Paul’s signature reached them with the message that the day of the Lord had arrived,12 they were prone to believe it, because of the severe persecution they were going through But that raised a real problem: If the day of the Lord had already arrived, what about the rapture that Paul had foretold in his letter? Had it taken place, and were they left behind? So in chapter Paul interprets the meaning and purpose of persecution and a iction for saints before the rapture (cf Heb 10:32-39) The word tribulation(s) appears twice in this passage It should not be confused with the Tribulation period (or the Great Tribulation period), which shall transpire between the rapture and the revelation (Matt 24:21) (cf Chart 91, p 356) Read the following verses where the word has reference to various kinds of trials that Christians are called upon to endure in their daily walk: John 16:33; Romans 5:3; 12:12; Corinthians 1:4; 7:4; Ephesians 3:13; Thessalonians 3:4 Ultimate judgment of all unbelievers will fall at the great white throne judgment (Chart 91) Read Revelation 20:11-15 for the description of that most awesome and tragic event That is the background to verses 8-10 of this Thessalonian passage B BEFORE THE REVELATION: ANTICHRIST (2:1-17) Chapter is the crux of the second letter Here Paul treats the problem vexing the Thessalonian Christians The passage contains one of the New Testament’s fullest descriptions of the activity and defeat of Antichrist, called the “man of lawlessness [sin]” in 2:3 (See Chart 96.) The chapter’s main point is that the day of the Lord will not come until the Antichrist has rst been revealed and worshiped as God by the world This is the background of Paul’s instructions in chapter 2: In the rst letter, Paul instructed the Thessalonians to expect a sudden rapture, when deceased and surviving believers would be caught up to be with Christ forever (1 Thess 4:13-18) In the same letter, Paul wrote that the day of the Lord — a time of judgment for unbelievers — would come upon the unbelieving world unannounced, “just like a thief in the night” (1 Thess 5:1-3) After receiving that letter, the Thessalonians had continued to be sorely persecuted for their faith False teaching was circulating that the day of the Lord had already come and brought the Thessalonians’ tribulations The church’s natural questions were, Did not Paul write and say that we would be raptured? How, then, could the day of the Lord be upon us? So Paul wrote the second letter, instructing the church that the persecutions they were experiencing were not to be confused with the judgments of the day of the Lord against unbelievers That was yet to be (2 Thess 1:7-9) “Now, concerning your confusion about how the rapture relates to all of this: don’t be misled or disturbed by any kind of false teaching The day of the Lord has not come yet That day will not come until after two things have happened: rst, the rise of the great rebellion against God, and then the appearance of the man of sin, the instigator of the rebellion.”13 The aim of the apostle in this chapter, ... is the background to verses 8-10 of this Thessalonian passage B BEFORE THE REVELATION: ANTICHRIST (2:1-17) Chapter is the crux of the second letter Here Paul treats the problem vexing the Thessalonian... Christians The passage contains one of the New Testament? ??s fullest descriptions of the activity and defeat of Antichrist, called the “man of lawlessness [sin]” in 2:3 (See Chart 96.) The chapter’s... How, then, could the day of the Lord be upon us? So Paul wrote the second letter, instructing the church that the persecutions they were experiencing were not to be confused with the judgments of