2 Thessalonians 2- The Coming of Christ

by JHG @ http://www.inlightofthegospel.org

I grew up a dispensationalist, which meant I was taught a pre-tribulational rapture, a seven year tribulation period, then a thousand year millennium. This was hard to break out of when I was a teenager. I remember being afraid to actually tell someone that I thought the “rapture” [as it was taught] didn’t have a Biblical basis.

One of the passages that closed the door on dispensationalism was 2 Thessalonians 2. This is surprising because it is a passage used by them to argue for their position, but the text will not bear the weight of a two-fold “coming” of Christ.

Notice that Paul begins by talking about the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This coming is described as “our being gathered together to him.” Paul is clearly talking to Christians [he calls them brothers in the next phrase], and he is talking about when Jesus comes to gather his people.

Evidently the Thessalonians were worried about missing this great event because Paul says, “do not be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the lord has come” (v. 2). They thought that they had been left behind!!!

Of course Paul tells them not to worry because they haven’t been left behind. Paul’s reason for telling them not to worry is found in verse 3: “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed.” Paul is saying to Christians that they need not worry because they have not missed the “coming of the Lord.” Two things have to happen first: a rebellion and the revealing of the man of lawlessness. The precise nature of these two “signs” is not the point. The point is that these two things have to happen before Christians are gathered together to Jesus.

Perhaps I can paraphrase Paul this way: “I know you have heard that Jesus has come and you missed it. Don’t worry. Jesus will not come for you until two ’signs’ take place first: rebellion and the man of lawlessness. Jesus will not come to gather you to Himself until that takes place first.” The passage doesn’t make sense without that perspective.

Let’s suppose that the first “coming of the Lord” is referring to what dispensationalists call the “rapture.” Let’s also suppose that the “day of the Lord” (v. 2) is referring to what dispensationalists call the “revelation” of Jesus [his coming after the seven year tribulation].

That doesn’t make sense because of Paul’s quick shift in language [coming of Christ/Day of the Lord]. But more importantly, it doesn’t make sense of the signs. The two signs make no sense if Christians are supposed to be taken out before these two signs take place.

Let’s have a conversation with the text:

Thessalonians: Paul. how do we know that we have not missed the coming of the Lord and our gathering together with him?

Paul: Have you seen the two signs?

Thessalonians: What signs?

Paul: The great rebellion and the revelation of the man of lawlessness.

Thessalonians: No, we have not seen that.

Paul: Then you didn’t miss it.

But let’s change that last part slightly to reflect a dispensational perspective.

Thessalonians: What signs?

Paul: The great rebellion and the revelation of the man of lawlessness.

Thessalonians: Yes, it looks that those are the signs we are seeing right now.

Paul: Well, if you are here when the two signs happen, um…well…I think…I hate to tell you…but you actually did miss the coming of the Lord. Sorry, but Christians will be taken out before those two signs appear. You really were left behind, but hang in there…Jesus will come again after these signs have been revealed.