Looking For That Blessed Hope, And The Glorious Appearing Of The Great God And Our Saviour Jesus Christ - Part 2029

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye 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 opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as g/God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is g/God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

What is the truth? Jesus said, "I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6) 

Jesus goes on here to tell His disciples that if they have seen Jesus they have seen the Fathers and therefore know Him. Similarly, Jesus said, "I and My Father are One!" (John 10:30) 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only "begotten" Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) 

Still, there are far too many who do not understand who their God is, and would rather fall down before idols than worship the living God whose name in this current dispensation of grace is JESUS. (Matthew 1:21-23) God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) 

"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11) 

And thus, those who reject the resurrected Jesus, or refuse to accept this same Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending -- to them God has sent strong delusion -- because He finds no pleasure in unrighteousness. But to those who believe in Him by faith, and have made this same Jesus whom we had previously crucified both Lord and Christ in our hearts, to them He has made conquerors and overcomers.

It is in this context that we who believe (as the apostles modelled before us) are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, "brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by Word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." (II Thessalonians 2:1-17)

Stand in the offering plate.