Leslie M. John
2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 ”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. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition”
In 2 Thess.2:3 there is a reference to 'falling away'. This word 'falling away' means that there will be apostasy. It also means that there will be deviation from the truth. It will be the beginning of sorrows when Antichrist is revealed. Those who hate Jesus will hand over believers to persecutions (Matt 24:9 and 10). The yielding to such persecutions will come as a result of the aggressive demands from the false teachers, temptations, and worldliness.
Those, who do not have enough knowledge of Jesus Christ, would yield to such persecutions, and those, who are strong enough in faith will resist such temptations, and persecutions. These persecutions are the result of 'great tribulation' from Antichrist, the 'man of sin', who is also called the 'son of perdition'. Antichrist will be revealed to the world, when Holy Spirit, the restrainer, who comforts believers in Christ, ceases to work in the world. The revealing of Antichrist will not be until the Holy Spirit, the 'restrainer' is taken away from the way. The believers, who are living and waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ to come again, will be 'caught up' together with those, who are dead in Christ. The dead in Christ will rise first to meet the Lord in the air and we, who are living and remain, shall be 'caught up' together with them in the clouds to be with the Lord for ever.
There is no reason for the believers in Christ to be sorrowful or worried about the things that shall come to pass after they are 'caught up'. It shall be the time for we, the believers to receive rewards at the 'Bema seat', while we are with the Lord in the clouds, as referred to in 2 Corinthians 5:10 and 1Peter 5:4 for the works that we have done on this earth. True, we do not want to gain the whole world and lose our soul. Our works should be to gain rewards from our Lord at the 'Bema Seat', when we are with the Lord Jesus Christ, on His coming in the clouds.
During the 'great tribulation' period Israel will cry for the Lord's mercy. This period is also called, ”Jacob's Trouble” ”Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it”. (Jeremiah 30:7)
Romans 11:28-32 ”As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all”.