Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 16

Paul Prays Blessings & Comfort over Their Lives

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. KJV

Paul just finished up in the last three (3) verses exhorting, envoking, and encouraging these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica to 'stand fast' in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, so it flows, follows, and finishes here in this second Chapter of his second letter that he would now declare to them that this Same Jesus (Acts 1:11) that Acsended into Heaven on a cloud out of the Disciples sight or view is the One who will give them and us today the strength, power, and courage to stand for Him and the truth of His Gospel and Holy Word, just as it is He who will soothe the hearts and minds (the inner man and inner woman) of His own as Paul begins to declare with these words, "Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace," (2 Thessalonians 2:16) (KJV). It is our Lord Jesus who knows already the attacks, assaults, and attempts by our enemy the devil that will come our way to derail us from steadfast love for Him and it is He who will provide grace that we may endure and overcome everyone of the enemies approaches.

As we declared in the last study/commentary, we are feeble in our faith walk often on our sojourn, that is, we lack the spiritual strength to wage war with the enemy and overcome, but Paul here is reassuring these believers in Thessalonica and we believers today wherever in the world we may happen to be and in whatever condition, circumstance, or crisis we may find ourselves that it is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God the Father who will give us 'consolation through grace' whenever, wherever, and however we need it. Consolation meaning the comfort that comes to us from Him in all our times of dissapointment and also the sense of relief He gives to us during our times of affliction (caused because of our stand for Him and for the Gospel of Grace as the only way for man's sins to be forgiven). These believers in Thessalonica and we believers today are the 'beloved' of God the Father as we declared again in the previous Volume 15, so likewise Paul reminds them and us that we are so greatly loved (even despite our persecutions and afflictions that at times to us seem to have no ending).

Because of His great love for us they and we can receive solace, that is, emotional strength for trusting and believing this to be true, just as Paul addressed the believers in Rome in this manner at the beginning of His letter to them, "To [you then] all God's beloved ones in Rome, called to be saints {and} designated for a consecrated life: Grace {and} spiritual blessing and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:7) (Amplified Bible). Paul was well aware of spiritual battles or spiritual warfare with the devil, for everywhere he went there was an attempt upon his life and he was often throne into jail by people doing the will of the devil as he tried to silence the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but remember what Paul wrote to Brother Timothy, "For that [Gospel] I am suffering affliction {and} even wearing chains like a criminal. But the Word of God is not chained {or} imprisoned! Therefore I [am ready to] persevere {and} stand my ground with patience {and} endure everything for the sake of the elect [God's chosen], so that they too may obtain [the] salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with [the reward of] eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:9-10) (Amplified Bible).

With this recollection of Paul's resolve for the sake of Christ Jesus our Lord and the Gospel of Grace, we understand better these final words in Paul's brief second prayer for these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica when he says, "Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." (2 Thessalonians 2:17) (KJV). You see Paul had experienced this very 'comfort' directly from our Lord Jesus Himself that he now prays for these Thessalonian believers to receive as well as we believers in Christ today. This English word 'comfort' is translated by the Greek word parakaleo which simply and sweetly means to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): The English word 'hearts' is translated by the Greek word kardia meaning the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); The English word 'stablish' is translated by the Greek word sterizo meaning to set fast, that is, (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: - strengthen.

In other words, Paul knew of what he prays here for others, for he had prayed it for himself often and received the calling near, the comfort in his thoughts and feelings, and the strength in his inner man from our Lord Jesus' Words, Grace, and Presence, for one example was when he was in the midst of the Pharisees and Sadducees who were about to attack and kill him, but our Lord Jesus Christ intervened by sending the Roman soldiers down to take Paul from among them and bring him to the Roman barricks, now this is what happened the following night, "And [that same] following night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, Take courage, {Paul,} for as you have borne faithful witness concerning Me at Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome." (Acts 23:11) (Amplified Bible).

"The hope of the Gospel was the resurrection of the body, and the final glorification of it and the soul throughout eternity. This was the good hope which the Thessalonians had; not a hope that they should be pardoned or sanctified, etc. Pardon and holiness they enjoyed, therefore they were no objects of hope; but the resurrection of the body and eternal glory were necessarily future; these they had in expectation; these they hoped for; and, through the grace which they had already received they had a good hope - a well-grounded expectation, of this glorious state." Adam Clarke

"They were a young Church, just delivered from paganism. Like lambs in the midst of wolves, they stood amongst bitter enemies, their teacher had left them alone, and their raw convictions needed to be consolidated and matured in the face of much opposition. No wonder then that over and over again, in both letters, we have references to the persecutions and tribulations which they endured, and to the consolations which would much more abound. But whatever may have been their specific circumstances, the prayer which puts special emphasis on comfort is as much needed by each of us as it could ever have been by any of them. For there are no eyes that have not wept, or will not weep; no breath that has not been, or will not be, drawn in sighs; and no hearts that have not bled, or will not bleed. So, dear friends, the prayer that went up for these long since comforted brothers, in their forgotten obscure sorrows, is as needful for each of us—that the God who has given everlasting consolation may apply the consolations which He has supplied, and 'comfort our hearts and stablish them in every good word and work.'" Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 15

Paul Exhorts the Believers to Stand Strong in Christ Jesus our Lord

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. KJV

It is a surety that every man and woman in this Church in the city of Thessalonica were confident in their faith in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and that it was real and not the product of 'the lie' caused by the strong delusions sent to those who did not truly believe the true Gospel of Grace, but having said this, they too (as well as we true believers today) are still subject to frailty and feebleness, therefore, because Paul knows this he now whats to reassure them in their faith causing them to feel sure of their salvation 'in Christ' and to give them even further confidence and certainty that they belong to Christ Jesus our Lord by writing these words, "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" (2 Thessalonians 2:13) (KJV). Opposite to those who have resisted, refused, and even rejected the truth of the Gospel and have fallen into and under strong delusion, these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica are believers of the truth, that is, again as we have said over and over is only One. The praise, honor, and glory for this reality is not due to the saved men and women in the Church @ Thessalonica, but it goes to God the Father.

The Apostle Paul declares to them that they 'are bound' to 'give thanks' always to God for them. The little English phrase 'are bound' is translated by one Greek word opheilo meaning  figuratively to be under obligation (ought, must, should). The little English phrase 'give thanks' is translated by one Greek word eucharisteo meaning to be grateful, that is, (actually) to express gratitude (towards). In other words, the Apostle has a strong obligation (in his prayers, sermons, and teaching) to at all times express his gratefulness to God the Father for their salvation even as he did at the very beginning of his first letter to them, so he continues to do so even in this the second letter (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10). When Paul says here that 'God hath from the beginning chosen you for salvation', he does not mean that they were somehow deserving of salvation above others in the city of Thessalonica or somehow better than others in the city, but he means that every sinner everywhere that hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ and responds in their inner man or inner woman, then these are the 'chosen' of God and this little English word is translated by the Greek word aihreomai which means to lift, by implication to take up or away; figuratively to raise; to take for oneself, that is, to prefer.

