SPRINGCREEK FELLOWSHIP
Sunday, February 5, 2023
  • Graves Into Gardens

      • Psalm 15CSB

  • New Doxology
  • Good And Gracious King
  • Worthy Is The Lamb
  • 2Thessalonians 2:1-12
    INTRODUCTION: A deception concerning “…the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him” was being presented to the church that prompted the writing of this second letter.
    In RESPONSE, Paul corrects this error by presenting THREE PREREQUISITES to Jesus’ Coming:

    I. PREREQUISITE #1 of Jesus’ Coming: The MAN OF LAWLESSNESS is REVEALED – (2:3-4)

    II. PREREQUISITE #2: THAT WHICH RESTRAINS IS REMOVED – (2:5-8)

    A. Paul had ALREADY TAUGHT THEM concerning the Man of Lawlessness! – (v.5)

    “…I used to tell you about this” translates an imperfect verb tense that implies ongoing or recurring instruction.

    B. Paul had also previously taught them WHO RESTRAINS! – (vv.6-7)

    (v.6a) – “And you know what currently restrains…”
    What did he teach them?

    1. (v.6b) – “…so that he [the man of lawlessness] will be revealed in his time.”

    No one will miss who this man of lawlessness is. He will one day be revealed.

    2. (v.7a) – “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work…”

    The word translated "work" (ἐνεργεῖται) is the word from which we derive our English word energy. It means "to work actively," "to work effectively," or “to be actively in operation.”
    NOTE: The work of Satan is NOT limited to the “man of lawlessness!”
    1 John 2:18 CSB
    Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour.
    In fact, we all were a part of that work!
    Ephesians 2:1–3 CSB
    And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

    3. (v.7b) – “…but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way,”

    Who is “…the one now restraining?”

    Various answers have been given: the Roman government, the preaching of Paul, the Church and/or the Popes.
    Except for the Church, none of these answers are sufficient—and in fact, because this is a spiritual conflict (Ephesians 6:12), the most obvious answer is that the one now restraining is in fact, the Holy Spirit of God!
    Ephesians 6:12 CSB
    For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
    Satan is powerful, but he is not omnipotent. He is under restraint and cannot bring his plans to fruition. He has tried over and over throughout the course of history, but always he has been hindered by the power of the Spirit of God.
    The presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church is hindering Satan
    On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit took up a new position in relation to this world. He began to baptize believers into the mystical body of Christ, the Church.
    (1 Corinthians 12:13)
    Through this unique body the Holy Spirit effectively restrains the full development of the mystery of lawlessness in today's world.
    · At the Rapture, the church will be removed from earth and the Holy Spirit will resume His former relationship with mankind; that is, He will revert to His Old Testament relationship and method of dealing with men.
    · The church age is a parenthesis in God's dealings with the world. The church, injected supernaturally into history at Pentecost, supernaturally maintained throughout this age by the baptiz­ing, indwelling, and filling works of the Holy Spirit, will be super-naturally removed when this age is over.
    · What is to be removed, then, is the Holy Spirit working through the church. Until that happens, Satan cannot bring his plans to a head.
    · After the Rapture of the church the Holy Spirit will continue His work in bringing people to salvation, but He will no longer baptize them into the church, nor will He actively hinder Satan from bringing his schemes to fruition. How­ever, once Satan has achieved his goal, Christ will return and demolish the whole thing.

    III. PREREQUISITE #3: The MIGHT OF SATAN IS RELEASED (2:8-12)

    A. GOD: Sovereign as Ever – (v.8)

    It will look as though Satan is having it all his own way, but that will not be so.
    · A time note Is underlined: "…and then," and not until then. Satan, for all his craft and cunning, for all his tremendous powers, will finally bring his plans to a head, not because he has outwitted the Spirit of God, but because God removes the restraint.
    · A termination note is under­lined as well. The beast, Satan's diabolical antichrist, will be destroyed at the Second Coming of Christ. In other words, God will be as sovereign as ever. He will be in control even during the fleeting days of Satan's seeming triumph.

