Second Thessalonians Table of Contents
CONTENTS
Abbreviations v
Chapter One: Opening Statement 1
The Debate 1
The Premise 2
The Passage 3
The Presuppositions and Assumptions 4
Chapter Two: Subject, Purpose, and Structure of 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12
Overview 7
Subject – The First Key 8
Translations 8
Commentaries 8
Subject Identified 13
Parousia 13
Shorthand 16
Purpose 18
Structure 26
That Which Precedes 27
That Which Restrains 29
That Which Follows 31
Number of Men – The Second Key 31
Chapter Summary 33
Looking Ahead 34
Chapter Three: That Which Precedes the Coming and Gathering
(2 Thess 2:3–5)
Overview 37
Denial That the Coming and Gathering Has Occurred (v. 3a) 37
Proof That the Coming and Gathering Has Not Occurred (vv. 3b–4) 39
Apostasy 40
Man of Sin Revealed 43
Rebuke of the Thessalonians (v. 5) 57
Chapter Summary 58
Looking Ahead 58
Chapter Four: That Which Restrains the Coming and Gathering
(2 Thess 2:6–7)
Overview 61
Who Is to Be Revealed? 62
Antecedent 63
Purpose 64
In His Time 65
Section Summary 74
What Is the Restraining Force? 75
Katechō – Definition 75
Katechon – Interpretation 77
Mystery of Lawlessness 79
How Can Lawlessness Restrain? 81
Section Summary 83
Who Is Restraining That Force? 83
Taken out of the Way/Midst 86
The Coming and Gathering 90
Chapter Summary 91
Looking Ahead 92
Chapter Five: That Which Follows the Coming and Gathering
(2 Thess 2:8–12)
Overview 95
Structure 95
Revelation of the Lawless One 96
Title, Traits, and Fate of the Lawless One 98
Title 98
Traits 99
Fate 104
Lawless One vs. Man of Sin Summary 106
Followers of the Lawless One 107
Epiphany of the Lord Jesus 108
Chapter Summary 110
Looking Ahead 111
Chapter Six: Confirming Witnesses
Overview 115
H. A. Ironside 115
Apostle John 116
First Beast 117
The Saints 119
Second Beast 128
Followers 133
Chapter Summary 134
Looking Ahead 135
Chapter Seven: Eschatological Significance of 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12
Overview 141
That Which Precedes the Coming and Gathering 142
Imminence 143
Rapture Before Tribulation? 144
Section Summary 149
That Which Restrains the Coming and Gathering 150
Impact on the Church 150
Impact on Witnessing 151
Impact on Conversion/Salvation 154
Section Summary 157
That Which Follows the Coming and Gathering 158
Chapter Eight: Closing Argument
The Keys 163
Not Before 164
In His Time 165
Not After 166
During 167
Appendix A: Day of the Lord or Day of Christ in 2 Thessalonians 2:2?
Overview 169
Day of the Lord 170
Familiarity of Term 170
Nature of the Day 171
Desirability of the Day 172
Objects of the Day 173
Location of the Day 173
Occurrences of the Day 174
Day of Christ 175
Familiarity of Term 175
Nature of the Day 175
Desirability of the Day 177
Objects of the Day 178
Location of the Day 178
Occurrences of the Day 180
The Days Compared 182
Textual Evidence 183
Contextual Evidence 190
Conclusion 193
Appendix B: Man of Sin or Man of Lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2:3?
Overview 195
Anomia to Hamartia 196
Textual Evidence 198
Context 202
Hamartia to Anomia 203
Pairing 204
Reading Ahead 205
Stemma 209
Conclusion 211
Appendix C: Temple of God in 2 Thessalonians 2:4
Overview 213
Heavenly Temple 214
Motif 215
The Church 215
Existing Temple 221
Rebuilt Temple 224
Conclusion 228
Works Cited and Other Helpful References 229
Scripture Index 245
Modern Author Index 247
Subject Index 249