In other words, it is God the Holy Spirit that can see the inner man or inner woman of every sinner upon the earth and when any sinner hears the Gospel of Grace and their inner man or inner woman responds to the truth, then God the Holy Spirit immediately enters and regenerates, rebirths, and resurrects that dead in tresspasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) soul and makes us alive to God now for the first time and adopted by God the Father as a son or daughter, for it is just as the Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman believers with these words, "Because if you acknowledge {and} confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) {and} confirms [his] salvation." (Romans 10:9-10) (Amplified Bible) also these believers and we believers today now belong to our Lord Jesus Christ and are preferred by Him, that is, we are valued more than those who are not His own, that is best-loved or beloved by Him and now taken out of the world through 'sanctification of the Spirit', meaning they and we are purified and continually being purified by God the Holy Spirit through the washing of water by the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26).

The Apostle Paul now affirms to them the means by which they are the chosen of God and that is by the preaching of the Gospel of Grace to them as he declares here with these words, "Whereunto He called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 2:14) (KJV). The salvation of these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica and we believers today was determined before the foundation of the world just as Paul wrote with these words to the believers in Ephesus, "Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, {even} above reproach, before Him in love. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]--[So that we might be] to the praise {and} the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." (Ephesians 1:4-6) (Amplified Bible).

These Thessalonian believers and we believers today will partake of the same Glory as belongs to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ as even He declared in His prayer to God the Father before His Crucifixion on the Cross for our sin, "I have given to them the glory {and} honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one {and} perfectly united, that the world may know {and} [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me]; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:22-24) (Amplified Bible). Now having said all of this to them and to us, there remains nothing better for us to do than to hold our ground in that which we have received no matter the opposition from the devil through his invisible devils and the two-legged devils on the earth, so Paul writes these words to them and to us, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." (2 Thessalonians 2:15) (KJV).

The little English phrase 'stand fast' is translated by one Greek word steko meaning to be stationary, that is, (figuratively) to persevere: - stand (fast); abide, continue, or remain. The English word 'hold' is translated by the Greek word krateo meaning to use strength, that is, seize or retain (literally or figuratively): - hold fast, keep, lay hold on, obtain, retain. The English word 'traditions' is translated by the Greek word paradosis meaning transmission, that is, (concretely) a precept; in this case the transmission of the Gospel of Grace or of Christ and all of its truth. In other words, because (as we have learned) there are evil men and imposters out and about purporting, proclaiming, and even pretending to be sent from God, but they are actually the products of a lying spirit dispensing error and lies to all who listen, therefore, the Apostle Paul exhorts these Thessalonian believers and we true believers today to persevere in the truth of the Gospel and of the Word of God keeping all of the truth or precepts, principles, commandments, and teachings in our inner man and inner woman, that is, the things they/we were taught by Paul, Silas, and Timothy in person (by word) and from a distance by these letters.

"In your calling, God has shown the purpose that He had formed from the beginning, to call the Gentiles to the same privileges with the Jews, not through circumcision, and the observance of the Mosaic law, but by faith in Christ Jesus; but this simple way of salvation referred to the same end - holiness, without which no man, whether Jew or Gentile, can see the Lord. They were to hear the truth - the doctrines of the Gospel. They were to believe this truth when they heard it preached. They were to receive the Spirit of God in believing the truth. That Spirit was to sanctify their souls-produce an inward holiness, which was to lead to all outward conformity to God. All this constituted their salvation - their being fitted for the inheritance among the saints in light. They were to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ - that state of felicity for which they were fitted, by being saved here from their sins, and by being sanctified by the Spirit of God." Adam Clarke

"As they were chosen to salvation, so they were called thereunto by the Gospel. Whom He did predestinate those He also called, (Romans 8:30). The outward call of God is by the Gospel; and this is rendered effectual by the inward operation of the Spirit. Note, Wherever the Gospel comes it calls and invites men to the obtaining of glory; it is a call to honour and happiness, even the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glory He has purchased, and the glory He is possessed of, to be communicated unto those who believe in Him and obey His Gospel; such shall be with Christ, to behold His glory, and they shall be glorified with Christ and partake of His glory." Matthew Henry

"Paul draws here no distinction between oral tradition and written tradition as was done later. The worth of the tradition lies not in the form but in the source and the quality of the content. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23 says: 'I received from the Lord what I also handed over (paredōka) unto you.' He praises them because ye 'hold fast the traditions even as I delivered them unto you.' The tradition may be merely that of men and so worthless and harmful in place of the Word of God (Mark 7:8; Colossians 2:6-8). It all depends. It is easy to scoff at truth as mere tradition. But human progress in all fields is made by use of the old, found to be true, in connection with the new if found to be true. In Thessalonica the saints were already the victims of theological charlatans with their half-baked theories about the second coming of Christ and about social duties and relations." Robertson's Word Pictures

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 14

Paul Explains the Great Apostasy Part 6

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. KJV


Now the Apostle goes on to present the end of those who want not the 'love of the truth', for as we declared in one of the recent studies/commentaries, there is but one truth as we used Mathematics as our example or word picture, therefore, when one rejects it 'the truth' there remains only one alternative 'the lie'. The Apostle Paul throughout his letters has expressed some very hard and even difficult things from the mind of God through the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit just as even the Apostle Peter confessed to in his second letter when he was encouraging the believers then and we believers today to be steadfast in our faith he said this, "So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord [His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world] is salvation (that which is conducive to the soul's safety), even as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the spiritual insight given him, Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist {and} misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures. Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless {and} wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind]. But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition {and} knowledge {and} understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!" (2 Peter 3:14-18) (Amplified Bible).

Seeing then, that the Scripture affirms the reality that there has been in the past, is now in the present, and will be in the future (as our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ tarries before His 2nd Coming) people (men and women) who misconstrue, misinterpret, and misunderstand the revealed Word of God to their own detriment, disaster, and destruction, for the Apostle Paul now writes words to these believers in Thessalonica that makes the hair on the back of your neck rise up as he says, "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:" (2 Thessalonians 2:11) (KJV). What is the cause? Answer: What Paul told them and us in just the last verse and that is, 'they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved' (2 Thessalonians 2:10). You see as we have repeated over and over there is only one truth just as there is only One God and when either is resisted, refused, or rejected then there only remains a lie and remember what our Lord Jesus Christ said to the Jews (who by the way thought they worshipped the One True God, wrong!, He was standing right in front of them), but they worshipped the devil as our Lord Jesus told them with these words, "[Yes] I know that you are Abraham's offspring; yet you plan to kill Me, because My word has no entrance (makes no progress, does not find any place) in you. I tell the things which I have seen {and} learned at My Father's side, and your actions also reflect what you have heard {and} learned from your father. They retorted, Abraham is our father. Jesus said, If you were [truly] Abraham's children, then you would do the works of Abraham [follow his example, do as Abraham did]. But now [instead] you are wanting {and} seeking to kill Me, a Man Who has told you the truth which I have heard from God. This is not the way Abraham acted. You are doing the works of your [own] father. They said to Him, We are not illegitimate children {and} born out of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me {and} respect Me {and} welcome Me gladly, for I proceeded (came forth) from God [out of His very presence]. I did not even come on My own authority {or} of My own accord (as self-appointed); but He sent Me. Why do you misunderstand what I say? It is because you are unable to hear what I am saying. [You cannot bear to listen to My message; your ears are shut to My teaching.] You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the lusts {and} gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies {and} of all that is false." (John 8:37-44) (Amplified Bible).

