Daily Bread 12-17-18

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

1. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering 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.

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;

ref. - Mt 24:31 - And he shall send his angels with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

2P 2:1 - But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Dan 7:25 - And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

It's going to get worse before it gets better. Paul was warning the people that they should not panic and get too riled up about the preachings that they had been given of the coming of Christ. Some men were going about trying to cause a panic or telling them that it was too late. But Paul was telling them that there would be many signs before he comes. Many of these signs are being seen or have been seen today, but not all. What this means to us is that we should not go into a panic or try to hurry things through, but we should call on God and know that we still have a chance and that it is not too late for any of us. There will be many false prophecies and many false prophets and there are many of these workers of iniquity today. Many seem unrighteous but many also try to walk as the righteous. They are spreading their own version of a flawless gospel and they are trying to change a perfect gospel to get us to sway in the direction that they think we should go. Rather than encouraging us to press onward and to allow God to work on us and in us, they are putting times and deadlines in front of us that have no meaning and are not a part of this wonderful gospel that we have been given. They will give rules that are not written or try to enforce rules that were written but have been superseded or replaced by the gospel that is given us by Christ. This is only being written not to give them attention or to give them fame, but to allow us to know what to watch out for and which men to avoid as we strive to find the perfection that is in Christ. These are the sons of perdition, changing the power of God into their own power and deceiving many people. You see, these men do exist and they walk among us as tares in the wheat. Identify them and avoid them. They are causing division between you, Christ, and the Church that he has created for you. It is time for us to follow Christ and to submit to his ways. This is the only way that he will find us acceptable when he does come. The word of God says that we will need no man to tell us when Christ has come. For with the great sound of a trumpet he will begin to gather and the time will be over for these evil workers of iniquity and their followers. Follow Christ, he is our example, he is our Lord, he is our Savior, and he is the true Son of God. There shall be no other Gods before us as we watch the world fall away and we are given the power in Jesus Christ to not go with them. We have the strength, we have the power, and we have Jesus Christ through whom all of it will be given!! Follow him!! Have a great day!!!