1 Thessalonians Commentary
The letters (called epistles) from Paul to Thessalonica, which included I Thessalonians and II Thessalonians were probably two of the earliest letters Paul had written which was around A.D. 50 or 51. Paul wrote these letters in response to Timothy’s report that the Thessalonians’ church was prospering despite intense persecution from factions. Unscrupulous men from the Jewish community had sent men to stir up animosity toward the Christians who they identified as straying from Judaism. These Jews stirred up a riot in which Paul, Silas, and Timothy had to flee for their lives during the middle of the night.
The residents and recipients of Thessalonica resided in a huge city with estimates of 200,000 citizens. Immorality abounded as the norm in the pagan Greek religions there. Today it might have been called “sin city.” Sitting in a prime spot of wealth and influence as the chief port of the Roman province of Macedonia, this city was one of the crown jewels of the Roman shipping and receiving centers and Roman citizens had many freedoms there because it had the status of a “free city.” That meant that Thessalonica citizens had self-rule. Thessalonica had many great influential citizens of Rome dwelling there since it was the provincial capital of Macedonia.
The purpose behind I Thessalonians is multifaceted. Part of Paul’s letter was to expose the false teachers in the church there. They were obviously in it for money and prestige. He was also disputing the false charge that he had left in a hurry because of a charge of hypocrisy that the false teachers had accused him of.
Paul was also interested in encouraging the Thessalonians in their persecutions and to strengthen their resolve for Jesus Christ and the gospel‘s sake. He wants the Thessalonians to understand that persecution was to be expected as part of the cost of their faith.
Paul’s practical instructions and exhortations are universally applicable throughout the church’s history even up to today. One of these were for the reasons of having godly conduct. They are to live to please God and not men and their conduct is to be motivated by a love for God. Pleasing God is also living a chaste life and avoiding sexual immorality as they are called to be holy just as God is holy. This was exceedingly more difficult in Thessalonica. Paul reinforced the idea that knowing God is an important way to avoid immorality and having godly conduct. Believers are called to holiness and that living a holy life glorifies God which is His will. Living a holy life is not possible by human effort but only by the power of an indwelling Holy Spirit.
Paul also addressed what many call the “rapture.” This is where the saints of God are taken up into the air to be with the Lord, thereby avoiding the Great Day of the Lord, or the Great Tribulation. Even though the word rapture doesn’t appear in the Bible, neither does the word Trinity, yet we know from the Bible that there is a Triune God family; The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. The Thessalonians were worried that those who had already died would miss this gathering up but Paul reassures the church that those who are still alive will not precede those who are already deceased. The Lord will not forget them and they will also meet those saints who are alive at His Second Advent and be with them and the Lord forever (4:13-18). Even though the word rapture is not in the Bible, the word Paul used for “caught up” (v 17) is a Greek word, “harpazo.” Harpazo literally means: to seize, carry off by force, to claim for one’s self, or to snatch out or away. It is very close in meaning to the word kidnapping, but in this case, the “victim” is a willing member.
1 Thessalonians Summary
Paul addressed the Thessalonians but his instructions apply to all Christians in the Body of Christ throughout the ages. He directs Christians to have respect for church leaders since many of them devote their own time and energies into serving the church as well as working in secular occupations. Paul was bi-vocational and many pastors, elders, deacons, and church leaders today work outside of the church to support themselves. Holding someone in “high regard” means to give them all due respect.
Christians are also exhorted to not be lax in their duties and to encourage those who need the encouragement. Showing patience with others displays the love of God which is empowered by the Holy Spirit. To love one another means not responding with retaliation to unkind acts when done to them which was a frequent occurrence for the church at Thessalonica. Living a holy life and that this is impossible to do so without the power of the Holy Spirit. Part of living a holy life is to be full of joy, thanksgiving, and to be continually in prayer.
Paul also tells this church, and by extension all believers, that they should be in prayer as often as possible and also be giving thanks to God in all situations because God is working all things out for the best. He tells the church membership to use Scripture as the acid test as to whether teachings are from God or not and to reject what is scripturally unsound.
