Paul quite clearly and emphatically states TWO EVENTS must occur before Jesus’ return: 1) There must be a great falling away from Christianity. (Many other texts clearly indicate the religion of Islam will predominate on the earth before Christ returns). And 2) The “man of sin” spoken of by Daniel and Jesus Himself will be unveiled and seen as such when he sets up his throne room in a yet to be rebuilt temple in Jerusalem! The believers in Thessalonica had misinterpreted what Paul had said in his first letter, or epistle, he had written to them. They thought Paul had said the Lord’s return was imminent and that He could appear at any moment. Paul then writes 2nd Thessalonians to clear up their confusion.
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by (or concerning) the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together to Him that you be not soon shaken in mind (alarmed). or be troubled, neither by spirit (some supposed prophetic utterance), nor by word (someone’s preaching)), nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ (His return) is at hand (about to occur). Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except 1) there come a falling away first (an abandoning of Christianity for Islam) and 2) that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (spoken of in Daniel 11 and our Lord’s “Olivet” prophecy spoken of in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21), who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sits in the temple of God , showing himself that he is God. Remember you not that when I was with you I told you these things. And now you know what withholds (the Lord’s return) that He might be revealed in His time.” (See 2 Thessalonians 2:1-6). (NOTE: All comments in parentheses are those of the author of this study).
Paul is speaking as plainly as human language will allow, yet Satan’s blinding power is so profound that multiplied millions of professing Christians sincerely believe Jesus Christ could return at any moment, They will believe the fanciful fictional works of Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, authors of the “Left Behind” series of books advertised and presented as works of fiction by Tyndale House Publishers. Go figure!
So, brethren, go ahead and set aside money for your children’s college education. Buy a burial plot you won’t need for several more decades. Although we cannot know the day or hour of Jesus’ return, we know it cannot happen today or tomorrow. Only when the Muslim Mosque of Omar is destroyed and the temple of God is erected on Mount Zion then, and only then, can we expect that our Lord’s return is at hand.
Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley