returns (vs. 7).

John 14:2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
[3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Well, Jesus did go and He is coming again and as Paul said in the closing verses of his first epistle (1 Thes. 5:24), "He will do it!"

That means He has prepared a mansion, a resting place, for you!

Goodness Gracious!

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them {the ancient Israelites} for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

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