After a short stay in the New Testament, I want to head back to the Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel).  While I may have casually read through portions of most of these books, I've only really studied the book of Daniel in the past and am excited to study these with you.  Isaiah is by far the longest of these books at 66 chapters.  It helps set the tone that the books of prophecy are not all about God's wrath as normally imagine them (though there are points where God speaks about the judgment of His people and the nations they have started to become like), but it is a call for God's people to return to being what God has called them to be and doing what God has called them to do.  It is a loving Father correcting His children who are wayward, and it is a story of hope as the Father plans to send His true Son to fix our brokenness.  Israel and Judah (especially the line of the kings of Judah--the sons of David) were to be like a son to God the Father, but there would be one coming who would be called the Son of David who would truly be the Son of God and Son of Man.

By the time of Isaiah, the wickedness had not only affected the kings and the people, but it had started to affect the priesthood as well (which Isaiah was a part of, as we'll see him ministering in the Temple when he was officially called in Isaiah 6).  The very people that were supposed to protect the people from corruption and teach them about holiness were now themselves corrupt and misusing their positions for their own gain.  The sheep were certainly lost like sheep without a shepherd because all the leaders who were supposed to guide and protect them were leading them in the wrong direction.  It is no wonder why Jesus loved to quote from this book of prophecy, especially when speaking of the religious leaders of His day (many of whom were also of a corrupt priestly class who were fleecing the flock of God and misusing their positions to advance themselves financially and politically).

The first verse of this chapter tells us where we are in the historical timeline.  We're zooming in on the reigns of several kings of Judah:  Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, making Isaiah a contemporary of the Prophet Micah in the southern kingdom and the prophet Hosea in the northern kingdom.

​The LORD describes His broken relationship with His people in no uncertain terms.  He says at least farm animals can be broken and know their master and obey them--the children of Israel are more stubborn and rebellious than an ox or donkey.  They have forsaken the LORD and despised the Holy One of Israel.  These children are utterly estranged from their Father.  The whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint.  From the sole of the foot to the head, there is no soundness (nothing good) in it.  Instead, the nation is like a body that has been badly beaten that is fully of bruises, sores, and raw wounds that no one has treated (they are likely to become infected if something isn't done).

It may sound like the LORD's judgment is "kicking them while they are down," but they got themselves beat up by going all the places He told them not to go and doing all the things He told them not to do.  They refused His good Law that would have protected them, and they have refused His gentle correction.  Now it is time for His tough love.  He will punish them with the hopes they will turn back in repentance (though He knows they will not repent and that He will need to exile them just like He did the northern nation of Israel.  Judah learned nothing from them and is following in their footsteps).

The picture of the LORD's people being like a vineyard will be used over and over again in the book of Isaiah.  A vineyard was a treasured possession and something worth protecting and defending.  If you did not put walls up around it to keep the wild animals out, they would come and destroy the fruit and the vines, and bad actors would come in and destroy or steal the harvest.

The LORD compares the people of Judah to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and tells them that they deserve the same end as those wicked cities--they are no better than them.  However, the LORD knows He must leave a remnant for His plans to be fulfilled (for Jesus to come and save not just the people of Isarel and Judah, but the entire world from their sins).  God tells the people of Judah to stop making sacrifices and celebrating the feasts and coming to the Temple if they are going to profane His Name with the way they live.  He will not accept their sacrifices and will not hear their prayers.  He will not listen to them when they cry for mercy because they want the LORD's hand of judgment to be taken away from them (without their repenting first).  He tells them that they need to be washed clean before they be acceptable and pleasing to Him (But how can they be made clean?  Their sins are as scarlet, so how can they be made white as snow to be pleasing and acceptable in His sight?).

