As noted last week, Christians have a tendency to isolate portions of scripture without reading the entire letter in context. When we do this we lose some of the perspective that the writer was giving to his audience. Paul wrote his second letter to the Thessalonian church around 50 AD from Athens. Paul commends their growing faith, and then goes into another long summation of their persecutors and abusers. From 1 Thessalonians we know that it was their own countrymen and the Jews that were persecuting them. The persecutors have flames of fire in their future. Paul then goes on to explain the far future events of the tribulation and the Day of the Lord. In this letter he already acknowledges that the church is now the “above congregation” so that Paul is now hammering out the prophecies of the son of perdition or son of destruction. He again mentions that we should be thankful because the Elohim takes us up, away off the earth first, as the first fruits, before all the antics of the son of perdition take place. Many people segregate chapter 2, eliminating the first verse and the thirteenth and fourteenth verse and promote the horrible time that we all have to live through. But by avoiding the bookends of the near context in chapter 2 we distort the actual logos. Also, by avoiding the far context, people pretend that the entire church is going to be punished along with the unrighteous. Yet putting it all back into one letter we see a very different picture. Paul addresses the people who were walking disorderly, that we should counsel them as brothers but also not hang around with them. Anyone distorting the logos should be noted and avoided. Let’e explore.
2 Thessalonians 1:1 G* Paul, G2532 and G* Silas, G2532 and G* Timothy, G3588 to the G1577 assembly G* of Thessalonians, G1722 in G2316 God G3962 our father G1473 G2532 and G2962 the Lord G* Jesus G5547 Christ.
2 G5484 Favor G1473 to you, G2532 and G1515 peace G575 from G2316 God G3962 our father, G1473 G2532 and G2962 the Lord G* Jesus G5547 Christ.
Paul’s next sentence is eight verses long. Paul is blessed that their belief is growing and that they are super-abounding in love towards each other. So much so that Paul boasts to the other churches regarding how they endure persecution and their trust in all persecution and afflictions that they endure, proof of the righteous judgment of God in considering them worthy of the kingdom of God which they suffer. The sentence continues.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 G2168 [2to give thanks G3784 1We ought] G3588 to G2316 God G3842 at all times G4012 concerning G1473 you, G80 brethren, G2531 as G514 it is worthy, G1510.2.3 G3754 that G5232 [2is caused to grow exceedingly G3588 G4102 1your belief], G1473 G2532 and G4121 [7 is superabundant G3588 1the G26 2love G1520 4one G1538 3of each G3956 5of all G1473 6of you] G1519 to G240 one another;
4 G5620 so as G1473 for us G1473 ourselves G1722 [2in G1473 3you G2744 1to boast] G1722 in G3588 the G1577 assemblies G3588 G2316 of God G5228 over G3588 G5281 your endurance G1473 G2532 and G4102 belief G1722 in G3956 all G3588 G1375 your persecutions G1473 G2532 and G3588 the G2347 afflictions G3739 which G430 you endure;
5 G1730 a demonstration G3588 of the G1342 righteous G2920 judgment G3588 G2316 of God, G1519 in G3588 the G2661 deeming you worthy G1473 G3588 of the G932 kingdom G3588 G2316 of God, G5228 for G3739 of which G2532 also G3958 you suffer;
Paul tells the Thessalonian church that the persecutions they suffer are proof that the Elohim considers them worthy of the kingdom of God. Paul is suggesting that the way one enters into the kingdom of the Elohim is to endure persecution. Wouldn’t that be a proof for an individual, showing who is really serious about loving Yahweh Jesus Messiah?
Our entire existence is a spiritual battle. The lower heavens and the earth are the battlefield. We are being assaulted because we reject Satanas who is the god of this world. The principalities and powers that Satanas has at his command fight the saints every day, just as the angel coming to Daniel was hindered for twenty-one days, Daniel 10:13. Satanas and his fallen cohorts are fighting to keep everyone out of the kingdom of God. But as Paul explained in his first letter, Yahweh will descend with a command, a war trumpet, and the archangel. This is not a polite meeting asking permission to receive certain “good people” into heaven. This is a battle, a war, a fight to take those who reject Satanas into the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. As John the Baptist was preparing for Jesus Messiah he asked the question to the religious leaders “who warned you to flee the wrath to come?” Matthew 3:7. If there is a way to escape the wrath wouldn’t Satanas make it hard for us to do so? Yet there will be a day, the Day of Redemption, when the kingdom of heaven will use force against the kingdom of Satanas.
