Today's Passage - 2 Thess 2:1-4

2 Thess 2: 1-4   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.   Paul talked about the end time in this passage.  In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus also talked about the signs of the end time, how there will be famines and earthquakes everywhere, nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and these events will only increase.  We will see that there'll be wars everywhere, but the Bible teaches us now to panic because it all points to the coming to the Lord, and we ought to view all these events with hope in our hearts. Paul also talked about one other sign, where the spirit of anti-Christ will rise, which is what he referred to as "man of lawlessness" in this passage.  In the past, people have interpreted this as a particular person, but lately most believe that anti-Christ is not a person, but rather an authority.  In the end time, there will be authorities that defy God and elevate men working in the world.  Many places now are defying God and lifting up idols and people, plus much false teaching.  Many are original in Christian faith, but then departed from it.  When you see these things happen, Paul taught us not to be surprised, because they are all normal in the end time.  Many openly defy God, many claim to be god.  We ought to stay calm and be cautious, because these things are bound to happen in the end time.   When we face the end time, we must be alert and stay cautious in all things.  Nowadays, the level of security checks imposed on travelers in airports did not exist before, but since 911 terror attack normal life in the U.S. has gone through drastic change.  Since people know that there's a chance of danger around us, we become more alert than ever.  In the same way, Christians must stay alert spiritually.  We must understand what will take place in the end time, not to wonder what's happening, but to stay alert and cautious.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we thank you because your word has told us clearly what will happen in the end time so that we will be well prepared.  Help us to be cautious and stay alert, so that we will bear witness of love in our daily life.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!   Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - We have almost reached our Phase I Target!  Click here to donate online.