TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Millions of people were in Atlanta last summer to ""go for the gold""-- not only athletes competing for medals, but also advertisers and others hoping to cash in on the Olympics. Everyone wants to be a winner!

According to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, bronze medal winners are generally happier with their prizes than are silver medalists. Why? Bronze medalists are thrilled to win a medal at all, while silver medalists can't stop thinking about how close they came to gold.

When it comes to running the Christian race, we are to ""go for the gold"" too (see 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Heb. 12:1-2). And there's no need to settle for second- or third-best, because God wants every believer to win a prize.

That's the spirit behind the prayer Paul offered for the Thessalonians after learning that they were running a good race for Christ. He makes three specific petitions, beginning with his desire that God would remove whatever obstacles Satan had put in Paul's way to keep him from returning to Thessalonica (v. 11; see 2:18).

Then he prays that the love of these believers for one another would grow, and then overflow to the world (v. 12). This is always the direction in which our love is to flow. Love for one another is the ""signature"" of Jesus' disciples (John 13:34-35). If we cannot love our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, we have nothing to export to the world.

The apostle's third request is found in verse 13. He wanted the Thessalonians to be found blameless and holy at the return of Jesus Christ. Here is a theme that will become dominant in the final two chapters of this book and that will carry over into 2 Thessalonians as well.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
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TODAY IN THE WORD

The father of Louisa May Alcott was prone to impractical investments, keeping the family in poverty. So Louisa, the author of Little Women, wrote several Gothic novels under a pen name to help with the family finances.

One of these, a dark tale entitled A Long Fatal Love Chase, was rejected in 1866 and lay unpublished for over a century. Then an Alcott collector found it and took it to a publisher, who released it last year and watched the book become a bestseller.

Perhaps Alcott's novel was rejected because it did not carry her name. More likely, the book's content was out of character for an author known as ""the children's friend.""

The Thessalonians had no such problem recognizing Paul's name or character in the letters he wrote them. He identified himself clearly and even signed 2 Thessalonians with his own hand (3:17). He also made reference to what he had taught them when he planted the church (1 Thess. 4:1-2).

Today's text signals a major change in the direction of Paul's thought. Up to this point he has spent the letter looking back, but from here on he focuses on the present and future. The teaching Paul is about to give is God's will for believers, leading to our sanctification (v. 3).

Simply stated, sanctification is the process of becoming more like Jesus Christ. The word itself means ""to be set apart, to be holy."" And if that sounds like something only a rare few achieve, consider that the writer of Hebrews says ""without holiness no one will see the Lord"" (Heb. 12:14).

So if our sanctification is what pleases God and reflects His will, we need to sit up and pay attention! That's what Paul wanted his readers to do. This entire passage is framed in solemn exhortation and warning (1 Thess. 4:.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Remember the old fire drills in elementary school? We knew there was no real fire, so we felt perfectly safe as we lined up and followed our teacher to the prearranged exit.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Famed educator Booker T. Washington recalled the ""entrance exam"" that earned him a place at the Hampton Institute in Virginia as a young man.

The head teacher ordered Washington to take a broom and sweep the classroom. Because he knew this was his chance, he swept the room three times and dusted the furniture four times. When the teacher returned, she inspected the floor closely and ran her handkerchief over the woodwork. Unable to find a speck of dust anywhere, she said, ""I guess you will do to enter this institution."" Washington later said that this was the turning point of his life.

The annals of achievement are filled with the names of people such as Booker T. Washington, men and women who never shied away from hard work. Too bad the Thessalonian church didn't have one of their biographies to read!

As much as Paul loved and commended these believers, a group of people in the church had apparently decided that work was not for them. How can the existence of this group of idlers be explained? Perhaps work was scarce in the city. It's also possible that given the Thessalonians' lack of understanding about the return of Christ, these people had decided to stop working and just wait for Jesus to return.

The first explanation is unlikely, since Paul says the problem was their unwillingness to work (2 Thess. 3:10), not their inability to work. If the refusal to carry their share of the load was because of misguided beliefs about Christ's return, the idlers needed stern correction. Why? Because they were not acting in love toward their fellow believers (1 Thess. 4:9-10). Living as parasites off others in the body of Christ is the opposite of self-giving agape love.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

We are told that the ancient Greeks sniffed at ordinary labor, disdaining it in favor of higher pursuits.