Matthew 11:12 “But away from the day John the Baptizer until at this moment the Kingdom the Heaven uses force and one who uses force harpazo them”.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2021/10/jesus-teaches-harpazo-snatched-into.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2023/08/jesus-harpazos-johns-multitudes-violent.html
Jesus is going to use force to take us up, he will command the dead in Christ first and then the living in Christ will join them in the air. This is why some translations of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 render the harpazo as “a kidnapping”. We are being kidnapped from our oppressor. We are being rescued.
We are persecuted as a church for sharing the gospel by people who reject Jesus Messiah because they are working for Satanas. We are going to be persecuted in every which way available. Yet Yahweh Jesus Messiah will use force to rescue us, paralyzing the power of Drakōn and Satanas and allowing us to be seized or kidnapped away from our abusers. This is why we are abused and persecuted now.
2 Thessalonians 1:6 G1512 if indeed G1342 it be righteous G3844 by G2316 God G467 to recompense G3588 the ones G2346 afflicting G1473 you G2347 with affliction;
Just as Paul said in his first letter, the people persecuting the Thessalonian church were going to go through the wrath. The persecutors will be persecuted. Paul continues his sentence suggesting that the church relax in the revelation of Yahweh Jesus from heaven with angels of power.
2 Thessalonians 1:7 G2532 and G1473 to you G3588 the ones G2346 being afflicted, G425 a relaxation G3326 with G1473 us, G1722 in G3588 the G602 revelation G3588 of the G2962 Lord G* Jesus G575 from G3772 heaven, G3326 with G32 angels G1411 of his power, G1473
8 G1722 in G4442 fire G5395 of flame, G1325 giving G1557 punishment G3588 to the ones G3361 not G1492 knowing G2316 God, G2532 and G3588 to the ones G3361 not G5219 obeying G3588 the G2098 good news G3588 G2962 of our Lord G1473 G* Jesus G5547 Christ;
Paul sums up, in this part of his sentence, the entire future of the persecutors of the church. Remember that in his first letter Paul identified their countrymen and the Jews as the ones persecuting the Thessalonian church. These persecutors are rejecting the gospel of Yahweh Jesus Messiah. What is the gospel? That Jesus died on the cross and took all of our sins so that we would have remission of sins by his sinless blood. Jesus is the lamb of the Elohim who was a sacrifice for us. The persecutors do not know the Elohim and they do not obey the gospel of Yahweh Jesus Messiah, that by confession with their mouth of Jesus as Yahweh and belief in their heart that the Elohim rose Jesus up on the third day, they would receive salvation.
How do we relax in this? Anesis means “relaxation, relief, or rest”. We rest in the knowledge that even though we are persecuted all the time, the abusers will be persecuted far worse than anything they can inflict on us. What is the worst they can do? Murder us as they did Jesus Messiah? That simply sends us right to Yahweh Elohim, but when they die, even if they are surrounded by riches and earthly wealth, they suffer forever, eternal death.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 G3748 ones who G1349 with punishment G5099 shall pay, G3639 [2ruin G166 1eternal] G575 from G4383 the face G3588 of the G2962 Lord, G2532 and G575 from G3588 the G1391 glory G3588 G2479 of his strength; G1473
10 G3752 whenever G2064 he should come G1740 to be glorified G1722 among G3588 G39 his holy ones, G1473 G2532 and G2296 to be marveled at G1722 by G3956 all G3588 the ones G4100 having believed G3754 (because G4100 [4was believed G3588 G3142 1our testimony G1473 G1909 2to G1473 3you]) G1722 in G3588 G2250 that day. G1565
These persecutors of the church will receive “eternal death”. The word olethros means “ruin, destruction, death”. The translators were trying not to be so harsh. But these persecutors will suffer eternal death away from the face of Yahweh and the splendor of his power when he comes to be glorified in his saints and be marveled or admired by the people who believed and trusted Paul’s witness.
While this is a long sentence, we see that Paul was trying to round out the ideas of not being too concerned with our own persecution as a church. Our hardships now are temporary, while our persecutors will receive death and destruction forever.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 G1519 For G3739 which G2532 also G4336 we pray G3842 at all times G4012 for G1473 you, G2443 that G1473 you G515 should be worthy G3588 of the G2821 calling G3588 G2316 of our God, G1473 G2532 and G4137 should fulfill G3956 every G2107 good-pleasure G19 of goodness, G2532 and G2041 work G4102 of belief G1722 with G1411 power,
12 G3704 so that G1740 [6should be glorified G3588 1the G3686 2name G3588 G2962 3of our Lord G1473 G* 4Jesus G5547 5Christ] G1722 in G1473 you, G2532 and G1473 you G1722 in G1473 him, G2596 according to G3588 the G5484 favor G3588 G2316 of our God G1473 G2532 and G2962 of the Lord G* Jesus G5547 Christ.
