The Apocalypse… (4 points)

• 1^st – The Day of Christ… vs. 1-3
  • 1^st – Gathering together / Day of Christ … vs. 1-2
    • In chapter 2 Paul CLARIFIES details about WHEN the DAY of the LORD will happen…
      • He opens by reiterating two KEY prophetic events that have YET to occur…
      • Both of these events he dealt with at length in I Thessalonians…
      • The RAPTURE of the church – and the DAY of Christ! 
    • 1 – Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our GATHERING TOGETHER to Him…
      • GATHERING TOGETHER – episynagōgē – 2x in NT – also in Hebrews 10:25
      • This is a reference to the RAPTURE of the church – when we go to meet Jesus!
      • I Corinthians 15:51-52 – “I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
      • We will be caught up into heaven – I Thessalonians 4:16 – Jesus comes for His church!
      • No one knows the exact day or hour – like a THEIF in the night – I Thessalonians 5:2
      • In the blink of an eye – we will be GATHERED TOGETHER to Him!
      • Those who believe in Jesus – the church – will be snatched up into heaven!
    • 2 – The DAY of CHRIST – or the DAY of the LORD…
      • The phrase THE Day of the Lord – used 32 times in the Bible – 27x in OT / 5x in NT…
      • Has a companion term that precedes THE DAY of the LORD – the LAST DAYS…
      • Peter uses both terms on Pentecost in Acts 2:17-21 in reference to the birth of the church!
      • The LAST DAYS began with Pentecost – and will end with the RAPTURE of the church…
      • THE Day of the Lord – not a LITERAL day – begins with the RAPTURE of the church!
      • Followed by an illusion (they will say) of PEACE and SAFETY – I Thessalonians 5:3
      • Then comes SUDDEN destruction – the WRATH of God – Revelation 6-18
      • The TRIBULATION with 3 sets of 7 judgments – Seal / Trumpet / and Bowl judgments…
      • The terror will be so great – unless God limited it – no one would survive – Mark 13:20
  • 2^nd – THE DAY has NOT come… vs. 2
    • Do NOT be SHAKEN in mind…
      • SHAKEN in mind – to agitate or be upset or disturbed – as in waves tossed by the sea!
      • They church was being SHAKEN in mind – by the letter Paul had written – I Thessalonians
      • In light of their PERSECTUION – II Thessalonians 1:4 – the wicked state of the world…
      • There were those who believed the DAY of the Lord had already happened…
      • That they had missed the RAPTURE – and they were living in the time of WRATH!
      • Williams Miller a minister in the 1800s – said Jesus was coming in the year 1844… 
      • People sold everything to prepare – Jesus did not come – the GREAT disappointment!
      • Misinterpreting Bible Prophecy can lead to us being VERY confused…
      • But we are not given the prophecies so we know WHEN Jesus will return…
      • We are given them – so we know HOW to live our lives – UNTIL He returns!
    • Do NOT be TROUBLED in spirit…
      • TROUBLED in spirit – 3x in NT – in relation to events leading to the DAY of the LORD!
      • Matthew 24:6 / Mark 13:7 – “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled [same word]; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.”
      • As we see the world get WORSE – it does TROUBLE us – but it should not surprise us!
      • II Timothy 3:1 – “In the last days PERILOUS times will come…”
      • PERILOUS (chalepos) 2x in NT – can also be translated VIOLENT…
      • The other time it is used is in Matthew 8:28 – the two demon possessed men…
      • When Jesus came to the east side of the Sea of Galilee – two men met him…
      • They were so VIOLENT (same word) no one could pass by that way!
    • Paul is telling us in the last days things are going to get tough…
      • Satan knows his time here is coming to an end – so he is trying his hardest!
      • He is going to get VIOLENT – hold nothing back – to try and TROUBLE the people of God!
      • He is the price of the power of the air – Ephesians 2:2
      • Perhaps it is no accident that TV and radio are transmitted through the AIR…
      • Because satan certainly is the power behind the MEDIA…
      • Satan uses these things to twist and pervert our minds – keep us distracted…
      • We need to be wise – NOT TROUBLED – not ignorant of the dangerous times we live in!
      • II Corinthians 2:11 – “Lest Satan should take advantage… we are not ignorant of his devices.”
  • 3^rd – Let no one deceive you by any means… vs. 3
    • DECEIVE – to cheat or trick – like how satan ticked Eve in the garden – II Corinthians 11:3
    • DECEIVED that the we are in the DAY of the LORD…
    • Luke 21:7-8 – “‘Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?’ And He said: ‘Take heed that you not be deceived…’”
    • Matthew 24 / Mark 13 / Luke 21 – Jesus gave the Olivette Discourse…
    • The disciples asked Jesus what the sign of the Day of the Lord would be…
    • Wars / famines / diseases (COVID) / earthquakes / terrors / believers hated!
    • All of these are the beginning of sorrows – but the end is not yet – Matthew 24:8
    • BEFORE the DAY of the LORD – there are TWO events that must take place FIRST!