But work is God's idea. He worked and commanded man to work. As a youth in Nazareth, Jesus dignified labor by working alongside Joseph. Has God given you the capacity and ability to work for your living? You can do two simple things right now to express your gratitude.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Facing death due to terminal cancer, pastor Dr. Donald C. Wilson wrote in his book, Terminal Candor:

""It is facing our dying that improves the quality of our living…I am finding that there are some real rewards in facing death before it takes place… When we are moving at a walk, hand can reach out and touch hand, fears can be shared, burdens can be lifted. Like the Psalmist we may find that, never more so than in the valley of dying, we are in the presence of God.""

Wilson had hope because he believed that death was not the end. Had he not by faith known this comforting truth, facing cancer would have been far more frightening and final. That's the situation the Thessa-lonians found themselves in. They didn't understand the doctrines surrounding Christ's return, and were grieving for deceased loved ones whom they thought were gone forever.

With today's reading we begin another major section of Paul's letter, one which will carry us nearly to the end of the book. The subject is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, beginning with the event we call the ""Rapture,"" a term taken from the Latin translation of the phrase ""caught up"" (v. 17).

Notice that Paul does not scold the church for its mistaken fear that departed friends and family members were gone forever. Grief is normal in the face of great loss; but the Christian grieves in a way different from others, ""who have no hope"" (v. 13).

The difference is hope and the source of which is Jesus Christ (v. 14). Paul taught the Thessalonians the truth of Christ's resurrection, an essential part of the gospel (1 Cor. 15:4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

The lack of knowledge these early Christians displayed toward some basic truths of the faith is understandable. They didn't have a Bible to open and read, as we do.

We have an incredible advantage over them, don't we? We have the ""whole counsel"" of God conveniently bound into a single volume. The only credible response to the precious treasure of God's Word is to soak our minds and hearts in His truth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Few things are more annoying than guests who overstay their visit--especially when other guests are waiting for their rooms. This is a problem many first-class hotels in America's major cities face when demand for rooms is high, and it's getting worse. The problem may be unavoidable when a guest's business causes a longer stay than expected. But many people deliberately stay longer than they say they will, knowing the hotel will probably do little about it.

Overstaying our ""visit"" on this earth will not be a problem for us as Christians. The Lord Himself will return for His church--and not one minute too late. Those who have died ""in Christ"" will be raised, and we will all meet our Lord and be with Him forever.

That's the basic outline of the Rapture, the glorious event that will precede the Great Tribulation and usher in a period called ""the day of the Lord"" (see 5:2). Paul intended this revelation to be a comfort and an encouragement to the Thessalonians (4:18), who were grieving over deceased loved ones they thought they would never see again.

But Paul was doing more than passing along encouraging information. His use of ""we"" (v. 17) shows that Paul fully expected Jesus Christ to return in his own lifetime. The fact that this did not happen does not diminish our faith in the certainty of Christ's coming. Nor should it lessen our anticipation of His imminent, or soon, coming. The ""loud command"" and the ""trumpet call"" could come today!

We can imagine the comfort and new hope the people at Thessalonica found as they read today's text for the first time. Our comfort should be even greater because we have the full revelation of God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Compare verse 18 of today's text with 1 Corinthians 15:58 and you'll see what the hope of Christ's return can mean to you today.

First, it can be a great comfort to you. If death is not an enemy to be feared (note 1 Cor. 15:54-56), nothing should be able to shake your hope and peace of mind today. Someone has said, ""I've read the last chapter of God's Book, and we win!""

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Toward the end of his life, British novelist H.G. Wells grew despairing about the fate of the human race. One evening at dinner, Wells laid out his picture of the future. Mankind had failed because evolution had failed to produce in us the right kind of brain. Therefore, Wells claimed, we will destroy ourselves, die out as a species, and revert to the mud and slime from which we arose. ""And we shall deserve our fate,"" he said, adding that the human race had only ""one thousand years more"" to survive.

What a sad and distorted picture of reality when compared to the truth of Scripture! The humblest believer in ancient Thessalonica knew far more about eschatology--the doctrine of ""last things""--than H.G. Wells and those like him ""know"" about the future of humanity.

Paul said he had already taught the church there about ""the day of the Lord"" (v. 2). This term covers a long period of time, from the Rapture through the Tribulation and on into Christ's millennial kingdom.

Notice the descriptive terms Paul uses to describe what Christ's coming will be like for the unbelieving world. It will be as sudden and as frightening as a thief bursting into a house in the middle of the night, and as agonizing and inevitable as the labor pains of a pregnant woman delivering her child (vv. 2-3). Paul chose his words carefully under the direction of the Holy Spirit, because Christ's return will mean destruction for those who have rejected Him.

One reason Christ's return will be so devastating is that it will come at a time when world peace has seemingly been achieved. Verse 3 refers to the seven-year treaty the Antichrist will sign with Israel (Dan. 9:27). He will break his covenant in the middle of this period, unleashing the horrible judgments of the Great Tribulation.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

We are just beginning this section that talks about the end-time judgments that await those who don't know Christ. Second Thessalonians chapter 2 will add to the picture.

Facing God's wrath against sin is a future no believer would wish on anyone. Back on November 8, we encouraged you to pray for a friend or a family member who needs Christ. Have you seen God work in that person's heart since then?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8
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TODAY IN THE WORD

On the night of April 8, 1871, evangelist D.L. Moody preached to his largest Chicago audience ever on the topic, ""What then shall I do with Jesus?"" At the end of his sermon, Moody urged everyone present to return in one week with a response--to follow Jesus Christ or not.

But as the audience left the meeting hall, fire bells were ringing throughout the city. The Great Chicago Fire had begun, the hall was destroyed, and the following week there was no meeting.

For the rest of his life, Moody regretted not having given an invitation to receive Christ that very night. Some of the people in his audience died in the Fire, and that night may have been their last chance.

Chicago and Moody were caught off guard by the fire. Christ's Second Coming will also be unexpected, but Scripture is full of warnings for us to be watchful and to live holy lives (see 1 Tim. 4:7).

In today's reading, Paul's metaphor is a good one to contrast those who are ready for Christ's return with those who are not. As we noted yesterday, this was one area in which the Thessalonian church had already received instruction, meaning there was no reason for them to be caught off guard.

This passage overflows with contrasts. Paul sets light against darkness and day against night as symbols of spiritual realities. He also draws a contrast between two types of people. Nothing could be more opposite than a drunk staggering through the darkness, unaware of his surroundings and unprepared for anything, and a soldier on alert, fully awake and armed for battle. Paul's brief reference to the armor of God reminds us of its classic statement in Ephesians 6:10-18.

In this text, Paul links the armor to his favorite trio of godly virtues: faith, love and hope (1 Thess 5:8; see also 1:3). With these things in place, the Thessalonians would be alert and self-controlled, well-prepared for Christ's return.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

We have been hitting some very timely and sobering texts on Sundays this month, and today's text follows that pattern.

We need to remember that Paul was writing to the church at Thessalonica, not just to a group of individual Christ-ians. The church is commended for faithfully teaching God's Word and helping believers stay alert.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
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TODAY IN THE WORD

While on a special inspection mission for the government during World War II, former flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker and his crew were forced to ditch their plane in the Pacific Ocean. Rickenbacker and seven others floated on rubber rafts for twenty-four days before being rescued.

He later recalled how they endured their ordeal: ""Each man found salvation and strength in prayer, and a community of feeling developed which created a liveliness of human fellowship and worship, and a sense of gentle peace.""

That's a good picture of how Paul wanted the church at Thessalonica to survive and thrive in the midst of a harsh, alien environment. The church isn't supposed to pull away from the world and hide within its own walls. But in a world that the Bible says is like a troubled, restless sea, God's people are to be an island of peace.

Paul prayed for the Thessalonians' peace in his salutation to this letter (1:1-2). But their peace had been shaken by concern over their departed loved ones. So Paul comforted them with the truth of the Rapture, urging them to remind one another often of this encouraging reality.

That discussion has led to further teaching on the end times here in chapter 5. We've seen that Christ's return and the events that will follow are not at all good news for unbelievers. What should Christians do and how should we feel about the prospect of God's judgment falling on earth?

