2 Thessalonians 2
“having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone”
Ephesians 2:20
The Church of God must be founded on the apostles’ teachings, on the words of the prophets, and on the total obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the basis of the True Church of God.
But in the church, there are bound to be people who would not esteem this basis, instead, they would rather follow after their selfish pride, thinking they knew all things.
For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Galatians 6:3
It was the presence of such people in the Thessalonian church that caused trouble among the brethren; they twisted what Paul had taught them regarding the Last Days. (ref. 2Thes.2:5)
Bible Passage: 2 Thessalonians 2
In the Thessalonian church, there were already seeds of falsehood being sown among the brethren, and in this 2nd letter of Paul, he wanted to correct the wrong understanding regarding the 2nd coming of Christ.
Some believe that the Day of the Lord had already come, but Paul refuted this “teaching”, and he reminded them that before the Lord come again, a great apostasy must first take place.
It is true that although no one knows the time and day of Jesus’ 2nd coming, but it can be observed. Our Lord had made this fact explicit to His disciples,
So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!
Matthew 24:33
So to the Thessalonians, Paul wanted them to beware of false teachings regarding the 2nd coming of Christ, and to hold fast to the traditions that were taught to them by the apostles.
For us today, we know that we are living in the Last Days because the signs that our Lord Jesus had told us (in Matthew 24) are all coming to pass.
In these Last Days, we are living in a world that is filled with deceptions and temptations, we need to be alert and truly walk on our ‘spiritual toes’ by holding fast to the teachings of the apostles and to keep the good traditions passed down by them.
Besides the false teachings or predictions of the End Times by Christians that we must be weary of, there are also many other ploys of Satan that can lead God’s elects to their destruction.
Therefore we have to be very careful as we live in this world, to hold on fast to Jesus by knowing His word better day by day. Keep the traditions of the apostles recorded in the Holy Bible, and we will not fall into the snares of the devil.
False brethren sowing seeds of falsehood will surely be present in the Church of God, but let us be on our guard not to be numbered among these false brethren who cause disunity in the Church.
God’s loving eyes are always looking at us, not to find faults but to guide and protect. We must fear God and to humbly keep His word with a faithful heart.
And as siblings in the Family of God, let us watch each other’s backs, so that we can wield off the evil darts from the adversary.
Tomorrow night is the beginning of our Year End Spiritual Meeting, let us all come together with one heart to enjoy the Feast of the Lord, and to learn His Word so that we all can grow in our spiritual lives.
May God have mercy on us and guide in these Last Days.
Shalom.