2nd Thessalonians 2:1-4, “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 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.”
This is an often misunderstood and misinterpreted passage of Scripture. In particular, the New IFB (independent fundamental Baptist) movement led by Pastor Steven Anderson in Arizona butchers the Bible, errantly teaching that the rapture will happen after the Tribulation. The New IFB couldn't be more wrong. If you rightly divide the Word of Truth, you can only conclude a pretribulation rapture.
I recently purchased a helpful book by Pastor David O'Steen titled, “Study Notes On I & II Thessalonians,” in which he writes:
“The church at Thessalonica was troubled both from without by fierce persecution and from within by false doctrine. Satan has learned that the latter is the most effective way to mess up a church.” —Pastor David O'Steen, “Study Notes On I & II Thessalonians,” p. 125
I have been fighting with umpteen churches since 2014 over the demonic repent of your sins heresy which has crept into nearly every church and Bible college today, infecting pulpits. Not one verse in the inspired King James Bible teaches to repent “of your sins” to get to Heaven.
I was kicked out of Harvest Baptist Church on Guam, Campus Church at Pensacola Christian College, Family Baptist Church in Pensacola, Smyrna Baptist Church in Pensacola and others, because I refused to go along with their damnable heresy of Lordship Salvation. Christ died on a cross 2,000 years ago as our substitute. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. Turning from your sins is a work according to Jonah 3:10, “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”
In the case of the Thessalonian believers, they had been infiltrated and lied to by a group of false teachers who convinced them that Christ had already returned, and they missed the rapture. So the Apostle Paul writes to them and reminds them of what he had previously taught them in his first letter about Christ's return. 2nd Thessalonians 2:5, “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” And we know from Acts 17:10-11 that the Berean Christians “were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” The Thessalonian saints were not very good Bible students. They had forgotten the truths which Paul taught them about Christ's future return.
Pastor O'Steen further writes:
“False doctrine shakes the minds and troubles the hearts of God's people (2 Thess, 2:2), but sound doctrine produces a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7) and comforted heart in those that believe it (2 Thess. 2:15-17).” —Pastor David O'Steen, “Study Notes On I & II Thessalonians,” pp. 125-126
On page 128 Brother O'Steen writes:
“The Body of Christ is not the subject of prophecy, but it is still good for us to study it (1 Thess. 5:1-2). We are stablished not only by Paul's gospel and the revelation of the mystery, but also the scriptures of the prophets (Rom. 16:25-27). We learn by comparison and contrast. When we compare and contrast what the Bible says about this present age with what it says about the day of the Lord, it is clear that we cannot mix the two.” —Pastor David O'Steen, “Study Notes On I & II Thessalonians,” p. 128
And here is the main quote from Brother O'Steen I wanted to share with you dear reader:
Those who teach that the Body of Christ will go through the tribulation think this passage supports their view because they misinterpret Paul to be saying that the rapture (“day of Christ” in v.2) will not come until after the Antichrist is revealed (v.3). But the “day of Christ” CANNOT be referring to the rapture in this passage because they would not have been shaken in mind and troubled for believing it was “at hand” (i.e., near). It would make no sense for Paul to beseech the brethren by wonderful promise of our blessed hope (1 Thess. 4:13-18) to not be troubled that it is at hand.
If Paul was referring to the coming of the Lord for the Body of Christ in verse 2, he would be contradicting other passages in which he taught that it was “at hand” (Rom. 13:11-12; Phil. 3:20-21; 4:5). It is the second coming of Christ that is NOT “at hand” because there are signs that must be fulfilled first, and those won't begin until this present age ends. —Pastor David O'Steen, “Study Notes On I & II Thessalonians,” p. 129
That is a brilliant observation by Pastor O'Steen. Pastor Lee Roberson (1909-2007) was absolutely right, who I heard preach at a Hyles-Anderson College graduation commencement service, who said: “If you take the Bible at face value you can only conclude a pretribulation rapture.” Dr. Roberson is 100% correct!
Only a pretribulation rapture fits the puzzle of Bible prophecy. Jesus plainly taught that no man, not even the angels in Heaven, know the timing of His return (Mark 13:32-37). The only biblical position that maintains the secrecy, suddenness and imminency of Christ's return is a pretribulation rapture. If Christ were to return after the Antichrist is revealed, we would know exactly down to the day when Christ will return according to Daniel 12:11.
