5-26-21 Today in the Word

LAWLESSNESS OVERTHROWN In 1997, musician and author Michael Card released an entire album on the Book of Revelation. Titled Unveiled Hope, the album includes songs such as “To the Overcomers,” “The Song of the Lamb,” and “The New Jerusalem.” Its main purpose is to celebrate the completion of God’s plan of redemption and Christ’s final victory. Paul didn’t keep the Thessalonians in suspense about what would happen next during the Day of the Lord. The days of the man of lawlessness were numbered—Christ would easily conquer him (v. 8)! The apostle also reminded them of his teaching on these matters during the short time he’d been with them in person (v. 5). This added an authentic touch to the letter, for no one else would have been able to make that claim. If the man of lawlessness hasn’t yet arrived, why not? Something or someone is restraining evil and holding back his coming (vv. 6–7). There are various theories about this, but most likely Paul meant the Holy Spirit. The “secret power of lawlessness” or sin is already at work in the world, but the Spirit holds it in check. It’s “secret” only in the sense that the source and extent of its power (Satan) has not yet been fully revealed. At the proper time in God’s plan, the Spirit will be “taken out of the way.” This seems to be another indication of the Rapture, since believers’ exit would be a good time for the Spirit’s exit as well. Then the “lawless one” will step forward and gain prominence through “all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie” (vv. 9–12). Unbelievers who have rejected the truth of the gospel will be ripe for his deceptive plucking. Those who delight in wickedness will fully earn their condemnation! >>Eschatology, or the doctrine of the last things, can be difficult to understand. If you pursue additional study of the Bible’s teaching on the end times, we recommend the commentary on 1 and 2 Thessalonians by John Walvoord and Mark Hitchcock. PRAY WITH US Dear God, you make us lovers of truth. Cultivate our thirst for your Word and heighten our sensitivity to your voice so we can discern between truth and lies. We are weak, but you are strong.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9-18-23 Rage Against Jesus And His People — The Ominous Trend Of 2022

Rage Against Jesus And His People — The Ominous Trend Of 2022 – By Hal Lindsey - https://harbingersdaily.com/rage-against-jesus-and-his-people-the-ominous-trend-of-2022/ By the end of 2022, eight billion people lived on the earth. They were besieged by a series of plagues, droughts, false prophets, war, the threat of greater war, hatred, rage, theft, and violence. The eight billion were fragmented in a variety of ways — according to their nations, level of income, race, gender, various understandings of gender and human sexuality, along with religion or the lack thereof. Change became overwhelming to most of the eight billion. For those over 40, it was almost unfathomable that by the end of 2022, not even half the students at Cambridge University identified as heterosexual. In 2022, deception ruled the day. Trust in government, educational institutions, and the news media had been largely obliterated. Trust in health officials and doctors had become severely damaged. In suc
Read more

9-17-23 Now It Is Obvious Why

Now It Is Obvious Why :: By Dennis Huebshman Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles Once again, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “But understand this, that in the last days, there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (ESV – all emphasis mine) Going from cover to cover in the Bible, we see many countries mentioned as being in the end-time activities. However, the once most powerful nation on earth, America, is not specifically mentioned. One would think that this country would be listed because of all it has accomplished up to now. The possibility here could be found in Genesis 12:3; “I will bless those wh
Read more

9-16-23 Little-Known Prophecies of Christmas, Pt 3: Genesis 17:19

Little-Known Prophecies of Christmas, Pt 3: Genesis 17:19 :: By Paul J. Scharf Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles The Messiah was a descendant of Abraham. More than that, we considered last time how He was, in fact, promised within the covenant that God made with Abram (Gen. 12:1-3). According to the Apostle Paul in Gal. 3:16 and 19, He is the ultimate recipient of that covenant! Our Savior Jesus Christ is finally the One through whom “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). Paul also quoted and discussed that portion of the covenant in Gal. 3:8-9. We ended last time with the realization that the promised Messiah would be the final Davidic king over Israel. As declared then, however, there are several intermediate steps, with accompanying prophecies, which are given between the times of Abraham and David and speak about His coming and the offices He would hold as the greatest prophet, priest, and king. And there are also more ance
Read more