~REASSURANCE~
Scripture Reading: II Thessalonians 2: 1-5Paul now specifically aims at assuring his readers that they will not go through the day of the Lord. He had taught them, when personally with them, about this day from the Old Testament (vs. 5). Meanwhile false prophets claiming to speak "by the Spirit" (vs. 2) had entered in teaching that the day of the Lord had already come. A spurious letter, or letters, had arrived claiming Pauline authorship asserting that the Tribulation. was upon the Thessalonians. Had the Lord failed to come for His own?It would be easy for the Thessalonians to conclude that the persecutions they were experiencing were what the prophets of old had predicted. This certainly disturbed their calmness. So much so, that many had even quit their daily occupations (3:10-12). Their lives had certainly been disrupted by eschatological teaching. Paul says that "that day shall not come except there come a falling away first" (KJV). "That day" refers back to the "day of the Lord" of verse two. All texts read "day of the Lord" not "day of Christ." The exact translation of verse three reads "for that day will not be except there come the apostasy first." What apostasy is Paul referring to that must precede the day of the Lord? If it is a general departure from the faith, how does that assure the Thessalonians (and us) that Christians will not go through the day of the Lord? How would we know when the apostasy begins? The basic and simple meaning of the word "apostasy" (verb, aphistemi) is simply departure. (Lk. 2:37; 4:13; 13:27; Acts 12:10; II Cor. 12:8; II Tim. 2:19 etc.). What "departure" had Paul previously taught the Thessalonians about? What departure guarantees them, and us, that believers will not go through the day of the Lord? The answer is in I Thessalonians 4:13-18. The departure of the church from the world satisfies our inquiry. So once again Paul is asserting a pre-tribulational rapture. We can be sure of our safety in this regard.by - Amazing Grace
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THOUGHT TO PONDER THIS WEEK FEBRUARY 8, 2008Faith is unutterable trust in God, trust which never dreams that He will not stand by us.Oswald Chambers 2Co 3:4 Such is the confidence which we have through Christ in the presence of God; 2Co 3:5 not that of ourselves we are competent to decide anything by our own reasonings, but our competency comes from God.
