Not long after writing the first letter to the Thessalonian church, Paul found it necessary to send them another epistle. These letters seem to have been written about A. D. 54. To give correct information concerning the second coming of our Lord seems to have been one great object of this letter. “When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,” is the time to which the saints are pointed, as the termination of all their persecutions, and the beginning of their eternal reward.
Chapter two gives us very definite instruction concerning the events that occur in immediate connection with the second advent of Christ in power and great glory. The idea that nothing can be known concerning the time of this stupendous event, is refuted by the statement of the apostle that a certain event would necessarily take place before the final close of this earth’s history. That event is called a “falling away.” The term in the original, the Greek, is “the apostasy.” “That day shall not come except there come the apostasy first.”
That apostasy has surely come and been developed; so the next thing in order is unmistakably the advent of the King of glory. That apostasy had its definite development in what is here termed the “man of sin,” the son of perdition, “who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” This power is brought to view in Dan. 7:24, 25, and in Rev. 13:5-8.
It is quite generally acknowledged by Protestants that reference is made in these scriptures to the papal power. What other institution has there been upon earth that has posed before men as having an infallible human head, a man that could take the place of God as far as matters of religious duty and forgiveness of sins are concerned? This waymark is then already in the past. We are surely near the great event of all events, the bright appearing of the Lord.
Also in close connection with the coming of our Lord was to be “the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thess. 2:9. This is fulfilling in the manifestations of modern Spiritualism in its various forms. That miracles are wrought by this agency can not be denied; but, according to Rev. 13:13, 14; 16:13, 14; 19:20, these wonders are wrought for the purpose of deceiving the people and leading them into error. This will be the period concerning which our Saviour forewarned us when He said, “There shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt. 24:24.
The career of the Papacy, then, and the reappearance of ancient necromancy in the form of modern Spiritualism have marked our age as the one that is to witness the appearance of the Son of Man on the white cloud. Let us all make ready for that grand event. What a magnificent treasure is this Second Epistle to the Thessalonians for the priceless information it gives concerning that grand climax of all earthly events.
Confidence.
What a splendid thing it is to express confidence to our fellow helpers in the truth. Notice the occurrence of this in this epistle: “We have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.” Chapter 3:4. Similar utterances are found elsewhere. “I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.” 2 Cor. 7:16. “Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.” Philemon 21. It is not unbecoming to let our brethren know upon suitable occasions that we do have confidence in them. And wo be to the church if that confidence does not exist. Distrust, lack of confidence, not only in God, but also in His people, has wrought great havoc in the church.
Disorderly Conduct.
The church was admonished that there were some among them who were walking disorderly. This consisted in their trying to live without work, “working not at all.” The apostolic decision upon this matter is rendered in the following well-known words: “We commanded you that, if any would not work neither should he eat,”—a Christian rule that has not yet become obsolete.
It seems from 2 Thess. 3:17, taken in connection with chapter 2:2, that there were individuals who palmed off some of their own productions as the genuine letters of the apostle Paul. The expression, “nor by letter as from us,” is rendered by some, “as tho it were a letter that we had written.” Chapter 3:17 is also translated: “The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle, because it is my style of writing.” That is, they might know that the epistle was genuine by the unique signature.
It seems that since he had been afflicted with defective eyesight, Paul had not himself written many of his epistles. The writing of a letter with his own hand was an act deserving special notice. Gal. 6:11. But to the letters, usually written by Timothy or some other assistant, he affixed his signature with his own hand that they might know it was dictated by him. The ignoring of this epistle was a serious matter. Chapter 3:14. Let us not ignore or neglect it.