“…brothers and sisters, LET US CLARIFY SOME THINGS about the COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST and how WE WILL BE GATHERED (episunagōgē: the assembling of ourselves together in the “catching away” or rapture) TO MEET HIM. Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord HAS ALREADY BEGUN. DON’T BELIEVE THEM…DON’T BE FOOLED by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great REBELLION AGAINST GOD and THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS (the anti-christ) IS REVEALED…” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3)
In 1st Thessalonians Paul told them, “…we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST. Then we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER (harpazō: to snatch away, rapturo: in Latin) with them in the clouds to MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore COMFORT ONE ANOTHER with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18) The Thessalonians were taught by deceivers that this had happened already.
So, Paul went on and said, “Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I TOLD YOU THESE THINGS? And now you know what is restraining, that he (the anti-christ) MAY BE REVEALED IN HIS OWN TIME. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only HE (the Holy Spirit in the church) WHO NOW RESTRAINS (katechō: to hold back) WILL DO SO UNTIL HE IS TAKEN OUT (rapture) OF THE WAY… 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…” (2 Thessalonians 2:5-9) The Jews will be deceived into believing that the anti-christ is their Messiah. “Then he (the anti-christ) shall confirm a covenant with many (the Jews) for one week; But in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering…” (Daniel 9:27) This is called “abomination of desolation.” When this happens the Jews EYES ARE OPENED AND THEY SEE JESUS AS THEIR MESSIAH, “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS.” (Matthew 24:15-16) JUST AS THE RED SEA WAS PARTED ALLOWING THE JEWS TO ESCAPE, GOD WILL MAKE A PATH FOR THEM TO ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTIANS, WHERE GOD HIDES THEM… “and the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place PREPARED BY GOD, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.” (Revelation 12:6)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham