Principles of Christian Living

Lesson 13

Lesson Text—I Thessalonians 5:1-4

I Thessalonians 5:1-41 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Lesson Text—I Thessalonians 5:1-4

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Lesson Text—I Thessalonians 5:5-6

I Thessalonians 5:5-65 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Lesson Text—II Thessalonians 2:1-3

II Thessalonians 2:1-31 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Lesson Text—II Thessalonians 2:1-3

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;

Lesson Text—II Thessalonians 2:4-7

II Thessalonians 2:4-74 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?

Lesson Text—II Thessalonians 2:4-7

6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Lesson Text—II Thessalonians 2:8-9

II Thessalonians 2:8-98 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.

Focus Verse—Matthew 25:13

Matthew 25:13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour

wherein the Son of man cometh.

Focus Thought

The church of the last days is to

be watching and ready for end-

time events.

I. The Coming of the LordCULTURE CONNECTION

The Last Days

In his published booklet titled 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988, Edgar C. Whisenant predicted the Rapture would occur that year. More than two decades have passed, and while his book caused a stir in 1988, he joined the long and growing number of individuals who have falsely predicted the time of the return of Jesus Christ.

I. The Coming of the LordAs I write this article, I am thinking of an email I received in February 2010, which predicted the Lord’s return by the middle of March 2010. Clearly, that prediction also failed to materialize. Jesus strongly warned us of false prophets who would falsely announce the Lord’s appearance in the last days (Mark 13:20-22). Further, He revealed that the exact timing of His return would be unknown and like the coming of a thief—sudden and unannounced. (See Matthew 25:13; Revelation 16:15.)

I. The Coming of the LordWe do not know the day or the hour of the Lord’s return. There are, however, at least two things we do know about the last days and the impending return of Jesus Christ to catch away His bride.

1. First, we know Jesus Christ is coming again. He promised He would and we have faith in Him.

2. Second, we know the many signs of the last days that reveal the nearness of the Lord’s return. When one considers the signs of the end times, it is clear that we live in those days.

I. The Coming of the LordWhen individuals get caught up in trying to pinpoint the exact timing of Christ’s return, they miss the greater point. Knowing the day or hour of Christ’s return is not important; rather, continually anticipating His return and being ready is the vital point.

I. The Coming of the LordContemplating the Topic

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:7-8).

I. The Coming of the LordAlmost two thousand years have passed since the ascension of Jesus Christ, yet the promise of His return is alive and vibrant in the heart of true apostolic believers. Now more than ever, the Bride looks expectantly for the Bridegroom’s return. Just as Jesus ascended into Heaven in a cloud, He will descend from Heaven upon a cloud and every eye shall see Him.

I. The Coming of the LordThose who have been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ and have made themselves ready will be caught up to be with the Lord in the air; those who are unprepared will cry out in anguish and fear because of the coming destruction.

Malachi prophesied Elijah would come before the great and dreadful Day of the Lord and would call the people of Israel to repentance. Through repentance they could escape the destruction God would bring upon the earth (Malachi 4:5-6).

I. The Coming of the LordJohn the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy in part by coming in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17); however, John himself declared he was not Elijah (John 1:21-23). Jesus affirmed that when Elijah came He would restore all things (Matthew 17:11-12).

It was Moses and Elijah who appeared with Jesus at His transfiguration. There upon the mount, Peter, James, and John beheld the glory of God upon Jesus as He revealed to them the likeness of His coming when He will return with power and great glory.

I. The Coming of the LordThat Moses and Elijah accompanied Him may suggest they are the two witnesses (Zechariah 4:11-14; Revelation 11) who will stand before the Lord awaiting the fulfillment of their prophecy during the second half of Daniel’s seventieth week. When Elijah comes to restore all things, he will prepare the way of the Lord just as John the Baptist did at the first coming of Jesus as Israel’s Messiah. In that context Malachi foretold the coming of Christ.

Malachi 3:2-3 “But who may abide the day of his

coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire,

and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he

shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may

offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness”(Malachi 3:2-3).

Malachi 4:1-2 “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea,

all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But

unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and

grow up as calves of the stall” (Malachi 4:1-2).

I. The Coming of the LordIn preparation for the return of

Jesus Christ, a believer must faithfully deal with the tests and tribulations of life. If he will remain fervent and true to the Lord through every trial, the believer’s testing in the furnace of affliction will refine in him the qualities for which the Lord is looking in His church. Every believer’s hope is to appear before the Lord pure, holy, and undefiled by the world. The garments of the chaste bride of Christ must be without spot or wrinkle. (See Ephesians 5:27; II Peter 3:14.)

I. The Coming of the LordJesus declared we would face tribulation in this world, but as true believers we will overcome. Peter addressed this in I Peter 4:12-13, 17.