A key point here is for us to be worthy or deserving of the invitation from the Elohim. We are obligated to complete satisfactory goodness and a labor of faith and trust in miraculous power, in order that the name of Yahweh Jesus Messiah be glorified in us and us in Him, downward from heaven, on account of the Elohim and Yahweh Jesus Messiah. Are we worthy of this invitation?
Paul now goes on to give us some very important revelation regarding the harpazo and the Day of the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 G2065 And we ask G1161 G1473 you, G80 brethren, G5228 concerning G3588 the G3952 arrival G3588 G2962 of our Lord G1473 G* Jesus G5547 Christ, G2532 and G1473 our G1997 assembling together G1909 unto G1473 him,
“Ask but brothers over the coming the Yahweh our Jesus Messiah and our above gathering to him”
Paul is making a comparison here for the church. There is the event of the parousia. The parousia is Jesus’ arrival in the clouds when he comes down to the lower heavens to command our seizing, or the arrival of Jesus with his saints on the Day of the Lord. In context we define the answer as to which one. The parousia is paired with the episunagōgē, the gathering of the Christians in the above epi, assembly, sunagō. Using the word episunagōgē infers that the saints are already the “above congregation”, already in heaven. Therefore it is not his arrival for us, we are gathered. That leaves the word parousia as the idea of the Day of the Lord. Jesus’ arrival in the clouds is not necessarily seen by the people left on the earth, but the people of earth will see him on the Day of the Lord. When we read the rest of the context, Paul is talking about what takes place after the harpazo into the Day of the Lord. He says that that day, the Day of the Lord, is not upon us.
2 Thessalonians 2:2 G1519 for G3588 G3361 [2to not G5030 3quickly G4531 4be shaken G1473 1you] G575 of G3588 the G3563 mind, G3383 nor G2360 to be alarmed, G3383 neither G1223 by G4151 spirit, G3383 nor G1223 by G3056 word, G3383 nor G1223 by G1992 letter, G5613 as G1223 by G1473 us, G5613 that G3754 G1764 [5is present G3588 1the G2250 2day G3588 3of the G5547 4Christ].
“into the not quickly excite you away from the mind but not disturb and not through word and not through letter as through from us as that be upon the Day the Yahweh.
The Day of the Lord is not upon them as Paul explained in his last letter the seizing or kidnapping that takes place before the Day of the Lord. After the harpazo there will be seven years of turmoil.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 G3361 Let not G5100 any G1473 completely deceive you G1818 G2596 in G3367 not one G5158 manner! G3754 for it will not be G1437 unless G3361 G2064 [3should come G3588 1the G646 2defection] G4412 first, G2532 and G601 [4should be uncovered G3588 1the G444 2man G3588 G266 3of sin], G3588 the G5207 son G3588 G684 of destruction,
“Not anyone you deceive downwards no one turn that if not come the apostasy first and uncover the manfaced the lawless the son the destruction”.
The apostasy or divorce has to come first, before the Day of the Lord. We should note the words being used here; seizing, kidnapping, above synagogue , divorce, arrival. This is a dramatic event. It is not quiet. Apostasy is a forsaking or a defection. If I forsake the earth I abandon or leave the earth. Paul’s first and second letters address the persecutions and abuses that the church faces. He just told them in one very long sentence that the abusers will have eternal death. They will not be around when Yahweh comes to be glorified in his saints, 1:10.
Just to point out, the apostasy is not the falling away of Christian believers, which is a clever distortion by Satanas. We are awaiting the number of believers coming into the family, Romans 11:25. There is no provision to “undo” salvation. If one confesses and believes in their heart, there is no provision for erasing their salvation. Christian means “Christ-in”, there is no pulling Christ-out. There is no place in scripture that says Christ is ripped out of the Christian believer for any offense, nor is the Holy Spirit ripped out of any Christian believer for any offense. One can even blaspheme Christ without punishment. One can blaspheme the Holy Spirit and all that one receives is unforgiveness in the age to come, meaning that one will have a burden of the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit in the kingdom of God. However, an individual who does reject the Messiah after confession and belief will forfeit eternal rewards because rewards are given to the faithful overcomer, and they will forfeit placement in the kingdom. That individual will regret their mistake as they are able to see into the kingdom of heaven from the kingdom of God, as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, recline and dine with others.
Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The outer darkness is not hades, hades is hot, not dark. The outer darkness, exōteros skotos, is simply exterior shadiness, meaning the light of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are in the kingdom of heaven (which is inside the kingdom of God). But outside the kingdom of heaven, in the kingdom of God, are the shadows cast by those inside. There will be weeping and grinding of teeth, as they could have had entrance into the kingdom of heaven but chose not to. The Centurion’s faith allows him entrance into the kingdom of heaven. People will come from the east and the west, meaning places outside of Israel, to enter in, while those who should have entered did not have that much faith. Paul was happy that the faith and trust of the Thessalonians was growing. This is why we should never stop growing in faith.
So the apostasy is not a revolt from faith, but a revolt from the earth as even those with barely any faith are still saved from the wrath to come. This divorce is a welcome event for us because we believe and trust Him. In seven short years the Day of the Lord will wrap up the entire age and a new age will begin. The Day of the Lord does not happen until after the apostasy.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 G3588 the one G480 being an adversary G2532 and G5229 elevating himself G1909 above G3956 all G3004 being called G2316 god G2228 or G4574 object of worship; G5620 so as for G1473 him G1519 [2in G3588 3the G3485 4temple G3588 G2316 5of God G5613 6as G2316 7God G2523 1to sit], G584 exhibiting G1438 himself G3754 that G1510.2.3 he is G2316 God.
“The opposer/adversary and exalts over all called Elohim or object of worship as being himself into the temple the Elohim like as Elohim make to sit down showing by proof himself that is Elohim.”
Paul is now going to talk about the son of destruction in what is called a parenthetical phrase. Paul gives the inside information of the revealing of the son of destruction. First of all he is a manfaced, which sets him apart from angels or demons or any other son of the Elohim. He is uncovered which means he has been hidden until this time. Why? Because he cannot come to power until we are divorced and kidnapped from the earth as ‘greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world’, as we can and would overcome him, 1 John 4:4. This adversary or opposer exalts himself as if he is the Elohim. He sits in the temple in the holy of holies, on the mercy seat, and declares that he is god, as he did not die in the holy of holies. He will declare that he is the presence that was in the temple in ages past. Quite obviously the Holy Spirit is not dwelling in this new temple. But it might be that this son of destruction helped get the project built, just to portray himself as god.
Keeping our timing in order, first the apostasy, the divorce, and then the son of destruction is uncovered. Christians are not on the earth when the son of destruction is in power. Some people call him The Anti-Christ. He is an anti-Christ, and there are many anti-Christs, especially at this time, as everyone left on the earth after the harpazo is an anti-Christ.
In Paul’s two letters he is reminding the Thessalonian church of the things that he previously taught. He is bringing old covenant prophecies into their understanding. The correlation of Daniel 9:27 is important as someone will confirm the covenant for one week or seven years. But in the middle of the term, three and one half years, the sacrifices and drink offerings will stop. Why? Because at this point the son of perdition will sit in the holy of holies and declare himself god, and also announce that no more offerings are necessary, as he, god, is now on the earth, establishing his kingdom. This is an anti-type that is parallel to Jesus coming after the Day of the Lord and ruling and reigning from Jerusalem, establishing his millennial kingdom. Satanas can read the Bible just like we can, and unfortunately for us, he knows it better than we do. This is another abomination causing desolation. There have been five abominations and two desolations so far. The point is that when this son of destruction comes he is attempting to be like Jesus Messiah and to rule the world as Jesus Messiah will. He will try and deceive people on earth into believing in him, but he has a problem. The two witnesses who come to earth at the beginning of the tribulation will be witnessing worldwide.
What else happens at the three and one half year point in the tribulation? The two witnesses are murdered in the Sha’ar Shkhem Square. The entire world will witness this as even today there are many cameras there. This is one of the first acts that the new ‘god of the world’, the son of destruction, will perform. The people and religious leaders will be blaming the two witnesses, Enoch and Elijah (both who were seized and still have their bodies, which is why they can be murdered), for all the plagues of the scrolls and trumpets. The son of perdition will then say that there will be ‘peace and safety’. Jesus will then harpazo the 144,000 virgin males who have never lied. Then the bowl judgments, the wrath of the Father, will commence.
