Left Behind?

In 2 Thess.2 Paul had to correct a misunderstanding. It seems that the false teachers and persecutors of this young church were going around telling them that their persecution was really the persecution of the Tribulation. They claimed that these Christians had missed the Rapture and were now in the Tribulation hour. In this chapter Paul corrects this false charge and misleading information. He begins by telling them not to be shaken or troubled by any false letter that claims that the Day of Christ (Rapture) had already come -v.2; because this simply wasn't true. He goes on to say that "that Day (the Day of the LORD-the Tribulation) will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed (the anti-Christ), the son of perdition" -v.3. [By the way, there's only two men in the Bible referred to as the 'son of perdition': Judas Iscariot and Anti-Christ.] What Paul is saying here to the Thessalonians is "you can't be in the Tribulation yet, because first the Rapture and then the revealing of Anti-Christ. If we're in the Tribulation, then where is the anti-Christ? He would go to the Temple and sit there and declare that he is God -v4, but that hasn't happened. Don't you remember? I told you all of these things when I was with you -v.5. And not only that, the Restrainer, the Holy Spirit, is holding evil back. But one day He will be taken out of the way -v.7 Then, the anti-Christ will be revealed -v8a. But then Jesus comes back at the end of seven years of Tribulation and consumes him with the breath of His mouth -v.8b (and see Rev.19:15). So, you see, you can't be in the Tribulation yet."
But a word of warning. Get saved today. Why? Because those who will not receive the love of truth (the gospel) that they might be saved -v.10, will be left behind and be seduced by the lies of the anti-Christ -v.11 and thus be condemned forever -v12. This was Paul's correction and warning to them and us. The Rapture is the next event on God's prophetic calendar and it could be at any moment. So don't stand on the brink of eternity and gamble with your soul. Get saved today. Turn from your sins and place your faith in Christ. And then join other brothers and sisters in Christ as we witness for the King while we wait for His return. Come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen!