Session 11 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

TIMING (2 THESS. 2:6-8)

READ:

Read aloud 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8, !`asking the group to listen for the sequence of events in the passage.

6 And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way,

8 and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming.

EXAMINE:

Lead the group to imagine they are the members of the church at Thessalonica to whom Paul was writing. Invite volunteers to name specific details or basic truths about Christ’s coming based on verses 6-8. Make sure these details are mentioned: Jesus will return as Victor and Judge; Jesus will gather His own; and Jesus will condemn forever Satan, all the forces of evil, and those who belong to Satan.

ASK:

• How should the list of events given by Paul impact a person’s belief about the return of Christ? (p. 95)

TRANSITION:

Paul explained that the lawless one would perform false signs and wonders in an effort to deceive people who reject Jesus.