Fake News
Media is awash with fake news. Fake news is propaganda, it’s biased and misleading information designed to promote a cause. Fake news causes fear and and uncertainty, it disturbs and distracts. It opposes God because it’s a lie and God is the truth. The people of Thessalonica were distressed by fake news concerning the return of Jesus. The Holy Spirit directed them, as He directs us, to hold to the truth and not be easily shaken by lies. God is faithful, we can and must trust His Word rather than the fake stuff - how do we do that?
Scripture
2 Thessalonians 2:1-6 ESV Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
Bible Study Questions
Being gathered to the Lord Jesus Christ
Which event is the Holy Spirit addressing through Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:1 concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ?
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 ESV For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Don’t be shaken
Fake news is biased and untrue. What evidence is there that someone had written a fraudulent letter to the church claiming that Paul had announced that the Day of the Lord was already happening?
2 Thessalonians 1:2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
2 Thessalonians 3:17-18 ESV I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
The Day of the Lord is still coming
What is the first event that does Paul reminds them of in verse 3, which must happen before the day of the Lord?
2 Thessalonians 3:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first,
1 Timothy 4:1 ESV Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
Matthew 24:15 ESV “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
The fake revealed
The second event which precedes the Day of the Lord reveals another fake. Which event and person is this?
2 Thessalonians 3:3 … and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
1 John 2:18 ESV Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
Revelation 13:5-8 ESV And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
Daniel 11:36 ESV “And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done.
Don’t forget the truth
We must be careful to take note of and remember the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. When did Paul teach the Thessalonians the words of Jesus that he calls them to remember in verse 5?
2 Thessalonians 3:5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
Acts 17:2-3 ESV And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
The Real Lord
The antichrist wants to be worshipped in God’s temple, who is the Only True Christ whom every being will worship?
Malachi 3:1 ESV “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
Philippians 2:8-11 ESV And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 19:11-16 ESV Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords…
Revelation 19:20-21 ESV And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
God’s Sovereign restraining power
The Lord Jesus Christ will return to bring judgement on the Day of the Lord. Who alone decides and reveals when that will be and how it will happen?
2 Thessalonians 3:6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
Isaiah 46:8-10 ESV “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 ESV I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.