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…