2 Thessalonians 2:5 G3756 Do you not G3421 remember G3754 that G2089 still G1510.6 being G4314 with G1473 you, G3778 [2these things G3004 1I said] G1473 to you?
“not remember that yet being with you this said you?”
Paul remembers the conversations that he had with them, he told them these things. Sometimes it is hard to digest all the new information.
2 Thessalonians 2:6 G2532 And G3568 now G3588 the one G2722 constraining G1492 you know, G1519 for G3588 the G601 uncovering G1473 him G1722 in G3588 G1438 his own G2540 time.
“And now at this very time the downward holding, know, into the apocalypse, he in the his self proper time.”
The downward holding is ongoing, it is something that continues. What is the downward holding? It is the suppression from heaven to earth of the rising up of the son of destruction. Because we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, the Father and Son also dwell in us, there cannot be any manfaced greater than us on the earth. We have more power and more holiness than any unbeliever. We are to know this, know the downward holding. Imagine what happens when 2.6 billion Christians depart earth all at once. Who is in charge? Who runs the electric plants and the water treatment plants, and who delivers the food from the farm to the stores? The United States alone is looking at a seventy to seventy-five percent seizing. Only twenty-five to thirty percent of the people will be left in the United States. Once those who have the indwelling of the Elohim, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are kidnapped and divorced from the earth then whoever has the most spiritual power will be in charge. That ultimate manfaced will be the son of destruction. All Satanas needs is a willing body to fill with his evil spirit.
The holding down is into the uncovering, the time when the son of destruction is uncovered. This tells us two things. One, it means that the Holy Spirit will leave the earth. Two, the Christians will leave the earth as the Comforter abides with us into the eon, John 14:16. The people left in the world are spiritually on their own. Some will willingly follow Satanas, but some will reject him. The ones rejecting Satanas will be martyred.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 G3588 For the G1063 G3466 mystery G2235 [2already G1754 3operates G3588 G458 1of lawlessness], G3440 only G3588 there is the one G2722 constraining G737 just now G2193 until G1537 [2out of G3319 3 the midst G1096 1he should be].
“for the mystery now already active the lawlessness, only the downward holding at this moment until from out of middle arise”.
The mystery of lawlessness is the intentional wanton depravity of those who knowingly reject Jesus Messiah for the benefits that Satanas offers. It is the willingness to enter Hades so that one can gain riches and power on the earth. The lawless will be misled using enticements that there will be power and positions and riches in Hades, but we know that to be untrue. Jesus has the keys. This mystery of lawlessness is active in every generation so that people willingly enter into it.
2Thessalonians 2:8 G2532 And G5119 then G601 [3shall be uncovered G3588 1the G459 2lawless one], G3739 whom G3588 the G2962 Lord G355 shall consume G3588 by the G4151 breath G3588 G4750 of his mouth, G1473 G2532 and G2673 shall render [4useless G3588 1the G2015 2grandeur G3588 G3952 3of his arrival]; G1473
“And at that time uncover the lawless (that the Lord Jesus take up the Spirit the mouth his and render useless, the epiphany the coming parousia his).”
At what time? At the time of the uncovering of the son of destruction, the uncovering of the lawless takes place also. The people left on the earth who were atheists and thought that others were as well will find out that there are many satanists religiously practicing among them. Surprise.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 G3739 whose G1510.2.3 [2is G3588 G3952 1arrival] G2596 according to G1753 the energy G3588 G4567 of Satan G1722 in G3956 every G1411 power G2532 and G4592 signs G2532 and G5059 miracles G5579 of a lie,
10 G2532 and G1722 in G3956 every G539 deception G3588 G93 of unrighteousness G1722 among G3588 the ones G622 being destroyed, G446.2 because of G3588 the G26 love G3588 of the G225 truth G3756 they received not G1209 G1519 for G3588 G4982 them to be delivered. G1473
“this is the coming downward energy the Satanas in all power and signs and wonders falsehood and in all deceit unrighteousness the destroys fully over who the love the truth not received into the save them”
This is the energy of Satanas, who receives his energy from Drakōn. Now imagine the chaos of the demonic spiritual energy on the earth. If people are offended by churches and Christians today, we might think that they will be even more so at the tyrannical demands of worship from the beast and false prophet. Satanas brings all deception to the ones left on earth who did not love the truth. This again is another key point of Paul’s, which is that those who love the truth are not appointed to wrath, but are instead seized. No one left on the earth loved the truth of Yahweh Jesus Messiah.
2 Thessalonians 2:11 G2532 And G1223 on account of G3778 this G3992 [2shall send forth G1473 3to them G3588 G2316 1God] G1753 an energy G4106 of delusion, G1519 for G3588 G4100 them to believe G1473 G3588 in the G5579 lie,
“and through this despatch He, the Elohim, energy error into the trust they the lie.”
There is a present tense and active statement here, that the Elohim dispatches an energy of error into those who trust the lie. These are people whose conscience is seared with a hot iron. This group of people will never love the truth. They enjoy the pleasures of sin and they have no intention of changing.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
The conscience is the part of the soul that makes moral decisions. When a conscience is seared it means it is branded. It is like branding a cow. The iron is heated and put onto the hide of an animal for the purpose of identifying the animal. The hide becomes scarred and is no longer sensitive to touch, cauterizing it. The searing of the conscience is the branding from sin. Sin permeates the conscience and that individual can no longer judge between righteousness and unrighteousness. The individual is cauterized from sensitivity to Yahweh Jesus Messiah. The energy of error is the continual searing of the conscience. The Elohim simply allows the searing to take place, the energy comes from the sin and the seared people trust the lie.
The righteous are sealed with the Holy Spirit, the downpayment, the seal of promise, the token of our inheritance of the purchase of our redemption, until the Day of Redemption. The unrighteous are branded as Satanas’ sealed in their sin and their belief in the lie.
2 Thessalonians 2:12 G2443 that G2919 [11should be judged G3956 1all G3588 2the ones G3361 3not G4100 4believing G3588 5in the G225 6truth G235 7but G2106 8taking pleasure G1722 9in G3588 G93 10unrighteousness].
“in order that judge all the not believe the truth but think well the unrighteous”
The entire reason for our existence is to parse out the believers who love the truth and the people who love unrighteousness. We are here to be divided and divorced. We are not here to make friends with the unrighteous but to separate from them. The seared conscience people have the energy of sins’ delusions within them and they can no longer distinguish what is true.
2Thessalonians 2:13 G1473 But we G1161 G3784 ought G2168 to give thanks G3588 G2316 to God G3842 at all times G4012 concerning G1473 you, G80 brethren G25 beloved G5259 by G2962 the Lord, G3754 that G138 [2took you up G1473 G3588 G2316 1God] G575 from G746 the beginning G1519 for G4991 deliverance G1722 in G38 sanctification G4151 of spirit, G2532 and G4102 belief G225 of truth,
14 G1519 in G3739 which G2564 he called G1473 you G1223 through G3588 G2098 our good news G1473 G1519 in G4047 procurement G1391 of the glory G3588 G2962 of our Lord G1473 G* Jesus G5547 Christ.
“But we should be thankful the Elohim always about you brothers loved by Yahweh because takes up you the Elohim away off first, the first fruits into rescue, in purification spirit and trust truth into this and summon you through the gospel from us into acquisition glory the Yahweh of us Jesus Messiah.”
We should be thankful that the Elohim is always about us, Yahweh loves us, and the Elohim takes us up away off first. We are the first fruits. No, Israel is not the first fruits unless they confess Jesus as Lord and Messiah and believe that the Elohim rose him up on the third day. We are the first fruits of people who believe on Jesus Messiah. The first fruits are to be rescued. We are invited into acquisition, invited to be purchased, not forced.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2026/03/apostasy-divorce-celebration-new.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2026/04/holding-down-apocalypse-knowing-mystery.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2026/04/delusion-energy-star-first-fruits-first.html
2Thessalonians 2:15 G686 So G3767 then, G80 brethren, G4739 stand firmly G2532 and G2902 hold G3588 the G3862 traditions G3739 which G1321 you were taught, G1535 whether G1223 by G3056 word, G1535 or whether G1223 by G1992 our letter! G1473
16 G1473 [5himself G1161 1But G3588 G2962 2our Lord G1473 G* 3Jesus G5547 4Christ], G2532 and G3588 the G2316 God G2532 and G3962 our father, G1473 G3588 the one G25 having loved G1473 us, G2532 and G1325 gave G3874 [2comfort G166 1eternal], G2532 and G1680 [2hope G18 1good] G1722 in G5484 favor,
17 G3870 may he comfort G1473 your G3588 G2588 hearts, G2532 and G4741 support G1473 you G1722 in G3956 every G3056 [2word G2532 3and G2041 4work G18 1good].
