Events prior to the Lord’s Second Coming
2 Thessalonians 2:1
Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.
5 Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendour of his coming.
9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.
These are dangerous days that we live in - deceptive and confusing times!
In the echelons of power there stalks great hypocrisy and corruption driven by greed for personal power and gain.
Presently, it is hidden away, going on behind the scenes, yet to be revealed.
As believers, it is vital to hold fast to The Truth (the Lord Jesus), so we don't get fooled by deception.
This calls for us to search the scriptures first use it as a yard stick to evaluate contemporary events.
Ask these questions:
Is there a rejection of God in the world?
Do people scoff at the idea of sin and say "anything goes?"
Is there a chipping away of fundamental, self evident truths - like male & female, family life?
Are unprecedented signs happening like earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, famines & plagues (pandemics)?
The news reads like an excerpt from Jesus' description of end times in Luke 21 - just re-read it and take note!
We are urged to "Stay alert", "Be vigilant" so that we are not deceived.
Do you like being lied to? Are you angry when you discover that someone has been deceiving you? You should be.
The "god" of this world is continually spewing out lies that are designed to lure us into blotting out the truth. Whispering the whole time - "There's no God, no judgement, no almighty power - if it feels good do it!"
If we swallow that, we "exchange the truth of God for a lie!" [Romans 1:25]
In dangerous days like these it is vital to shelter in the "secret place" of the Most High:
Psalm 91:1 AMPC
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
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