Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 2
Gary responds to comments on Facebook about the man of lawlessness (or sin) from 2 Thessalonians 2.
Is “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” a reference to the Second Coming, that is, an event that is still in our future, or is it a coming in judgment upon first-century Jerusalem that would be the event to bring the “last days” to a close (2 Thess. 2:1)? The word translated “coming” in verse 1 is the Greek word parousia, best translated as “presence” in other contexts (2 Cor. 10:10; Phil. 2:12). “The term itself does not mean ‘return’ or ‘second’ coming; it simply means ‘arrival’ or ‘presence.’ Applying it to Christ’s coming from heaven in a sense changes what the word connotes.”[1] N. T. Wright agrees:
The word ‘parousia’ is itself misleading, anyway, since it merely means ‘presence’; Paul can use it of his being present with a church, and nobody supposes that he imagined he would make his appearance flying downwards on a cloud…. The church expected certain events to happen within a generation and happen they did, though there must have been moments between AD 30 and 70 when some wondered if they would and in consequence took up the Jewish language of delay. Jerusalem fell; the good news of Jesus, and the kingdom of Israel’s God, was announced in Rome, as well as in Jerusalem and Athens.[2]
Translating parousia as “coming” is not improper, however, since the Bible’s use of “coming” does not always mean bodily travel, as so many Old and New Testament passages make clear. In addition, we know that the Bible clearly states that “the coming [parousia] of the Lord” was said to be “at hand,” that is, “near” to Christians living prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 (James 5:8). How could James have told his readers to “be patient … until the “coming of the Lord” if the Lord’s coming was not “near” for them? James bases his call for patience upon the fact that the Lord’s coming was near, near for those who first read his letter. “James clearly believed, as others of his time did, that the Coming of Christ was imminent. Since, then, there is not long to wait, his plea for patience is greatly reinforced.”[3]
So then, our understanding of 2 Thessalonians 2:1 must be considered within the time frame of the parousia that was said to be “near” for the first- century church. As we will see, Paul was not countering the belief that the Thessalonians were under a false impression that Jesus’ coming was near. The nearness of Jesus’ coming—a coming in judgment upon Jerusalem— was an accepted New Testament doctrine. Rather, Paul was correcting their misconception that the Day of the Lord had already taken place.
Last Days Madness
In this authoritative book, Gary DeMar clears the haze of "end-times" fever, shedding light on the most difficult and studied prophetic passages in the Bible, including Daniel 7:13-14; 9:24-27; Matt. 16:27-28; 24-25; Thess. 2; 2 Peter 3:3-13, and clearly explaining a host of other controversial topics.
Buy NowOn this second episode of Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope, Gary deals with comments on Facebook about the man of lawlessness (or sin) from 2 Thessalonians 2.
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[1] Ben Witherington III, Jesus, Paul and the End of the World: A Comparative Study in New Testament Eschatology (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992), 152.
[2] N. T. Wright, The New Testament and the People of God (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1992), 463.
[3] C. Leslie Mitton, The Epistle of James (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1966), 186-187.