apostasy in the church

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

apostasy in the church

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the lawless human is revealed, the son of destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.

apostasy in the church

Paul was attempting to deal with a false teaching that had infiltrated Thessalonica. Some in the churches there were beginning to teach that Jesus had already come. No, Paul says. One of the evidences that Paul brings forth in support of his claim is this prophecy. Before Jesus returns, there will be apostasy in the church. The church be taken over by someone who does not belong in its leadership. That someone will sit in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Lots of people today think that prophecy is still to be fulfilled, although many of their ancestors were convinced that the apostasy already happened, and that it took a Reformation to get us out of it.

Fortunately, for both of these groups of Christians, the main thing is that we are all looking for the coming of Christ.

Come, Lord Jesus.

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no substitute hope

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

no substitute hope

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters,
2 Thessalonians 2:2 not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a breath or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come.

no substitute hope

The Thessalonians were being targeted with a false doctrine about the second coming of Christ. Specifically, someone had begun teaching that Christ had already come, and that doctrine had the potential to upset and trouble the believers. One can see why. The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the saved. Without the hope of Christ’s literal return to the earth, the gospel is a promise unfulfilled. Without the coming of its Lord, the church is a sham.

Paul points out that there are three ways this false doctrine could influence the believers in Thessalonica. It could be a general attitude of depression — a feeling that all is lost, because even if Christ was to come, he would not come for them. That was the “breath” Paul was talking about. Or, it could be a message from someone they trusted giving credence to that false teaching. Or, it might even be a letter like the one they are reading, only written by someone else pretending to be Paul.

What could possibly be the motive of such false teaching? One possibility is that some might be teaching that the real hope is the Greek concept of “flying away” as a disembodied spirit when you die. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to trust in the real hope of Christ’s physical return, resurrection, and eternal life as whole persons. That is the blessed hope, and we will accept no substitute.

Either way, Paul encourages the Thessalonians to stand true to their hope in the actual return of Christ. He is our hope. We will accept no substitute.

See Also:

ACST 58: The Gathered

ACST 61: The Advents

ACST 62: The Timing

https://marmsky.com/2011/05/22/when-christ-comes-the-delusion-will-end/

 

 

 

 

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more than banish

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

more than banish

2 Thessalonians 1:8-12 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 1:8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 They will pay the penalty of permanent destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength
2 Thessalonians 1:10 on that day when he comes to be glorified by his devotees and to be marveled at by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his invitation, and by his power fulfill your every good intention to do good and your achievement produced by faith,
2 Thessalonians 1:12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the favor of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

more than banish

Some translations weaken the point of this passage by making it seem that all Jesus will do when he comes is banish the wicked from God’s presence forever. Not so. The Greek word oletheros in verse 9 is the same word used for destroying angel in Hebrews 11:28. That destroying angel did not banish the firstborn of Egypt. He killed them.

And the adjective describing the destruction is often translated “eternal”, which is an unfortunate translation in this case. It suggests a perpetual process. Destruction cannot be perpetual. It has to happen, or else it is not destruction. The better translation for aionios in this verse is “permanent.”

Thank you Lord, for your promise to take vengeance with flaming fire and permanently destroy evil when you return.

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for the future kingdom

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

for the future kingdom

2 Thessalonians 1:5-7 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 1:5 It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering,
2 Thessalonians 1:6 since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you
2 Thessalonians 1:7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels,

for the future kingdom

There’s a verse to that spiritual “Farther Along” that reflects this truth.

“When we see Jesus coming in glory
When he comes down from his home in the sky
Then we shall meet him in that bright mansion
We’ll understand it all by and by.”

At the revelation of the Lord Jesus, those who have lived without him — and afflicted those who trusted him — will be repaid. The God of grace who rescues us is also the God of justice who will punish them with permanent destruction (1:9).

We should not be surprised, then, when we suffer, because our present suffering is for the future kingdom (5).

Lord, give us courage to suffer without losing faith, knowing that our present suffering is for your future kingdom.

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flourishing faith, increasing care

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

2 Thessalonians

flourishing faith, increasing care

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4 (JDV)

2 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the congregation of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:2 Favor to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, since your faith is flourishing and the care each one of you has for one another is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:4 Therefore, we ourselves brag about you among God’s congregations – about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring.

flourishing faith, increasing care

The congregation of believers in Thessalonica were experiencing persecutions and afflictions, but that did not keep them from going in the right direction. Their faith in God was flourishing and their care for each other was increasing.

