2 Thessalonians 1

Study Guide 149: 2 Thessalonians THE DAY OF THE LORD Overview This brief note is closely linked to Paul’ s first Epistle to the Thessalonians. It was written within three or four months of the other, and intended to clear up confusion about the future. Growing persecution had led some in the city to believe that the “ Day of the Lord” of which Paul had taught had arrived. Paul wrote to explain, and to teach them how to live under persecution. The letter can be outlined simply.

Outline I. Greetings2Th_1:1-2 II. Persecution and Judgment2Th_1:3-12 III. The Day of the Lord2:1-3:5 IV. A Request and a Warning2Th_3:6-15 V. Final Words2Th_3:16-18As we approach this study of a book that emphasizes prophecy, it is important to remember that in Scripture prophetic teaching is practical. That is, the Christian vision of the future is intended to have application to the believer’ s present experience. Prophetic teaching is not focused on constructing prophetic systems, which link future events in any particular sequence. We are able to fit prophesied events together, to some extent. But the major emphasis of the Bible itself is on seeing the relevance of yet-future things to our lives today.

Commentary Paul’ s first letter was full of references to the future. In fact, the new faith the Thessalonians had adopted so enthusiastically had captured their own imaginations, and created a vital new hope. The Thessalonians were eagerly waiting “ for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). They had caught something of Paul’ s own attitude, for the apostle had fixed his hope, and joy, and gloried in the crown which would be his “ in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes” (1 Thessalonians 2:19). How motivated these new believers were to “ be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones [angels]” (1 Thessalonians 3:13). While the Thessalonians looked forward with Paul to Christ’ s coming, there were still confusions and uncertainties. Paul had only had a few brief months in their city. It’ s not surprising that some had misunderstood his teachings. Some there were very upset about believers who had died. They apparently viewed the return of Christ as imminent, and assumed that the Second Coming would take place in their own lifetimes. They were uncertain about what would happen to those who died before this event took place. Paul did not correct their assumption that Christ’ s coming was imminent. Like them, Paul believed the Lord could return at any time. But Paul did not know when that “ anytime” would be. So in his first letter the apostle described the Rapture, in which believers are caught up in the air to be with the Lord. He did not fit this event into any prophetic scheme. He simply wanted the believers to realize that death had not cut their loved ones off from the hope of glory to come. Both those who live at Christ’ s return, and those who have died, will be caught up together! Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord’ s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18Paul emphasized that “ about times and dates we do not need to write you” for “ the Day of the Lord will come like a thief.” But in view of its certainty, the believers are told to “ encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:11). In view of all these references in Paul’ s first letter, it is clear that eschatology — teaching about the future — had a significant place in the instruction of those congregations the great apostle and missionary founded throughout the Roman Empire. While eschatology had a central place in early Christian teaching, as we have noted, misunderstandings did arise. And this was particularly true in Thessalonica, where Paul had so little time to ground the new believers before he was forced to travel on. Paul’ s first letter emphasized the Christian’ s hope, and answered one question they had about those who had died. But more questions arose. And so a second letter was sent. This letter centered on the future — and on the impact our vision of the future is to have on Christian life. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Divide your group into five sections. Assign each section one chapter of 1 Thessalonians. Each is to read his or her chapter individually, and locate references to the future God has planned for believers, and to see what impact that future is to have on believers now. Have your group members report their findings chapter by chapter. Discuss: “ Why was teaching about prophecy given such a high priority when Paul had so little time with the Thessalonians? What role should prophetic teaching have in our own faith? Why?” Do not discuss at length, but use this preliminary study to stimulate awareness of prophecy’ s significance as a stimulant to Christian living. When Paul wrote his second Letter to the Thessalonians, it dealt with three specific issues that had surfaced in Thessalonica. Each was directly related to prophecy.

