Paul continues to instruct his readers with the proper perspective of the end times. He spent the first couple verses of chapter 2 assuring them that Christ had not already returned, as some false teachers had been teaching. One of the key things concerning the end times was the rapture of the church and the revealing of the anti-christ; since neither one of these events had taken place, they could be confident of Christ’s return in the future. Paul spent several verses explaining the reality of the anti-christ during the 7-year tribulation period and that he would set himself up as God; however, midway through the seven years, his evil identity would finally be exposed. At this time, those who reject God will experience the full force of His fury as He pours out His wrath upon the earth for three and a half years. While God is sending judgment on the unsaved, Satan will be doing his best to deceive them into believing that the anti-christ is God. The coming of the anti-christ will be “according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception.” (2:9-10) Satan will be using the anti-christ as a pawn to carry out his evil, yet miraculous, deeds and deceive men into believing a lie. Ultimately, Satan’s goal is to cause people to accept the power and witness of the anti-christ as truth while ignoring salvation through Jesus Christ, which is the true gospel. Concerning this deceit Paul writes, “they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2:10) Because many will believe this lie, “God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2:11-12) Instead of rejecting their sin and receiving God’s forgiveness, many people will ignore God’s promise of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, and revel in their lifestyle of unrighteousness. This yet future time will be chaotic and cause much confusion on those who are living through this “hell on earth.” Again, Paul wanted to assure the Thessalonians that they were not nor would not experience this time of wrath. Those who have been gloriously saved through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross as well as His resurrection have no need to fear this judgment. Along with the Thessalonians, we also can rejoice in God’s grace and mercy on sinners who willingly humble themselves before God.
Dear God, thank You for the assurance that I do not have to experience this coming judgment. Thank You for providing salvation through Your only Son, Jesus Christ, that I might be saved from the wrath to come.
