1 Route 66 Understanding 1 and 2 Thessalonians Dr

---

1 Route 66 Understanding 1 and 2 Thessalonians Dr. Stephen Rummage, Senior Pastor Bell Shoals Baptist Church September 6, 2017 1 Thessalonians 1:9 (ESV) For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (ESV) and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. Structure of 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1. Paul’s Personal Concern for the Church (1 Thessalonians 1:1-3:13) 2. Paul’s Practical Commands to the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:28) 3. Paul’s Encouragement in Persecution (2 Thessalonians 1:1-12) 4. Paul’s Explanation of the Day of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:1-17) 5. Paul’s Exhortation to the Church (2 Thessalonians 3:1-18) The Man of Sin: Satan’s Superman 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 2 Thessalonians 2:1 (ESV) Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2 Thessalonians 2:2 (ESV) not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 1. The Rebellion of the Man of Sin 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (ESV) Let no one deceive you in any way. For that Day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 1 John 2:18 (ESV) Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 1 John 2:22 (ESV) Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

2 1 John 4:3 (ESV) and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 2 John 7 (ESV) For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Matthew 24:5 (ESV) For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. Matthew 24:24 (ESV) For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 1 Timothy 4:1 (ESV) Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 1 Timothy 4:2 (ESV) through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 2. The Revelation of the Man of Sin 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (ESV) Let no one deceive you in any way. For that Day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (ESV) who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:5 (ESV) Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? Daniel 11:36 (ESV) “And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. Daniel 11:37 (ESV) He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. 3. The Restraint of the Man of Sin 2 Thessalonians 2:6 (ESV) And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.

3 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (ESV) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only He who now restrains it will do so until He is out of the way. 4. The Removal of the Man of Sin 2 Thessalonians 2:8 (ESV) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His coming. Isaiah 11:4 (ESV) but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall kill the wicked. 5. The Reception of the Man of Sin 2 Thessalonians 2:9 (ESV) The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2:10 (ESV) and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 (ESV) Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 2 Thessalonians 2:12 (ESV) in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Romans 1:28 (ESV) And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. John 5:43 (ESV) I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

Understanding 1 Thessalonians Meaning: Named for the recipient of the letter Author: Paul Audience: The Church at Thessalonica Date of Writing: 50-51 AD Theme: Eschatological: related to events of the last days, such as the rapture of the church and the second coming. Key Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Structure of 1 Thessalonians I. Paul’s Personal Concern for the Church (1 Thessalonians 1:1-3:13) a. He Praises God for the Church’s Growth (1:1-10) b. He Reminds Them of the Church’s Founding (2:1-16) c. He Works to Increase the Church’s Strength (2:17-3:13) II.

Paul’s Practical Commands to the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:28) a. Live in Godliness (4:1-8) b. Live in Love (4:9-10) c. Live in Humility (4:11-12) d. Live in Hope (4:13-18) e. Live in Light (5:1-8) f. Live in Thankfulness (5:9-11) g. Live in Respect (5:12-13) h. Live in Obedience (5:14-28)

Glossary Terms In Eschatology Allegorical interpretation - a method that looks for a sense deemed higher than the literal sense in an otherwise apparently historical statement, Apocalypse (Gk. apokalupsis, lit. “the unveiling”) - the English transliteration of the Greek title for the Book of Revelation. Beuma - the judgment seat or reward seat before which each Christian must appear (2 Cor. 5:10) Eschatology - the study of last things or the events that are awaiting future fulfillment. Harpazō (Gk. lit. “to catch up or snatch away”) - This word is used to describe the translation of believers at the Lord’s return (Matt. 24:30, 31; 24:32-44; John 14:2, 3; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; Col. 3:4; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:6). Kingdom - may refer to (1) the reign of Christ in the hearts of believers, (2) the heavenly kingdom, or (3) the earthly kingdom of Christ. Israel - except in rare instances, a reference to the literal national group designated Israel. Millennium - Latin word for one thousand (1,000) years (Is. 11:1-9; Jer. 31:31-34; Joel 3:17-21; Amos 9:11-15; Mic. 4:1-5; Luke 1:31-33; 1 Cor. 15:24-28). Rapture (Lat. ratio, meaning “to snatch or seize”) - This non-biblical word is used to describe the removal of Christians from the world at the return of Christ (see Harpazō). Tribulation - seven-year period of unparalleled distress on earth (Is. 2:19; 24:1, 3, 6, 19-21; Jer. 30:7; Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:1, 2; Amos 5:18, 20; Zeph. 1:14-18; Matt. 24:21, 22; Luke 21:25, 26; 1 Thess. 5:3; Rev. 6:1-17. Source: Thomas Nelson, Inc: Woman’s Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997

Route 66: The Highway of Redemption from Genesis to Revelation Bell Shoals Baptist Church - Dr. Stephen Rummage, Senior Pastor

Understanding 2 Thessalonians Meaning: Named for the recipient of the letter Author: Paul Audience: The Church at Thessalonica Date of Writing: 50-51 AD Theme: Eschatological; related to events of the last days, such as the rapture of the church and the second coming. Key Verses: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Structure of 2 Thessalonians I. Encouragement in Persecution (2 Thessalonians 1:1-12) a. Persecution Brings Potential for Growth (1:1-4) b. Persecution Brings Preparation for Glory (1:5-10) c. Persecution Brings Praise to God (1:11-12) II. Explanation of the Day of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:1-17) a. The Events Preceding the Day of the Lord (2:1-12) i. The Falling Away (2:1-3) ii. The Man of Sin (2:4-5) iii. The Restrainer Removed (2:6-7) iv. The Second Coming of Christ (2:8-12) b. The Comfort of the Believer on the Day of the Lord (2:13-17) III. Exhortation to the Church (2 Thessalonians 3:1-18) a. Wait Patiently for Christ (3:1-5) b. Withdraw from the Disorderly (3:6-15) c. Conclusion (3:16-18)

Finishing Well When Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica, they were in the midst of intense suffering (2 Thess. 1:4,5). But Paul encouraged them to look beyond their immediate troubles to the return of Christ and the affirmation they would receive from Him at that time (1:6, 7). Their enemies, who were really enemies of the Lord, would be judged and dealt with (1:8, 9). By contrast, they would join with their Savior in joy and praise (1:10). Paul went on in the next chapter to expand on this theme and its impact on the Thessalonians’ current difficulties (2:1-12). God calls us as His people to finish our lives well by holding on to the truths that last (2:15). He challenges us to maintain lifelong faithfulness and not to be entirely caught up in the here and now, whether good or bad. Source: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary, Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, l999

Route 66: The Highway of Redemption from Genesis to Revelation Bell Shoals Baptist Church - Dr. Stephen Rummage, Senior Pastor