"Embracing the Darkness" October 4 Readings: 2 Thessalonians 1-3

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New. 

Bible Readings: 2 Thessalonians 1-3

Background:  

2 Thessalonians was written not long after the first letter and it continues the same themes. This book deals extensively with issues related to the end of time and the coming of Christ.

Chapter 2 focuses primarily on the great deception that accompanies the coming of the antichrist at the time of the end. It is notable that Paul does not teach on the end times to foster morbid curiosity or arouse some kind of imbalanced interest in details. His teachings on the end times always seem to be accompanied by admonitions to stand firm or hold fast - to realize that it is worth it because Jesus is going to reward us in due time

Chapter 3 culminates with a renewal of his admonition against idleness. This was likely not a simple problem of laziness, but a misapplication of the teaching of the end times. Have you heard of groups that dropped out of society to await the coming of Christ? That is what the Thessalonians were doing. Paul wanted them to continue to work and live and have normal lives - normal lives devoted to Christ.

That exhortation is sandwiched by an appeal to pray as he relies on God's faithfulness to proclaim the word and a closing warning to watch out for those who do not live in obedience to God's word through Paul. Paul closes the letter with a handwritten message to demonstrate that it is genuine.

Daily Devotional: Embracing the Darkness

In these devotionals, I do not delve often into the end times. There are two reasons for that. Those who read this come from different perspectives on the end times and there is no reason to unnecessarily focus on that topic. The other reason is similar, but a bigger concern. Some people develop an unhealthy and morbid curiosity about the end times.

In today's passage, 2 Thessalonians 2, we see great truths, but one that is often misunderstood. This principle is pretty much universal regardless of your view of the end times. 2 Thessalonians 2 describes the rise and reign of the Antichrist, the one who comes to stand against the work of Christ and lead the world against him. There is a perception about the Antichrist which is seen in some of the fiction that has been produced attempting to depict the events of the tribulation. The Antichrist schemes his way to power and brutally represses and oppresses the people of the earth. By crushing people into submission, he unites the world under his evil rule.

That is not the idea that is given in this passage. Look at verses 9-12.

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

This last great work of Satan is in accord with all the works of Satan. He did not force Adam and Eve into sin. He lied to them and they willingly embraced the deception. They believed the lie and took pleasure in unrighteousness. Thus it was and thus it always has been. Yes, at times Satan possesses sinners in extreme circumstances, but it is not his normal strategy. He lies. When men are deceived they willingly and enthusiastically embrace the unrighteous wickedness that will be their destruction. Human beings always celebrate the sin that brings them low.  

The Antichrist will not conquer the world, he will be carried to the throne on the shoulders of those he will one day crush. The world will believe the lie because it wants to, because it rejoices in the victory of wickedness. Mankind refuses to love the truth and instead takes pleasure in unrighteousness. Yes, one day the Antichrist will pull back the cloak and reveal himself as the man of evil he is. Men will regret their choices when it is too late. But he will rise to power celebrated by sinners who hail him as the hope of the world. 

Satan lies and deceives and the sinful world cheers those lies. That is why the truth is so important. The greatest thing we can do in this dark and darkening world is to shine the light of Jesus Christ. The prescription for the lie is the truth. Jesus is truth. God's truth. And he blows the lies of Satan out of the water. 

We look at this wicked world and see the encroachment of evil. It bothers us, stresses us, and even causes us to quake and fear. But it need not. The lie cannot stand in the presence of the truth. Darkness flees when the light shines. And in his coming, Jesus will bring low all the works of the Antichrist and the forces of darkness with him. Jesus will reign supreme. 

And so, Paul tells the Thessalonians (and us), in verse 15, to stand firm. Isn't that interesting? That's what he always says in passages about the future. We must not panic, or develop a morbid interest in arcane details, set dates, or develop charts. Stand firm. Just keep serving Jesus, proclaiming the truth, and shining the light until the trumpet sounds and the dead in Christ rise first!

Father, thank  you that the light of Christ dispels all the enemy's lies. Help me to walk in your truth every day.  

Consider God's Word:

Are you struggling to stand firm in Christ? Are life's problems mounting?
Remember the ultimate victory of Christ and his provision of victory for us.
Also, refuse to listen to Satan's lies as you pore over God's word and inculcate its truths daily into your life.