The little English phrase 'strong delusion' is translated by one Greek word plane which means objectively fraudulence; subjectively a straying from orthodoxy or piety: - deceit, to deceive, delusion, error and the powerful working of error energized by the devil himself. You think these Jews above were products of this strong delusion, for they supposed they worshipped God and had the One and Only True God standing right in front of them and they wanted to kill Him. Again the Mormons whose Church is titled 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints', yet they believe that Jesus Christ and Satan are both spiritual brothers in the sense that they both were created beings by God, that is, their Church has Jesus Christ Name in it, but they don't even believe He is God (You think maybe 'strong delusion is at work here)? The Prophet Isaiah said this, "And He said, Go and tell this people, Hear {and} hear continually, but understand not; and see {and} see continually, but do not apprehend with your mind. Make the heart of this people fat; and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn again and be healed." (Isaiah 6:9-10) (Amplified Bible). The difficult part of this verse is that Paul declares that it is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit that sends the 'strong delusion' to the sinners that do not truly respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as their only way of salvation and heaven, for Paul declared the same thing concerning this to the Roman believers when he said, "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin], Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it). For this reason God gave them over {and} abandoned them to vile affections {and} degrading passions. For their women exchanged their natural function for an unnatural {and} abnormal one, And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for one another--men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies {and} personalities the inevitable consequences {and} penalty of their wrong-doing {and} going astray, which was [their] fitting retribution. And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God {or} approve of Him {or} consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base {and} condemned mind to do things not proper {or} decent {but} loathsome" (Romans 1:24-28) (Amplified Bible).

When Paul says here at the end of this verse, 'that they should believe a lie', he is effectively saying that they should have faith in or trust in the lie. Webster defines the noun 'lie' as something that deviates from or perverts the truth, remember we have constantly affirmed that there is only one truth, never two or three or four, etc., therefore, a number two truth is just a lie or a number three truth is likewise just a lie, or a number four truth is still a lie (get it?). In the Old Testament, there is an account documented for us by the Word of God, the Prophet Micaiah warning King Ahab of pending failure, but he did not want to hear the truth, so the Lord gave him what he wanted as recorded for us with these words, "And the Lord said, Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? One said this way, another said that way. Then there came forth a spirit [of whom I am about to tell] and stood before the Lord and said, I will entice him. The Lord said to him, By what means? And he said, I will go forth and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets. [The Lord] said, You shall entice him and succeed also. Go forth and do it. So the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets; and the Lord has spoken evil concerning you." (1 Kings 22:20-23) (Amplified Bible) and this same thing has the Lord Jesus Christ continued even during this dispensation of grace that humanity is under right now as the Apostle Paul declared with these words he wrote to brother Timothy, "But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving {and} leading astray others and being deceived {and} led astray themselves." (2 Timothy 3:13) (Amplified Bible).

The only thing left for such people who are gripped in this 'strong delusion' is what Paul declares here to these Thessalonian believers and for we believers today to get the meaning of and that is as he writes, "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:12) (KJV). This verse is the dividing line, the differentiating, and the distinguishing character and traits that determine a true believer in Jesus Christ and a false believer in Jesus Christ, although the true believer still sins as he or she remains a pilgrim and sojourner on the earth, they do not love sin, but the false believer loves his or her sin and even justifies it as being how they were born, genetics, or even it being in their DNA so they must do it. The Bible is called the 'Word of God', but also the 'Word of Truth' just as Paul declared with these words to the Ephesian Church, "In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in {and} adhered to {and} relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit." (Ephesians 1:13) (Amplified Bible). These words are so important because there are 'lying spirits' as we revealed above from the account of King Ahab. The Apostle Paul warned the Corinthian Church of this very fact when he wrote these words to them, "I WISH you would bear with me while I indulge in a little [so-called] foolishness. Do bear with me! For I am zealous for you with a godly eagerness {and} a divine jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one Husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But [now] I am fearful, lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted {and} seduced from wholehearted {and} sincere {and} pure devotion to Christ. For [you seem readily to endure it] if a man comes and preaches another Jesus than the One we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the [Spirit] you [once] received or a different gospel from the one you [then] received {and} welcomed; you tolerate [all that] well enough!" (2 Corinthians 11:1-4) (Amplified Bible).

"For this very cause, that they would not receive the love of the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, therefore God permits strong delusion to occupy their minds; so that they believe a lie rather than the truth, prefer false apostles and their erroneous doctrines to the pure truths of the Gospel, brought to them by the well-accredited messengers of God; being ever ready to receive any false Messiah, while they systematically and virulently reject the true one." Adam Clarke

"The passage teaches that such would be the result; that the connection between these delusions and the condemnation of those who were deluded, would be certain. It cannot be proved from the Scriptures that God sends on men strong delusions, in order that they may be damned. No such construction should be put on a passage of Scripture if it can be avoided, and it cannot be shown that it is necessary here. Who believed not the truth The grounds or reasons why they would be damned are now stated. One would be that they did not believe the truth - not that God sent upon them delusion in order that they might be damned. That people will be condemned for not believing the truth, and that it will be right thus to condemn them, is everywhere the doctrine of the Scriptures, and is equally the doctrine of common sense." Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 13

Paul Explains the Great Apostasy Part 5

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. KJV

The person that Paul refers to in the previous verse (who will be completely destroyed by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ) has been called by a few terms throughout the Scripture. In the previous verse he is referred to by Paul as the 'man of sin' or the 'lawless one' or as the Prophet Isaiah referred to him as lucifer, but he is also referred to by the Apostle John as the 'beast' as he declared of him with these words, "And I saw three loathsome spirits like frogs, [leaping] from the mouth of the dragon (that's the devil) and from the mouth of the beast (that's the man of sin) and from the mouth of the false prophet( that's the false holy spirit). For really they are the spirits of demons that perform signs (wonders, miracles). And they go forth to the rulers {and} leaders all over the world, to gather them together for war on the great day of God the Almighty." (Revelation 16:13-14) (Amplified Bible). What we just recorded from the Apostle John, is a declaration of the false trinity and the 'beast' can also be labeled as the anti-christ the complete adversary, antagonist, and antithesis of Jesus Christ, for he will rule this world and its system during the Great Tribulation making many people believe that he is the true Christ, but he will be destroyed by our Lord Jesus Christ, for this man or man of sin is (as we have declared in earlier studies/commentaries) actually the devil incarnate, that is, represented, revealed, and released in bodily form just as the Apostle Paul now writes to these believers in Thessalonica with these words, "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders," (2 Thessalonians 2:9) (KJV).