I Peter 4:12-13, 17 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try

you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice,

inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be

revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. . . . For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not

the gospel of God?” (I Peter 4:12-13, 17).

I. The Coming of the LordSearching The Scriptures

The Coming of the Lord

The nearness of the coming of the Lord compels us to continue in the Great Commission of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus foretold that the gospel of the kingdom would be preached unto all nations before the end of this present age (Matthew 24:14).

A. The Time Is UnknownA. The Time Is Unknown

In biblical prophecy, it is important to recognize that the second coming of Jesus Christ will occur in two advents. First, Jesus will come to catch away both the living and dead who are in Christ Jesus. At this first advent of Christ’s return, He will not set His foot upon the earth; rather, believers will join Him in the air. We typically refer to this event as the Rapture or the catching away of the church.

I. The Coming of the LordAt the time of the second advent, however, Christ will return to the earth with His saints, and He will plant His feet on the Mount of Olives, splitting the mount in two parts. (See Zechariah 14:4.) We will consider both advents of His return in this lesson.

Although we cannot know the exact time of His coming, Jesus indicated that when we see the abomination of desolation in the holy place the time of His coming will be near.

I. The Coming of the LordHe spoke of the terrible tribulation and the signs in the heavens that will preface His appearing in the clouds with power and great glory (Matthew 24:15-33). Just as people in Jesus’ day knew the budding leaves on a fig tree signaled the coming of summer, believers in the last days will recognize His coming is near when they see these signs come to pass.

Matthew 24:34-36, 42 “Verily I say unto you, This

generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not

the angels of heaven, but my Father only

. . . .Watch therefore: for ye know not

what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:34-36, 42).

I. The Coming of the LordThe declaration, “Ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” indicates that instead of His appearance at the Battle of Armageddon, Jesus was referring to the first phase of His coming when He gathers together His elect. For example, when He returns at Armageddon, believers will not be watching for His appearing, but they will be with Him in the heavens.

I. The Coming of the LordFurther, Armageddon occurs after the two witnesses have prophesied for three and one-half years, during which God pours out the vials of wrath in judgment upon the ungodly. Scripture clearly reveals the time of the Battle of Armageddon; however, His second coming will arrive as a thief in the night! We must be ever vigilant regarding that day.

B. The Event Is CertainB. The Event Is Certain

The Bible emphatically declares Israel’s Messiah will come to Earth to restore the nation of Israel and to rule the nations from His throne in Jerusalem. Jesus, as Israel’s Messiah, fulfilled hundreds of messianic prophecies.

I. The Coming of the LordThe prophets predicted in detail the Messiah’s ancestry, place of birth, manner of betrayal, price of betrayal, time of death, time of ministry, manner of entry into Jerusalem, specific details of His trial and execution, the place of His burial, and the surety of His resurrection. Jesus Himself foretold He would rise from the grave after three days and nights.

Since these scriptural prophecies concerning the Messiah have been fulfilled, we can be certain God’s Word will not fail regarding the promise of Jesus to return.

I. The Coming of the LordIf we cannot rely upon biblical prophecies, then our hope of salvation is uncertain. However, history contains more than forty significant events that occurred precisely to the day upon the anniversaries of Israel’s solemn feasts, such as the Passover, including the death of Christ as our Passover Lamb. Considering this precision and accuracy for prophetic events, we may conclude with absolute certainty that Jesus is coming to catch away His chosen bride, just as He promised.

C. The Children of Light Are Aware of the Times

C. The Children of Light Are Aware of the Times

As children of light we are keenly aware of relevant events that have been fulfilled and are being fulfilled in this generation. Until 1948, no Jewish nation existed in Israel to bring about the fulfillment of the return of the seed of Jacob or the rebuilding of a Jewish Temple.

I. The Coming of the LordIn 1967, Israel regained possession of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount for the first time since ad 70. The spiritual and moral decay in this generation accurately describes the generation of the last days. Popular music, movies, entertainment, and contemporary art reflect the rebellion and depravity described in Scripture. Paul wrote of these perilous times in the last days (II Timothy 3:1-4).

II Timothy 3:1-4 “This know also, that in the last

days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own

selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to

parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers,

false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of

God” (II Timothy 3:1-4).

I. The Coming of the LordTherefore, we must remain

watchful and sober-minded while keeping ourselves unspotted from the world. As we see the prophecies of the Bible being fulfilled in our day, we must not panic or tremble in fear of the things that are soon to come upon the world, for we are not appointed unto wrath but unto salvation through Jesus Christ. (See I Thessalonians 5:9.)

