CROSSING The T’s STUDY in 2 THESSALONIANS aka PROPHETIC and PERSONAL Perspectives – PART 4 of 4; 2 THESSALONIANS - Ch. 3

PROPHETIC and PERSONAL Perspectives from 2 THESSALONIANS - PART 4
STUDY # 3 – 2 THESSALONIANS 3:1-18: 

The Perspective of GOD's WORK ENABLED IN US

INTRODUCTION: This epistle might be referred to as 3rd Thessalonians, but not really. There may have been a forgery supposedly from Paul but actually from an impostor, and that might have been why the Thessalonian church was confused on certain matters. This was alluded to in Ch. 2:2 (“not by letter as by us”).

This letter was written by Paul shortly after the first letter to the Thessalonian saints; both around A.D. 51.

Theme: The Day of the LORD (This phrase is also seen in JOEL 1:15; 2 PET 3:10 and REV 19:19 and elsewhere). This phrase refers to that period of time when God actively and openly begins to deal with the people of the Earth in judgment, beginning with the Jew and then the Gentile as portrayed in REVELATION 6–19.

It begins with (1) the translation of the church or rapture (“bride of Christ”) from Earth to Heaven and culminates at (2) the Great White Throne Judgment with the 70th week of Daniel (“time of Jacob's trouble” JER 30:7) in which the world will see the 7 year reign of anti-Christ or “the man of sin” (2 THESS 2:3) occurring between those two points.

The saints at Thessalonica were anxious because they thought that the Day of the LORD was upon them, but Paul corrects this misunderstanding in explaining that two crucial events must first happen before this occurs; we will see what those things are in 2 THESSALONIANS 3.
Outline: Intro: 1:1-4;
SECTION I – Comfort in persecution: 1:5-12
SECTION II – The Day of the LORD vs. the man of sin: 2:1-12
SECTION III – Exhortations and instructions: 2:13-3:15; Conclusion: 3:16-18.

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The MILLENNIUM: REIGN of the MESSIAH - Part One

By James Fire

Christians have long been known to warn this weary, sin-laden planet of 'REPENT! The End of the World is Nigh!'* (sadly though, less and less it seems today) and usually those who proclaim such are seen as “doom and gloomers” who are stereo-typically seen with such slogans on placard boards hanging over their chests. 

Certainly the time ahead when the anti-Christ rules the One World System, empowered by the spirit of Satan, bringing all human souls into subjugation is quite grim to say the least! Scripture speaks abundantly of woes and tribulations such as pestilences, wars, famines as well as disasters like heavenly bodies crashing into the Earth, bizarre demonic creatures plaguing mankind with tormenting stings and unimaginably powerful earthquakes that will level entire cities. 

* The 'end of the world' in terms of the actual destruction of planet Earth is an event that won't be happening for some one thousand years plus seven at the very least. What is meant by this term in biblical language is not the literal end of the planet, but the end of an age. We are currently living in the age of mankind in secular terms, and the age of the church (or the age of grace) in spiritual terms. We are heading towards the age of the 70th week of Daniel (a period of only 7 years) and the Day of Christ (The age of God the Son), Who is coming to rule this world.

The argument has been made before that history is replete with wars, and disasters, famines and diseases – what's so remarkable about these prophecies in the Scriptures?
I always refer people who have asked such questions to MATTHEW 24:8 . . . 

“8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Sorrows as in birth pangs, or a “woman in travail” There are numerous Old Testament passages that use this phrase, or something similar; likewise there are a number of Scriptures found in the New Testament that use this expression:

JOHN 16:21 

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 

1 THESSALONIANS 5:3

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

In the above two passages these same birth pangs are mentioned, but with two different results; in the latter case, we see “sudden destruction” upon those who are alive to see such days with the somber promise that they will not escape but face judgment for their sins. 

In the former passage, we see that after the sorrow has passed, there is joy for the repentant saints, because of a new born child that's come as a result of the birth pangs. But these global birth pangs mirror labor pains as witnessed in any delivery room: starting out relatively mild and far apart, then increasing in intensity and frequency. This is what all of these prophecies hinge upon, the 8th verse of MATTHEW 24.

We may fairly conclude then that for those who reject Christ Jesus, such 'doom and gloom' proclamations are just that – because they have no hope at all during that time which is fast approaching; nor can they have any hope once it's all over and Christ has returned if they stubbornly refuse salvation by the Lamb of God!

For those of us who are redeemed however, the Second Coming of Christ is called “the blessed hope” (TITUS 2:13), because it signifies the end of sinful man's reign over the Earth, and even more so, the abrupt halt of Satan's vindictive and cruel reign as “the god of this world” (2 COR. 4:4).

Once Christ returns He will set everything in order; bringing down the corrupt, satanically exalted and evil influences, powers, infrastructures and institutions of rebellious mankind and establishing His own reign of righteousness with all holiness, purity, justice, mercy and grace (ISA 40:4; 44:23; LUKE 3:5)!  

Such sublime joy indeed which will cause the saints to forget all of the anguish, persecution and suffering they've had to endure during the wicked time of Daniel's Seventieth Week (a.k.a. The Time of Jacob's [Israel's] Trouble) lasting seven years or even the persecution that Christians are suffering today and throughout the church age - Christians are experiencing these things today in most of the world already, and we here in America may well see such times in our own land before the LORD Jesus Christ catches us at the rapture of the church (which may happen at any moment).Thus, it would be wise to  prepare for any potential outbreak of persecution, which is promised to those who will “live godly in Christ Jesus” (2 TIM. 3:12).

So then, what is this “Millennium” all about? What is its purpose – for Israel? and for the church? What will transpire during this time? Will it be 'heaven on earth' then without any trace of sin, corruption and rebellion? Will everyone be saved at that time? Will the church be in heaven or will we be here back on Earth? These questions and many, many more we will ponder and seek the LORD in His Word for answers, in this series, The MILLENNIUM: REIGN of the MESSIAH!

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The FOUR Primary Offices of The LORD GOD YHWH - Third Office: JUDGE

by James Fire

By the intent of God's holy will, He has revealed Himself intimately through His Word, the Holy Scriptures; we turn to these and learn of the four primary offices of the LORD GOD YHWH:

The offices of GOD as:
1) Creator God
2) LORD
3) Judge
4) Redeemer  

The third office of these four, that deals with God as the JUDGE, is the one that we'll now continue with in this series. We will be addressing this thought as we pore over Scripture and discover what they tell us about God Who is “ . . . the JUDGE of the whole Earth . . .”
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