What we should do is be sober and alert, watching for the Lord's return and listening for ""the trumpet call of God"" (4:16). What we should feel is peace of heart, not fearing God's wrath because we have a different ""appointment"" awaiting us--full and final salvation (5:9)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Mondays often make us feel anything but peaceful. So why not do something about these feelings before the waves hit?

Go over your schedule for the week, writing down the things ahead that are most likely to disturb your peace--anything from a difficult corporate decision to a teething baby.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15
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TODAY IN THE WORD

As his UCLA football team suffered through a poor season in the early 1970s, head coach Pepper Rodgers came under intense criticism and pressure from alumni and fans. Things got so bad, he remembers with a smile, that friends became hard to find. ""My dog was my only true friend,"" Rodgers says of that year. ""I told my wife that every man needs at least two good friends--and she bought me another dog.""

They say it's lonely at the top, especially when things go poorly.On occasion the church has been compared to an athletic team of which the pastor is the head coach, but Pepper Rodgers's experience demonstrates how unlike these two worlds really are, for example, in the area of leadership.

Coaches are paid to win. If they don't win, they are fair game for every critic in town. The church sometimes takes that attitude toward its leaders, but the focus should be instead on living in peace together. Why? Because God has put us in union with one another.

Given that emphasis, why should we honor our spiritual leaders? ""Because of their work"" (v. 13), not because they think like us or do things the way we would do them. There's always room for discussion and disagreement, but God's people violate the command of today's verse when they create needless turmoil in the church.

Paul deliberately emphasizes the hard work of the ministry. In the light of what we know of the idlers in Thessalonica, Paul's admonition was no doubt a prod to those who wanted to sit by and watch others carry the load.

Idlers need to be warned (v. 14). But they are only one group in the body that needs special attention. Timid believers are easily discouraged and frightened. Their need for encouragement is obvious. The weak, those not strong enough to stand on their own, need a helping hand.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Being patient with others is hard when someone else's faults and shortcomings become the focus of our attention.

Is there someone close to you who has a habit or trait that rubs you the wrong way? Rather than yielding to impatience or to the temptation to write that person off, step back today and take a fresh look at the situation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Our five senses give us some astonishing capabilities. We can see a candle's flame 30 miles away on a dark, clear night, and smell a single drop of perfume diffused in a three-room apartment. We can taste .04 ounce of table salt in 530 quarts of water. Our sense of touch can detect a pressure that depresses the skin .00004 inch on the face or fingertips. And we can tell where a sound is coming from even when it arrives at one ear just .0003 second before its arrival at the other ear.

If our bodies are that sensitive, how sensitive should our spirits be? According to Paul, sensitive enough to be in unbroken communion with the Holy Spirit.

That's the key to these exhortations with which the apostle closed his first letter to the Thessalonians. The need for a spirit sensitized by the Holy Spirit is obvious in the rapid-fire commands Paul delivers (vv. 16-18). These verses are easy to quote, but not easy to obey.

What makes these commands difficult? The Spirit can give us joyful, prayerful and thankful hearts; but too often our attitudes are situation-driven, making us vulnerable to constantly shifting circumstances. But when our joy is in Christ, it's untouchable. When we realize that prayer is as much a state of heart as it is words, we see how we can be in constant communion with the Lord. And we can give thanks in any situation because we know God is at work to bring good from it (Rom. 8:28).

Verses 19-22 are aimed at our life as a body in the church. Prophetic utterances in which the speaker delivered direct revelation from God were crucial for the early church, which did not have the full revelation of God. To disregard them out of hand was to douse the Spirit's fire.

Paul's prayer (vv. 23-24) pulls together the major themes of the letter. His concern for the faithfulness of his readers is reflected in a prayer for their sanctification. And he voices his desire that they be ready for Christ's return.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

In addition to not putting out the Holy Spirit's fire, we are told not to grieve the Spirit by our words (Eph. 4:30).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4
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TODAY IN THE WORD

The 1961 baseball season wound down with the San Francisco Giants in a fight for the National League pennant. When the team hit the road holding a slim lead, the mayor of San Francisco sent a wire expressing the city's support of and pride in the Giants. But the team proceeded to blow that lead--and ultimately, the pennant--prompting a second message from the mayor's office: ""Disregard previous wire.""

