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2:1 (Expositor’s)[My notes] NOW we beseech you, Brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (refers to both the Rapture and the Second Coming), and by our gathering together unto Him (this phrase refers strictly to the Rapture), 2 That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled (false doctrine does this), neither by spirit (messages in tongues and interpretation, which purport to be of the Lord, but really were not), nor by word (pertaining to those who claimed to have a Word from the Lord), nor by letter as from us (someone had written a letter claiming certain prophetic things, and evidently had signed Paul’s name to it, which means it was a forgery), as that the Day of Christ is at hand (should have been translated, “the Day of the Lord,” because this is how the best manuscripts read; the “Day of the Lord” refers to all events pertaining to [The Church;] some were claiming, even in Paul’s day, that the Second Coming was about to take place, which of course was wrong).

3 Let no man deceive you by any means (in other words, don’t listen to that which is Scripturally incorrect): for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (should have been translated, “for that day shall not come, except there come a departure first”; this speaks of [the deaths of The Apostles,] which, in essence, says the [2:3 falling away KJV or literaly ‘apostasy’ the word departure is misleading] cannot take place until certain things happen), and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (this speaks of the Antichrist [Roman System], who must come upon the world scene before the Second Coming);

4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God (pertains to his declaration of himself as Deity [as Caesars and Popes have done]), or that is worshipped (the Antichrist will put down all religions, at least in the area which he controls, making himself alone the object of worship); so that he as God sits in the Temple of God (refers to the Church as God’s Temple, The Antichrist will take over the Church, making it his religious headquarters), showing himself that he is God. (This proclaims his announcement of Deity as it regards himself.)

5 Don’t you remember, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (So, there was no excuse for the Thessalonians to be drawn away by false doctrine [which began soon after Paul died].) 6 And now you know what withholds (speaks of [the Apostle to] the Church) that he might be revealed in his time. (This speaks of the Antichrist who will be revealed or made known after the Apostles depart.)

7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work (concerns false teaching by false teachers): only he (the Church [and the Apostles]) who now lets (who now hinders evil) will let (will continue to hinder), until he ([The Apostle to] the Church) be taken out of the way. (The pronoun “he” confuses some people. In Verses 4 and 6, the pronoun “he” refers to the Antichrist, while in Verse 7 “he” refers to the [Apostle to the] Church.)