Thessalonian Letters
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had previously neglected their responsibilities and duties, now became
more persistent in urging their erroneous views.
In his second letter Paul sought to correct their misunderstanding
of his teaching and to set before them his true position. He again
expressed his confidence in their integrity, and his gratitude that their
faith was strong, and that their love abounded for one another and
for the cause of their Master. He told them that he presented them
to other churches as an example of the patient, persevering faith that
bravely withstands persecution and tribulation, and he carried their
minds forward to the time of the second coming of Christ, when the
people of God shall rest from all their cares and perplexities.
“We ourselves,” he wrote, “glory in you in the churches of God
for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations
that ye endure: ... and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in
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flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that
obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from
the glory of His power.... Wherefore also we pray always for you, that
our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good
pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him,
according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
But before the coming of Christ, important developments in the
religious world, foretold in prophecy, were to take place. The apostle
declared: “Be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by
spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ
is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall
not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin
be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself
above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God
sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
Paul’s words were not to be misinterpreted. It was not to be taught
that he, by special revelation, had warned the Thessalonians of the
immediate coming of Christ. Such a position would cause confusion of
faith; for disappointment often leads to unbelief. The apostle therefore
cautioned the brethren to receive no such message as coming from
him, and he proceeded to emphasize the fact that the papal power,
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