You won't find any such message in Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians. There was no need for it. The youthful church in this great Gentile city was a model of faith, love and hope.

Why did Paul pen another letter to this church? Second Thessalonians itself contains all the clues we need to answer that question. This letter probably followed its predecessor by just a few months, prompted by a further report that Paul had heard concerning events in Thessalonica.

His main goal in writing was to correct misinformation which the church had received about Christ's coming and the events that will precede it. He also needed to deal more sternly with the idlers in the church, since the warning in his first letter (see 1 Thess. 5:14) apparently hadn't solved the problem.

This salutation has a familiar ring, echoing Paul's greeting in his previous epistle. He praises God once again for the Thessalonians' sterling testimony in spite of persecutions and trials (vv. 3-4).

We have mentioned several times this month the Thessalonians' faith, love and hope. With regard to characterizing this church, these seem to be Paul's virtues of choice. Earlier, he had noted the good results these traits produced in the believers (1 Thess. 1:3). In verse 3 of today's text, he rejoices in the growth of their faith and love. But where is their hope?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

The growth of the Thessalonians' love shows that Paul's prayer (1 Thess. 4:10) was being abundantly answered.

Is your love for other believers still growing? One place where we need to be growing in love is in our own homes. Sometimes it's harder to respond in love to family members than it is to outsiders.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Napoleon III, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte and emperor of France from 1852-70, suffered debilitating pain from bladder stones. The pain was so intense that Napoleon was once observed holding his arm over the flame of a candle in a desperate attempt to find relief through a change in the source of pain.

Most of us would agree that's rather desperate. No one in his right mind enjoys pain. Every instinct and impulse in our bodies tells us to avoid pain. Our spirits also shrink back from suffering, and, when possible, it becomes very tempting for us to take the path of retreat or avoidance.

That's what Paul had feared his young converts in Thessalonica would do when the fires of persecution and suffering heated up (see 1 Thess. 3:1-5). But Timothy brought back a good report about the godly perseverance of the church there.

To suffer unjustly for doing good and trying to be faithful to Christ doesn't seem fair. The Thessalonians were learning one of the paradoxes of the Christian faith. On the surface, everything seemed to be upside down. The good guys were on the receiving end of the pain, while the bad guys seemed to be trouble-free.

But beneath surface appearances--on God's scales--the reality was much different. Paul wanted the Thessalonians to know that their trials were not a punishment or evidence that God had lost control of events. Instead, their sufferings were preparing them to share Christ's glory in His coming kingdom (2 Thess. 1:5).

But for their persecutors, the day would come when God would move against them in terrible judgment (vv. 6-9). Verse 7 can only refer to Christ's Second Coming, His apocalypse or unveiling (the word translated ""revealed""). This is not the Rapture. No judgments are associated with that event. Here, Jesus comes in ""blazing fire"" (cf. Rev. 19:12)--this refers to His burning, all-consuming presence.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

It's comforting to know that God will give relief to His people on that day when He says ""enough"" to our trials. But in the meantime, we're still in the process of being ""counted worthy"" of Christ's kingdom--that means trials and tests of many kinds lie ahead.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
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TODAY IN THE WORD

Dr. William Culbertson, the fifth president of Moody Bible Institute, wrote: ""Discipleship means, first, truly living. It does not mean a joy ride to heaven; it does not mean that there are no trials and no burdens. But it does mean peace in your soul and joy in your heart, and a sense, a supreme sense, of the smile of the Lord upon you. It is living.""

Dr. Culbertson's insight captures the spirit and force behind Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians. Despite the unspecified persecutions they were enduring, God's will for them was not to retreat or pull back. His will was that they move out and live for His glory!

Studying Paul's prayers in his letters is always an eye-opening exercise. He cut through trivialities, straight to the heart of what God wants from His people. For the church at Thessalonica, this included living in such a way as to be counted worthy of the kingdom of God (v. 11; see also v. 5).

A key point here is that Paul did not say ""made worthy."" Bearing up under trials does not earn us a place in heaven. Instead, our faithfulness shows that God's grace is at work in us to make our calling evident. That's the idea behind the word ""count."" The active ingredient is God's grace, not our good works or inherent goodness.