Lord, no matter what we face today, may it be said of us that our relationship with you continues to flourish, and our care for one another continues to increase.

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bring us back

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

bring us back

Lamentations 5:21-22 (JDV)

Lamentations 5:21 Yahveh, bring us back to yourself, so we may return; renew our days as in former times,
Lamentations 5:22 unless you are so intensely angry with us that you have completely rejected us.

bring us back

The Lament ends with a final plea for God to renew his people. When all is said and done, we are totally dependent on God for our restoration and renewal. The only thing we can do is come to him.

That is the gospel. Our repentance does not change us. It is a call on God to regenerate us. It is an admission that we have gotten things so wrong that we need him to intervene. Faith believes that he is willing to do so.

Lord, bring us back to yourself.

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not forgotten

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

not forgotten

Lamentations 5:19-20 (JDV)

Lamentations 5:19 You, Yahveh, are enthroned forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.
Lamentations 5:20 Why do you continually forget us, abandon us for our entire lives?

not forgotten

The lamenter has no doubt that God is on his throne and that he will stay that way forever. He is omnipotent, and no power in the universe can change that.

But in spite of his theological awareness, the lamenter has a problem. He cannot understand why this almighty king seems to have forgotten the plight of his subjects. His complaint is that God has abandoned his people.

We might respond that God does not do that, and we would be right. But the issue at hand is that the lamenter feels like God has abandoned him. He has come to the throne because he needs to be reassured that his people are not forgotten.

Lord, we seek the same reassurance. Show us that we are not forgotten.

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how civilizations collapse

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

how civilizations collapse

Lamentations 5:16b-18 (JDV)

Lamentations 5:16b Tragedy to us, because we have failed.
Lamentations 5:17 Because of this, our heart is sick; because of these, our eyes grow dim:
Lamentations 5:18 because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate and has jackals prowling in it.

how civilizations collapse

Look how this texts shows that everything is connected. The failure of the people to obey God lead to their depression, lack of vision, and ultimately the destruction and desolation of the city.

That is how civilizations collapse.

Lord, give us the wisdom to walk in integrity before you, to preserve us from destruction.

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complaint department

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

complaint department

Lamentations 5:9-16a (JDV)

Lamentations 5:9 We secure our food at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the open country.
Lamentations 5:10 Our skin is as hot as an oven from the ravages of hunger.
Lamentations 5:11 Women have been raped in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah.
Lamentations 5:12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect.
Lamentations 5:13 Young men work at millstones; boys stumble under stacks of wood.
Lamentations 5:14 The elders have left the city gate, the young men, their music.
Lamentations 5:15 Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning.
Lamentations 5:16a The crown has fallen from our head.

complaint department

Lamentations tells it like it is, and the truth is not pretty. It is not comforting to know all the atrocities and suffering that happen. Many people today avoid watching or reading the news because they don’t want to be reminded of all the bad news. Some even make it a point to unfriend anyone who complains on social networks.

Where does God stand on that issue? Does he call on us to only come to him with the positive and encouraging in our lives? Nope. He even dedicated an entire book in his Scripture (this one) to the expression of grief and outrage of those who are suffering. His complaint department is open for business.

Thank you Lord, for opening your heart and listening to our complaints.

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lost inheritance

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Jefferson Vann

Lamentations - 1

lost inheritance

Lamentations 5:1-8 (JDV)

Lamentations 5:1 Yahveh, remember what has happened to us. Look, and see our disgrace!
Lamentations 5:2 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to foreigners.
Lamentations 5:3 We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are widows.
Lamentations 5:4 We have to pay for the water we drink; our wood comes at a price.
Lamentations 5:5 We are closely followed; we are tired, and no one offers us rest.
Lamentations 5:6 We made a treaty with Egypt and with Assyria, to get enough food.
Lamentations 5:7 Our fathers sinned; they exist no longer, but we are bearing their punishment.
Lamentations 5:8 Slaves rule over us; no one rescues us from them.

lost inheritance

The Lamenter describes the disgrace of his nation at losing their inheritance to foreigners. He says it is because the fathers sinned, and the children are bearing their punishment. It would be that way until the nation repented, and came back to the covenant the fathers had broken.

The New Testament describes life in the flesh as a spiritual slavery. All of us are born into such a life. The good news is that there is an inheritance for all of us in Christ. We can choose to stay in slavery — even blaming God or our environment or our ancestors. But we can also choose to return to God in faith.

Lord, we choose repentance and restoration.

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