You see the devil is also a 'fallen angel', that is, a spirit being who is not omnipresent and cannot do his dirty wicked evil work of killing, stealing, and destroying (John 10:10) except he does it through a human being or human body, therefore, he comes in the form of the 'man of sin' or the anti-christ, he is himself deluded into thinking he is god, remember what he himself said as recorded for us by the Prophet Isaiah, "How have you fallen from heaven, O light-bringer {and} daystar, son of the morning! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who weakened {and} laid low the nations [O blasphemous, satanic king of Babylon!] And you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of assembly in the uttermost north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol (Hades), to the innermost recesses of the pit (the region of the dead). Those who see you will gaze at you {and} consider you, saying, Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms?" (Isaiah 14:12-16) (Amplified Bible). The little English phrase 'the working' is translated by one Greek word energeia which is where we get our English words energy and energize from and it means active, operative, efficiency (energy): - operation, strong, (effectual) working.

As we just said above, the 'man of sin' will be a real human being in a real human body that has had his soul (mind, emotions, and will) completely taken over by the fallen angel the devil that the Prophet Isaiah just declared, denoted, and described also above during this 7 year Great Tribulation period until the True Christ comes and kills the body of the 'man of sin' and tosses his soul with a new corrupt body into the Lake of Fire as we also declared in the last study/commentary. When Paul declares that he will display signs and lying wonders, it is no surprise that these things occur, for the devil is a spirit being (the chief demon as it were) that lives not in the confinement of the natural world, therefore, he can do things that are out of the realm of ability by human beings that are bound in the natural world or realm, just as again the Apostle John declared for us with these words, "And the beast that I saw resembled a leopard, but his feet were like those of a bear and his mouth was like that of a lion. And to him the dragon gave his [own] might {and} power and his [own] throne and great dominion. And one of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. But his death stroke was healed; and the whole earth went after the beast in amazement {and} admiration. They fell down {and} paid homage to the dragon (the devil), because he had bestowed on the beast all his dominion {and} authority; they also praised {and} worshiped the beast, exclaiming, Who is a match for the beast, and, Who can make war against him?" (Revelation 13:2-4) (Amplified Bible).

Sadly, even before the Great Tribulation takes place there are people who will succumb to the lies of the devil through the  'spirit of anti-christ' already at work in the earth as the Apostle John told us (1 John 2:18 & 2 John 1:7) and they will be deceived by the lie because the lie appeals to the flesh of humanity or to humanities fallen nature we all have received as a result of Adams sin just as Paul now writes to these believers and we believers with these words, "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians 2:10) (KJV). The English word 'deceivableness' is translated by the Greek word apate meaning to cheat or delude, make delusional and deceive. The little English phrase 'of unrighteousness' is translated by one Greek word adikia meaning (legal) injustice (properly the quality, by implication the act); moral wrongfulness (of charater, life or act): - iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, wrong. In other words, the devil has in place throughout the earth a system of moral error that he promotes as the truth and not error, for example, there are in many places now in 'organized religion' or the visible Churches of Christianity that prescribe, proclaim, and even promote homosexuality to be an accepted part of their religion, ordaining openly gay Priest, Bishop, Pastors, Deacons, etc. declaring it to be the will and desire of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit, but this is just not true, it is delusion, it is deceit, it is deception. Unrighteousness is what everyone is born with as Paul declared in Romans 3:10, but the devils desire is to make unrighteousness equal with the righteousness of Christ and thereby promote it as being approved by God as normality. We all have a corrupt nature that wants to glorify that which is evil and surpress that which is right or good, but only those who have been deluded and deceived will teach these errors and encourage and even affirm others in them.

To be born again means just what it sounds like, that is, to be given another nature totally opposite of the old corrupt nature every human being is born with, therefore, now a war is at hand (Galatians 5:17) and there can never be an acceptance of that which is abhorrent to Jesus Christ as normality, but those who have been seduced by the lie of the devil will not listen to the truth, but will make up human reasoning, resolutions, and results that make the lie seem like the truth, such as genetics, DNA, that is, one was born this way and cannot help it, these are all lies prepared by the devil through human instruments to keep men and women from the 'love of the truth', for this is exactly what our Lord Jesus meant when He said these words, "So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. They answered Him, We are Abraham's offspring (descendants) and have never been in bondage to anybody. What do You mean by saying, You will be set free? Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Whoever commits {and} practices sin is the slave of sin. Now a slave does not remain in a household permanently (forever); the son [of the house] does remain forever. So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really {and} unquestionably free." (John 8:31-36) (Amplified Bible). We born again sons and daughters of our Lord Jesus Christ will always struggle with sin while we are away from our home in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ as our new nature wars against our old nature, but we will never accept that which is unclean to our Lord Jesus Christ as good and His will, but we will desire and purpose to do as the Apostle Paul taught the believers in Rome and we believers today with these words, "[Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good." (Romans 12:9) (Amplified Bible).

"Literally, 'wonders' or 'prodigies of falsehood.' His 'power, signs, and wonders,' all have falsehood for their base, essence, and aim (John 8:44), [Alford]. In Matthew 24:24 Jesus implies that the miracles shall be real, though demonic, such mysterious effects of the powers of darkness as we read of in the case of the Egyptian sorcerers, not such as Jesus performed in their character, power, or aim; for they are against the revealed Word, and therefore not to be accepted as evidences of truth; nay, on the authority of that sure Word of prophecy (here, and Mattew 24:24), to be known and rejected as wrought in support of falsehood. The same three Greek words occur for miracles of Jesus (Acts 2:22; Hebrews 2:4); showing that as the Egyptian magicians imitated Moses (2 Timothy 3:1-8), so Antichrist will try to imitate Christ’s works as a 'sign,' or proof of divinity." JFB Commentary

"According to the energy of Satan; that is, the energetic or efficient operation of Satan. The word rendered 'after,' it need not be said to one who looks at the Greek, does not refer to time, but is a preposition, meaning according to; in conformity with; meaning that the manner of his appearing would be accompanied by such works as would show that the agency of Satan was employed, and such as he only could produce. It does not mean that the coming of the Lord Jesus would be after Satan had worked in this manner, but that the manifestation of that wicked one would be with such demonstrations of power and wonder as Satan only could effect. The system over which he presides is originated by Satan, and sustained by those things which he alone can perform. The idea is, that it would be under the direction and control of the great enemy of God, and that the things on which it would rely for support could be traced to his agency. In all the pretended miracles to which it would appeal, there would be nothing which Satan could not accomplish." Albert Barnes

"Many are the subtle artifices the man of sin has used, and various are the plausible pretences by which he had beguiled unwary and unstable souls to embrace false doctrines, and submit to his usurped dominion. The persons are described who are his willing subjects, or most likely to become such, 2 Thessalonians 2:10. They are such as love not the truth that they may be saved. They heard the truth (it may be), but they did not love it; they could not bear sound doctrine, and therefore easily imbibed false doctrines; they had some notional knowledge of what was true, but they indulged some powerful prejudices, and so became a prey to seducers. Had they loved the truth, they would have persevered in it, and been preserved by it; but no wonder if they easily parted with what they never had any love to. And of these persons it is said that they perish or are lost; they are in a lost condition, and in danger to be lost for ever." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 12

