2 Tessalonicenses 2

2 Tessalonicenses 2:1

Utley - Three words are used in the NT to describe the Second Coming: (1) Parousia (cf. vv. 1, 8; 1Th 2:19), (2) epiphaneia (cf. 2Th 2:8), a visible radiant coming and (3) apocalypsis (cf. 2Th 1:6–7), meaning “an unveiling” for the purpose of revealing. The last word is also employed at the manifestation of the Anti-Christ in 2Th 2:3, 6, 8. “Second Coming” is not a biblical term. It was first used by Justin Martyr. Lord (2962)( kurios ) is the One (Jesus) to Whom we belong and are subject to His power of deciding what is best for our lives. Jesus is Lord because He is in charge by virtue of the fact that He possesses or owns us having paid the redemption price to set us free (Ro 3:24, 1Cor 1:30, Col 1:14). Thus believers are no longer their own and must continually remind themselves that they have been bought with the price of Jesus blood (Eph 1:7, 1Cor 6:19, 20). Jesus (2424)(Iesous) means "Yahweh saves" and is sometimes translated "Joshua" (Acts 7:45, Heb 4:8), but in almost all the uses in the NT refers to Jesus our Savior. The name Jesus speaks of His humanity and it conveys the meaning that Jesus' purpose for becoming a Man was to enable Him to save people from the penalty for their sins, the power of sin and from eternal separation from God. Christ (5547)(Christos from chrio = to rub or anoint, consecrate to an office) means One Who has been anointed, which in turn symbolizes His appointment for a task. (See also Messiah - Anointed One) In his first letter Paul had given clear teaching on this "gathering together" which is often designated as the Rapture, a word which often results in considerable debate among evangelicals. Notice that Paul does not specifically designate the timing of the Rapture as pre-, mid- or post-tribulation. Paul's purpose for giving this teaching was not to promote arguments but to encourage the saints. Thus Paul writes… But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we (Note Paul includes himself, Silvanus and Timothy [2Th 1:1], which clearly indicates they were living with the sense that the Rapture might occur at any time in his lifetime) who are alive, and remain until the coming (parousia) of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo = describes a snatching up which is quick, forceful and sudden) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort (present imperative = charge to do this continually - who have you encouraged recently with the truth of the Rapture) one another with these words. (1Th 4:13-18) Our - Just as in 1Th 4:13-18 (where he used "we" - see above), Paul's use of the possessive pronoun "our" indicates his (and fro 2Th 1:1 "our" also includes Silvanus and Timothy, as well as all believers) anticipation of personal participation in this glorious event. THE GATHERING TOGETHER: THE RAPTURE Gathering together (1997)(episunagoge from epi = upon + sunago = to bring together, come together) means to cause to come together to, toward, or at a particular location. The prefix epi implies motion toward, which is significant when referring to our gathering together to Jesus! Paul is summarizing the Rapture discussed in 1Th 4:17-note! The only other NT use of episunagoge is in Heb 10:25 describing "assembling together" in a local body of believers. Compare gathering together of believers in Acts 20:7. Hiebert notes that "These (local) assemblies are a precious foretaste and anticipation of that future assembling of the saints "to Him" when our Lord will be present, not as now by His Spirit only, but in the visible glory of His person." (Ibid) Vine comments that in 2Th 2:1 episunagoge "refers to the rapture of the saints into the air to meet and to be forever with the Lord, see 1 Thessalonians 4:17." Our Lord Jesus Christ - The Lord of the saints at Thessalonica and the Lord of Paul, Silvanus, Timothy. (1Th 1:1). Our speaks of "personal possession." Note that "our" also describes the gathering together - believers possess this as their "personal hope." Lord Jesus Christ is used 63x in the NT with 9 uses in this relatively short epistle. Notice that the majority of uses of this full title are by the apostle Paul. (Acts 11:17; 15:26; 20:21; 28:31; Ro 1:7; 5:1, 11; 13:14; 15:6, 30; 16:24; 1 Co. 1:2f, 7f, 10; 6:11; 8:6; 15:57; 2 Co. 1:2f; 8:9; 13:14; Gal. 1:3; 6:14, 18; Eph. 1:2f, 17; 5:20; 6:23f; Phil. 1:2; 3:20; 4:23; Col. 1:3; 1Th. 1:1, 3; 5:9, 23, 28; 2Th. 1:1, 2, 12; 2:1, 14, 16; 3:6, 12, 18; 1Ti 6:3, 14; Philemon 1:3, 25; Jas. 1:1; 2:1; 1 Pet. 1:3; 2Pet 1:8, 14, 16; Jude 1:4, 17, 21) Henry