We are to stand firm and hold the traditions of the logos. We have an eternal calling and eternal invitation. We should be comforted by this explanation of the future events that we are not apart of. Remember that in Paul’s first letter he told them the harpazo was the logos of Yahweh. If we reject the logos of Yahweh we will still be saved but we will not be in the kingdom of heaven. Will be in the kingdom of God only. Paul now says to everyone that the logos of Yahweh should run and glorify, meaning move forward and render glorious. The logos should be celebrated with a joyful gathering of saints excited for the hope that we have in Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 G3588 For the G3062 rest G4336 pray G80 brethren, G4012 for G1473 us, G2443 that G3588 the G3056 word G3588 of the G2962 Lord G5143 should run G2532 and G1392 should be glorified, G2531 as G2532 also G4314 to G1473 you;
2 G2532 and G2443 that G4506 we should be rescued G575 from G3588 the G824 unnatural G2532 and G4190 wicked G444 men; G3756 [4 is not G1063 1for G3956 5of all G3588 2the G4102 3belief].
Paul says that as the word is moving and glorifying, we should be rescued from unrighteousness or perverse evil manfaced, because the faith is not for all. Paul just gave us a division, the faith is not for all.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 G4103 But trustworthy G1161 G1510.2.3 is G3588 the G2962 Lord, G3739 who G4741 will support G1473 you, G2532 and G5442 will guard you G575 from G3588 the G4190 evil.
The Lord will strengthen and guard you from evil. Aren’t we to pray ‘deliver us from all evil’ just as Jesus told us to pray? We will be persecuted, but ultimately evil cannot overtake us as Yahweh guards us and makes us strong.
2 Thessalonians 3:4 G3982 But we rely G1161 G1722 in G2962 the Lord G1909 as to G1473 you, G3754 that G3739 in which G3853 we exhort G1473 unto you, G2532 both G4160 you are doing G2532 and G4160 will do.
5 G3588 G1161 And G2962 may the Lord straighten out G2720 G1473 your G3588 G2588 hearts G1519 in G3588 the G26 love G3588 G2316 of God, G2532 and G1519 in G3588 the G5281 endurance G3588 of the G5547 Christ.
The endurance of Christ is the perseverance or the constancy of Christ. It is the idea of steadfastness and consistency in our faithful living in Christ.
Paul has to take care of some housekeeping in the church.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 G3853 And we exhort G1161 G1473 you, G80 brethren, G1722 in G3686 the name G3588 G2962 of our Lord G1473 G* Jesus G5547 Christ, G4724 for you to be in readiness G1473 G575 from G3956 every G80 brother G814 [2disorderly G4043 1walking], G2532 and G3361 not G2596 according to G3588 the G3862 tradition G3739 which G3880 he took to himself G3844 from G1473 us.
7 G1473 For you yourselves G1063 G1492 know G4459 how G1163 it is necessary G3401 to imitate G1473 us; G3754 for G3756 we have not G812 acted disorderly G1722 among G1473 you;
Since the faith in Yahweh Jesus Messiah is not for all people, we are to avoid or withdraw from every brother who conducts his life in a morally disorderly manner. Paul reminds them to imitate himself and Silas and Timothy. They worked so as not to be a burden to the Thessalonian church.
2 Thessalonians 3:8 G3761 nor G1431 freely G740 [2bread G2068 1did we eat] G3844 from G5100 anyone, G235 but G1722 in G2873 toil G2532 and G3449 trouble, G3571 night G2532 and G2250 day, G2038 working G4314 so as G3588 G3361 to not G1912 overburden G5100 any G1473 of you.
9 G3756 Not G3754 that G3756 we do not have G2192 G1849 authority, G235 but G2443 that G1438 [2ourselves G5179 3 as an impression G1325 1we should give] G1473 to you G1519 for G3588 the G3401 imitating G1473 us.
10 G2532 For also G1063 G3753 when G1510.7.4 we were G4314 with G1473 you, G3778 we exhorted this G3853 G1473 unto you, G3754 that G1536 if any G3756 does not G2309 want G2038 to work, G3366 neither G2068 let him eat!
This is the way the Essenes lived. The Pharisees didn’t work, nor did they have any skills to work, they lived off the people. The Essenes believed in work and when Paul went to Essene school for those fourteen years in the desert, he learned a skill, tent making. Paul is planting the churches with the expectation that people were to work, not live off the donations of the people. If people do not work they should not eat. Paul has to also correct people who are not working or who are meddling in the business of others.
