June 20, 2023 | Be On Mission
The Antichrist and the Second Coming
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2(NIV)
1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Devotional
The Bible is crystal clear. Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose to give us abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven. By contrast, Satan lies, steals, and deceives to entice us to empty life on earth and eternal death in hell. In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul paints this contrast vividly.
Satan is a liar and the father of all lies, who comes to steal, kill and destroy. (John 8:48; 10:10). Throughout the Gospels, Jesus revealed Satan’s true nature as a liar and thief, as a murderer and destroyer. As today’s reading says, the devil “will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God” (v. 4). His goal is to draw people away from the grace of God revealed in Christ Jesus His Son. Satan’s end game is that we would believe his lies and delight in his wickedness. A dangerous way to live.
But when we fold our lives into Jesus, we have nothing to fear. Look at the promises in the closing verses of this chapter:
“God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth” (v. 13).
“He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 14).
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (v. 16-17).
Claim these promises of Christ and tell Satan to get lost! As James 4:7-8 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Poem
Me Tis Hymas Exapatese Kata Medena Tropon
Let no one deceive you in any way
Beware of slick pretenders
With them contend
Wise to the end
Destruction keep at bay
Let no one twist the truth or lie
Beware of false accusers
For they abuse
The Light refuse
Discernment be your guide
Let no one be blind to the pits
Which cause pilgrims to stumble
Temptations rumble
Many tumble
But you to straight commit