The last verses answer that for us.  The LORD Himself will provide the way for them to be changed from the inside out.  We know this to be the gospel of Jesus Christ (and many call the book of Isaiah "The Fifth Gospel," because we see the gospel of Jesus so clearly, even though He isn't directly named).  The people can't fix themselves.  If left to their own, they are without hope.  They need the help of the Good Shepherd who will lay down His life for His sheep.  If they will repent and let God make them clean, they can enjoy all the blessings He has promised to them, but if they refuse and rebel, they will be cut off from the Land and the other blessings that were promised and receive the curses of the Law.  It will be their choice.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-18
English Standard Version

Warning Against Idleness
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Benediction
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

​17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

In his final remarks to the Thessalonian church, Paul instructs them to avoid anyone who calls themselves a brother (or sister) in Christ and is walking in idleness (someone who is lazy or slothful).  They should be about the work of The Great Commission that the Lord Jesus gave to us, all the more as they see the day of His return approaching.  We should use the gifts that God has given to us to glorify him, raise money for the expenses of the ministry and to give relief to the poor and oppressed (especially our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world who are suffering).  We should provide for ourselves so that our message will not be subject to influence by anyone who provides for us (save God who is our ultimate Provider).

Anyone who is able to work and unwilling to do so to provide for himself and his family should not eat--hunger is a great motivator for the sluggard to get up and do something productive.  However, if the sluggard has someone else feed him and his family and pay their expenses, then he will never have the incentive to work.  Paul says that the man who calls himself a Christian and won't work to provide for himself and his family when he is able to do so should be someone no genuine believer would associate with--we don't need to tarnish the name of Christ and the gospel with that kind of wickedness We know from the Old Testament and New Testament that slothfulness is an abomination to the LORD.  Such a person should not be regarded as an enemy that we fight against, but someone engaging in sin that needs to be warned, we should pray for him and be willing to put such a person who is under the authority of the elders of a local church under church discipline.  I believe that is the meaning of warning the brother (or sister).

Paul closes with a benediction wishing the church the peace of Christ at all times and in every way, and also that the Lord would be always with them.  Paul finishes by letting them know that he himself wrote this letter to them (it was not written by a scribe or one of the many people who helped Paul that would often write for him as he dictated to them).  He asked them to examine the handwriting to see that it was his own, and his style of words.  It was not an imposter or forgery.  Lastly, he wishes the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to be with all of them...grace and peace, just like he so regularly opens his letters, so he closes this one.  We have no peace without the grace of the Lord Jesus that gives us peace.  Because He continually ministers before the Father for us, we can be certain of both the grace and peace that come through Him.  To Him be all the glory forever and ever.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
English Standard Version

Pray for Us
3 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

2 Thessalonians is a short letter (only 3 chapters long), which is why chapter 3 starts with the word "finally."  Paul wants to ask for the believers in Thessalonica to pray for him and his teammates that they would be successful in their spread of the gospel--that the Lord would bring success to them and that He would be honored among the Church through the work that Paul and his teammates were doing.

They also want to pray that they will be delivered from the evil men that seek to do them harm with their evil schemes.  These men have been following them to cause trouble from them from the very start and the devil has stirred up the hearts of evil men in every town they have visited (it seems often times that God uses this opposition to tell Paul and his team that it is time to move on to somewhere else, but they stay as long as it is peaceful).  Paul says they must keep preaching the Word despite these evil men because not all men have the same faith that can save them.  

Paul reminds them in their prayers that it is the Lord Himself who has promised to be faithful to accomplish His work in and through us.  Even if something happens to Paul and his team, the Lord will still provide for and protect His Church--He is the Good Shepherd of His sheep.  We should not look to men to take the place of God in these areas, for that is a form of idolatry.  Likewise, Paul and his team had full confidence in the Lord that He would bring the Christians at Thessalonica to full maturity and make them in the image of Christ and that they would walk in the works that the Lord Jesus had prepared for them.  They were already being obedient to the Lord, and Paul had faith they would continue to do so.  Paul's last request is that their love for the Lord remains strong and continues to grow and remains steadfast--that they don't just obey out of duty or obligation, but that they continue to love Him and that love drives them to action and service.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
English Standard Version

Stand Firm
13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

​16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Paul gives thanks to the God for the brothers and sisters in Thessalonica because they are part of God's Elect that He chose to be part of His firstfruits (the first and the best of the harvest that were offered as a sacrifice unto the LORD that showed the belief that more and better fruit and continued fruitfulness were coming and that the LORD would provide for the needs of His people all year long).

Paul says they are sanctified (made holy and set apart for God's plans and purposes) through the work of the Holy Spirit and by their belief in the Word of God which tells us the truth.  We were called through the gospel that we would not know had Jesus not done it all for us and the Holy Spirit revealed it to us.  So then, God deserves all the glory for our salvation since it was His work from before the beginning of time to save us as a people unto Himself.  We must simply hold fast to this truth and our identity that is found in Him and the work that He has completed and what He has proclaimed to be true, for He is the Truth.  This truth is passed down from generation to generation by both the spoken worth of those who share their testimony and the gospel with us, and with the written Word of God.  We too should hold firm to the teachings of the apostles and Scriptures.

It is only by the truths that Paul expressed here that the hearts of the Thessalonians could be comforted that Christ did not abandon them, forget about them or miss them, nor did He lie to them about His return.  He is certainly coming again, and it will happen suddenly when we don't expect it (this is the meaning of the word that is often translated "soon," but it means "without warning.").  We should not try to so much look for the signs (though we will understand they were there after the fact but live every day as if He might be returning today.  The one who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.  He will bring about the transformation in us that makes us into the image of God the Son and impart to us eternal life that only the Son deserves, but that we receive as co-heirs of every good thing that belongs to the Son.  We should take comfort in this and conduct ourselves in such a way where our actions align with our identity and we who are being made like Christ walk in His ways and His words as well so that others see Him at work in and through us.  This is what it means to be Christian and controlled by the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) so that as the Spirit works in and through us, people see Jesus alive in us and they cannot deny the power of His resurrection that is both alive today and able to make the bad to be good and the dead to be alive.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
​English Standard Version

The Man of Lawlessness
2 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Many people today still wonder who the Antichrist will be and how he will be recognized when it is time for his appearing.  Should we as Christians be looking for the Antichrist before the return of Christ for His Church, or will Christ return first in what we call the Rapture of the Church?  These were questions that were on the minds of the Thessalonians, especially since they did not get to spend as much time with Paul as they wanted.  They wrote to Paul asking these questions, and Paul wrote them back with his teaching and instruction, which is also for us today, since the answers have not changed.

Paul told the Church gathered in Thessalonica to not be concerned about having missed the second coming of Christ when we will be gathered together to Him (the Rapture).  Many were trying to deceive the early Church Christians to make them believe that there would be a secret rapture that could be missed, or that it was only going to happen spiritual, but not physically, but Paul said that this ingathering would not happen unless the time of rebellion and lawlessness comes first (this is good evidence for those who believe in a mid-Tribulation Rapture.

Not only will there be a time of lawlessness that will get worse and worse as we get closer and close to the Day of the Lord, but there will be a "man of lawlessness" that will lead this final rebellion against the Lord and His people called the Antichrist.  He is called the "son of perdition" or the "son of destruction," because he is predestined to not believe (the same phraseology was used of Judas Iscariot because he was predestined to be a type of antichrist, but there will be another like him that the devil will once again possess and will deceive many people).  He will try to cause others to worship him as God, even making an image of himself in the Temple of the LORD to be worshiped by all the peoples of the world.  It is by this abomination that the Jews will recognize him.

Though there is only one man who will be the Antichrist, the spirit of antichrist is at work in the world today, but is being restrained by the work of the Holy Spirit within the Church (this is the verse that many who ascribe to a pre-tribulation Rapture ascribe to say that the restraining force must be removed, and that restraining force must be the Holy Spirit's work through the Church, so the Church must be removed by way of the Rapture, but that goes against Paul's teaching a few verses earlier and the idea that he is telling the Church to be on the lookout for the Antichrist.  There would be no need to look for him if all the Christians would be removed before his appearing).  The spirit of antichrist has been at work since the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden--it is any spirit that encourages us to worship man or the creature rather than God the Creator.

At the time that the rebellion comes to fruition, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself will come back and destroy the Antichrist and all those who took His side with the breath of His mouth--the same Word that spoke everything into existence will speak the destruction of all those who oppose Him. 

