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II Thessalonians Life in the Light of the Return of Christ:
Not Quickly Shaken, II Thessalonians 2:1-5, Part 1

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I.       Do Not Be Shaken!

          A.      The reality of the coming of Christ

          B.      The reality of our future gathering and the fellowship of the saints

          C.      Do not be deceived

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II Thessalonians 2:1-3 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you...

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II.      The Order of Events

          A.      The Apostasy

          B.      The revealing of the Man of Lawlessness

          C.      The Day of the Lord

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II Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction (NASB)

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II Thessalonians 2:3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. (NIV)

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III.    What is the Day of the Lord?

A. Serious warning (for example see Isaiah 13:6 and 9, Joel 1:15, and 2:31, Zephaniah 1:14, 1:18, 2:2-3, 2 Peter 3:3-10)

B. Joyful culmination (for example Romans 2:4-11, 1 John 4:17-18, 2 Peter 3:11-18)

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I Thessalonians 5:1-2  Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

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I Thessalonians 5:3  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

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I Thessalonians 5:4-6 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

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II Thessalonians 2:2-3 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.

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II Peter 3:10-11  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 

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II Peter 3:12 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God...

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II Peter 3:12-13 ...because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

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IV.     What is the Apostasy?

"Widespread and violent defiance of the authority of God"

The supreme and final effort of Satan and his demons to war against the things of God

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I Timothy 4:1-2 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons

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V.      Who/What is the Man of Lawlessness?

A. Biblical references: Daniel 7:1-22, 9:24-27 and 12:5-12, I John 2:18, 22; 4:3; II John 7, Revelation 12-13

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II Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction

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II Thessalonians 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

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