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