Persecution: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12Paul had been driven from Thessalonica by persecution organized by jealous Jews (Acts 17:5). A mob attacked several of the brothers, and a riot ensued. Paul was forced to leave that very night. Despite the fact that a number of Greeks and a few prominent women were members of the new congregation, the mob actions had apparently stirred up considerable opposition. In this second letter Paul wrote movingly about “ all the persecutions and trials you are enduring” (2 Thessalonians 1:4). There were a number of enemies who actively “ troubled” them. The Greek word, thlipsis, is a strong one, and suggests great emotional and spiritual stress caused by external or internal pressures. Here the context suggests both kinds of pressure. The external pressures are suggested by the riots and physical mistreatment described in Acts, and undoubtedly continued after Paul left the city. The internal pressures came as the Thessalonians wondered: how could this God who loved them permit them to experience such suffering? How does this relate to Jesus’ deliverance of believers “ from the coming wrath” ? (1 Thessalonians 1:10) Aren’ t troubles here an evidence of divine judgment? To answer, Paul turned to Scripture’ s vision of the future. He commended them for their perseverance and faith despite the persecutions they endured. And then explained just what will take place when Jesus returns. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power, on the day He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10The justice of God might well be questioned if only what happens in this life is considered. But when we realize that God has set a future time to fulfill His role as Judge, then our inner pressures are relieved. The stress that is natural under external persecution is quieted when we look ahead, and realize that God has created a truly moral universe. God will both “ pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to those who are troubled.” When Jesus returns all will be set right. Paul said that it was “ with this in mind” that he shaped his prayers for the Thessalonians. He did not pray that they might have relief now from their troubles. Instead Paul prayed that God would continue to work among them, “ so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Sketch the background of this church as it relates to persecution. Then give your group members the following series of statements to try to answer from 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12: Christians should be immune from persecution and suffering. God’ s love is shown by delivering His people from troubles. Christians who suffer have reason to doubt God’ s love. We should always pray that suffering believers will be delivered from their troubles. If God was both good and all powerful, He would not let His people suffer. Therefore He must either not be good or not be all powerful.

Anxiety: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3:5 The troubles experienced by the Thessalonians led to another, very specific worry. Paul had taught them that Jesus would return, to catch the believers up into the clouds. The dead would be raised and the living taken with Him. Paul had also taught them about “ the Day of the Lord.” This is a technical theological phrase in both the Old and New Testaments. It always identifies a span of time during which God directly or indirectly, but personally, intervenes in history to accomplish some specific aspect of His plan. In most cases the phrase draws our eyes toward the culmination of history, when great acts of terrible judgment will shake our earth. The prophets describe this coming day in graphic, powerful language. Woe to you who long for the Day of the Lord! Why do you long for the Day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. Amos 5:18The great Day of the Lord is near — near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the Day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Zephaniah 1:14-15The believers in the Thessalonian congregation, who were first recruited from “ God fearers” who were Gentile adherents of Judaism (Acts 17:4), were familiar with this apocalyptic vision. They had understood Paul’ s own teaching about the coming Day of the Lord. But now, under intensifying persecution, the rumor had spread that they were already in that “ day” ! This disturbed them intensely, because they expected “ the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him” to take place before the great time of troubles (2 Thessalonians 2:1). Had they missed the Rapture? What was happening? Paul answered by a reference to other familiar Old Testament prophecy: prophecy he must himself have touched on when he taught the young church. They were to disregard rumors that “ the Day of the Lord has already come” (2 Thessalonians 2:2). This will not happen “ until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). This individual, identified in Daniel’ s prophecy, and also spoken of by Jesus, is the person we know as the Antichrist. (For background, see Study Guides 67 and 90.) Note that Paul was not saying the rebellion must precede Christ’ s appearing. He simply said the “ Day of the Lord” will be ushered in by the Antichrist’ s rebellion. How then do we explain present persecution? Paul said the “ secret power of lawlessness is already at work.” The forces of evil are presently active in our world. But they are currently restrained (most believe by the Holy Spirit) (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Paul made it clear that the appearance of this Satan-empowered person will be unmistakable. He will come “ in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.” And he will delude the mass of humanity. Again, Paul’ s concern in this teaching on prophecy was practical. Paul wrote to reassure the Thessalonians that the trouble they experienced, while inspired by active evil at work in the world, were not the troubles Scripture speaks of when describing the end times. Paul concluded his instruction. He exhorted the Thessalonians to stand firm, and hold to the teachings he had given them. Understanding how painful their persecution was, Paul asked that the Lord “ who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, [would] encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). And finally Paul asked for prayer for him, that the message of Christ might spread rapidly and be honored, and that he might be delivered from evil men so he could continue his ministry. As for the Thessalonians themselves, “ We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’ s love and Christ’ s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:4-5). LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT In a minilecture help your group understand the main elements of the Old Testament prophetic teaching which underlines this chapter. Emphasize again that here Paul is not building systems, but is seeking to reassure fearful believers that the “ Day of the Lord” had not yet occurred, and that they could still look forward to the coming of the Lord from heaven.

