David Pawson - Unlocking the Bible - Thessalonians Part 2

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THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS  05.12.25 BY JOHN DUNNING.

THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST - THESSALONIANS PART 2

INTRODUCTION

Jesus will return in a blaze of glory, (1 Thess. 4:16), so He will be seen for who He really is, and it will be with a loud fanfare. Paul adds that it will be the world’s biggest open air party; (v. 17). 

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THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST…

Someone had been teaching the Thessaloniki church that the Second Coming of Jesus was about to happen at any moment. Paul heard about it, (presumably through Timothy and Silas who had visited), and Paul felt compelled to write a second letter to correct that wrong teaching. 

Paul wrote saying that certain things had been promised that must happen first, before Jesus returns, and they had NOT yet happened. Because the “any moment” doctrine ignored Jesus' prophecies of things that must happen first, Paul consumed the gift of money sent by the Philippians for his health, to correct the wrong teaching by writing 2 Thessalonians. It was money he couldn’t really afford use, but he deemed the teaching to be so damaging.

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Jesus provides us with a summary (Matthew 24), of four spiritual “end times” happenings before He returns… There is greater detail elsewhere, but this is a start…

1). “FALSE CHRISTS”. 

Outside the church, some will claim that they are the Christ; (which has started happening, like the footballer, David Icke. There have been many others you can Google.)

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2). “FALSE PROPHETS”. 

Inside the church false prophets will appear; (which has also started happening). Some have claimed to speak for God and yet teach the opposite of what is in the Bible. 

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3). THE ANTI-CHRIST.

In the world, a self appointed dictator will appear. The word “anti” means “instead of”. He will have supernatural power given to him by the devil.

The antichrist hadn’t come yet, which must happen first; (2 Thess. 2:3-4ff). Paul was saying that Jesus can’t come back until certain things happen, which Jesus had prophesied. 

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4). THE TIME OF BIG TROUBLE.

Jesus returns after the time of BIG TROUBLE (translated as “tribulation” in Bibles, from the Latin “tribulum”). That time of big trouble lasts for three and a half years. He will rule and reign for a short time on earth, murdering disciples of Jesus. Many ‘Christians’ will deny Jesus is the Christ in order to save their lives. 

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5). THE END!

Finally, darkness will overtake the earth, (Matt. 24:29), and Jesus Christ will return in a blaze of glory, with a loud fanfare. Jesus will be seen for who He really is, (1 Thessalonians 4:1). Believers who survived the time of big trouble will meet Jesus in the world’s biggest “open air” service; (1 Thess. 4:17), after His noisy return; v.16.

a). Paul said that one of the destinies facing man when Jesus comes back, is “destruction”, “exclusion”, “judgement”, “tribulation”, and “everlasting vengeance”, (2 Thess.1). That will be how God will repay (v.6) all those who have given so much trouble, (tribulation), to His faithful ones on the earth (v.4). In this way, the God of justice will deal with all those troubling His faithful ones.

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b). But, there is another destiny for those working with God to be sanctified through Jesus Christ, (who works to make us holy.) Paul encourages believers to continue on in their journey of sanctification. To help us do that, Paul offers “Do’s” and “Don’ts” to believers. As for the “Don’ts”, he says, don’t be idle, timid or weak. Don’t quench the Spirit, and don’t despise prophecy.

As for the “Do’s”, Paul says; do test prophecies, do be patient, do be forgiving, do be joyful, do be prayerful and do be thankful. Paul adds that believing men MUST work if they are able. (Given that, churches should be helping unemployed believers to find work.)

Paul taught that any giving was to go to help widows, the poor and orphans. Paul taught us to do these things and to be faithful. Being faithful was a practical state - determining how we live.
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EPILOGUE

The return of Jesus follows certain prophesied events. 

Jesus said it will happen suddenly, like a thief in the night. 

Jesus said it will be like Noah’s flood, where unbelievers will be caught out by it. Those looking out for the signs won’t be caught out, just as Noah wasn’t caught out when the flood came. 

Jesus also warned using the parable of “The 10 wise virgins”, where some friends of the bridegroom will be ready, while others will be caught out.) There will be two destinies facing us at this point…

God is more interested in how faithfully we do the job we have been given. Godly character and a faithful witness are the characteristics God is looking for. God wants faithfulness. The timetable for the return of Jesus is none of our business…in fact, Jesus said something similar to Peter; (John 21:22). 

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If you would like to know how to find peace with God, listen to the podcasts at this link…

https://www.inspirational.org.nz/pages/johns-devotionals-podcast

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This is John Dunning signing off from “Thoughtful Thoughts” for another week.

This link takes you to our devotional https://blog.inspirationalmedia.org.nz/

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