When Will Jesus Return?

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2 Thessalonians 2 

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God."

Paul continues today with the theme of Jesus' second coming.  First, he needs to expose some false prophets who were saying that the day of the Lord had already come.  They denied Jesus' own teaching that he would return again to judge the living and the dead. In doing so they took away any accountability from people who did evil and those who did good.  It also discouraged the Thessalonians because if Jesus already came back why did they get left behind.  
Paul then goes on to teach that one of the signs of Jesus' return is a man of lawlessness, who is also called the "antichrist" in the book of Revelation.  People have tried in the past to identify the antichrist. I.e. Hitler, or even the Pope in the 16 century.  But clearly the man of lawlessness has not come because Jesus hasn't returned yet.  
In the 20th century there was a brand of libebalism that also taught that Jesus had already returned, and the church was living in the period known as the "reign of Christ".  But when you look at how evil still abounds it is hard to make an argument for this teaching, especially after events like World War II and 9/11.  
So what does this mean for us today? Later in the chapter Paul says this to the church in Thessalonica,

"But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

God has called and sanctified you through the power of the Holy Spirit and the gospel of Christ.  One day you will SHARE in the glory of Jesus Christ.  Lead a life worthy of the heavenly calling you have been given.  As you stand firm and steadfast in your belief in Christ, you will receive an eternal reward that will never fade away.  


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