In the 2nd Thessalonians letter, Paul provides additional teaching to his readers. Paul had only been in Thessalonica for three weeks (Acts 17:2) and had written to the Thessalonians in his first letter about the parousia (>presence, second coming) of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 4:15). On that occasion the dead in Christ will rise and the believers who are still alive at that time will be given a new body and they wil bel snatched away together to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
times and occasions
In the continuing argument, in chapter 5, Paul speaks of the times and occasions of this snatching away (1 Thess. 5:1). This takes place in the context of a number of other events. This was something Paul had taught in the short time he was in Thessalonica, for he says that they are accurately acquainted with these times and seasons (1 Thess. 5:2).
deception
In the 2nd Thessalonians letter Paul writes again about the event of the snatching away and calls it here: our union to Him. The Thessalonians were disturbed by noises other than what Paul had taught them and apparently there was even a fake letter in circulation that was not written by Paul, but had his name above it (2 Thess. 2:1-2).
the day of the Lord has already arrived?
They were confused by this and thought that the day of the Lord had already come. Paul says that this cannot yet be the case. For he had taught them that they would be snatched away before the day of the Lord would come on earth. He also says about this that first, before that day dawns, the man of lawlessness must be revealed and also describes who that will be (2 Thess. 2:3-4; 8)
But he also says that there is something or someone who prevents the revelation of the man of lawlessness. Literally he speaks about the one who resists (2 Thess.2:6-7). Who of what is this restrainer? To understand that, we must see this passage in the context of both Thessalonians letters.
like a thief in the night
So the Thessalonians were accurately informed about the times and occasions. This inconveniences the world to whom this day will come as a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:2). After all, the world does not know the word of God and lives in darkness, but those who do know the word live in the light and see “what time it is” (1 Thess. 5:4-5). Before the day of the Lord begins, there will first come a period of peace and security, which will prove to be a false peace and only “a calm before the storm,” for it will be necessitated by repeated destruction (1 Thess. 5:3).
great tribulation
This destruction is called the great tribulation (Matt.24:21) and will last 1260 days (Rev.11:3; 12:6) or 42 months (Rev.11:2; 13:5), that is: a time, times and half a time (Rev.12:14), or three and a half years. This period is presented in Revelation as the wrath of the dragon (Rev.12:12,17), that is Satan (Rev.12:9).
In Revelation 6, this false peace and the next great tribulation are illustrated by a number of horses with riders, which are played ten notes when the seals are opened. The first white horse brings a peace, which is temporarily present, because it is supported by a horse that takes away the peace (Rev.6:1-4). This false peace is followed by war, famine, death and destruction (Rev.6:4-8).
after the great tribulation
In the 6th seal there is an earthquake and a drawing in heaven is mentioned (Rev.6:12). Jesus explicitly says in his “sermon about the last things” in Matthew 24 that this will be after the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21,29). This moment also marked the end of the great tribulation. A special event that is also mentioned in the actual prophets (Isa. 13:10; 24:23; Joel 2:31; Zech. 14:7), because at the end of this period the Messiah appeared to Israel and will do something after the great tribulation lasts for the people of Israel, to believe and return to YAHWEH their God (Zech.14:4; 13:9).
The Kingdom on earth begins with Israel, but is not yet established over the nations. The nations will also be subdued through judgments. The seals conclude the period of Israel’s subjugation and the last recorded mention is of 144,000 Israelites being sealed in their foreheads before judgments come upon the rest of the earth (Rev.7:1-4 ). The seventh and final seal brings a silence (Rev.8:1) and is an interruption. Then the seven trumpets begin (Rev.8:2).
The 144,000 will preach the gospel of the Kingdom throughout the world (Matt.24:14). And these messengers will gather together his chosen people from the four winds, and gather them back to the land (Matt.24:31). That will be in a period after the great tribulation and this period is called in Revelation: the day of wrath.
Revelation 6
16 And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;
17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?
the wrath of God and the Lamb
This day of wrath is not the wrath of the dragon, but the day of wrath of God and the Lamb. Through judgments presented in Revelation as trumpets and bowls, the nations are subjected to the rule of the Messiah. That is the reason for the sealing of the 144,000. They are protected by this sealing and cannot be harmed (Rev.9:4; 7:1-4). In both the 1st and 2nd Thessalonians letters, Paul says that believers are not appointed to wrath, but are saved from it.
1 Thessalonians 1
9 (…) to be slaves to the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raises from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 5
8 (…) the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2
13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has chosen you as the firstfruits for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth.
14 To this end He also calls us through our gospel, that we may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
saved
We, the believers of today, who belong to the body of Christ, will be saved from that wrath, any wrath, before wrath is revealed on earth: both the wrath of the dragon, and the wrath of God and the Lamb. The ecclesia (>church) will therefore be snatched away before the great tribulation.
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