• 2^nd – The day will not come unless… vs. 3-4
  • 1^st – The FALLING AWAY … vs. 3
    • FALLKNG AWAY – apostasia – 2x in NT literally meaning to depart from…
      • There are two possibilities as to what this FALLING AWAY could be…
      • DEPARTURE from the FAITH – many turning away from God…
      • The most important command we have – is to love God above all else – Matthew 22:37
      • But in the last days people will love themselves rather than God – II Timothy 3:2
      • This is not hard for us to do – since we by nature tend to focus on ourselves!
      • We tend to think the world revolves around us – it is easy to forget about God…
      • The world becomes POST CHRISTIAN – where many if not most – have DEPARTED!
      • In many parts of Europe today – less than 10% of people attend church regularly…
      • Even in the US – church attendance has plummeted over the past 20 years!
      • Matthew 24:12 – “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.”
    • DEPARTURE from the EARTH – this could be a reference to the RAPTURE…
      • The DAY of the LORD will not come UNTIL after the RAPTURE of the church…
      • Either view fits the Biblical context – more than likely BOTH are True!
  • 2^nd – Man of sin is revealed… vs. 3-4
    • THE Man of THE Sin / THE Son of THE Perdition (destruction)…
      • Two of more than 30 titles in the Bible given to one man…
      • The big mouth – Daniel 7:8 / we most often refer to him as the Antichrist – I John 2:18
      • He will be a leader who will rise out of Europe – the little horn – Daniel 7:8…
      • He will make a peace treaty with Israel for 7 years after the Magog invasion – Ezekiel 38
      • There is a good chance he will have Jewish heritage – God of his fathers – Daniel 11:37
      • He will make PEACE by offering to rebuild the 3^rd Temple for Israel – Daniel 9:27
      • North of the Dome of the Rock (monument) – in a place called the Dome of the Spirit…
      • He will rebuild the Temple – as proof he is the messiah – and Jews will embrace him!
      • John 5:43 – “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.”
    • He OPPOSES and EXALTS himself…
      • OPPOSES – 8x in NT usually translated as adversary – OPPOSED to / the enemy of God…
      • EXALTS – 3x in NT meaning to be arrogant – ABOVE all that is called God or worshiped!
      • This man will NOT honor God – he thinks he is ABOVE God…
      • He will seek to abolish God from every aspect of life – government – economy – religion!
      • He will rule the worlds political system – he will be the government – Revelation 13:7
      • He will rule the world financial system – 666 – make of the beast – Revelation 13:16-18
      • He will be the world religion – worship him as the god of this world!
    • He will sit in the Temple of God – showing (declare) himself he is God…
      • 3 ½ years into the Tribulation the Antichrist will perform the Abomination of Desolation!
      • The Antichrist will enter the rebuilt 3^rd temple – into the Holiest of All – Daniel 9:27
      • The footstool of God – where the Ark of the Covenant once stood (1^st Temple only)
      • There he will demand he is god – and should be worshiped!
      • Matthew 24:15 – “When you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), run…”

• 3^rd – The lawless one… vs. 5-8
  • 1^st – Paul encouraged the church to REMEMBER… vs. 5
    • Paul was not teaching the church anything new – he had said ALL of this before…
    • In fact – the Bible has a LOT of say about these particular events – to name a few…
    • Joel 2 / Daniel 7-12 / Matthew 24 / Mark 13 / Luke 21 / 1 Thessalonians 4-5 / Revelation 6-19!
    • You may have noticed that the Bible often repeats itself…
    • The same message given in many ways – JESUS IS COMING SOON…
    • The reason is because often we do not hear it – or do not understand – the first time…
    • The Bible tells us over and over in the hope we will eventually get it…
    • It is too important for us not to get / so we must repeat it as many times as needed!
  • 2^nd – The mystery of lawlessness… vs. 6-7
    • Having told the church WHAT needed to happen before the DAY of the LORD…
      • The FALLING AWAY and the man of sin REVEALED …
      • Paul goes on to detail WHY – the man of sin has not YET been REVEALED!
    • Now you know (see) what is restraining – that he may be REVEALED in HIS time… vs. 6
      • RESTRAINING – to hold back – something or someone is holding back the antichrist…
      • Keeping him from being revealed – apokalyptō – until it is HIS time!
      • Who is RESTRAINING – it would seem the HOLY SPIRIT!
    • Although the MYSTERY of LAWLESSNESS is already at work… vs. 7
      • THE MYSTERY – 27x in NT almost always referring to the PLAN of God for salvation…
      • Yet here it would seem to represent the opposite – THE PLAN of INIQUITY / REBELLION…
      • The PLAN of satan to raise up a FALSE CHRIST to rule the world – already at work…
      • WORK – energeo – he is already energetically deceiving the nations – preparing leaders!
      • ONLY the HOLY SPIRIT is restraining – so the Man of PERDITION cannot be revealed!
      • There is a good chance the antichrist is alive today – waiting for the right time…
      • Because he cannot be revealed until the HOLY SPIRIT is removed…
      • If he revealed himself now – we would all know who he is – tell the world not to follow!
    • Until HE is taken out of the way…
      • How will the HOLY SPIRIT be taken out so the antichrist can rise to power…
      • The RAPTURE of the church – because we have THE SPIRIT in us!
      • I Corinthians 6:19 – “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit…”
  • 3^rd – The destruction of the lawless one … vs. 8
    • Then the LAWLESS one will be revealed – apokalyptō – the APOCALYPSE…
      • Once the RAPTURE happens – concluding the time of the church – Romans 11:25 
      • The Man of Sin will rise to power – but it will be VERY short lived…
      • Because at the end of the 7 years of Tribulation…
      • The Antichrist will gather his army to the Valley of Megiddo – Revelation 19:11-21
      • Then Jesus will come out of Heaven on a white horse – King of Kings / Lord of Lords…
      • He will return with us – ten thousands of His saints – Jude 1:14
      • Battle begins in Bozrah – where the remnant of Israel is hidden for 3½ years – Isaiah 63:1
      • Jesus will depart from there to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Megiddo) – Joel 3:14
    • The Lord will CONSUME with the breath of His mouth…
      • This is not a matter of Jesus needing a breath mint – this is the WORD of God…
      • With one WORD he will defeat the Antichrist and his army – Revelation 14:20
      • And with the brightness of His coming – the darkness will be extinguished!
      • The Antichrist will be the first to be thrown into the Lake of Fire – Revelation 19:20!
      • We do live in a fallen world – and we are at war – with sin / the world / satan…
      • But there is NO question on the outcome – we know because of Jesus we win in the end!

• 4^th – The strong delusion… vs. 9-12
  • 1^st – Signs and wonders… vs. 9-10
    • Having told the church WHAT needed to happen before the DAY of the LORD…
      • The FALLING AWAY and the man of sin REVEALED…
      • And WHY the man of sin has not YET been REVEALED – restrained by the Holy Spirit…
      • Paul will conclude by detailing WHAT will happen when he is REVEALED!
    • The coming of the LAWLESS ONE is according to – 5 things…
      • 1 – WORKING of satan – literally the energy of satan – perhaps possessed by him…
      • 2 – All POWER – dynamis –word used to describe those filled with the Spirit – Acts 1:8
      • 3 – SIGNS – evidence of his deity – proof that he is more than a man…
      • 4 – LYING WONDERS – pseudo miracles – we would sake FAKE miracles!
      • 5 – UNRIGHTEOUS DECEPTION – those who are PERISHING will be completely deceived…
      • PERISHING – (present / passive) – those who are being destroyed because of UNBELIEF…
      • Those who did NOT receive the LOVE of the TRUTH so that they might be saved!
    • The Antichrist will try and prove he is god – by deceiving the world with signs and wonders…
      • Revelation 13:3-5 – “I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed… and they worshiped the beast… for [3 ½ years].”
      • The Antichrist will proclaim to the world – he is THE Christ – raised from the dead!
      • A false prophet will cause fire to come down from heaven – Revelation 13:13-15
      • The prophet can make statues of the Anti-Christ speak – put the unbelievers to death!
      • Signs so convincing they could – if possible – deceive even those who believe – Mark 13:22
      • There is a VERY real danger to following signs and wonders…
      • Satan can – and will – imitate God – so he looks like the real thing – II Corinthians 11:14
      • The only way to know the TRUTH is by being men and women of the Word!
      • Jesus Word is TRUTH – John 14:6 – He is how we know the TRUTH – John 17:17
  • 2^nd –Believing the delusion… vs. 11
    • God will send them a STONG delusion…
      • STRONG – energeia / Delusion – planē – meaning to wander…
      • Where we get our word PLANETS – because they seem to wander across the sky!
    • So they should BELIEVE the LIE…
      • BELIEVE the lie – comes from the root word for FAITH – they put their FAITH in the lie!
      • The delusion – people energetically put their FAITH in the world – rather than Jesus!
      • People might think – if the RAPTURE – happens then I will believe…
      • They are waiting for a SIGN – until then they are content to LIVE for this life…
      • But for those who reject the TRUTH now – there is no guarantee they will believe later…
      • It seems more likely they will believe in the STRONG DELUSION – believe the lie…
      • Which is why it is so important to put our FAITH in the TRUTH today – II Corinthians 6:2 
  • 3^rd – Condemned… vs. 12
    • For this REASON – because they did not LOVE / WANT the TRUTH…
    • They will be CONDEMENED – judged – who did not BELIEVE in the TRUTH…
    • Instead they chose to live for the WORLD – live in the pleasures of unrighteousness!
    • We live in a world that is blinded to the events unfolding all around them…
    • They seem oblivious to the fulfillment of countless prophecies…
    • They are ignorant of the coming JUDGMENT – careening haplessly towards destruction…
    • And we are left to ask – why is something so clear to us – hidden from them!
    • I Corinthians 2:10 – “God hath revealed [apokalyptō ] them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”
    • We are NOT deceived – because we know the Lord / look to the Word…
    • Opening our eyes to see the things that are hidden from the world around us…
    • But we are not to keep it hidden – we are to proclaim it from the rooftops!

Matthew 10:27 – “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.”