Paul Explains the Great Apostasy Part 4

2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: KJV

As we mentioned briefly in our study/commentary (Volume 10), the preparatory work of 'the Anti-Christ' is already at work in the earth through the 'spirit of anti-christ' or the 'spirit of error' that is not only prevelant in the earth as a whole, but it is manifested in what also is referred to as Christian teaching in many Churches around the world. The devil's main goal is worship (as we also declared in a previous Volume), so it is no astonishment that he prepares, promotes, and then proclaims a different gospel than the actual true Gospel of Grace just as he tried to be successful turning the believers in the Church @ Galatia away from the true Gospel of Grace into one of his false gospels, but Paul rebuked the Galatians and this false gospel that they were being coerced by (it was a gospel of works by the way) with these words, "I am surprised {and} astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade {and} deserting Him Who invited {and} called you by the grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) [and that you are transferring your allegiance] to a different [even an opposition] gospel. Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling {and} disturbing {and} bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as a gospel] and want to pervert {and} distort the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah) [into something which it absolutely is not]. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to {and} different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! (Galatians 1:6-8) (Amplified Bible).

So then, we see that the 'spirit of anti-christ' was already alive and working in the world, even though 'the Anti-Christ', that is, the 'man of sin' Paul referred to earlier had not yet been revealed and so we understand Paul's words here in his next verse when he says, "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." (2 Thessalonians 2:7) (KJV). The English word 'mystery' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word musterion which is from a derivative of muō and means (to shut the mouth); a secret or “mystery” (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites): - mystery. The English word 'iniquity' is translated from the Greek word anomia meaning illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness: Therefore, we see that iniquity is manifested throughout the earth by acts of open, oppressive, and outrageous violence perpetrated by human beings against other human beings often against people who they don't know and have done no wrong to the  purveyor of the violent acts, but iniquity is also subtle, that is, in a difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze and working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way, for example, the way the devil has persuaded men and women over the centuries to add or take away from the Word of God, i.e. the Mormons with their 'Book of Mormon' which is followed and adhered to more closely than the Bible, remember the Bible and what was written in it by the Apostle John about this very thing, "I [personally solemnly] warn everyone who listens to the statements of the prophecy [the predictions and the consolations and admonitions pertaining to them] in this book: If anyone shall add anything to them, God will add {and} lay upon him the plagues (the afflictions and the calamities) that are recorded {and} described in this book. And if anyone cancels {or} takes away from the statements of the book of this prophecy [these predictions relating to Christ's kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions or warnings pertaining to them], God will cancel {and} take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the city of holiness (purity and hallowedness), which are described {and} promised in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19) (Amplified Bible).

The little English phrase 'he who now letteth' is translated by the same Greek word that we declared for the English phrase 'what withholdeth' in the previous verse which is katecho meaning to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): It is God the Holy Spirit working in the Church of Jesus Christ or in the Body of Christ that has the devil and the complete demonstration of iniquity and all its ugliness on a leash, but when the true Church, that is, all genuine believers in Jesus Christ are raptured, then the leash will be removed and usher into the earth the Great Tribulation as we also declared in the previous study/commentary. Paul describes what will take place when this occurs with these words, "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:" (2 Thessalonians 2:8) (KJV). That wicked Paul refers to here is obviously the 'man of sin' or the Anti-Christ, but Paul also with great delight in his inner man (I'm sure) declares the end of this usurper of the Throne of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. The little English phrase 'shall consume' is translated by the Greek word analisko meaning properly to use up, that is, destroy: - consume. When Paul says here, 'with the Spirit of His mouth', he means simply that Christ Jesus our Lord will speak and the end of the devils unleashed state will come to a sudden and immediate halt (I think He will say, 'Be gone you little beast anti-christ into the Lake of Fire you go, your father the devil will be joining you shortly, its over your finished forever, see ya would'nt wanna be ya'), for this is exactly what the Scripture declares will happen, "Then the devil who had led them astray [deceiving and seducing them] was hurled into the fiery lake of burning brimstone, where the beast and false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (through the ages of the ages)." (Revelation 20:10) (Amplified Bible). For those who still hold out hope that the devil will rule and reign, really? Come on, get a grip and turn to Jesus Christ now!

"There is a system of corrupt doctrine, which will lead to the general apostasy, already in existence, but it is a mystery; it is as yet hidden; it dare not show itself, because of that which hindereth or withholdeth. But when that which now restraineth shall be taken out of the way, then shall that wicked one be revealed-it will then be manifest who he is, and what he is." Adam Clarke

"The head of this antichristian kingdom is called that wicked one, or that lawless person who sets up a human power in competition with, and contradiction to, the divine dominion and power of the Lord Jesus Christ; but, as he would thus manifest himself to be the man of sin, so the revelation or discovery of this to the world would be the sure presage and the means of his ruin. The Apostle assures the Thessalonians that the Lord would consume and destroy him; the consuming of him precedes his final destruction, and that is by the Spirit of His mouth, by His word of command; the pure Word of God, accompanied with the Spirit of God, will discover this mystery of iniquity, and make the power of antichrist to consume and waste away; and in due time it will be totally and finally destroyed, and this will be by the brightness of Christ's coming. Note, The coming of Christ to destroy the wicked will be with peculiar glory and eminent lustre and brightness." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 11

Paul Explains the Great Apostasy Part 3

2 Thessalonians 2:5-6 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. KJV

Paul was never ever, during the course of his missionary work here on the earth as the Apostle of Christ and Christ Ambassador to all of the Gentile Nations, worried about people declaring him to be someone who would repeat over and over things that he had preached or taught concerning the truth of the Word of God or the Gospel of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Repetitiveness (to Paul) was a necessity and not to be sacrificed. For Paul it was never about the amount of words he used in expressing the truth, but it was always about the content of the words he spoke and wrote to those non-believers and believers in Jesus Christ that mattered the most to him, so here we find him reminding again these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica of these facts concerning the 2nd Coming of the Lord Jesus even during the brief time he spent with them in person (Acts 17:1-9) as he writes these words, "Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?" (2 Thessalonians 2:5) (KJV).

Note: "Here is what Albert Barnes had to say concerning what Paul is speaking of regarding what he says here in verse 5, 'The whole subject of the second coming of the Saviour seems to have constituted an important part of the instructions of Paul when at Thessalonica. He now refers them to what he had told them respecting the great apostasy, to show that his views had not changed, and that he did not mean to have them understand that the world would soon come to an end. He had stated these things to them implying that a considerable interval must elapse before the Saviour would appear. Much of the obscurity of this prophecy arises from the fact, that the Apostle alludes to things which he had told them when with them, of which we have now no knowledge. Hence, what would be perfectly clear to them, on reading this letter, is now difficult to be understood.'" (Amen! to this assessment).

