The apostle Paul was confronted with that question raised by the Thessalonian believers. That is why he wrote 2 Thessalonians. In his first letter to the Thessalonian believers Paul had stated, “For yourselves know perfectly (or, as we might say, “perfectly well”) that the day of the Lord (the day of Christ’s return) so comes as a thief in the night” (I Thessalonians 5:2). Four verses later Paul urges “let us watch and be sober…” (verse 6).
The apostle Peter warned that Paul wrote some things hard to understand by those who were not well grounded in the scriptures. (See 2 Peter 3:14-16). The Thessalonian believers misunderstood what Paul was saying, thinking he was telling them that Jesus’ return was imminent and that they needed to keep watch for Him as He might appear at any moment without any warning whatsoever much as a burglar, or thief, gives no warning before he climbs through your window.
Paul then writes the Thessalonians again, saying clearly, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that you 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. Let no man deceive you by any means (claiming that God’s Spirit had revealed something to them) for that day SHALL NOT COME except 1) there come a falling away first, and 2) that man of sin be revealed (the great false prophet spoken of by John in the Book of Revelation and Daniel in his prophetic book)), the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember you not that when I was yet with you I told you these things. (Paul is amazed they had misinterpreted what he had told them in his first letter to them). And now you know what withholds (Christ’s return) that he might be revealed in his time” (See 2 Thessalonians 2:1-6).
Notice how clearly Paul now speaks. He categorically states that two unmistakable events MUST occur BEFORE Jesus Christ can return: 1) There must be a great falling away first – Christians abandoning Christianity for some other pursuit or religion, to-wit, Islam, and 2) The man of sin must be revealed, one who exalts himself above even God and sits in the temple of God (much like the pope maintains an office in Vatican City) proclaiming himself to BE God!
Now ask yourself, “Has there been a great falling away of Christians, former believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior now giving up that belief and going to another religion or philosophy?” Then ask yourself this question: “Is there some man occupying God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God appearing in the flesh in that temple?”
Friends, there isn’t a temple. God’s temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. Until that temple is rebuilt and this man of sin occupies it, claiming to be God, Jesus Christ will not and cannot return. It’s that simple. Satan has blinded multitudes of pastors and preachers from seeing this basic, clear truth in scripture. It took forty-six years to construct the temple that was destroyed in 70 A.D. (See John 2:20). How long will it take to construct this prophesied temple that MUST be built before Christ can return?
Re-read 2 Thessalonians 2, verses 1 through 6. Follow Paul’s counsel. Don’t let any man deceive you into thinking Jesus Christ could “break through the blue” tonight or tomorrow or next year. It cannot happen. Don’t believe me. Believe God’s holy, inspired Word of eternal truth!
Are you beginning to get a feel for Satan’s deceptive power? He’s good at what he does. He has no equal. Who are you going to believe Pastor So-and-So, or some book of fiction, like “Left Behind” or “The Late Great Planet Earth”, or the apostle Paul and God’s word. I am going to go with Paul and God’s Word. I suggest you do the same.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley