L 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 Lesson 13 Scripture Twisting and the Second Coming, Part 1 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 September 19, 2010 Paul’s Epistles to the Thessalonians

I.Introduction to Lesson 13 A.James W. Sire: Scripture Twisting: Twenty Ways the Cults Misread the Bible 1.Swami Satchitananda 2.Mary Baker Eddy 3.Jehovah’s Witnesses B.Scripture twisting is not unique to the cults – people professing to be Christians do it too. 1.Regarding sins condemned in the Bible 2.Regarding clear statements and commands in the Bible C.Our text is an example of men twisting the teaching of Paul on the Second Coming.

II.A Word of Warning From Paul (2:1-2) A.It is a warning (concerning a coming threat) 1.We ask... 2.The warning is stated in a generic manner. 3.No specific individual named, nor a specific source of authority identified 4.This looks to me like a movement (e.g. Open Theology, or The Emergent Church). B.The error is not a direct assault, but an indirect one. 1.It claims Pauline authority. 2.It appears to clarify or modify Paul’s previous teaching, as though this were coming from Paul (or the Holy Spirit).

C.Possible authoritative sources claimed 1.A revelation of the Spirit (e.g. prophecy) 2.An oral message, spoken on Paul’s behalf 3.A written letter a.Not presented, but claimed to be received from Paul b.A forgery (no wonder Paul authenticated his epistles – see 1 Corinthians 16:21; Galatians 6:11) D.The false teaching: The Day of the Lord has come/is here.

E.How could such an error find acceptance? 1.Paul’s emphasis on the Second Coming 2.The importance of the Second Coming to the Thessalonians 3.The suffering of the Thessalonians 4.Paul’s absence 5.The claim to be divinely inspired Pauline doctrine F.The impact: stirred and shaken 1.I’ve missed it! Can I be saved? a.Why am I still here, suffering (as the wicked were supposed to do)? b.Why was I caught unaware (1 Thes. 5:1-11)?

2.The Messiah must be here, somewhere. a.Matthew 24:3-5* b.What of the resurrection of the dead in Christ (1 Thes. 4:13-18)? 1)Denied (1 Cor. 15:12). 2)It has already come (2 Tim. 2:16-18). 3)It is spiritualized (2 Tim. 2:16-18).

III.Paul’s Correction: Why the Day of the Lord has not come (2:3-5). A.The rebellion/apostasy must come first (2:3). 1.“Apostasy” isn’t the rapture. 2.Matthew 24:9-14 (esp. v. 10*) 3.I see a people prepared for the “man of lawlessness” (see 2 Thes. 2:7). B.The “man of lawlessness” must be revealed (2:3- 4). 1.Matthew 24:15 2.Daniel 11:36 (LXX); Ezekiel 28:2 3.Satan-like, but not Satan 4.The “temple” problem C.I told you all this before (2:5).

IV.Conclusion and Application A.Our world is ripe for the “man of lawlessness.” B.The purpose of prophecy C.Beware of “new revelation” that changes or sets aside what has been revealed in Scripture (2 Peter 1;12-13, 15). D.What can we learn from the Thessalonians about prophecy, so that we are not deceived? 1.We are warned about deception. 2.We know all we need to know (Deut. 29:29) 3.Be predisposed toward a literal meaning. 4.Don’t go beyond Scripture (1 Cor. 4:6). 5.We understand crises via doctrine, not doctrine in times of crisis (Ephesians 4:14).

Copyright © 2010 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. This is the edited PowerPoint presentation of Lesson 13 in the series, Paul’s Epistles to the Thessalonians, prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh for September 19, Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit.