For this paper, we must first distinguish between the “Day of the Lord” and the “Day of Christ”. The key to understanding is found in the difference between the meaning of “Lord” and “Christ”.
Lord refers to King, master, ruler, possessor, judge, avenger, while Christ refers to the chosen one sacrificed for all mankind and all the promises that are in Christ such as eternal life, forgiveness of sins, promise of the Holy Spirit, promise of perfection, resurrection of the dead in Christ, promise of a new eternal body. The “Day of the Lord” is referenced 25 times in the KJV and refers to the Tribulation period and the actual day the Lord and His saints return to earth to wipe out the enemy at the battle of Armageddon. The “Day of Christ” is used only 3 times in the KJV. Now with these defined, let’s dive in.
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. 2 Thes. 2:1-2
Evidently, someone posing as Paul wrote a previous letter to the Thessalonians contradicting what Paul had already informed them. So, Paul wrote again to set the record straight. Paul is talking to the Thessalonians about the RAPTURE clearly outlined in this passage by “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”, “our gathering together unto him” and “the day of Christ”. This day fulfills some of the promises of Christ including the resurrection and our new eternal body. Many theologians have stated “the day of Christ” was misinterpreted in this passage and should say “the day of the Lord” which refers to the Tribulation period.
I have posted many times proof of the importance and perfection of the KJB. It is the perfect Word of God and even supersedes the Hebrew and Greek text. God does not expect everyone to be fluent in the original languages to understand His Word (For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light Matthew 11:30). Below are the other two usages of “the day of Christ” lest you doubt. As you can see, there is no connection to the Tribulation period, a very important distinction.
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Phil. 1:10-11
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Phil. 2:13-16
Now let’s continue in Thessalonians.
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; 2 Thes. 2:3
Don’t let any man deceive you into thinking you missed the Rapture. Two events will take place at the Rapture. First, the falling away and then the revealing of the son of perdition. The falling away is the Rapture. How do we know? We need to look at the first instance of the Antichrist in John 13. Yes, he was already here. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition Revelation 17:11. He is also named the son of perdition by Jesus. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled John 17:12. Jesus is speaking of Judas as the son of perdition; one of the 12 disciples.
When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night John 13:21-20
There is a great deal of information in this passage. The 12 disciples were in the upper room with Jesus for the Passover Supper (Luk 22:12). Jesus announces one of them will betray Him. Notice twice it is mentioned the Apostle John is leaning against Jesus. Will come back to this in a minute. Jesus said He will give the sop (son of Perdition) to the one that will betray Him. Immediately Satan entered Judas and Jesus said, “That thou doest, do quickly”. Luk 22:24 points out there was bickering among the disciples of who would be greatest, so much that they missed the fact Judas was the son of perdition, the Antichrist. “For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.” Judas immediately left the room and went out into the night (darkness, tribulation). While the Church is still on the earth, the antichrists will go out from the Church, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” 1 John 2:18-19. The scene in John 13 above paints a picture of the disciples in the upper room (Heaven) in the presence and safety of Jesus – remember the Apostle John leaning on Jesus, while the Antichrist goes out into the world (the night, darkness) to conquer and betray the world. With the 2nd coming of the Antichrist, the Church will go up, the falling away, then the son of perdition will be made manifest to the world. I had written before that the falling away might be the Jewish people’s acceptance of the Antichrist, but that no longer seems to be the case after more research.
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; 2 Thes. 2:3
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. 2 Thes. 2:6-12
This time the Church falls away or falls out, taken out as seen in the above verse. The Church/Holy Spirit withholdeth until he be taken out. What is this “strong delusion” spoken of here? What is the lie they shall believe?
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven Revelation 13:1-6.
According to this passage, some world leader will be wounded to death, and then his deadly wound will heal, and he will be resurrected, possible 3 days latter mimicking that of our Lord. Zechariah makes mention of this deadly wound. Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened Zechariah 11:17. He will lose the use of his right arm and right eye.
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place Acts 1:25. Judas hung himself after he betrayed Jesus. God took his spirit to “his own place” not hell, until the time of the final Antichrist. When this world leader is assassinated, it seems God will resurrect him but this time with the spirit of Judas. I am speculating here, but the Lord creates evil to do His will. “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things” Isaiah 45:7. Once again Satan will have power over him as he did during the Passover supper. When the people of the world see this “strong delusion”, sent by God, they will all worship the beast and believe a lie. Note that the Antichrist is not given “a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies” until after his deadly wound is healed. Therefore, anyone looking for the Antichrist will not find such a charismatic and a world leader prior to this event. Also note the Antichrist will blaspheme not only God and His tabernacle, but “them that dwell in Heaven”, that is us, the Church! That is why it’s called the “Blessed Hope”.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Titus 2:13.
Looking for that Blessed Hope! 