Idleness: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18So far we’ ve seen that two of the concerns of the Thessalonians were resolved by a reference to prophetic truth. The doubts caused by present persecution were resolved as Paul made it clear that God’ s judgment on the persecutors is reserved until the time of Jesus’ return. For now, believers are to persevere in spite of troubles, sure that God will make all things right in His own time. Confusion about the “ Day of the Lord” was also rooted in present persecution. The Thessalonians’ troubles seemed so intense that some thought the time of the end had come. But if this were so, why hadn’ t the Lord come to deliver them? Paul simply pointed out that the time of ultimate trouble indicated by “ the Day of the Lord’ will not come until the Antichrist — the “ lawless one” — appears. And as his appearance will be marked by apparent miracles and wonders, that appearance will be well marked. The last issue Paul raised in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 also is linked with his teaching on the Second Coming. But this is a very practical rather than theological kind of concern. It seems that some in Thessalonica reasoned that, since the Lord might come at any moment, it made little sense to plan ahead. Why even work, if Jesus might come before evening? Why plan, or prepare for the future, if Jesus’ arrival might make any preparations moot? So those who reasoned this way simply sat back, idle, and refused to work! They let other Christians feed them, and sat around gossiping their lives away. This was a total misunderstanding of the meaning of imminence. The fact that Jesus may come at any moment does not mean that He will come during our lifetimes! God calls us, not to sit and wait, but to be actively and responsibly involved in the affairs of this life. Paul wrote very bluntly: You yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’ s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “ If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-13It is true that all God’ s plans focus on a grand, future culmination linked with the second coming of Jesus. But what we know about those plans is intended to motivate us to godly living now. And they are intended to resolve doubts and uncertainty caused by painful experiences in this present life. When we realize that the universe is moving toward God’ s intended end, and that in history’ s great culmination all of His good purposes will be fully realized, we are strengthened to live for Jesus now — to live with perseverance, to stand firm, and to actively do the will of God. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Paul emphasized two themes in this book: one, in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18, is that of responsibility. Each believer is to live responsibly in this world, working to meet his or her own needs. The other theme is that of purposefulness. The Christian understanding of the future provides us with a sense of goal and purpose — of the meaningfulness of life — that others lack. The theme of purpose is expressed particularly in Paul’ s prayers or reference to prayer (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-16; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5). Discuss briefly the responsibility theme, and then set pairs to study the prayers. In view of the future God has planned, what can give our lives meaning and purpose? What can we do that our lives will not be wasted?

Teaching Guide Prepare Research the teaching of Daniel and of Jesus on prophecy, as background for teaching 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 of 2 Thessalonians.

Explore Set your group members to work on chapters of 1 Thessalonians to discover how significant the future God has planned seems to Paul. See the approach laid out in “ link-to-life” above.

Expand

1. List statements that express the beliefs of some about God, believers, and trials here on earth. Then set teams to work studying 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 to identify truths which enable us to evaluate the validity of the statements. See “ link-to-life” above.
2. Or give a minilecture on the prophecies of Daniel and of Jesus which are reflected in Daniel 2:1-49. Try not to focus dogmatically on any particular prophetic system, but show the practical impact of understanding the “ Day of the Lord” on the persecuted Thessalonians. See “ link-to-life” above.
3. Or challenge your group members to discover in Paul’ s 2 Thessalonians’ prayers purpose and meaning for the Christian life, which will stand the test of Christ’ s return.

Apply Let each group member draw from his or her personal knowledge of Scripture. What else lies ahead? As each shares, he or she should also tell how this yet-future event might shape the believer’ s way of life today.