Paul appaerently told them some things during that brief time spent with them in person that they needed to remember or bring back to their recollection in order to prevent themselves from being disturbed by the false prophets and false teachers speaking and teaching that the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ had already occured or was about to happen right then, therefore, Paul writes these words to them to transport them back to what he taught them about the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth and he says, "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time." (2 Thessalonians 2:6) (KJV). First, Paul reminds them of what they already knew from what he taught them earlier and the little English phrase 'you know' is translated by one Greek word eido a primary verb meaning properly to see (literally or figuratively); by implication (in the perfect only) to know: - be aware, behold, have knowledge, to understand. The little English phrase 'what withholdeth' is translated by one Greek word katecho meaning to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): to restrain.

In other words, what Paul told them before when he was with them is what holds back or keeps back the uncovering, unveiling, or unmasking of the man of sin. What did Paul reveal to them before that is not mentioned here specifically in his second letter to them? The correct answer is we don't know. However, that has not stopped people (since the time of this letter until today) from speculating, surmising, and supposing that they know what Paul told them, for example [Olshausen] said, "The power that has restrained the man of sin from his full and final development, is the moral and conservative influence of political states", next [Alford] said, "The fabric of human polity as a coercive power".

Here is what I say, "Just as a dog bred to fight must be retsrained by a leash to keep him from attacking with all his force, so is the devil restrained from bringing himself into humanity via the man of sin while God the Holy Spirit is at work in the invisible Church of Jesus Christ, that is, every true born again, born from above, or born of the Holy Spirit believer in the earth. Only when the true believers are caught up or raptured from this earth to forever be with our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) will the devil (through the man of sin) be allowed off his leash for a short 7 year period that is and will be the 'Great Tribulation' as our Lord Jesus spoke concerning those days with these words, "For then there will be great tribulation (affliction, distress, and oppression) such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now--no, and never will be [again]. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would endure {and} survive, but for the sake of the elect (God's chosen ones) those days will be shortened." (Matthew 24:21-22) (Amplified Bible).

"In several parts of this description of the man of sin, the Apostle alludes to a conversation which had taken place between him and the members of this Church when he was at Thessalonica; and this one circumstance will account for much of the obscurity that is in these verses. Besides, the Apostle appears to speak with great caution, and does not at all wish to publish what he had communicated to them; the hints which he drops were sufficient to call the whole to their remembrance." Adam Clarke

"Paul, though he by his ministry was a very great hinderance of the growth of error, and the spread of evil practices in the Churches, and so of the more open appearance of the man of sin in his forerunners; and after his departure from Ephesus, and imprisonment at Rome, and suffering death, there was a great falling off in the Churches, and among professors of religion, which made way for the manifestation of antichrist in due time: nor the preaching of the Gospel, in its power and purity, in the several parts of the world; though so long as this obtained, got ground, and gained success, the man of sin could not show his head; and therefore it must, as it did, decline, and was gradually taken away that he might appear: nor the Spirit of God, as the Spirit of truth and holiness, though as long as He continued in His gifts and operations of grace in the Churches, they were preserved from antichristian doctrine and worship; but when he removed from them, this enemy and adversary of Christ and his Gospel came in like a flood: nor the general defection in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 though that was to be previous to the revelation of antichrist, and was to be what would usher him in; nor could he appear until the wickedness of men was come to a pitch, that they would be ready to receive him, and pay homage and worship to him." Dr. John Gill

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 10

Paul Explains the Great Apostasy Part 2

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. KJV

Throughout the time of human history there has been much speculation, supposition, and surmising about who is the 'Anti-Christ', I have read that some declared Hitler to be him and others have even thought that he might be one of the ancient Pope's of the Roman Catholic Church, and even today some believe he is alive right now as a child or teenager about to be revealed, but these are all predictions that appear to be untrue, however, there will come this man into the earth and he will be born of a woman just as every other human being is born physically, but unlike every other human being born into the earth, this man will be the devil incarnate. With this little brief analysis, assessment, or analytical thinking that belongs to me personally, I will now defer to the Apostle Pauls description to these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica of this occurance that must take place before the rapture of the Church and before Christ 2nd Coming to the earth to judge sin. First, Paul declares that the Apostasy must take place before Christ 2nd Coming, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" (2 Thessalonians 2:3) (KJV).

Again Paul emphasizes to these believers and to we believers today the necessity that they/we be spiritually awake and spiritually mature so that they/we will not be 'deceived' and this English word is translated by the Greek word exapatao meaning to seduce wholly: - beguile, deceive. In other words, it is not the plot and scheme of human beings to deceive believers concerning Christ 2nd Coming, but it is the devil himself who wants true believers to down play, dilute, or disregard totally this fact and reality and turn away from the truth of the Gospel as the only way for sinners to have their sin forgiven and become a part of the Family of God the Father. It has been the enemies mission every since our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ died and shed His Blood for the sins of the world and then rose from the dead in mighty power as King of King and Lord of Lords to dilute the Gospel by making sinful humanity believe that there are other roads to heaven or that eternal punishment in hell and the lake of fire are not real, example the Jehovah Witnesses (who have the same Bible + their Watch Tower) teach and believe that their is no literal 'hell' after death, but that this life is humanities hell when the Word of God specifically says this, "Then death and Hell (the state of death or disembodied existence) were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's [name] was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:14-15) (Amplified Bible).

Why is this happening? Because the devil and his demons are powerful and seductive and without God the Holy Spirit they have made millions and even billions of people believe a 'lie', another example is right now in our world there are somewhere around 2 billion Muslims (the fastest growing religion) and they all are being seduced by demons to believe a 'lie' and stay away from the one and only truth the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't apologize for declaring the truth, if you are angry that I wrote this and believe this, then that's OK, but if you die 'in your sins' and go to the place of hell and the lake of fire, you will know then (even though it will be too late) that I am speaking from love and compassion not wanting to see you there. Sadly, these teachings and beliefs come from 'seducing spirits' just as this same Apostle Paul wrote to Brother Timothy warning him this would come with these words, "But the [Holy] Spirit distinctly {and} expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding {and} seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach" (1 Timothy 4:1) (Amplified Bible).

The little English phrase 'a falling away' is translated by one Greek word apostasia which is where we get our English word Apostasy from and it means defection from truth (properly the state), (apostasy): - falling away, forsake. The truth is the truth. There can never be more than one truth. Mathematics (which I used to be very good at and love) is something that can serve as a firm, fixed, and forceful example of there always being only one truth. I never had a Mathematics Instructor from elementary to college ever declare more than one answer for any Math problem. Two(2) plus two(2) equals four(4) it does not almost equal four(4), it always equals four(4) and it never ever will equal five(5), in like manner spiritually there is but One God who has decided, determined, and declared the one and only way to reach Him and that is through the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ as He said with these words (I have declared them many times in my writings and I can never declare them enough or too much), "Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me." (John 14:6) (Amplified Bible). You either believe Him or you don't, there is no in between or middle ground, not deciding is deciding, for you have decided not to decide.

