HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1457
2 Thessalonians
T I M E S A R E T O U G H , and you’re working too hard. Most of us feel
we are not making enough to keep up—certainly not enough to be as
comfortable as we wish. To make more requires moonlighting or jobs
for both husband and wife. We dream of getting away from the grind,
escaping to a better way.
What you will be
The Thessalonian Christians dreamed these
reading about
dreams, too, not so much to escape economic
hardships, but to get away from increasing per1:1-2
Paul’s greetings
secution. Times were hard because of the pressures others put on them for being Christians.
1:3 -12
Encouragement for those
The way out, they reasoned, was the return of
who face suffering
Christ. Paul’s previous letter to these believ2:1-12
ers had discussed Christ’s second coming. But
What must happen before
some had misunderstood Paul, thinking he was
Christ returns
promising that Christ’s return would be any day.
2:13 – 3:5
So they quit their jobs and withdrew from helpStanding firm against the
ing in the church. Instead, they sat around and
attacks of evil
waited for that glorious trumpet blast signaling
3:6 -15
the end of the world when true justice would
How to live while waiting for
prevail.
Christ’s return
Paul fired off this letter, 2 Thessalonians, to
3:16 -18
clear up these misunderstandings and further
Paul’s final blessing
clarify the Christian’s role in waiting for Christ’s
return. Christians are suffering, Paul said. God will deal with those who cause
them to suffer, but in the meantime, we cannot stand around and do nothing.
Furthermore, Paul adds, the end of history cannot be here yet because the
Antichrist, or man of lawlessness, has not yet come. He must come first, before
that final Day of the Lord.
We all need prayer in these difficult times, Paul told the Thessalonians. We
also need to pray that the gospel will be spread.
But what about those who had quit working, thinking the return of Christ
was imminent? Paul said they had the wrong attitude. They should continue
doing all they could to spread the gospel, reach out to those in need, and build
up the church. If they were not doing these things, they were really thinking
only of themselves.
Times are still tough, and we are still working too hard. But we must not use
Christ’s imminent return as an excuse to quit working and serving, especially
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