Don't Forget

The man of lawlessness...

Now concerning the last days, we encourage you as followers of Christ to not let your mind be shaken or alarmed, either by a spirit (trend, social atmosphere) or a spoken word or a letter that seems to come from those viewed as leaders of the CHURCH, to the effect that Christ has returned as Messiah. Because that day will not come before the tribulation and the anti-Christ has been revealed. Do not let ANYONE deceive you to believe that the appearing of the anti-Christ is the  return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The man of lawlessness (the anti-christ).. the son of destruction, who opposes all that God has spoken (the Word of God, the Bible), and exalts himself against every so-called god (every religion) or object of worship, so that he takes his seat proclaiming himself to be God. Remember that I told you these things while I was with you. (Don’t forget them, pay attention).

You know what is keeping him from taking power now, restraining him so that he may be revealed in his time. For lawlessness is already at work (even tho it is not openly exposed yet). Only he who now restrains it (the Holy Spirit) will do so until he (the Holy Spirit performing a specific role during the age of Grace, when Christ sent him to assist the witness and spread of the Gospel).. is out of the way (that role will end as the age of Grace ends and the tribulation begins).

Then the lawless one (anti-Christ) will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth (truth, speaking judgment, the word of God) and bring the anti-Christ to nothing by the appearance of the Lord Jesus (as he returns to the earth, when the time of tribulation ends).

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders (don’t be duped by the supernatural.. Satan is able to appear as an angel of light and to manipulate spiritual things to a point).. and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (those who have rejected Christ), because they refused to love the truth and to be saved from the second death, eternal separation from God (who is the only light in the darkness, the only thing that is good.. they will forever be condemned to torment, never to know light or goodness again.. only the memory of their rebellion against God).

Therefore, God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false. In order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (sin and rebellion against God, living for self)… (God gives them what they want according to the measure they want it.. he gives them their hearts desire paralleled to their passion to have it. They want to believe the deception, are determined to believe the deception, as an act of rebellion and pride that they are gonna believe what they want, and live how they want, and worship what they want. And God lets them believe the lie, gives them the desires of their evil hearts because they absolutely refuse the truth and goodness he extends to them).

Stand Firm

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, followers of Christ, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved (during the age of Grace, simply by believing all that God said, by faith.. others will be saved during the tribulation, but it will cost them much, beheadings and such)… through sanctification (you chose to walk out a process of becoming more and more like Christ, and dying to the sinful choices you could have continued in, like those who are perishing chose… even tho God offered goodness to all)..  your sanctification was by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Amen.

 (see 2 Thessalonians 2)