Though it will not be obvious to all those who are deceived, the kingdom of Antichrist is the kingdom of the devil.  The devil will be the supernatural power behind the Antichrist, and Satan will allow the Antichrist to perform many false miracles, signs and wonder (including a false resurrection).  These are meant to deceive those who are of the world and have disbelieved, and he would hope even to deceive the Elect, if possible, though the Lord will protect those who belong to Him from being deceived.  Those who have chosen not to believe the gospel will be sent strong delusions so that those who have made their choice will have to live with it.  They will believe the lies and will not believe the truth.  Their decision has been made.  Therefore, do not put off until tomorrow the decision that the Lord is giving to you today to repent and believe.  You never know when you will die and not get that decision again or when this time of deception and delusion will come, and you will no longer have another chance.  Refusal to say "yes" when you know "yes" is the right answer is a choice to say "no," and that may be a choice you have to live with forever and ever.

2 Thessalonians 1English Standard Version

Greeting
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving
3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

The Judgment at Christ's Coming
​5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering-- 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It's been quite a while since we went through 1 Thessalonians, but as promised, I'm coming back to 2 Thessalonians after we finished the Books of Wisdom.  Remember that Paul had to leave the Thessalonians quickly and didn't get to teach them everything he wanted to, so they wrote him with many questions.  They seem to have been concerned mostly with questions about the Lord's return and how to live a life pleasing to the Lord.

We're starting the Paul's second letter, and he starts with greetings from himself, Silas and Timothy.  He also gives thanks to God for each of them and lets them know how he's been praying for them and speaking about them everywhere he goes--like a father proud of his children.

Last time, Paul spoke much of the encouragement they should have that the Lord is coming for His people on the Day of the Lord.  This time, Paul gives warning that the world will be judged in the Day of the Lord.  God can be both loving and just (more on that when we study the Prophets together), but it has been a theme of the Bible that the day of salvation for those who belong to God is the day of judgment for those who do not belong to Him.

Paul prays for each of them that they will be revealed to have been made in the image of Christ on that day and receive every blessing that belongs to Christ as they will be co-heirs with Him.  We will even receive a glory that is like His, but to a lesser extent.  Until then, we are to live worthy of the calling which we have received--we should live worthy of the citizenship we have received as citizens of the kingdom of heaven, and we should live as Him ambassadors (more on that later).  In this, we glorify the Father and the Son by who we conduct ourselves here and now and we let others see there is another way to live and another king that we should be serving--the one who is King of Kings and Lord of Lord who will one day also be the Juge over the living and the dead.

The Woman wishes she should show affection to her husband in public without it drawing scorn.  She wonders why such affection towards her brother is acceptable, but it's unacceptable to show such affection to her husband.  She also once again warns the young women to not stir up or awaken love too quickly.  It is something for those who are mature enough to handle the strong emotions and desires that go with it.  It is not for the immature to have to deal with.

The young women see the two of the Man and the Woman returning together have he has found her (after she went out looking for him).  They begin talking about it so that everyone knows the king and his bride are returning.  The one who was lost has been found, and there is celebration among the people.

The brothers that the Woman just spoke of now join the chorus.  They speak of her as if she is still a little girl to them.  They imagine that one day far off they will need to speak for her when she gets married, but they have missed it that it already happened because they did not recognize or treat her like the woman that she already was.  They speak as if they still need to protect her virginity, but she has already given herself to her husband.  They are more than a little late.

The Woman proclaims to her brothers that she has protected her virginity, and she is a mature woman, and she has been joined with her husband so that the two have become one flesh, and she has given herself to Solomon.

Solomon calls to hear his wife sing once more, and she sings that they might run away (probably on their honeymoon) that they might be wild at heart like the gazelle or young stag on the mountain that is full of spices.

Again, this is a book that has been far different than any other book of the Bible before or after it.  It ends the books of Poetry and sets us up well for the books of Prophecy where the LORD speaks to Isreal as a lover who has been scored by a cheating spouse.  He loves Isreal deeply, but the more He loves her, the more they turn to idols and do and say things to hurt Him and act like all the good things He gives them are from themselves or other gods.  In the book of Hosea, God actually says that He deserves a divorce--to nullify the covenant He made with them, but that there are larger issues at play and for the sake of not just His people, but all the nations of the world, He will take them back over and over again because He continued to look forward to Jesus who would one day come through this broken people, and one day be the solution to all of our brokenness.