Daily Manna August 1st

Neviim 2.0 Final Judgment – 3rd Coming Part 2

[Read 2TH 2:1-12]

Currently, there is only One Person holding back the evil one! [Think of how dark and wicked this Earth would be if He was NOT restraining!] Paul speaks here to the Thessalonian church concerning the coming of our L-rd Jesus Christ and our gathering together [complete collection, meeting for worship] to Him.

In Daily Manna’s I refer to this gathering as the Second Coming of Jesus. He will come quickly and quietly, except for His shout [1THES 4:16] heard only by believers, who respond accordingly! He will then gather His followers to Himself. Remember that 7-10 years after will be His Third Coming, when He comes back to Earth at the end of the 70th Week Of Daniel [the great tribulation] to judge mankind. [REV 19]

Paul says [vs.7] that he [the Holy Spirit] who now restrains [holds down, holds fast, holds back opposition with intensity] will restrain, until He is taken out of the way. That is presumably at the same time that believers have their gathering. See vss. 3 and 4 for what happens AFTER He is taken out of the way. It’s ugly!

In reading this passage, we see some of the conditions on the Earth at that time:

• A wicked world-leader will be in power–the man of sin…son of perdition.
• He forbids worship of all pagan g-ds and other objects of worship–who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called g-d or that is worshipped. [Uh-oh, the worship of idols, the Earth, animals, the human body–all will be forbidden.
• The Temple will be rebuilt in Israel–he as G-d sits in the temple of G-d.
• Like Antiochus Epiphanes did in the 150’s BCE, this wicked leader is showing [showing off, demonstrating, exhibiting, accrediting] himself that he is G-d.
• G-d is still Sovereignly controlling–it’s all in His timing [vss. 6, 8a]; His restrainer is holding evil back [vs. 7].
• G-d’s power will always be supreme–the wicked one…whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth.

Here are two great take aways from this passage, for believers:

The awesome Spirit of G-d within us is a restrainer of sin–not only the world’s, but ours too! Let Him hold off the evil one in your life.

Our omnipotent G-d will always have supreme power over this Earth and all mankind! Rest in His power for your life.

You’ll find comfort and peace in both of those truths.

Selah…Shalom…