After the 'falling away/apostasy occurs then the 'man of sin', that is, the Anti-Christ or devil incarnate will 'be revealed', and this little English phrase 'be revealed' is translated by one Greek word apokalupto meaning to take off the cover, that is, disclose: - reveal. In other words, all of the speculation as to who he is will finally be put to rest because he will be disclosed or brought out into the open or the cover removed from his persona and his true nature and character revealed. The Apostle John wrote and warned the believers not long after our Lord Jesus Christ had Ascended back up to heaven (where He now sits at the Right Hand of God the Father) that even then were the last days, here is what he said, "Little children, it is the last time (hour, the end of this age). And as you have heard that the antichrist [he who will oppose Christ in the guise of Christ] is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen, which confirms our belief that it is the final (the end) time." (1 John 2:18) (Amplified Bible) and now Paul is doing the same thing with these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica as he says here continuing to speak of the 'man of sin' he writes, "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4) (KJV).

The little English phrase 'who opposeth' that begins this verse is translated by one Greek word antikeimai meaning  to lie opposite, that is, be adverse (figuratively repugnant) to: - adversary, be contrary, oppose. The little English phrase 'exalteth himself' is translated by one Greek word huperairomai meaning to raise oneself over, that is, (figuratively) to become haughty: - exalt self, be exalted above measure. In other words, the little beast 'the Anti-Christ of man of sin' when he is revealed will make himself appealing to the entire world and the world's system and claim that he has the answers to what mankind has always been searching for and that is peace on earth, a utopia right now on the earth, even while sin is active in all humanity (without Jesus Christ). So he will shrewdly and cunningly make apparent peace in the middle east between Israel and all her enemies and an agreement with Israel that their Holy Temple will be rebuilt, but after 3 1/2 years he will break all his promises and stand in the Jewish Temple claiming to be the Creator God (worship is always what the devil has wanted, this is why he has formed the occult and all that it entails witchcraft, wizardry, sorcery, voodoo, and all else) as Daniel the Prophet Prophesied with these words, "And he shall enter into a strong {and} firm covenant with the many for one week [seven years]. And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and offering to cease [for the remaining three and one-half years]; and upon the wing {or} pinnacle of abominations [shall come] one who makes desolate, until the full determined end is poured out on the desolator." (Daniel 9:27) (Amplified Bible). Even as our Lord Jesus Christ affirmed with these words, "But when you see the abomination of desolation {mentioned by Daniel the prophet} standing where it ought not to be--[and] let the one who reads take notice {and} consider {and} understand {and} heed [this]--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." (Mark 13:14) (Amplified Bible).

"But certain events must take place first. There must be a great apostasy and the unveiling of  'the mystery of lawlessness,' which even at that time was already at work. First, the man of sin; then, the Son of man. First, He that set Himself forth as God; then, God manifest in the flesh. First, the revelation of sin; then, the revelation of perfect salvation. Daniel 11:36 seems to have suggested Paul’s words, which have been applied to Nero or Caligula, to Judaism or the Papal Church, and to some future manifestation of Satanic hatred toward the Church of God. But whatever form it may assume, the coming of Jesus will absolutely destroy this power of Antichrist. Let us be warned by the doom of those that are involved in this great apostasy, and ever cherish the love of the truth of Christ, that we may be saved." F. B. Meyer

"But the man of sin, the son of perdition - Eminently so called, is not come yet. However, in many respects, the Pope has an indisputable claim to those titles. He is, in an emphatical sense, the man of sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled, the son of perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers, destroyed innumerable souls, and will himself perish everlastingly. He it is that opposeth himself to the emperor, once his rightful sovereign; and that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped - Commanding angels, and putting kings under his feet, both of whom are called gods in scripture; claiming the highest power, the highest honour; suffering himself, not once only, to be styled God or vice - god. Indeed no less is implied in his ordinary title, 'Most Holy Lord,' or, 'Most Holy Father.' So that he sitteth - Enthroned. In the temple of God - Mentioned Revelation 11:1. Declaring himself that he is God - Claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone." John Wesley

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 9

Paul Explains the Great Apostasy Part 1

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. KJV

In the first chapter of this second letter to the brothers and sisters in the Church @ Thessalonica, Paul declared to them the final judgement upon the earth and the glory received by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ at His 2nd Coming, but now Paul is compelled to destroy the tension and uneasiness that had come to the hearts and minds of these believers having been informed by some false prophets that Christ coming to take away all true believers had already occurred and so he begins by saying, "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him" (2 Thessalonians 2:1) (KJV). The little English phrase 'we beseech' is translated by one Greek word erotao meaning by implication to request: - ask, beseech, desire, intreat, pray; to ask for or request earnestly. In other words, Paul wants to squash any opportunity that any of the believers in Thessalonica had believed what they were told about Christ having already returned, but he does not want to use harsh language in fear he might drive some away from the truth and further into this erroneous teaching.

The little English phrase 'gathering together' is translated by one Greek word episunagoge meaning a complete collection; specifically a Christian meeting (for worship): - assembling (gathering) together. In other words, Paul wants them to see how very eroneous this false teaching truly was, considering that Paul (himself) is still on the earth doing what our Lord Jesus Christ had commanded him to do years earlier, therefore, just as he had explained the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17), that is, true believers 'in Christ', so he wants them to remove from their hearts and minds that this great event had already occured, for when it does Christ will gather or collect all of His saints together at the very same time, just as He (Himself) declared when He said these words, "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn {and} beat their breasts {and} lament in anguish, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliancy and splendor]. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect (His chosen ones) from the four winds, [even] from one end of the universe to the other." (Matthew 24:30-31) (Amplified Bible).

Someone had apparently written a letter to this Church and declared this very false teaching to the believers there as Paul makes known by these words, "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." (2 Thessalonians 2:2) (KJV). Paul reassures them by giving them his word which in turn he hopes will give or restore their confidence in the truth, for they had been suddenly disturbed and frighten that they had missed the rapture, which meant that they were not true Christians. When Paul says here for them not to be troubled 'by spirit', he is testifying, taking the stand for God, and telling them not to believe every person or persons that come to them declaring to have the 'spirit of prophesy' and this is just a reminder of what Paul had told them to do in his very first letter to them when he said this, "Do not spurn the gifts {and} utterances of the prophets [do not depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise inspired instruction or exhortation or warning]. But test {and} prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast." (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21) (Amplified Bible).

All prophets are not true prophets of the One True God, but they are profits for themselves as Jude said of them with these words, "Woe to them! For they have run riotously in the way of Cain, and have abandoned themselves for the sake of gain [it offers them, following] the error of Balaam, and have perished in rebellion [like that] of Korah!" (Jude 1:11) (Amplified Bible). When Paul says here for them not to be troubled 'by word', he just simply means some person coming to them saying they have this word from Paul the Apostle, but it does not come from one of the trusted men Paul has already sent back to them before, do not trust such a word from a stranger.  When Paul says here for them not to be troubled 'by letter', it is apparent that they received some communication by some courier declaring the letter to be from Paul, but Paul declares the authenticity of his letters by signing every one by his own hand just as he does with this very letter (2 Thessalonians 3:17).

