2 Thes 2

I am doing a bit of revision and also thinking of some questions to ask my lecturer on Monday. I was glad to stumble on these verses and ponder on them:

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 (NASB95)
¹ Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming (Gk Transliterated parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, ² that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.  ³ Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

- The situation here is that the Thessalonians are shaken and disturbed that the day of the Lord has come. Apparently, there might be a false letter by some writers trying to impersonated Paul, with the intent to deceive them that the day of the Lord has come. The implication for them is that they have missed their rapture!!!

- However, in this letter to them, Paul reminded them that the day of the Lord is not here yet because the apostasy has not yet come, the man of lawlessness not revealed yet.

- NOTE:  Therefore, the day of the Lord comes after the man of lawlessness

- This is a reminder because when Paul was with them, he had already told them these things (v5)

 
⁵ Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?
⁶ And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.
⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. ⁸ Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming (parousia); ⁹ that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, ¹⁰ and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

- Time sequence: Restrainer gone, man of lawlessness appears, the day of the Lord will come (as a thief)

- Restrainer refers to the church (the rapture)

As I read, something caught my attention:

Verse 1 talks about the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ

Verse 8 also talks about His coming (parousia)

Question:

Isn’t the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ the rapture? Because in verse 1, the coming of the Lord and our gathering with Him implies so.

But how come after the restrainer (the church) is raptured, and the man of lawlessness appears, then is the phrase “the appearance of His coming (parousia)” in verse 8?

Are there 2 ‘rapture’s if parousia means rapture?

Thank God for my lecturer who is amazing with his Greek.

I was reminded “Parousia without any modifier is referring to the rapture.”

Therefore, verse 2 Thessalonians 2:1 “της παρουσιας του κυριου” => the coming (parousia) of the Lord => no modifier => rapture

2 Thessalonians 2:8 “της παρουσιας αυτου” => your coming => there is a modifier => not referring to the rapture => refer to another event.

I will test this out in other scriptures….

¹¹ For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,
¹² in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
¹³ But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
¹⁴ It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
¹⁵ So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,
¹⁷ comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

Mt 24

Thoughts on Revelation – Mt 24

Prior to the class yesterday, I was reading Mt 24 and saw the 3 questions that the disciples asked (v3):

1. When will these things happen? (Referring to Jesus’ statement in v2 "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.")

2. What will be the sign of Your coming (parousia)?

3. What will be the end of the age?

NOTE: Some commentators will state that it is 2 questions instead of 3.

Then came Jesus’ reply in v4 onwards until the end of Mt 25.

Something for us to take note here:

·         Jesus did not answer all the 3 questions. He touched on the first 2.

·         Matthew gospel is arranged topically not chronologically. Therefore, the timeline of the rapture of the church, the events in Jerusalem, the great tribulation may not be in time arrangement in Mt 24.

The outline will be posted sometime later.

Happy searching and Reading.

Date Setting for His Second Coming

From the time of Lactantius who set the date to be A.D. 200 to the present, there are others who set or predict dates for the Lord Jesus second coming.  In different era of time, because of the different settings and reasons, the appointed time was given to encourage believers. However, it is also a sword with no handle, disappointing those who really believed and did not see the fulfillment of the ‘appointed’ times. Some left, became disillusion, wondering whether there is really a second coming of Jesus.

We have to be careful of the ‘theories’ on how the dates were set:

E.g. ‘1 day to 1000 years’ theory, ‘the reference of the fig tree as the birthing of Israel’ and so on…

First of all, Jesus told as plainly through the incident on the Mount of Olives. He said in Mark 13:28-37 (NASB95) ²⁸ "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ "Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. ³⁰ "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ³¹ "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. ³² "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.³³ "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.
³⁴ "It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. ³⁵ "Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— ³⁶ in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. ³⁷ "What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!' "

Also in another incident before His Acension whereby the disciples were asking whether He is restoring the Kingdom, He answered in Acts 1:6-7 (NASB95) ⁶ So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" ⁷ He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

What I understand of Jesus is saying through these incidents are that we should not be too occupied by knowing the date or even setting the date, especially for others. However, we should be on the alert (4X mentioned in v33, v34, v35 and v37 of Mark 13).

What are we to be alert of?

Answer: v36 - - - in case the master’s servants are asleep when the master comes back.

“Lord, give me grace to set my eyes on you always. Give me grace to complete the tasks that you have given me. Give me grace to see that while You tarries your return, that my loves one will also know You and Your saving grace”