    B. SATAN: Subtle as Ever – (vv.9-10a)

    Paul reminded us that the devil's man is to have a “coming.” He used the word parousia, the same word used in the New Testament to describe the coming of Christ.
    Antichrist's “coming” will be (vv.9b-10a) – “…with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie, and with every wicked deception”
    Miracles are used only very sparingly by God. There are just FIVE brief periods in Scripture when they are used:
    · The first was during the Exodus and the conquest of Canaan. Moses and Joshua were leading God's people through a great period of transition in their earthly pilgrimage, and miracles paved the way. Those miracles stopped as suddenly as they began. In their place, God gave His people His written Word: the Pentateuch, the early historical writings, some of the wisdom literature, and the Psalms of David.
    · A second outbreak of miracles occurred in the days of Elijah and Elisha, and those miracles likewise stopped as suddenly as they began. Again, it was an age of transition. Miracles were designed to draw attention to the ministry of God's two prophets, who were attempting to bring the nation back to God. It was unsuccessful, however, so God prepared to hand the northern tribes over to the Assyrlans. But first He replaced the miracles with His written Word; the later histories; the written prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the early prophets; and more Psalms.
    · A third and brief outburst of miracles took place in Babylon in the days of Daniel and his friends. These, too, stopped almost at once and were replaced by additions to the Word of God: by the writings of the exilic prophets, the final historical books, the postexilic prophets, and a few more Psalms.
    · A fourth, and by far the most spectacular, period of miracles was associated with Christ and His apostles. This was yet another transition period when God first offered the kingdom to Israel, withdrew the offer when the King was rejected, and began to prepare the way for the Church. This period of miracles, too, ceased as suddenly as it began, about the time of the destruction of the Jewish temple and the dispersia of the Hebrew people. It was replaced by the written New Testament.
    Miracles are used by God only to get attention; then they cease and are followed by long periods of time without miracles!
    WHY? Because He would never have us rely on them.
    God wants us to rely on His Word!
    Luke 16:27–31 CSB
    “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house— because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t also come to this place of torment.’ “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
    When we put our trust in Christ through His Word, we do put our faith in the supernatural, because the Bible is itself a supernatural book much more reliable than voices and visions.
    2 Peter 1:16–21 CSB
    For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased!” We ourselves heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
    The danger of always seeking signs and wonders is that miracles can be counterfeited!
    Matthew 24:24 CSB
    For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
    · There is ANOTHER period in Scripture when miracles will abound, and that is the time WHEN God's two witnesses (Revelation 11) will perform miracles, and Satan's two men will counter them with signs and lying wonders (Revelation 13).
    · The day is approaching, and already is when people will be swept into the arms of Satan by all kinds of occult phenomena produced and promoted by the devil.

    C. MAN: Sinful as ever – (vv.10-12)

    Millions of people will be saved and swept into the kingdom after the rapture (Rev 7), but those who have heardand rejected the gospel in this age will be excluded from their number. All such will believe the lie and be damned. (vv.10-11)

    · The HEART is involved because they "…did not accept the love of the truth."

    · The MIND is involved because they "…not accept" from πιστεύσαντες τῇ ἀληθείᾳ - ‘accept/believe the truth’

    · The WILL is involved because they "…delighted in unrighteousness."

    Paul was not describing a casual, accidental missing of the way, but a deliberate rejection of truth.
    At the rapture, all who have rejected God's grace will be handed over to Satan for God’s WRATH!
    The most DIFFICULT part of this passage is that it is God who
    “…sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned!”

    · Since they would not have the truth, then let them have the lie.

    · They spurned His Holy Spirit, so let them become a prey to evil spirits.

    · They wanted no part in Christ, so let them have their part in antichrist.

    As one author writes, “Could anything be more just or more terrible?”

      • 1 John 2:18CSB

      • Ephesians 2:1–3CSB

      • Ephesians 6:12CSB

      • Luke 16:27–31CSB

      • 2 Peter 1:16–21CSB

      • Matthew 24:24CSB

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