II Thessalonians Return of Christ Stan Crowley Church of Christ at Buda/Kyle Buda, Texas December 1999-February 2000

Lesson 7—Slide 2 Return of Christ Lesson 7: Return of Jesus Christ (1:1-2:12) Lesson 8: Retain Teachings (2:13-3:5) Lesson 9: Restricted from Disorderly (3:6-3:18) II Thessalonians

Lesson 7—Slide 3 Key Questions for Chapter 1:1-2:12 How is a growing faith seen in our lives? What does God’s justice imply about persecutions and trials? What happens if we have doubts about Christ’s return? What is the relationship between faith, truth, and error? Lesson 7: Return of Jesus Christ

Lesson 7—Slide 4 What had Paul prayed for the Thessalonians? (1 Th 3:12 NKJV) And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, Had that prayer been answered? (2 Th 1:3 NKJV) We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, (2 Th 1:4 NKJV) so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God … How is a growing faith seen in our lives?

Lesson 7—Slide 5 What was evidence of the growth of their faith? (2 Th 1:4 NKJV) so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience [perseverance, NASB] and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations [afflictions, NASB] that you endure, How is a growing faith seen in our lives? —Cont’d

Lesson 7—Slide 6 What does the faithful enduring of sufferings prove … About those who cause the suffering? About those who persevere through suffering? (Phil 1:27 NASB) Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ … standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (Phil 1:28 NASB) in no way alarmed by your opponents-- which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. (Phil 1:29 NASB) For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, What does God’s justice imply about persecutions and trials?

Lesson 7—Slide 7 What did the faithful endurance of the Thessalonians demonstrate about God? (2 Th 1:4 NKJV) … your patience [perseverance, NASB] and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations [afflictions, NASB] that you endure, (2 Th 1:5 NKJV) which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; Hint: Recall the purpose of Job’s afflictions. What does God’s justice imply about persecutions and trials? — Cont’d

Lesson 7—Slide 8 What does God’s justice imply about different futures for the afflicted and the afflicter? (2 Th 1:6 NKJV) since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, (2 Th 1:7 NKJV) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, Would universal salvation be consistent with the justice of God? What does God’s justice imply about persecutions and trials? — Cont’d

Lesson 7—Slide 9 What is the future of the disobedient? (2 Th 1:6 NKJV) since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, (2 Th 1:7 NKJV) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, (2 Th 1:8 NKJV) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Th 1:9 NKJV) These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, What does God’s justice imply about persecutions and trials? — Cont’d

Lesson 7—Slide 10 What does this passage imply about the doctrine of “annihilation” (that the evil cease to exist at death)? (2 Th 1:6 NKJV) since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, (2 Th 1:9 NKJV) These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, What does God’s justice imply about persecutions and trials? — Cont’d

Lesson 7—Slide 11 What will be the future of the righteous? (2 Th 1:6 NKJV) since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, (2 Th 1:7 NKJV) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, What does God’s justice imply about persecutions and trials? — Cont’d

Lesson 7—Slide 12 When will the reward and punishment begin? (2 Th 1:6-7 NKJV) since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, (2 Th 1:9-10 NKJV) These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe …. (John 5:28-29 NKJV)... for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. What does God’s justice imply about persecutions and trials? — Cont’d

Lesson 7—Slide 13 What happens when we receive conflicting information? (2 Th 2:1-2 NKJV) Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Recall the connection between knowledge and hope. Were Paul’s epistles identifiable? (2 Th 3:17 NKJV) The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. What happens if we have doubts about Christ’s return?

Lesson 7—Slide 14 About what important topic had the Thessalonians received conflicting reports? (2 Th 2:1 NKJV) Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, (2 Th 2:2 NKJV) not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. What should be accepted as authoritative? (2 Th 2:5 NKJV) Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? What happens if we have doubts about Christ’s return? — Cont’d

Lesson 7—Slide 15 (2 Th 2:2 NKJV) not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. (2 Th 2:3 NKJV) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, How could the Thessalonians know that the Second Coming of Christ had not occurred? There must first be the falling away. There must first be the revealing of “the man of sin,” “the son of perdition.” What happens if we have doubts about Christ’s return? — Cont’d

Lesson 7—Slide 16 (2 Th 2:5 NASB) Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? (2 Th 2:6 NASB) And you know what restrains him [man of lawlessness, sjc] now, so that in his time he may be revealed. (2 Th 2:7 NASB) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he [He, NKJV] who now restrains will do so until he [He, NKJV] is taken out of the way. Why did Paul give details about the events that must occur before the Second Coming of Christ? These specific events were mentioned to convince the Thessalonians that Christ had not come again. These specific events would be familiar to them. They knew who was currently preventing the completion of the events. They could see the preliminary events occurring. What happens if we have doubts about Christ’s return? — Cont’d

Lesson 7—Slide 17 Is there an inconsistency between the existence of apparently conflicting information and God’s expectation that we have faith? (2 Th 2:10 NASB) and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. (2 Th 2:11 NASB) And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, (2 Th 2:12 NASB) in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. What is the relationship between faith, truth, and error?

Lesson 7—Slide 18 From Chapter 1:1-2:12 A growing faith is one that is progressively able to faithfully persevere in Christian doctrine and service, even in the face of trials and afflictions. By the very nature of justice, as defined by God, we see that future reward and punishment are necessary because of the different experiences people have in this life. People who make us doubt shake our hope; this is true about Christ’s return and our own resurrection. A person reaches conclusions (has faith or doubt) based on both the knowledge available and his attitude toward that knowledge (his heart). What to Remember