I hope I have gotten your attention; and no offense is intended; but if you are a Christian who does not want to be guilty of deceiving other Christians, you really need to hear this. Matthew 24:4 "And Jesus answered and said unto them. Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in my name saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." So many Christians are being taught that Jesus may come tonight, tomorrow, or any day now. Is it true???? It is positively not; and if you will follow with me; I believe I can show you very clearly why they are in error; and what you can expect in the future; and what you need to look for and live by. Let's go to 2nd Thessalonians 2, verse one; and let's see why there are so many Christians in the world being misled; and teaching others that Jesus may return any day now. It will not happen; and Paul's message to the early Church in Thessalonians clearly tells us when Jesus will return; so clearly that little children can understand it. Please understand that the early Church was confused, and thought Jesus would be returning any day to take them to Heaven and set up his Millenial 1000 year reign on earth; in Israel. Some were so convinced that they had even quit working and were becoming a burden on the people. Paul's letter and the passages below were sent to the Church at Thessalonica to clear the air as to when Jesus was returning. He starts very clearly dispelling the rumors of his imminent return and uses the exact same words as Jesus did in his Olivet Discourse to his disciples on the Mount of Olives; shortly before his death. "Let no man deceive you by any means"
2nd Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Paul goes on to tell the Church that there will be a falling away from the ways of God just before the return of Jesus; just as is happening all over the world today. Paul then says "and that man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition." Folks, the man of sin is the coming Anti-Christ, and this is very clearly pre-plannned by God; just read the rest of 2nd Thessalonians. Note the words "so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." My fellow Christians; if we lined up 1,000 first grade children and asked them what was Paul saying; I believe every single one of them could understand, without a doubt, what Paul was telling the Church in his letter. Let's use an illustration. If you said to your son or daughter; "I'm not coming home from work until your mother gets there;" would not your son or daughter know what you were saying. Would they not know that their mom had to get home, before you would be coming home. Please put this in the bank; and let no one deceive by any means; Jesus Christ is not returning for us until the Anti-Christ sits in the Temple of God proclaiming that he is God, and more powerful than any God. These words of Paul are not contradicted anywhere in the New Testament; and he was simply repeating what Jesus had earlier told his disciples. Please do not let Paul's words about the "restrainer" in 2: verses 6 and 7 cloud his words above. I believe I can tell you clearly who the restrainer is; and it is not the Church or the Holy Spirit, as many claim. But Craig; convince me totally of what you are saying. Here it is; 2nd Thessalonians 2:8 "And then that Wicked ( The Anti-Christ ) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." Fellow Christians, please note the words "shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." Paul tells us that the Anti-Christ is clearly going to be destroyed by Jesus, and he will clearly be on the run until he is thrown in to the Lake of Fire with the false prophet, as Revelation 19 verse 20 tells us. Paul's words here clearly tell us that the Anti-Christ will have done his thing on earth, and Christians will still be here when Jesus returns to destroy the Anti-Christ. When Jesus returns, the Anti-Christ is toast; and is destroyed by the brightness of the return of our Savior; and theTrumpet Judgments of God; which begin here on earth in Revelation 8. Do the words of Paul and Jesus agree???? Let's see.
More to Come!
2nd Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Paul goes on to tell the Church that there will be a falling away from the ways of God just before the return of Jesus; just as is happening all over the world today. Paul then says "and that man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition." Folks, the man of sin is the coming Anti-Christ, and this is very clearly pre-plannned by God; just read the rest of 2nd Thessalonians. Note the words "so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." My fellow Christians; if we lined up 1,000 first grade children and asked them what was Paul saying; I believe every single one of them could understand, without a doubt, what Paul was telling the Church in his letter. Let's use an illustration. If you said to your son or daughter; "I'm not coming home from work until your mother gets there;" would not your son or daughter know what you were saying. Would they not know that their mom had to get home, before you would be coming home. Please put this in the bank; and let no one deceive by any means; Jesus Christ is not returning for us until the Anti-Christ sits in the Temple of God proclaiming that he is God, and more powerful than any God. These words of Paul are not contradicted anywhere in the New Testament; and he was simply repeating what Jesus had earlier told his disciples. Please do not let Paul's words about the "restrainer" in 2: verses 6 and 7 cloud his words above. I believe I can tell you clearly who the restrainer is; and it is not the Church or the Holy Spirit, as many claim. But Craig; convince me totally of what you are saying. Here it is; 2nd Thessalonians 2:8 "And then that Wicked ( The Anti-Christ ) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." Fellow Christians, please note the words "shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." Paul tells us that the Anti-Christ is clearly going to be destroyed by Jesus, and he will clearly be on the run until he is thrown in to the Lake of Fire with the false prophet, as Revelation 19 verse 20 tells us. Paul's words here clearly tell us that the Anti-Christ will have done his thing on earth, and Christians will still be here when Jesus returns to destroy the Anti-Christ. When Jesus returns, the Anti-Christ is toast; and is destroyed by the brightness of the return of our Savior; and theTrumpet Judgments of God; which begin here on earth in Revelation 8. Do the words of Paul and Jesus agree???? Let's see.
More to Come!