The exhortations that Paul gave were to protect the church from false beliefs concerning the Lord’s return. Paul warned “those who are idle” because they were abandoning their work responsibilities and their lazy and disorderly conduct was hurting the church. They had this disorderly conduct when they were depending upon others in the church for support since they believed that the Lord’s return was imminent. Paul used himself as an example that he was not lazy and worked to support himself. He was not depending upon others for support and was not a “burden to any.” Paul worked despite his right to be supported by the church for his ministry but forgo this right to be an example to believers. Paul was saying that Christians should not be using other Christians to support them and should be self-supporting as he was. The principle was that if no one works, neither shall he eat. Paul was irritated by the fact that they were taking advantage of other Christians who did work and support themselves and those who did not work and were waiting for the Lord‘s return. He was saying in effect that meddling in the affairs of others was unprofitable for the church. Instead they ought to settle down and work and not use others and take advantage of other people’s generosity. Discipline of those idle members of the church may be necessary with the goal of bringing them to repentance which was really for their own good. But the other extreme was a danger too so Paul clarified in his writings by saying that they should be welcomed back warmly by the church in brotherly fashion if they repented and to not hold it against them. This is still the basic tenet in church discipline being used today for those who are clearly being disobedient or are openly sinning. This is one of the most difficult things for church leaders to do, yet it is in the disobedient church member’s and in the church’s best interest.
1 Thessalonians Key Verses
I Thessalonians 1:2 “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.”
I Thessalonians 1:5 “because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.”
I Thessalonians 2:6-7 “We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you.”
I Thessalonians 2:12 “encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”
I Thessalonians 3:13 “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”
I Thessalonians 4:3 “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.”
I Thessalonians 4:11 “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.”
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For 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 word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until 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 together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
I Thessalonians 5:2-6 “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”
I Thessalonians 5:9 “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I Thessalonians 5:17-19 “Pray continually. give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.”
What is your favorite Bible verse from the book of First Thessalonians? Share it in the comments!
Sources
The Holy Bible, New International Version
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide
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The 2 Thessalonians 2 End Time Scenario is Now a Reality
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 has been an eschatological source of debate for quite awhile now. Most people believe that it points to the revealing of the antiChrist, but I’m going to stick my neck out a little and say that I disagree.
It’s not that I don’t believe an antiChrist figure will show up in the future – it’s happened before, and it can surely happen again, but this is not what this passage is talking about.
In fact, let me stretch my neck out further and say something that I am sure is going to ruffle a few dispensational feathers.
I believe Paul’s often misunderstood “falling away” has already occurred, and the “man of sin” is being revealed, even as I write this post. Soon, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 will become a thing of the past and the sides will have been chosen.
The question is… which side will you choose?
Before you answer that, I would ask that you read this entire post and “take heed lest ye fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)
Is it One or Many?
Most of us who have read 2 Thessalonians 2 have been trained to view references to the “man of sin” in the singular. In fact, the text seems to back up this assumption.
- The MAN of sin
- So that HE sits as God
- Showing HIMSELF that HE is God
- Even HIM whose coming is after the work of Satan
But what if the traditional understanding is all wrong?
Look, we’ve all made this mistake. It’s only natural to verbally and mentally regurgitate what you’ve been taught by the people you trust and admire. Even the most astute cemetarians (seminarians) are prone to repeat what they’ve been indoctrinated into by their professors, regardless of whether it adds up or not.
There is rarely any Holy Spirit-inspired revelation… or common sense, for that matter.
The writer of this second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul, (the same guy who wrote Ephesians and the Corinthian letters) was known to use a singular person to refer to a group of people.
The BODY of Christ was made up of many people.
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Ephesians 4:12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
If you read the BlueLetterBible.org entry for the Greek word “soma” (link), you can see that it can refer to both a singular body as well as a “group” of similar entities.
The “one new man” referred to in Ephesians is also a singular entity made up of many.
Ephesians 2:15b-16
…for to make in himself of twain one new man , so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
“Anthropos” is also a word that can describe a singular person or a group of people (link). Keep this word in your mind as it appears in our key text.
So my question is this: If we know that Paul had used this wordplay before, where he takes a singular term and relates it to a group of people, why do we assume “the man of sin” in 2 Thessalonians 2 is a singular being?
photo by Pexels
I’ll tell you why – because we’ve been brainwashed to not even consider an alternative.
Your leaders know that if anything other than a dispensational view were to be applied to this passage, then their facade would be revealed and the whole “church paradigm” would come crashing down upon them. So they silence the few dissenting voices, ostracizing them as rebellious and/or uneducated.