"If errors and mistakes arise among Christians, we should take the first opportunity to rectify them, and hinder the spreading thereof; and good men will be especially careful to suppress errors that may arise from a mistake of their words and actions, though that which was spoken or done was ever so innocent or well. We have a subtle adversary, who watches all opportunities to do mischief, and will sometimes promote errors even by means of the words of scripture." Matthew Henry

"Of the truth of this, there can be no doubt. We may imagine something of the effects which will be produced by the alarm caused in a community when a belief prevails that the day of judgment is near. In a single year (1843) 17 persons were admitted to the Lunatic Asylum in Worcester, Mass., who had become deranged in consequence of the expectation that the Lord Jesus was about to appear. It is easy to account for such facts, and no doubt, when the Lord Jesus shall actually come, the effect on the guilty world will be overwhelming. The Apostle here says, also, that those who were Christians were 'shaken in mind and troubled' by this anticipation. There are, doubtless, many true Christians who would be alarmed at such an event, as there are many who, like Hezekiah Isaiah 38:1-2, are alarmed at the prospect of death. Many real Christians might, on the sudden occurrence of such an event, feel that they were not prepared, and be alarmed at the prospect of passing through the great trial which is to determine their everlasting destiny. It is no certain evidence of a want of piety to be alarmed at the approach of death. Our nature dreads death, and though there may be a well-founded hope of heaven, it will not always preserve a delicate physical frame from trembling when it comes." Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church 2nd Letter Volume 8

Paul Prays that the Name of Jesus Christ be Glorified by the Saved & Forgiven Sinners in the Church @ Thessalonica

2 Thessalonians 1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. KJV

Only by virtue of what Paul acknowledged to them in the last study/commentary that he prayed for them always of having their faith in Jesus Christ be worked out in power can they do what Paul prays here for them with these words, "That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:12) (KJV). God the Father is not going about the population of humanity randomly selecting what appears to be pretty good or even very good human beings to save and give them a place in His Heavenly Kingdom, but on the contrary, He is now through and by only the Gospel of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and any persons acceptance of the Gospel calling out a group of sinners and placing them in the 'Church' or the Body of Christ. Therefore, by doing this, His only motivation is that His Son Jesus Christ be glorified upon the earth by the sinners (now made saints through the new birth) by being the actual 'new creatures' (2 Corinthians 5:17) that they have been now made into.

Our world categorizes people in many ways by their ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, where they were born, where they live, and many other non-essential and very unimportant things as seen by God who created all of these people, for He only sees two categories of human beings and they are sinners and saints. The sinners are made up of every person living without a relationship with Jesus Christ by virtue of coming to His Bloody Cross only for the forgivness of their sin and being born again, born anew, or born from above as our Lord Jesus said very clearly to a very zealous religious Jewish man named Nicodemus, "Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) (Amplified Bible) and the saints are of course every person who has done just what was mentioned above.

Now Paul wants these newly made saints to have their faith worked out of them in power that they would now bring glory to the Name of Jesus Christ by the way they live amongst the people who still have not come to Jesus Christ. This little English word 'name' is translated by the Greek word onoma meaning a name (literally or figuratively), (authority, character). In other words, when someone declares that they belong to Jesus Christ there are certain distinguishing qualities that should be a part of their life and of their belief system imbedded in their inner man or inner woman as our Lord Jesus said of those who believed in Him with these words, Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life. (John 8:12) (Amplified Bible). There must exist in their/our lives a love for our Lord Jesus Christ and for His word and a deep, demanding, and dedicated desire to rightly divide His Holy Word (2 Timothy 2:15) to keep the enemy from  distorting the truth and disgusing it. We have seen in the past as well as the present that many are deceived and have taken this very Bible and perpetrated, performed, and pulled off some of the most horrible atrocities imaginable, example the so-called Prophet in Utah who has married many wives and even young girls as young as 13, this is not that which glorifies the One True God Jesus Christ, but he declares that it is God/Jesus who directs him.

Paul is praying that they/we would live peacably with all men, getting out the Word of God, making known at every opportunity the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is the only way to Heaven period. Jesus Christ is glorified in His redeemed sons and daughters when they/we never compromise the truth of the Gospel, when they/we live a blameless life in this world (Philippians 2:15), and when they/we joy in the reproach brought to us by unregenerate mankind as the Apostle Peter so eloquently declared it with these words, "Beloved, do not be amazed {and} bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly]. If you are censured {and} suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ, blessed [are you--happy, fortunate, to be envied, with life-joy, and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition], because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. {On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.} But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or any sort of criminal, or as a mischief-maker (a meddler) in the affairs of others [infringing on their rights]. But if [one is ill-treated and suffers] as a Christian [which he is contemptuously called], let him not be ashamed, but give glory to God that he is [deemed worthy to suffer] in this name." (1 Peter 4:12-16) (Amplified Bible).

"The Lord Jesus Christ is not some religious leader that we follow as the Buddhist follows the teachings of the man Buddha (who is dead) or the Muslim follows the teachings of the man Muhammad (who is dead), but we have been inhabited, indwelt, and imbibed with the One and only Living God who made and created everything visible and invisible that exist, so then it is our right, reward, and recompense that we will receive also glory from Him as the great Prophet Isaiah said with these words, '[But] in that [future Messianic] day the Lord of hosts shall become a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the [converted] remnant of His people' (Isaiah 28:5) (Amplified Bible) and these words also 'And the nations shall see your righteousness {and} vindication [your rightness and justice--not your own, but His ascribed to you], and all kings shall behold your salvation and glory; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name. You shall also be [so beautiful and prosperous as to be thought of as] a crown of glory {and} honor in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem [exceedingly beautiful] in the hand of your God.' (Isaiah 62:2-3) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"On the other hand, there is glory accruing to perfected saints in Christ. 'And ye in Him.' There will be a union so close as that nothing closer is possible, personality being preserved, between Christ and the saints above, who trust Him and love Him and serve Him there. And that union will lead to a participation in His glory which shall exalt their limited, stained, and fragmentary humanity into 'the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.' Astronomers tell us that dead, cold matter falls from all corners of the system into the sun, drawn by its magic magnetism from farthest space, and, plunging into that great reservoir of fire, the deadest and coldest matter glows with fervid heat and dazzling light. So you and I, dead, cold, dull, opaque, heavy fragments, drawn into mysterious oneness with Christ, the Sun of our souls, shall be transformed into His own image, and like Him be light and heat which shall radiate through the universe. Brethren, meditate on your calling, the fact, its method, its aim, its obligations, and its powers. Cherish hopes and desires after goodness, the only hopes and desires that are certain to be fulfilled. Cultivate the life of faith working by love, and let us all live in the light of that solemn expectation that the Lord will judge His people. Then we may hope that the voice which summoned us will welcome us, and proclaim even of us, stained and undeserving as we rightly feel ourselves to be: 'They have not defiled their garments, therefore they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.'" Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…