Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
3/23/97 pm
The Book Of Second Thessalonians
Reading Second Thessalonians 1.5-12
Our Sunday evening study is on the books of the Bible. Tonight we come for a second visit to Thessalonica. Perhaps a quick review is in order.
The city of Thessalonica has an illustrious heritage.
The first name of the city was Therma, from the hot mineral springs in the region. The name of the city was later changed to Thessalonica in honor of Alexander the Greats half sister by the same name.
When Rome conquered Macedonia in 146 B.C., Thessalonica was elevated to capital of the providence.
Because the city sided with Octavius, which led to Augustus Caesars dominance, it was rewarded by being declared a free city. That mint she ruled herself in Pauls day. The rulers were elected officials known as POLITARCHS.
Today the city is Salonika, Turkery, with a population of just under 300,000.
Thessalonica is one of the few cities of Acts that has survived until today.
This church was established by Paul on his second missionary journey as recorded by Luke in Acts 17.
As Paul arrived in Thessalonica from Philippi, he begin to teach in the synagogue. This went for three weeks before the synagogue officials ask him to leave. This opposition grew to the point that the Jewish officials rounded up some men of bad character and persuaded them to incited a riot against Paul. When they went to Jasons house to get Paul, he was not there, so they dragged Jason and some other brethren before the Politarchs for trial. Because the Politarchs were fearful that Rome would hear of this riot and remove their self rule, they allowed Jason and the others to post bond and let them go. At nightfall, the church slipped Paul and Silas out of the city. Luke tells us, the church in Thessalonica was made of a number of God-fearing Greeks and several prominent women. The word God-fearing Greeks is usually taken to mean Gentile proselytes to Judaism. We do not know how long Paul stayed in Thessalonica, however from Philippians we understand that it was long enough to receive two monetary gifts from the Philippian church.
Last week I was asked the question after services, is there a church of Christ in Salonika today? I do not have the answer to that for 1997, but I did find out that 20 years ago there was not.
The books of First and Second Thessalonians were both written from Corinth.
Forced out of Thessalonica, Paul and his team went to Berea. The Jews from Thessalonica followed Paul to Berea and caused trouble for him there also. Leaving Berea, Paul goes to Athens, leaving Silas and Timothy in Berea to establish and strengthen this infant church. From Athens Paul goes to Corinth. Soon afterwards Silas and Timothy joined him there. It was then, that Timothy brought this glowing report from the Christians in Thessalonica. He had three messages for Paul.
One that the Thessalonians loved Paul and wanted to see him again.
That they were standing firm in their faith in spite of persecution.
That they had a gross misunderstanding of the second coming.
So, the purpose of both letters is to correct their second coming theology. Very little time has elapsed between these two letters, perhaps no more that two or three months at the most.
Access a Bible and lets take a few moments to survey Second Thessalonians.
Our study tonight will center around three concepts that well use to suggest the contents of each of the three chapters.
Chapter one, COMFORT From the hope of Christs return.
Chapter two, CAUTION Concerning the time of His return.
Chapter three, COMMAND How to live in light of Jesus return.
First chapter one, COMFORT From the hope of Christ return.
What a great church this must have been. Notice in verses 3 & 4. Here Paul commends them for three things... Do you see them?
Your faith is growing more and more.
Your love for each other is ever increasing.
Your patient steadfastness, even in the face of persecution and trials, is boasted about among other churches.
Then in verses 5-7, Paul tells them and us that regardless of how severe the trials we are called to endure in this life, Gods judgment is always correct. This remind us of other scriptures:
Roman 8.18, I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in heaven.
Hebrews 10.35-37, Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.
Revelation 2.10-11, Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Church, Paul is saying, regardless of: How dark the night, How rough the path, How painful the trials, Heaven with be worth it all. We will be rewarded when Jesus returns with his angels in flaming fire.
I think it is worthwhile to point out four things we can count on in this second advent:
One, that those who persecute the church of Christ will be paid back trouble for trouble.
Two, those who know not God will be punished.
And three, those who know not God will be lost.
All three of these groups will be banished from the presence of the Lord and the majesty of His power.
Fourthly, on that day the faithful will be rewarded. Paul concludes this chapter by saying, with these four things in mind, live worthy of His calling so that God may count you faithful.
Chapter two, CAUTION Concerning the time of His return.
The second coming of Christ has always been a seedbed for all kind of false doctrine and false expectations among good Christian people. These false doctrines are still abundant among us today.
First there is the doctrine that Jesus has already come.
Paul points out that the church should not become unsettled about such a false idea. He says in verse two that some had circulated a document that was suppose to have been written by Paul himself which said that Jesus had already come. Paul goes on to point out in verses 3-12 that Jesus was not going to return until the LAWLESS ONE is revealed. Just who this lawless one is, is one of the most difficult questions in New Testament scripture. This lawless one has been named over the years as such men as:
Nero, Caligula or one of the other evil Roman Caesars who put themselves up as God.
Some have named such men as Mohammed, Napoleon, Hitler.
Others have suggested the Pope, Henry Kissenger and others.
More than likely Paul had in mind the Roman Caesars who set themselves up as God and demanded that they be worship as such.
These Caesars seem to fit:
Verse 7.... that they are already at work in 52 AD.
Verse 9... The counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders of the Roman church officials.
Verse 11... Some of the Caesars and Popes actually were convinced that they were God.
I probably need to point out here that there are those in the church of Christ today who believe that Jesus has already come. This doctrine is called the Max King doctrine, which says that Jesus returned in A.D. 70 during the destruction of Jerusalem.
The Thessalonican church also thought that since Jesus had not come during their life time that they would not receive the promised reward.
Some of the faithful Christians were dying and others felt that Christian faithfulness in face of such severe persecution was not worth the effort. So, Paul gives them this assurance in First Thessalonians, Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
Another false doctrine concerning the second coming that the Thessalonican church had to deal with was that Jesus was not going to come at all.
Paul says, no He will certainly come again. Listen as I put together Pauls statements from Second Thessalonians 1.7-9 and First Thessalonians 4.4.16-18. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Church, we can count on His return... He is coming again.
Even though not stated in these letters, it is evident that some were so certain that Jesus was going to come immediately that they had sold their property and quit their jobs in anticipation of His immediate return.
I believe this is evident is such passages as:
First thessalonians 4.11-12, Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
First Thessalonians 5.12, Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you.
Second Thessalonians 3.6-10, In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
Here it is church, when we put First and Second Thessalonians together, we understand that it is evident that Paul is teaching them and us that the return of Christ should be regarded as a possibility in any generation or lifetime.
Chapter three, COMMAND How to live in light of Jesus return.
Really we want to go back to the last few verses of chapter two to begin this point. How to live in light of His return:
Vs. 15, Stand firm, hold to doctrine, contend earnestly for the faith once delivered.
Vs. 16, Pray that God give you encouragement and strength in every good deed and word.
Vs. 1 of chapter 3, Pray for us:
One, that the gospel message spread rapidly.
Two that we be delivered from wicked and evil men.
Vs. 6 Keep away from idle brethren.
Vs. 6, Keep away from those who do not live according to Apostolic doctrine.
Vs. 7-10 Follow our example to work to supply your own needs so that you are not a burden to anyone.
Vs. 11, Dont be a busybody
Vs. 13, Never tire of doing what is right.
Vs. 14-15 Do not associate with those who will not follow Apostolic instruction, but do not treat him as an enemy but warn him as a brother.
Paul ends this epistle by saying, This is a genuine letter from me as you can see by this greeting in my own handwriting.
In these two lessons, we have seen that Thessalonica was a great church known for: their faith, their love for one another, and their perseverance in face of severe persecution and trials, in spite of their lack of doctrinal soundness in the area of understanding the second coming.
May God help us be more like this First Century Church.
The question tonight is the same as it was last week. Are you ready for the coming of Jesus? You can be:
By faith in God and His Son Jesus.
By being willing to turn from your sin in repentance.
And by New Testament baptism, immersion in water for the forgiveness of all your sins.
Will you do today, right now?