But regardless of the inaction of those who prefer to live like lemmings, and regardless of the boastful arrogance of the cemetery-indoctrinated, this end time scenario is not going to unfold the way it has been taught, and I’ll show you why in this post.
I’m going to go deep in this study… and you’re going to be left with a choice.
I sincerely pray you make the right one.
The Messiah’s Return Has Always Been About Timing
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye 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.
Paul was writing his second letter to the church of Thessalonica because there were errant mindsets and chatter about the timing of the Day of the Messiah. From this verse, we know that the Day will consist of both His return and our gathering to Him.
Obviously, this is the big event we’re hoping for, right?
The believers back then were no different. Just like us, they couldn’t wait for His return! At the same time, the idea was being circulated that the Day was “at hand.” Paul wanted to assure the flock that there was a series of events that had to happen first.
Are you ready to dive in? OK, let’s look at the first verse in the “meat” of our post with the accompanying Greek words that we are going to check out.
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed , the son of perdition;
First, We Need to Clear Up What “Apostasia” Means
Paul told the ekklesia at Thessalonica that a falling away, an “apostasia” had to happen first.
The traditional view of the definition of “apostasia” is “the catching away of the church.”
The foolishness of this interpretation, in my opinion, doesn’t even deserve attention and takes away from the thrust of this article. But, for those of you who are die-hard pre-trib rapture people, Matthew 24:31 within the context of the entire chapter should squash this error if you have “ears to hear and eyes to see.” (Yes, there’s more verses, I just don’t have time to list them out right now.)
A more reasonable interpretation is exactly what it says here in the KJV – “a falling away,” but this is only partially correct and somewhat misleading.
The Greek word “apostasia” is the feminine form of “apostasion” which means “divorce, or bill of divorce.” (link)
This same word was used in the following verse, describing a forsaking of the Law of Moses (Torah).
Act 21:21
And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
Why is this significant?
The Father Divorced the 10 Tribes of Israel
We read in Jeremiah that God divorced the 10 tribes of Israel because they refused to walk in His Torah. Vine’s Expository Dictionary shows that the Septuagint uses “apostasion,” the masculine form of “divorce,” here.
Jeremiah 3:8
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce ; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
Even though the 10 tribes were guilty of spiritual infidelity, it was YHWH, the male figure in the relationship, that initiated this divorce. This was not figurative, the Creator told the prophet Hosea that the 10 tribes, who were once married to YHWH, were no longer His people.
Hosea 1:9
Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
The “Apostasia” and Ignatius of Antioch
But the “apostasia” – the feminine form of “apostasion” – had yet to occur after Paul’s day. This would be a gradual severing of the covenant – a “falling away” – initiated in the perverse minds of evil men and enforced by a wicked emperor masquerading as a believer.
Paul warned the church at Ephesus:
Acts 20:28-30
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Ignatius Bishop of Antioch
Paul was prophesying of something that was to happen after his death, and this prophecy was at least partially fulfilled by the overseer Ignatius of Antioch.
After Paul’s death, around 66 AD, Ignatius sent letters to the surrounding assemblies in Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, Rome, Philadelphia and Smyrna, making paradigm-shifting changes that would pervert the face of the Faith forever.
We still have the letters from this wrongly-sainted “apostolic father” (who claimed to be a disciple of John) with us today.
In these letters, Ignatius of Antioch:
- Seceded from the Jerusalem Council – (up until then, the authoritative body for the ekklesia in Antioch) and established the individual bishops as the governing authorities. – (Eph. 1:9, 11, 2:1-4, Mag. 1:7, 2:5, 7, Tral. 2:5, 14, Phil. 2:14, Smy. 3:1)
- Abolished the Torah – (Mag. 8:1, Phil. 2:6)
- Changed the Sabbath to Sunday (the “day of the venerable sun”) – (Mag. 3:3)
- Actually coined the term “christianity” – (Mag. 3:8, 11)
- ** Yes, I know the ekklesia was referred to as “christians” in Acts – but the sect was not known as followers of “christianity” until later on. I have more to write on this, but it will have to wait.
Ignatius was one of many who began to “speak perverse things” and “draw away disciples after them.” This was only the beginning of the twisting of the original faith. These “fathers” were the people whom the apostle Peter spoke of when he said:
2 Peter 3:15-17
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked , fall from your own steadfastness.