2 Thessalonians 3:11 G191 For we hear G1063 G5100 some G4043 are walking G1722 among G1473 you G814 disorderly, G3367 not G2038 working, G235 but G4020 intermeddling.
12 G3588 And to G1161 G5108 such G3853 we exhort G2532 and G3870 appeal G1223 by G3588 G2962 our Lord G1473 G* Jesus G5547 Christ, G2443 that G3326 [2with G2271 3tranquility G2038 1working], G3588 G1438 [2their own G740 3bread G2068 1they should eat].
Paul says that we are to work or labor in quietness, stillness, silence. Just work, don’t talk about it or complain about it, do it in silence.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 G1473 But you, G1161 G80 brethren, G3361 you should not G1573 tire G2569 doing good.
14 G1487 And if G1161 G5100 anyone G3756 does not G5219 obey G3588 G3056 our word G1473 G1223 by G3588 G1992 this letter, G3778 G4593 signify G2532 and G3361 do not G4874 intermingle G1473 with him, G2443 that G1788 he should be ashamed!
15 G2532 but G3361 not G5613 as G2190 an enemy G2233 esteem him, G235 but G3560 admonish him G5613 as G80 a brother!
“Whether but anyone not obey the logos from us by means of the written message this mark and not keep company with him in order that put to shame and not like as hateful lead the way otherwise counsel like as brother.”
If someone is not in obedience to the Lord or to the logos, we are to warn them, not as an enemy but as a brother. Otherwise we are to note that one and not keep company with, or we might say “hang out” with, someone who is not obeying the logos or Paul’s letters. Do people who continually claim that there is no harpazo, no rising up and away, no rapture, obey the logos? No. We are supposed to invite others with the logos of the harpazo. We can correct people but in this matter as well as other sins, people become fooled in their mind. There is hope as they may not necessarily be seared but just foolish. They may not be our enemy but we are still supposed to warn, caution, and gently reprove, them as brothers. We simply do not keep company with them if they do not receive counsel.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 G1473 [6himself G1161 1And G3588 3the G2962 4Lord G3588 G1515 5of peace G1325 2may] give G1473 to you G3588 G1515 peace G1275 continually G1722 in G3956 every G5158 manner. G3588 The G2962 Lord G3326 be with G3956 all G1473 of you.
17 G3588 The G783 greeting G3588 G1699 by my G5495 hand, G* Paul, G3739 which G1510.2.3 is G4592 a sign G1722 in G3956 every G1992 letter; G3779 so G1125 I write.
18 G3588 The G5484 favor G3588 G2962 of our Lord G1473 G* Jesus G5547 Christ G3326 be with G3956 all G1473 of you. G281 Amen.
KJV 2Th 3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.
The KJV notes that Paul wrote this letter from Athens, which clears up the speculation as to where he might have been when writing this great logos, this revealed word of Yahweh regarding the above congregation and the Day of the Lord.
We see how important the Thessalonian church was to history as we look backward, with the Edict of Thessalonica which declared Christianity the official state religion of Rome. It allowed people to freely worship and to study the scriptures. This is interesting as the Thessalonian church suffered a lot of persecution from their own countrymen and the Jews. It is almost the Elohim’s way of showing Satanas that he cannot win. Satanas persecuted them, Yahweh made them famous.
Paul is encouraging the people to rest and relax in all they do knowing that their abusers are headed for eternal fire. When it seems like our enemies are winning we are to remember their end which is not pleasant, but due to their own belief in the lie instead of the truth. The gathered above synagogue is not on the earth when the tribulation starts and the son of destruction attempts to mock Yahweh Elohim by behaving as if he is god, and he is going to rule from Jerusalem. This son of perdition is held back until after the divorce, the time when the Christians leave the earth as Christians are the dwelling of the Elohim and spiritually more powerful than the son of destruction. The Christians are the first fruits of the glory of Yahweh Jesus Messiah. As invited ones to the gospel we should remember to work in quietness. Most importantly we are to obey the logos from Yahweh Elohim and the written logos from Paul, noting the naysayers and avoiding them. Faith is not for all, but the righteous are sealed and the unrighteous are seared. The best thing for us to do is to teach the harpazo, teach the Day of the Lord, and teach the coming wrath. We should invite others to salvation with this logos of the Elohim.
