November 11,2007am      The War of the Worlds       II Thessalonians 2

Veterans Day

By Ronald E. George Jr.  at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

 

Will these wars ever come to an end?   When will there be peace?  Veterans of the war of the worlds arise and shine because your day is coming.  This is a snap shot from the war of the worlds.  The war of the worlds is the battle that continues between the holy and the evil.   It began in the Garden of Eden.  It continues today.  As evil continues to work don’t forget we know the end of the story.  Here it is. 

 

 II Thessalonians 2     Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Stand Firm

13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. [1]

 

The War of the worlds.

 

  1. Jesus was the initial lead soldier. He is the final soldier to come.  He is the King of kings and  the captain He was stricken down, but He raised from the dead.

 

  1. The man of sin which is evil incarnate is the enemy general and he is still on the attack and on the move against us. 

 

  1. God holds back the evil until the time is right.  God is supreme.   This isn’t dualism.  There is no one or nothing that can resist the awesome power of the Creator.  He allows the evil one to work until the time is right. 

 

  1. The evil one is allowed to work.  He deceives the masses.

 

  1. The Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

 

What does this mean to you and me?

 

  1. Don’t be alarmed because

 

  1. God has a plan although evil will continue to work in the world against God and his people. 

 

  1. God is in control.

 

  1. God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

 

  1. God called you to be saved in the Gospel. 

 

  1. God wants you to believe.  Don’t refuse to love the truth and be saved.

 

  1. God directs you to:  Stand firm in your faith and love of the Lord who is our Savior.

 

  1. God is holding on to you.  Hold on to the teachings that God has given you.  However you have received them doesn’t matter, but what matters is that you know what is happening and that He is in control.  Do you believe?

 

  1.  God gives his grace to you.  The Grace of God is our good hope and eternal encouragement. 

 

  1.  God gives his pep talk.  Encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. Continue to work and serve the world even though it may seem that the evil is winning the battle.  Keep on Keeping on. 

 

Will you join in the battle of the war of the worlds?   Declare your allegiance to the King of kings.  Which side are you on?  Sign up with the one who loves you and calls you to be his.  He is the King.  He is the one who has risen from the dead.  He is Jesus.  Would you let Him save you?  The danger is the deception of the evil.  Don’t be deceived.  God is alive and well and He wants to be your God. 

 


[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984). 2 Th 2:1-17.