The Thessalonians had everything they needed to live for the glory of Jesus Christ in spite of hardships and persecution. They had the power of God at their disposal--not so they could ""name and claim"" whatever they wanted, but so they could fulfill God's good purposes and plans in their lives.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

God isn't interested in helping people build kingdoms for and heap glory on themselves. But for those who are seeking His kingdom and glory, we could say not the sky, but heaven, is the limit! The best way to experience God's abundant power is to attempt something for Him that is beyond one's human abilities.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5
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TODAY IN THE WORD

If you think the biggest problem people will have to deal with in the year 2000 is writing the correct date on their checks, think again. The approach of a new millennium is causing worry in the high-tech world. Since most computers are programmed to deal only with two-digit dates, the ""00"" in 2000 threatens to wreak havoc with computer systems the world over. The thought of a ""millennium disaster"" is so alarming that even rival companies are cooperating on a solution.

Sounds a bit like the panic in ancient Thessalonica. The new believers there had been told a spiritual disaster was not only imminent, but had already happened. Someone was telling them that Christ had already come and that they had been left behind to experience the fearful judgments of the Tribulation.

This was part of the news that Paul received concerning the Thessalonian church. In response, he wrote for two reasons: first, because his spiritual children were being seriously misled; and second, because he was being ""credited"" with the false report.

We can almost see the Thessalonians pulling out their copy of Paul's first letter, reading his encouragement and instruction again (1 Thess. 4:13-5:11) and asking themselves, ""Did we miss out on Christ's return?""

Paul's answer: ""No, you didn't."" When Christ comes, He will gather His people to Himself like a farmer harvesting his crops (2 Thess 2:1). Since the Thessalonians had not been gathered, Christ had not come.

In other words, they had no reason for alarm. The day of the Lord will be preceded by a rebellion and a revelation (v. 3). The rebellion is the apostasy, the great falling away or departure from the faith. The revelation is the identity of the ""man of lawlessness""--the Antichrist, whose identity will be made public in the Tribulation when he seizes world power and demands to be worshiped as God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

The verses we will be studying this week may not be classic Thanksgiv-ing texts; but they contain many reasons to be thankful, as we will see over the next four days.

Today's reason is found in verses 1-2. When Christ returns, He will gather us to Himself to be with Him forever (cf. John 14:1-3)!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12
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TODAY IN THE WORD

A secret and deadly power lies hidden beneath the ground of Belgium's Flanders fields, one of the bloodiest battlefields of World War I.

Unexploded artillery shells are surfacing there more than 80 years after they were fired. Still unexploded, many are capable of killing. Some 3ꯠ shells are unearthed each year by farmers and construction workers, while others simply work their way up through the soil. The problem is immense: dozens of full-time workers cannot keep up with it. Even worse, thousands of these projectiles contain poison gas.

The Bible says there is another secret power at work in our world, one far more deadly than the most potent explosive ever devised. Paul calls it ""the secret power of lawlessness"" that will produce ""the lawless one"" (vv. 6, .

The apostle was still calming the Thessalonians concerning the future when he turned to the subject of today's reading. If his readers were fearful that the day of the Lord had already come, they need not have been. This day of God's judgment would not come until the great apostasy had occurred (v. 3) and the restrainer removed (v. 7).

Several attempts have been made to identify the restrainer. The best understanding seems to be that Paul is referring to the Holy Spirit, particularly as He indwells the church. Even though the Thessalonians were young in the faith and still had much to learn, Paul says that they knew the identity of the restrainer and that therefore he didn't need to record His identity (v. 6)!

As we have seen, the lawless one is the Antichrist, whose destruction at the return of Christ will be swift and certain (v. . No one else fits this description of a man energized by Satan and capable of great wonders.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY

If you read today's text and breathed a prayer of gratitude that the church will be raptured before the Antichrist is revealed, you have another reason to be thankful.

Those who perish in God's judgment are those who willfully reject His truth and allow themselves to be deceived. God's truth is a treasure beyond comparison. We can be very grateful that God has given us His Word and opened our hearts and minds to its truth.