2 Thessalonians 2:1 (KJV)
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
I think Albert Barnes has a right understanding of this verse as he writes, “It means, respecting his coming… As his views had been misunderstood or misrepresented, he now proposes to show them that there was nothing in the true doctrine which should create alarm… And by our gathering together unto him—there is manifest allusion here to what is said in the First Epistle, 1 Th 4:17, ‘then we shall be caught up together with them in the clouds;’ and the meaning is: ‘in reference to our being gathered unto him, I beseech you not to be shaken in mind, as if that event were near.’”
The Word of God appeals to the doctrine of the coming of the Lord and our rapture and gathering together as believers with the Lord when He comes.
But I disagree with Barnes’ final assessment that they had misunderstood him to mean the day is near. What the Word of God says in verse two is, 2 Thessalonians 2:2 (KJV)
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.
There’s a huge difference between “near” and “at hand.” In the one case, we see the day approaching. That’s a blessing. That’s an encouragement. In the other, the day is upon us—it’s happened. That would have been a tragedy because it would have meant the gathering together of the saints had already taken place and they had been left behind.
The implications are enormous and quite relevant in our current time, when so many have misunderstood the Bible to teach Christians will go through part or all the Tribulation. Second Thessalonians is in the Word of God to clarify and correct that misunderstanding. Before the Tribulation begins, before the man of sin is revealed, the Lord will come, as taught in 1 Thessalonians 4, and gather all the believers together with Him in the air.
And that is why we need not be shaken. There is no need to fear His coming because when that happens, we will be gathered to Him and escape the Tribulation. I’d be careful and pull away from anyone teaching otherwise.
#RaptureReady #BibleTruth #JesusIsComing #BlessedHope #EndTimesTeaching
Misconceptions About the Rapture: Why Our Gathering Together Gives Us Hope
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