II. Prophecy Regarding the Day of the Lord

Prophecy Regarding the Day of the LordAccording to prophecy, certain

events must be fulfilled before the Day of the Lord. According to both Old and New Testament references to the Day of the Lord, God will pour out His judgment and wrath upon the unrepentant world. Signs in the heavens and upon the earth will introduce these judgments. (See Joel 1:15; 2:1, 10-11, 30-31.)

I Thessalonians 5:2, 4-6 “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a

thief in the night. . . . But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a

thief. Ye are all children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let

us watch and be sober” (I Thessalonians 5:2, 4-6).

II Peter 3:11-12 “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy

conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of

the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent

heat?” (II Peter 3:11-12).

I. The Coming of the LordAt that day the dead in Christ will arise from the grave, and we who are alive and remain will be caught up to be with our Savior who will deliver us from the terrible destruction of God’s wrath.

A. Apostasy Will ComeA. Apostasy Will Come

The Greek word for “apostasy” is apostasia, translated in II Thessalonians 2:3 as “falling away.” It means a defection, revolt, apostasy, or total abandonment. Some have applied this apostasy to the church. However, from the latter part of the first century until the present many people have departed from the faith.

I. The Coming of the LordThat the term “apostasy” here occurs in the context of the coming of the Lord would seem to negate the notion that the falling away refers to the church.

Certainly, we have seen and are seeing a “falling away” from apostolic Christianity; however, a careful examination of the Greek text of II Thessalonians 2:3 reveals the usage of a definite article. Therefore, Paul was not speaking in broad, general terms, but of a specific, identifiable event at the end of the age.

I. The Coming of the LordThe word apostasia appears only twice in the entire Bible and was never used in relationship to the church. Luke used the word in Acts 21:21, translated as “forsake,” in reference to the Jews abandoning the law of Moses, circumcision, and the Jewish traditions. Paul’s reference to “apostasy” appears to be Jewish in nature and will signal the imminent Day of the Lord.

I. The Coming of the LordDuring the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, who presaged the future Antichrist, many Jews abandoned the law of Moses and Jewish culture by adopting Greek language and culture. During the reign of the Antichrist many Jews in Israel will forsake the Law and their hope of a Jewish Messiah.

I. The Coming of the LordIn 168 bc Antiochus Epiphanes marched into Jerusalem and made a covenant with the Jews, encouraging them to abandon their religious customs and worship that they might adopt Gentile customs. He established Greek education and built a gymnasium in Jerusalem for Greek sporting events. I Maccabees records the account of these events.

I. The Coming of the LordThis same Antiochus Epiphanes polluted the Temple in Jerusalem by offering a pig upon the altar of sacrifice (the first abomination of desolation). Likewise, the final “abomination of desolation” will follow “the apostasy” that will precede the revealing of the Antichrist in the last days.

B. Antichrist Will Be RevealedB. Antichrist Will Be Revealed

After Israel enters into the seven-year covenant with the Antichrist, Jewish worship in the restored Temple will resume. They will offer sacrifices unto the God of Israel according to the law of Moses. The nation of Israel will live in peace with its neighbors and feel secure for the first time since the nation’s rebirth in 1948. However, Israel will not recognize the Antichrist as that wicked “son of perdition” who seeks to destroy the Jewish people.

I. The Coming of the LordHis revelation as the Antichrist, the man of sin, will occur when he violates the Temple by setting up an image of himself and demanding to be worshiped as God (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15). He will disallow the daily sacrifices and exalt himself above all gods. His regime will kill all who refuse to worship him, bow down to his image, or take the mark of his name.

I. The Coming of the LordThe Scriptures prophesy that the mark of the Beast and the number of his name will equal 666 according to the numerical value of the letters of his name. Both Greek and Hebrew are alpha-numeric languages in that they do not have a numbering system apart from the numeric values of the letters of the alphabet; consequently, every name has a numeric value. “Here is wisdom.

I. The Coming of the LordLet him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:18). Both his name and his deeds finally will unmask his true identity to Israel. Scripture identifies him as the Assyrian, the king of Babylon, the spoiler, Gog, the little horn, the prince that shall come, the king of the north, and the Beast.

C. The Mystery of Iniquity Already Works

C. The Mystery of Iniquity Already Works

Biblical mysteries such as “the mystery of godliness” (the Incarnation), “the mystery of the church” (composed of Jews and Gentiles), and “the mystery of iniquity” or “lawlessness and rebellion” (Satan’s desire to empower the Antichrist) were not clearly revealed to Old Testament believers. However, the Holy Ghost did reveal them to the church as being part of God’s divine plan from the beginning.