The Greek word “athesmos” means “one who breaks through the restraint of law and gratifies his lusts.” (link)
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So we see that those who misunderstand Paul’s epistles, “as they do also the other scriptures,” fall into the error of the one who “breaks through the restraint of law and gratifies his lusts.”
From history, we can see that, right after the main apostles in the New Testament died, people began to misunderstand Paul’s letters more and more, and a rift was formed between Jew and Gentile.
Not because the Jewish believers were “judaizing,” (a misnomer used by those who want an excuse for disobedience) but because of their pride, Gentiles wanted nothing to do with what they viewed as “Jewish customs.”
They boasted against the root that bore them (Romans 11:18), and this has been the way of the so-called “church” ever since.
Constantine Makes Christianity a State Religion
As I stated before, Mr. Ignatius was only the beginning of the “apostasia” (divorce). It would not be until Constantine (272 AD – 337 AD) and his son Constantine II (316 AD – 340 AD) that the divorce process would cross the line of “no turning back.”
Legend has it that Constantine had an encounter with the Most High in 312 AD at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Afterward, he declared himself a “christian” and eased the persecution that many were facing.
The genuineness of his conversion is a subject of great debate, but the fruit of it is evident.
Most people attribute the outlawing of the biblical Sabbath, the replacement of the Feasts of YHWH with Christmas and Easter, the banning of the Torah and circumcision with Constantine the Great.
In my own studies, I find that these deviations from the original faith are divided up between him and his son, Constantine II. It all depends on which history book or article you read.
Nevertheless, one thing is clear.
During the reign of these two emperors, christianity was established as the state religion and many gentile christian “believers” (fueled by Ignatius and the other Apostolic Fathers’ contempt for “all things Jewish”) rose to power and committed atrocities all in the name of the “Christian faith.”
photo by Pixabay
All who adhered to the Sabbath, the Feasts, the Torah and circumcision (until then, still viewed as major components of the covenant with the Most High) were either driven underground or suffered the most violent deaths.
Out of these atrocities rose the religious entity that would be known as the “christian church.” Only it wasn’t the real ekklesia (called-out ones) spoken of in the New Testament, but an imposter that would soon be known as “the Catholic (Universal) Church.”
This imposter would seek to control the world through violence and conquest, putting people to the sword who would not bow to their religious tyranny.
When you read about “christianity” or “the church” in your history books, 95% of the time it is speaking of “the Catholic Church.”
Why all the history when I’m supposed to be talking about 2 Thessalonians 2? Because I don’t want you to keep falling for the foolish dogma that says the “falling away” (divorce) has only occurred recently, or has yet to occur.
No, the great falling away did not happen with the hippie generation, Roe vs. Wade or even prayer being taken out of schools.
These events were merely the fruit of it.
This “falling away” (this departure from covenant relationship with the Father) was in progress even as Paul wrote his epistle to the Thessalonians.
Who is the “Man of Sin?”
OK, so that was a little bit of an historical rabbit trail, but I believe it is necessary to understand this passage. Let’s take another look at verse 3, because I have more to say.
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed , the son of perdition;
In the introduction, I spoke of how Paul would use singular terms to explain an entity composed of many members, remember?
The same word for “one new man” used in Ephesians 2 is used here to describe the man of sin.”
Keep that in mind as you read this passage. So many of the words like “he,” “himself,” and “him” can be translated as “they” and “themselves” but the translators decided to keep it in the singular form, I believe in error.
The word for “sin” in this passage is the Greek word “hamartia” which is also used in the same verse that is the very definition of “sin.”
1 John 3:4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Like the “one new man” who, reconciled to the Father, is a group of people belonging to the “commonwealth of Israel,” having their “transgressions of the law” forgiven them (Ephesians 2), the “man of sin” is a group of people who are identified by “the transgression of the law” – and they are proud of this identity!
This group of people were yet to be revealed during Paul’s day. The word for “revealed” is “apokalypto” (link). It’s where we get the word “revelation” from, and it means “to lay open what has been veiled.”
I believe this revelation is occurring even now and, by the end of this post, you’ll see why I say that.
Characteristics of the man of sin
2 Thessalonians 2:4
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
This “man of sin” (think plural) was hidden in Paul’s day, but Paul gave the ekklesia a clue as to the characteristics of those who have taken part in the “falling away” (divorce):
This people would exalt themselves above all that is called YHWH or is worshipped.
