2 Thessalonians 3 • Perspective on Life in the Waiting
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Do you get so disgusted with this wicked world that all you can think about is Jesus coming to take you away? Perhaps you have forgotten the purpose for which Christ has left you on earth. Children of the light are to be light-bearers to the unsaved ones around us. You can be a light-bearer in your home, in your neighborhood, in your community, and in your workplace. In the last post, we gained some biblical perspective on the Great Tribulation, including the Antichrist and his effect on humanity. This is post #12 in the Thessalonians series. In this post, we will gain perspective on some aspects of life in the waiting until Christ comes for us, including how we spend our days.
Figuring Out the Mystery
The border pieces are promises—good
Trying to understand all the prophecies about the end times is like having similar puzzle pieces without the picture on the box top to tell you how to arrange them. We can recognize the border pieces and put the four sides of the puzzle together. Those are events we know will definitely happen but not when or how the rest of the pieces fit inside the border. They are introduced to us in 1 and 2 Thessalonians.
- The Rapture takes place. One day, Jesus Christ will appear as Savior to gather His own together in the clouds. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
- The Great Tribulation begins. Known as “the day of the Lord,” it is a time during which God’s wrath against sin is directed toward earth. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)
- The Antichrist is revealed. The man of lawlessness or Antichrist takes over the world with force and deception. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12)
- Christ’s Second Coming. Christ is coming to exact justice against unbelievers and set up His kingdom on earth. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)
Those are the 4 sides to our puzzle. The pieces in the middle can only be put together correctly when God begins to work on it.
Obsessing on solving the puzzle—not good
Is the time for Jesus’ coming for believers getting closer? Yes. Every day it gets closer. But obsessing on end times prophecy is a waste of time. It is pointless to try to figure out who the Antichrist is. As 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 clearly states, the Antichrist will not be revealed until after the restrainer is removed who is likely the presence of the Holy Spirit through believers. The Rapture of living believers will remove the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives throughout the earth. You cannot figure it out no matter how hard you try.
Yet, we humans love figuring out mysteries. And prophecy about the last days is the biggest mystery ever. Why is it that we feel like we have to know how it all works out when we have absolutely no control over making it work out? God alone knows how the puzzle pieces fit together inside the border, inside the signs He gave us that the time was finally here.
A popular Bible teacher from years past once said this,
If I teach the Book of Revelation, I can fill the church (even during midweek service), but if I begin teaching Romans, I can practically empty the church. I find there are people who will run all the way across [town] to find out from a speaker just how many hairs are in the horse’s tail in Revelation. … There are a great many people more interested in Antichrist than they are in Christ. (J. Vernon McGee, Through the Bible: Genesis through Revelation, Vol. 5, p. 476)
That is sad but true. Maybe that describes you. That is why in this series of blogs, we have focused on what we know to be true from the text and what is really important for us to know. That includes perspective on life in the waiting—the UNTIL time. There are things we can do now that fit with God’s purpose for us now.
Pray for God’s Word to Spread
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
Notice that Paul asked for prayer that the Lord’s Word would spread rapidly and be honored—not his (Paul’s) word. That includes the Gospel message and all the truth expressed throughout the New Testament about our life in Christ. First, the message must be spread. Then, Paul desired it to be received—that’s fruitfulness from the spreading of the Lord’s message.
We as believers in this time of waiting can and should be diligently praying for the message of the Lord to be spread through our pastors, teachers, children’s classes, youth ministries, local missions, and foreign missions. We can ask the Lord to draw nonbelievers to our churches so they can hear the Word explained and receive it with faith. We can ask the Lord to help us spread His light to our neighbors, co-workers, and friends and that they would receive it (1 Thessalonians 5). Those who trust in Christ today will be saved from the wrath of God tomorrow—whenever that occurs.
Rely on God for Deliverance and Strength
And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. (2 Thessalonians 3:2-5)
In verse 2, the word “delivered” means rescued, away from. Paul was in Corinth writing this letter. The unbelieving Jews were opposing Paul there and brought him to court. Assuming the Thessalonians prayed for Paul, the Lord Jesus answered their prayer by encouraging Paul through a vision (Acts 18:9-10). He told Paul to not be afraid and to keep on speaking for no one would attack and harm him. Then, He also worked through a government official to release Paul and declare him innocent of any crime. The Lord had many in Corinth who needed to hear the message and would receive it.
God is faithful to His own. He is faithful to do all that He promised to everyone who believes in Jesus. He will sanctify us and present us blameless in His sight. He will give us the perseverance we need to face any trial (1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13). What He starts in us, He will complete. No one will be lost or discarded. He is our security blanket (2 Thessalonians 1). We just need to trust Him and be teachable as He works in us.
Recommended: Read “1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 • Perspective on Suffering” for more information about perseverance and “2 Thessalonians 1 • Perspective on God’s Justice and Mercy” to see why we can consider God our security blanket.
