< 2 Thessalonians 2 >

Paul beseeched the disciples at Thessalonica, in view of “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together unto him”,v.12 Thessalonians 2:1XWaiting for response not to be discouraged or diverted from the faith by delay in the coming of Jesus.v.22 Thessalonians 2:2XWaiting for response He knew from God that there would be a falling away from the faith by Christians generally and a great apostasy would arise, headed by a succession of individuals referred to here as “the man of sin” v.32 Thessalonians 2:3XWaiting for response and “the wicked one”.v.82 Thessalonians 2:8XWaiting for response The “mystery of iniquity” was already then at work among the disciples,v.72 Thessalonians 2:7XWaiting for response with many believing and preaching “another gospel and another Jesus”. Galatians 1:6;Galatians 1:6XWaiting for response 2 Corinthians 11:42 Corinthians 11:4XWaiting for response The hindrance to the spread of this apostasy into political and ecclesiastical rulership throughout the Roman world was Paganism, but this was to be completely “taken out of the way”.v.72 Thessalonians 2:7XWaiting for response

In A.D.312 Constantine mobilised “Christians”, who were prepared to disobey the commandment of Jesus not to take up the sword, to join his onslaught on the Pagan authorities. He was ambitious to be the sole Emperor and when he achieved this by force of arms he ordered his whole empire to change from Paganism to “Christianity”. Of course, the people did not “receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” but simply changed the names of their idols and mingled their mythology with the gospel.

Pagans were brought wholesale into “Christianity” which was completely corrupted by idolatrous concepts. Engulfed in a “strong delusion” they believed lies, and principally they believed the original lie v.112 Thessalonians 2:11XWaiting for response that "dying we do not die" - the falsehood that we have immortal souls and that when we die we do not really die! But there were some who stood fast, and held the traditions which they had been taught by the apostles.v.152 Thessalonians 2:15XWaiting for response While the mass of “Christians” fell away into false doctrines, some remained faithful in each generation and these will be the ones who will gathered together with Christ. We should make sure that we are the faithful of this generation by obeying the true gospel and following the instructions of Jesus and his apostles.