Paul moves to address the main point of his letter, the confusion that had begun to develop in the Thessalonian church about the return of Jesus. The day of the Lord can refer to the period of the rapture through the tribulation and up to the judgment of the righteous and the unrighteous. More likely here, the church thought they had missed the rapture and were living in the time of the tribulation. It is understandable that under intense persecution they might believe that the evils of the tribulation were upon them. He asked them not to be too quickly swayed by any teaching that suggests that the day of the Lord has already arrived. This misdirection had come from multiple sources including prophecy, teaching, and a letter that was allegedly from Paul making it all the more believable. Paul then clarifies the conditions that must come before Jesus will return. God has revealed that certain events will precede Christ’s final return. First, there will be a rebellion or apostasy and then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, he is also described as the son of destruction. This is the Antichrist who will elevate himself above every so-called god or object of worship. He will convince all the religions of the world that He is more worthy of worship than the objects of their faith. He will take a seat in the temple in Jerusalem and proclaim to be God. Paul pointed out that this was not new information. He had taught them these things when he was with them but clearly, they needed a reminder. Right now this rebellion and the revealing of the Antichrist is being restrained by the Holy Spirit who is at work in the world and indwells every believer. At the appointed time, when God will allow this rebellion to take place, the church will be raptured (all believers will be taken up to heaven) and the Holy Spirit will move out of the way. At the time of the Tribulation, the Holy Spirit will no longer restrain evil as He now does and evil will be allowed to flourish more freely. When the Antichrist is released, his reign will be terrible. He will be able to control mankind, but he will not be able to stand against Jesus. When Jesus returns, He will return with power so great that the Antichrist will be killed by the breath of His mouth.

When we see the evil that is around us, it is sobering to understand that it is being constrained by the Holy Spirit. How terrible will the tribulation period be when the Holy Spirit leaves man to his own devices. We can be incredibly grateful that we will be taken to be with Jesus before that happens. Knowing that there are some who will have to live through it should compel us to share the gospel with them. Who can you reach today?