Paul operating in the Holy Spirit does a bible study on Matthew 24 ( Joh_14:26 ) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,
he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Paul brings to remembrance the words of Jesus in order.
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren,
by the coming ( coming is greek word parousia ) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
by our gathering together (
Paul uses Christs words from Matthew 24:31 gather together the elect ) unto him,
The disciples in Matthew 24 ask Jesus Questions ( They asked the same question paul addressed in 2 Thess 2 - what shall be the sign of thy coming )
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives,
the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and
what shall be the sign of thy coming ( coming is greek word parosia ), and of the end of the world?
Jesus answers this question all throughout Matthew 24 about his coming:
Mat_24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also
the coming ( greek word parosia ) of the Son of man be.
Mat_24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also
the coming ( greek word parosia )of the Son of man be.
Mat_24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also
the coming ( greek word parosia )of the Son of man be.
Jesus speaks of a sign associated with His coming:
Matthew 24:29-31 KJV Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And
then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and
they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall
gather together ( same phrasing Paul uses in 2 Thess 2:1 )his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
At the beginning of Matthew 24 the disciples asked Jesus questions and the first words out of Jesus's mouth were:
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them,
Take heed that no man deceive you.
So Paul in 2 Thess 2 does a bible study on Matthew 24 pointing us to Matthew 24 so you know what he is discussing by the coming of the Lord and our gathering together unto him. Now the Thessalonians know where he is talking about. Paul continues in same order Jesus used in Matthew 24.
( Paul points them to Matthew 24 ):
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 KJV 1 Now we beseech you, brethren,
by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our
gathering together unto him, 2 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.
( Paul follows Jesus's order to things )
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you ( Jesus first words after diciples asked him question were Take heed no man deceive you. Paul says 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;
In Matthew 24 when Jesus begins to answer questions of disciples he says Take heed no man deceive you first. Then Jesus describes a falling away.
People fall away by being deceived:
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and
shall deceive many.
Results of deception mixed in
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Again more descriptions of the falling away that takes place
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and
shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because
iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
So Jesus gives us the order:
Take heed no man deceive you. Jesus then describes the falling away. Then Jesus brings us to what happens next:
Matthew 24:15 KJV When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand
Jesus directed us to Daniel on this matter and then says certain things happen when this happens and gives it a title:
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Paul directs us to Jesus words in Matthew 24 and follows same order to give us more information.
Paul beseeches them by the coming and the gathering together unto the Lord.
Paul says let no man decive you by any means and stats the falling way first then the man of sin son of perdition
2 Thessalonians 2:3-6 KJV 3
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; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what
withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
Paul gives us more info about the man of sin, son of perdition and what he will do.
Paul in 2 Thess 2:6 uses the word
WITHHOLDETH this is very important!!! Pay attention.
Now Paul is doing a bible study on Matthew 24 for a certain reason. It is to reveal more information to the Thessalonians on what will happen. He directs them to Jesus words through the Holy Spirit working in him ( Paul ) which follows scripture. This will bring to remembrance the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then Paul says the falling away first then man of sin. Same order Jesus followed. Then great tribulation. But Paul is addressing this to the Thessalonians cause people were saying this happened already and Paul is saying it didn't and goes in to more study on the matter with them starting with the words from the Lord in Matthew 24 on what happens.
Pauls main point is to show them who is withholding the man of sin from being revealed. First falling away then Jesus directs us to Daniel which is where this was spoken of. So Paul and the Thessalonians would know this since it follows same order as Jesus and Jesus pointed us to Daniel on this matter.
The abomination of desolation from Daniel: Where it was mentioned in Daniel:
From Daniel 11:34 through Daniel chapter 12:11 its discussed.
Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place
the abomination that maketh desolate.
Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and
the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Almost in the middle of these two verses of the abomination and associated with the abomination is a very revealing verse!
Daniel 12:1 KJV And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people:
and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Its important to note what we have learned so far from all this. Paul is doing a bible study to further educate the Thessalonians on this particular matter that was discussed by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and Jesus pointed us to Daniel on what He was talking about. Why is Paul doing this study with Thessalonians. Because someone was telling them something different. So Paul is revealing more information by following what Jesus said in order from Matthew 24.
Daniel decribes the situation with the NATION IN MIND. JESUS INCLUDES THE NATION EXPANDING OUT TO THE WHOLE WORLD.
Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and
there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Mat 24:21 For
then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Same things talked about but one is focused on the nation and the other Jesus says starts within Judea ( let them flee ) and will expand out to to the WORLD. So
Now back to the very revealing verse. Daniel reveals more information and Paul used the word witholdeth.
Daniel 12:1 KJV And at that time shall
Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
When Michael does this THEN THERE SHALL BE A TIME OF TROUBLE SUCH AS NEVER WAS. or great tribulation.
Now lets examine the difficult verse from Paul:
Remember first Paul used the word withholdeth
2Th 2:6 And now ye know what
withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
Now what appears to be difficult verse:
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
The difficulty people have with this verse and its understanding is the words letteth and let.
So we go to the greek for more insight:
2Th 2:7 ForG1063 theG3588 mysteryG3466 of iniquityG458 doth alreadyG2235 work:G1754 onlyG3440 he who now
lettethG2722 G737 will let, untilG2193 he be takenG1096 out ofG1537 the way.G3319
The Greek word numbers point us to the Greek word used upon which we can read the definition. The Greek word numbers are to the right of each word.
The Greek word number used for letteth is G2722
G2722 κατέχω ,
written katechō ,
pronounced kat-ekh'-o From G2596 and G2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): - have, hold (fast), keep (in memory),
let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take,
withhold.
It means to withhold and also has the word LET in its definition.
Back to the difficult verse again with this new understanding and insight :
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth ( withholdeth) will let ( withhold ), until he be taken out of the way.
Now for a side short side study to reveal more about Michael which those who study God's word should arleady know. If you didn't you will now.
Dan_10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo,
Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Dan_10:21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and
there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
Dan_12:1 And at that time shall
Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Jud_1:9 Yet
Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Rev_12:7 And there was war in heaven:
Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Michael was designed to contend, holdeth ( Dan 10:21 ), fight againt, and disput with the devil.
Revelation 12:7-12 KJV And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
When Michael stands up, stops witholding, and casts satan to earth THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION TAKES PLACE.
May the Lord bless you with wisdom and understanding. LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU BY ANY MEANS.
I have much much more to share but so many deceivers to contend with. Lots more verses involved. Lots