I. The Coming of the LordThe archangel Michael has long been recognized by biblical scholars for his special guardian relationship to Israel (Daniel 10:12-13, 21). Still, the Old Testament did not reveal the “mystery of iniquity” or Satan’s plan to empower the Antichrist to defeat God’s plan of redemption and his ongoing struggle against Michael.

This struggle between Satan and Michael was already at work in Paul’s day and will continue until “the restrainer” is taken out of the way.

I. The Coming of the LordAs long as Michael, the great prince and protector of Israel (Daniel 12:1), hinders or restrains Satan, the Antichrist cannot be revealed. His revelation as “the son of perdition” will take place in the middle of Daniel’s seventieth week when Michael and his angels cast Satan down to the earth. Satan then will empower the Antichrist to perform signs and miracles to deceive the nations (Revelation 12:7-12).

Daniel 12:1

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and

there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time”

(Daniel 12:1).

D. Delusion Shall Deceive the Wicked

D. Delusion Shall Deceive the Wicked

Because many individuals will abandon the truth of God’s Word and the promise of a coming Messiah, many will perceive the Antichrist as the god-man who will rescue the world from the chaos and violence of the last days. Empowered by Satan, the Antichrist will perform miracles, signs, and lying wonders to deceive the unrighteous.

I. The Coming of the LordThe false prophet will proclaim the Antichrist to be god and will have the same power as the Beast.

Revelation 13:12-13 “And he exerciseth all the power of

the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was

healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down

from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,”

(Revelation 13:12-13).

Revelation 13:14“And deceiveth them that dwell on

the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live” (Revelation

13:14).

I. The Coming of the LordMany will worship the image of the

Beast. Because they love not the truth, God will send them a strong delusion that they might believe a lie and be damned (II Thessalonians 2:10-12).

III. The Forces Preventing EvilThe Forces Preventing Evil

Many forces in this world prevent evil from prevailing. Apart from God and His holy angels, the most important force in this world is His church, those believers who have embraced the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is forcefully advancing against the powers of Satan to establish in people a love for the truth, righteousness, and holy living.

I. The Coming of the Lord“The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). Since the Holy Spirit empowers the church, believers can trample upon the serpents and scorpions of demonic power.

A. The Holy SpiritA. The Holy Spirit

The Holy Ghost will be the primary restraining force against evil in the last days. The very presence of the Lord in the earth will oppose the forces of evil, holding them back until the appropriate and appointed time. Only when the Spirit allows it will Satan be able to exercise his evil plan in the end times.

I. The Coming of the LordThe Holy Spirit is actively involved in

the lives of all who have received His revelation of the truth. As “the Spirit of truth,” God desires to reveal Himself as a loving, caring Savior. A person can only acknowledge the truth that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” when the Holy Ghost reveals it to him (II Corinthians 5:19). If all individuals would allow the Spirit of God to open their understanding of the Scriptures, the mighty truth of God’s Word would set them free from the bondage of sin and the fear of divine judgment.

B. The ChurchB. The Church

The presence of God’s church upon the earth not only restrains evil, but as long as the church remains, God will refrain from pouring out His judgments of wrath upon the unrepentant world. The church stands between the world and the final judgment upon the nations. Jesus revealed this in Luke 17:26-27, 29-30.

Luke 17:26-27, 29-30 “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of

man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in

marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and

destroyed them all. . . . But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire

and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be

in the day when the Son of man is revealed” (Luke 17:26-27, 29-30).

I. The Coming of the LordIn Noah’s day, God did not pour out His judgment on the earth until after Noah and his family entered the ark. Likewise, He did not rain fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah until Lot and his two daughters were safely away from Sodom. Further, God will withhold His wrath until after He delivers His church out of this world by means of the Rapture.

Revelation 6:15-17 “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the

chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks

of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and

hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is

come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17).

IV. The Rapture of the ChurchThe Rapture of the

Church

Seeing the things that are soon to come upon the earth should compel us in this generation to live holy lives in righteousness and truth. We must not allow the spirit of deception to blind us to the truth of the gospel.

I. The Coming of the LordOnly those who have obtained the grace of God through faith and obedience to the truth by repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and receiving the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues will enter the kingdom of God. The great hope of every true believer is that Jesus Christ will return to redeem us from the destruction held in store for the earth.

I Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ

shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore

comfort one another with these words”

(I Thessalonians 4:16-18).

I. The Coming of the LordInternalizing the Message

Although the Day of the Lord and our gathering together unto the Lord Jesus Christ is absolutely certain, no one knows the day or the hour of our redemption. We must live in constant readiness for His appearing, for whether the Lord comes within our lifetime or delays His coming, we will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

I. The Coming of the LordTherefore, we must strive diligently to proclaim the gospel while we watch and pray for His appearing. The signs of the time point to the nearness of our Lord’s return for His church. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).