WHAT TIME IT IS®

SECOND THESSALONIANS 2

 

Paul defines the Rapture as: 

                                (1) the coming of the Lord, and 

                                        (2) our gathering together unto Him

 

2 Thes. 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren,

            [1] by the coming [#3952] of our Lord Jesus Christ, and

 

[#3952, parousia, a being near, advent, return, coming, presence [from #3019, to privily bring in] (Matt. 24:3; Matt. 24:27; Matt. 24:37; Matt. 24:39; 1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thes. 2:19; 1 Thes. 3:13; 1 Thes. 4:15; 1 Thes. 5:23; 2 Thes. 2:1, 2 Thes. 2:8; 2 Thes. 2:9; Jas. 5: 7, 8; 1 John 2:28:)  The Rapture is a private affair between Jesus and His Church. The second coming is a public event between Jesus and the world.]

 

            [2] [by] our gathering together [#1997] unto him [to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thes. 4:17)],

 

[#1997, episunagoge, a complete collection; spec., a Christian meeting (for worship)assembling (gathering) together]

 

The Day of Christ [the Anointed One] is the Rapture of the Church

 

 2:2  That ye be not

            [1] soon shaken in mind,

            [2] or be troubled,

                        [a.] neither by spirit,

                        [b.] nor by word,

                        [c.] nor by letter as from us [don’t receive any counterfeit communications],

[11.] as that the day of Christ [Strong’s #5547, khristos, anointed, i.e. the Messiah,  the Anointed One] is at hand [the day of Christ is always a reference to the Rapture…i.e., to our gathering together unto him (vs. 1). It is not a reference to the second coming of Jesus to reign over the earth].

 

[c/p. the day of Christ (Phil. 1:6, 10; 2:16; 2 Thes. 2:2) has no references to judgment!  See also the day of the Lord Jesus [Christ] (1 Cor. 1:8; 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14).]

 

[c/p. the day of the Lord (Isa. 13:6-13; Jer. 46:10; Joel 1:15; Zeph. 1:14-18; Zech. 14:1-5; 1 Thes. 5:2) is always referred to as a time of judgment.]

 

There are two prerequisites for the Rapture!!!

 

 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day (the day of…His coming and our gathering together unto him [vs. 1]) shall not come], except

 

            [1] there come a  falling away [#646]  first and

 

[#646, apostasia, apostasy (Acts. 21:21, only other New Testament where this word is used); this is a reference to the great apostasy which occurs in the Ladocian church (Rev. 3:14-22), the church which is left on the earth after the Philadelphia church (Rev. 3:7-13) is raptured.  The literal text of verse 3, above, reads: "Not anyone you should deceive in any way, because [it will not be] unless shall have come the apostasy first, and shall have been revealed the man of sin, the son of perdition.(Note: there will be a second great apostasy at the end of Jesus’ 1,000 year reign over the earth; c/p. Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 20:7-10; see also 1 Tim. 4:1.)]

 

            [2] that man of sin be revealed [#601], the son of perdition [destruction];

 

[#601, apokalupto, to take off the cover, disclose, reveal (Matt. 10:26; 16:17; Rom. 1:16, 17; 1 Cor. 2:10; Eph. 3:5; 2 Thes. 2:3; 2 Thes. 2:6; 2 Thes. 2:8; c/p 2 Thes. 1:7; see also How To Quickly Locate the Antichrist in Scripture]

 

The Antichrist shall be revealed in two stages

                       

Daniel 9:27  And he [the Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [the signing of a 7-year covenant between the Assyrian and Israel marks the beginning of the Antichrist Covenant week of years: the last 7 years of this age] and in the midst of the week he [the Antichrist] shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease [the restoration of animal sacrifices and temple worship under the restored Law of Moses], and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate [the Antichrist will sacrifice a pig on the alter in Jerusalem (Dan.11:31)], even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

 

The revelation of the Antichrist:                     

 

1.  To the Church: when the Assyrian (Isa. 10:5) and little horn of Dan. 7:8Dan. 7:11; Dan. 7:20; Dan. 7:24-25; Dan. 8:9) executes a 7-year peace treaty with Israel. This begins the Antichrist Covenant week of years (Dan. 9:27); and

 

2.  To Israel and the world: at midweek, when this treaty is broken after 3 ˝ years, and the Antichrist enters and desecrates the temple in Jerusalem (Dan. 8:9-12).

 

2:4              [a.] Who opposeth and exalteth himself [the man of sin] above all

                                    [11.] that is called God,

                                    [12.] or that is worshipped; so that he as God

[aa.] sitteth in the temple of God [the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem],            

[bb.] showing himself [he has to convince himself] that he is God.

 

 2:5  Remember ye not, that,

            [1] when I was yet with you,

            [2] I told you these things?

 

© 1997-2009 Walter J. Taylor; Walter James Taylor

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