Page 72 - Eschatology - Masters revised
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2 Thessalonians 2:7–8 (NIV84)7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the
one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the
lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and
destroy by the splendor of his coming.
The words “the one who now holds it back” and “he” refer to a person who is presently holding back
Satan’s evil. This can only be accomplished by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. That restraining
effect of the Holy Spirit which is active today will be removed before the tribulation period so that the
antichrist can be revealed at the beginning of the Tribulation.
Since the Holy Spirit indwells the church, the body of Christ, the removal of the Holy Spirit's restraining
work would necessitate the removal of the church. The Holy Spirit will still be present to convict
unbelievers of their need to believe in Christ. But His restraint of evil will be removed.
11. Paul had written in his previous letter about the Rapture in 1 Thess. 4. According to 2 Thessalonians
2:1-4, it seems a second letter was necessary to clear up confusion because someone had forged a letter
in Paul’s name telling them that the Day of the Lord had begun. The phrase “the day of the Lord”
generally refers to the end times beginning with the Tribulation period and including the Second Coming
of Christ and the Millennial kingdom.
2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 (NIV84)1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being
gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some
prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has
already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the
rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will
oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets
himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
According to verse 2, Paul understands that they were troubled by this false information as they should
have been, had it been true. It is obvious that the Thessalonian church was alarmed that the “day of the
Lord” signifying the Tribulation period had arrived when they had expected the Rapture to occur first.
This alone tells us that the early church was taught, by the Apostle Paul, that they would NOT be going
through the “Day of the Lord”, referring to the Tribulation period. Paul taught that the Rapture would
take them off the earth before the Tribulation period began.
12. The original meaning of the Greek word “apostasia” in 2 Thess. 2:1-4 is evidence for the Rapture
occurring before the Tribulation period. The Rapture must come before the antichrist is revealed.
2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 (NIV84)1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being
gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some
prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has
already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the
rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will
oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets
himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
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