The Thessalonians need to love each other well, to stand strong to keep the church strong, and to not let it weaken through irresponsible members. So do we in the waiting time.
Work Productively and Avoid Idleness
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” 11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12)
One of the by-products of an excessive interest in prophecy is idleness when it comes to doing the work of the Lord today. Sitting around just waiting for Jesus’ appearing is not pleasing to God. Yet, that was happening in Thessalonica. And I have seen it happen today.
Idle and disruptive
Idleness must have been a common problem in Thessalonica as Paul mentions it several times (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; 5:14; and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15). The text refers to someone who is unruly in such a way that it affects the lives of others. They were causing turmoil in the community, meddling in other people’s lives as busybodies. They were not working and had too much time on their hands. We see evidence of this in Acts 17:5.
The Greek word translated “busybodies” (verse 11) means “to bustle about uselessly, to busty one’s self about trifling, needless, useless matters.” They were busybodies instead of busy workers. When you are a busybody, you lose focus on what is important. You distract others from their work. You get nothing done for yourself. And, frankly, too much time on your hands can easily lead to sinfulness. That is one of the dangers of having too much wealth so that you do not feel the need to work. It can also refer to someone choosing not to work and depending on others to support you. That seems to be the context in this passage—the will to work. It is not addressing those who are seeking jobs, those who work in the home for their families, or those who are disabled.
Paul and his team set the example of work for the church. They were not idle. Even though they could have expected to be paid for their teaching, they chose to earn the money to pay for their own food. Do not get alarmed by the phrase “night and day” (verse 8). Remember that Paul and his team were single men who considered the Thessalonians to be their family. They were not neglecting their family just to earn more money (greed) or to gain prestige for themselves (pleasing men, 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6). In everything, they aimed to please God. Work is good.
Work because God is a worker
God is a worker who is always at work. He is never retired! And He has designed us to be purposeful with our time, energy, and skills. We are co-workers with Him (Psalm 8:4-6; Ephesians 2:10; and 2 Thessalonians 1:11). When you are working with your God-given skills, all work can be an act of worship.
In Colossians chapter 3, we read these words,
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24)
Christ has a purpose for you in your workplace during this time of waiting for Him to come and gather His own. Christians should make the best employees and employers. Work brings in provision for yourself and your family plus having enough to share with others.
When you are working in an office or on the factory floor or in your home, you are serving Jesus Christ with your work. Your everyday run of the mill job can be as much a sacred ministry for the Lord as teaching Sunday School. Your work is an act of worship, not a curse.
Your workplace (be it home, office, factory floor, school room, or road construction) is your mission field. Your work environment is where you must intentionally practice letting Jesus live His life through you—in difficult situations, with challenging people, and with integrity that honors the Lord Jesus Christ. We spend a great deal of time at work but may not see how our work intersects with our faith.
Recommended: Read the article “Counter the “Work Is Secular” Infection” to see how to view your work as both worship and ministry.
Be a light-bearer
It is easy for Christians to get so disgusted with this wicked world that all they can think about is Jesus coming to take them away. They are not suicidal. They are forgetting the purpose for which Christ has left them on earth. Children of the light are to be light-bearers to the unsaved ones around us. When you are a light-bearer, you are intentionally carrying a light to lead the way for someone, not just for yourself. You can be a light-bearer in your home, in your neighborhood, in your community, and in your workplace.
And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. (2 Thessalonians 3:13)
So, how do you live in your daily mission field—wherever it is? You do everything you learned in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5—living as children of the light, as light-bearers. Even if you are retired from income-producing work, being an intentional light-bearer still applies to you. You still have that work to do to spread God’s light into the darkness.
Recommended: Read “1 Thessalonians 1:6-10 • Perspective on Spreading the Light” for more information on being a light-bearer.
Authority and Authenticity
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16-18)
The Lord of peace Himself (Jesus Christ) gives you peace at all times and in every way—including during this time of waiting for Him to come for us. One of the ways He gives us peace is through our confidence in the Bible being authentic.
Paul knew that so he ended this letter as he did all the others he wrote with words he penned himself so his letters could be distinguished as authentic. (1 Corinthians 16:21; Galatians 6:11; and Colossians 4:18). This avoided the problem of forgeries, as in 2 Thessalonians 2:2. The church leaders knew for sure which ones were definitely from him. This should give you confidence that these letters we have studied were written by Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Recommended: Read “1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 • Perspective on God’s Word” for more discussion of the inspiration and reliability of God’s Word.
The next article will give a preview of what is in store for our future when Jesus’ kingdom begins on earth.
Let Jesus satisfy your heart with His perspective on life in the present and in the future. Then, live securely in Him during this time of waiting.
The above information is covered in our Perspective Bible Study of 1 & 2 Thessalonians.
Related Resources:
- Satisfied Series 13 Podcasts on 1 and 2 Thessalonians
- Counter the “Work Is Secular” Infection
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 • Perspective on Suffering
- 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10 • Perspective on Spreading the Light
AI was not used to generate this post.