We know that, during the time of this letter, they only had the Torah and the prophets. They worshipped the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
This people would give little to no value to these, but would exalt their own ideologies above what was written at that time.
Think about this for a moment. Who is the temple of God? We are. (1 Corinthians 3:16)
These people would not esteem the Creator of the universe, but rather set up their own image in their heart and exalt him as God.
What, or Who, is Withholding this Revelation
2 Thessalonians 2:5-6
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time .
As Paul wrote this epistle, something was restraining the revelation of this “man of sin,” and it is directly related to the “falling away,” or divorce.
People have wracked their brains trying to figure out what it was that was restraining (“katecho”) the revelation (“apokalypto”) of this “man of sin,” but it’s right here in the passage!
Don’t forget that there is a specific time (“kairos”) that this is supposed to happen.
2 Thessalonians 2:7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work : only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way .
In order to properly decipher this verse, you need to look into the original meaning of the Greek words that I have highlighted and take it within the context of verse 6 and 8, otherwise this will make no sense to you. You need to use your study skills and logic here.
1) Here are the Greek words and what they mean:
- – hidden purpose, thing, secret, mystery
- – the condition of being without law
- – to be operative, be at work, put forth power
- – to hold back, detain, retain, restrain
- – to become, to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
- – middle, in the midst, amongst
Plug these definitions into their appropriate place in the verse above.
2) Realize that “will let” is italicized. This means that it was not in the original manuscripts; the translators put the words in at their discretion to “assist” you.
3) And this is crucial… realize that the “he” who is doing the restraining is not the same as the “he” that is being “taken out of the way.”
Another thing that strikes me as intriguing is the translated phrase “until he be taken out of the way.” That phrase does not match with the definition of “ginomai” and “mesos.”
If we plug in the meanings of these words, it should read “until it comes into being in the middle,” or “until it receives being in the midst,” or something similar.
So you’re left with a picture of something coming into being in the middle of something else. When I realized this, I instantly thought of the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Matthew 13:25
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Matthew 13:49
So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
I do not find it a coincidence that the wheat and the tares grow up together until the end of the age, then when harvest time happens, the tares are found “in the midst” of the wheat, nor do I find it a coincidence that it is because of their lawlessness (“anomia”) that they are thrown into the fire.
…OK, Kevin, bring this back around…
From this information, I came up with the following paraphrase for this verse:
Although it is hidden from us right now, lawlessness is already exerting its influence. The Father, who is keeping this a mystery, will continue to do so until this “man of sin” comes into its fullness and appears obvious.
What is restraining the revelation of the “man of sin?” The “kairos” timing of the Father! The “mystery” in the “mystery of lawlessness” would keep it’s “energeo” hidden until the Father takes it out of the way!
The Torahless Body Revealed
What happens then? The lawless… the people who have rejected the Torah of the Most High would be revealed for who they are.
2 Thessalonians 2:8
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
It is at that specific, YHWH-ordained “Kairos” time that the lawless would be revealed. The mystery and the hiddenness would no longer be a factor – they would be coming out of their own little closets.
“Church,” I’m talking to each one of you, you cannot get around the definition of “anomos” (link) here. It means “destitute of Mosaic Law!”
If you are destitute of Mosaic law, you are destined for “perdition” for you have rejected the Kingdom rule, just like Ignatius, Constantine and the pope.
Paul goes into more detail regarding this body of NON-believers.
2 Thessalonians 2:9
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Who’s Got the Power?
Your average Bible reader has been trained to assign this punishment to your non-churchgoing sinner. Let me ask… is the devil working with “all power and signs and lying wonders” among the heathen?
Unless you’re deep in the occult, not really.
Does the world outright reject God’s Torah? Are they even familiar with it? Thanks to the church, not really.
No, this punishment, this condemnation is applied directly to those who have had the opportunity to be a part of the Kingdom, and rejected it.
Oh, they may have professed to belong to this Kingdom, they even have the signs and (lying) wonders to prove it, but they prided themselves in their lack of obedience to “that Old Testament Law.” (They called it “freedom from bondage.”)
What’s going to happen to these people?
2 Thessalonians 2:10
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
What is righteousness? It is your keeping of the commandments (Deuteronomy 6:24-25).
What is truth? It is the Torah of the Most High.
Psalm 119:142
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
Psalm 100:5
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Unrighteousness is “deceivable” because of the excuses you make for your own disobedience.
You convince yourself, because you don’t love the truth established from the beginning, that you are “OK with God” when in fact you are the epitome of the Laodicean church. (Revelation 3:17)
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion , that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
- – a wandering, mental straying, error, wrong opinion relative to morals or religion (link)
Because there is no love for His Torah, God Himself sends the strong delusion – a wrong opinion relative to morals or religion. It’s a lying spirit (1 Kings 22) which whispers, “Hey, you’re the righteousness of Christ Jesus! You have nothing to fear!” which will lead to your own destruction.
This is the fate of those who reject the Torah that will be taught from YHWH’s house (Isaiah 2:2-4) when the heavenly city descends.
They do not believe the truth, they believe the lie and they are damned. They had pleasure in not obeying the Torah of the Most High (unrighteousness). They were taught it from infancy and brain-washed by the false church system, divorced (fallen away) from the covenant relationship with the Creator.
Hardly seems fair, right? No, by then they will have had their chance to repent.
Maybe this is your moment of decision?
If this is you, there is Good News! The Good News is you can always turn from your sin (“transgression of the Law”) …it’s called repentance!
I know that it’s not talked about a lot these days, but I’m telling you, you can’t enter the Kingdom without it!
Ezekiel 18:21-23
But if the wicked (Greek Septuagint says “anomos” – same as 2 Thessalonians 2:8) will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
Please, I ask… no, I’m begging… please repent… this IS the right choice.
Making the Path Straight
photo by Pixabay
Around 2008-2010, a mass exodus from the man-made organization called “the church” started to take place as people woke up to the truth that the unchangeable God is a King, His Word reflects His consistency and He really meant what He said about His Kingdom soon to come.
Eyes were opened as they saw past the facade of emotionally-driven “worship,” fruitless preaching and other sins that went on behind the pulpits.
Most ignored the revelation entirely, closing their spiritual eyes, returning to their decadent pews in willful defeat and submission.
Few turned to the Word of the Most High and chose to believe it, in spite of what their peers said, but their revelation was stunted because they simply could not break out of the dispensational brainwashing put in place by their leaders.
They professed to be independent thinkers, but were, in reality, only idealists operating within a corrupted religious framework.
To this day, they are weighed down by confusion, constantly trying to search out some sort of solution within the existing paradigm, experiencing nothing but failure.
Fewer people still realized that these were NOT our “brothers and sisters in the Lord,” not out of hate or being judgmental. They just had a willingness to face the obvious.
To be someone’s “brother or sister in the Lord” implies that you are heading in the same direction and serving the same Messiah.
With many tears, I join my true brothers and sisters and say that it is evident we are not headed in the same direction and we do not serve the same Messiah, so I, and a growing number of other believers, refuse to be a part of this lie anymore.
For me, this is not a statement of pride, nor is it just a result of past hurts… I’ve put the puzzle pieces in place and simply cannot continue to walk in the delusion.
Why would I want to be a part of an organization that actually hinders my walk with the Messiah and denies His Eternal Word?
I can’t… I won’t… and I know some of you feel the same.
The Cry of Elijah
Still, we need to press on, putting out the call to anyone and everyone who will listen, no matter how few.
“How long will you waver between two opinions? If YHWH is your Elohim, follow Him! But if Baal is your elohim, follow him!”
This is where I will stand and will be found standing until the great and dreadful day of the Lord. My heart has returned to the fathers, and I pray that one day I will have a heart such as theirs.
Malachi 4:4-6
Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Having said all that, and in light of both historical and scriptural evidence, I believe that “he which now lets” has taken the “mystery” out of “mystery of lawlessness.”
The “lawless” have been revealed and make no mistake about, they hate those who serve another Kingdom.
If you make the right choice, they will hate you too.
Yes, I believe “the man of sin” (aka “that Lawless”) is the organization called the “christian church,” and with Azusa Now and other ecumenical events occurring at an even greater frequency, this is becoming more and more apparent.
So I’ve been faithful to give this message, now your blood is no longer on my hands.
The lawless body has been revealed, it is the christian church… now you have a choice to make. Choose wisely…
Revelation 18:4
“Come out of her, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
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