Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

Ever wonder why this world does not seem to reward according to merit at times? Why it gravitates to rewarding evil and all kinds of depravity?  I have. But what I see here in this passage is that even back in Biblical times, “the secret power of lawlessness” was already at work. And it is at work today. It pushes this world to a point when the Antichrist will come.

So the struggle, the hardship, the persecution of innocents — these are all signs and symptoms of a world bent on total rebellion against God.

How do we rest in the knowledge of the second coming of Jesus Christ? I must have faith and resolve and patience for it. I must understand my mission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭19‬-‭20‬)

Just before this passage, it says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬). So when we recognize his authority in this world and in our lives, we also understand that he is waiting for the right time to come back.

This takes a mindset shift. I must shift from focusing on my comfort, my needs, and my desires, to focusing on understanding God’s will. His will (about the delay in his coming) is clearly communicated here: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (‭‭II Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬)

So I stand confident that no one can deceive me because the Word of God instructs me about the second coming of Christ Jesus!

Lord, thank you that you spoke here on earth directly, and through Peter, Paul, Silas, and Timothy to put to rest confusion about your second coming. I stand confident in my faith in you to come through and rejoice in the spiritual wins I am experiencing as I focus on making disciples and teaching them all you have commanded!