2 Thessalonians 2, What’s Bothering You?, Dr. John B. Carpenter

2 Thessalonians 2: The Day of the Lord and the Man of Lawlessness

2 Thessalonians chapter 2, be reading the entire chapter, hear the word of the Lord. Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you brothers not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed either by a spirit or a spoken word or a letter seeming to be from us to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

Let no one deceive you in any way for the day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed the son of destruction who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called God or object of worship so that he takes his seat in the temple of God proclaiming himself to be God.

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things and you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way and then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power in false signs and wonders and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.

Therefore God sends them a strong delusion so that they may believe what is false in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you brothers beloved by the Lord because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved through the sanctification by the spirit and belief in the truth.

To this he called you through our gospel so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then brothers stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us either by our spoken word or by our letter.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. May the Lord add his blessings to the reading of his holy word.

Don’t Be Quickly Shaken by End-Times Speculation

Well are you bothered by something? Maybe a personal problem? Want to come up and share now? We all come up and tell what's bothering us. A lot of people have something that is bothering them, a relationship problem or maybe a lack of a relationship, something going on at the job or in the family, a health problem maybe or money problems which means not enough of it.

I've never heard anyone complain about money problems. I got too much of it. We're bothered by it but most of us learn to carry a certain load of bother not panic because we're a little bit bothered by this or that.

We know that the world isn't coming to an end if we have not quite enough money. We're gonna have to take a second job whatever to make ends meet or whatever or if we're a little overweight or something just isn't perfect.

We're bothered but not devastated. So what's bothering you? If you invest in the stock market you learn that it's easily bothered. If there's some rumor or some bad news investors will panic and sell.

When the pandemic hit almost four years ago now it crashed and smart investors knew that was the time to keep a level head and at least hold on or even if you're really a venturesome buy. Don't be rattled by the short-term news.

The stock market rewards the stable who aren't spooked by emergencies, who aren't easily bothered. Well the unstable are easily shaken in their relationships. They might panic if they don't get a reassuring text message every hour from their boy or girlfriend.

They'll live from drama to drama sometimes provoking the dramas themselves by reading into some comment you know some benign comment like you couldn't you couldn't do better nap out of it that was a long time ago or chill out and they'll react what do you mean by that they'll put the most dramatic interpretation on the comment and then be deeply bothered by their interpretation.

Or maybe it's a lack of a comment what's not said then they panic haven't heard reassuring words in an hour or two the relationship or the family is is falling apart. I'm gonna die alone and forsaken always drama.

We have something similar in churchdom world crises often provoke a wave of in times teachers and preachers and writers trying to capitalize on the panicking people. They say if you want to pack a church announced you're gonna have a in times conference and talk about the antichrist and the rapture and that kind of thing and then people will flock to hear that they're often provoked when things are bad out in the world.

There's there's a war started something like that's going on in the 1970s when america seemed weak and communism seemed strong. There's a fall of south vietnam. There was the bad economy all kinds of crazy things going on.

There was a craze of in time speculation with the book the late great planet earth being the best-selling non-fiction book of the entire decade. A copy of it was in my high school library and i read it and through that i was converted in early 1991 when iraq invaded kuwait and the u .s was threatening to attack an american preacher in singapore preached a series on how this was a sign of the end.

It's going to bring gog and may gog from the north and then are again. And all that's going to start didn't quite pan out. I'm sure there was another outbreak after september 11th 2001. About a decade ago there was a craze about blood moons.

Like with a book for blood moons which hit the bestseller list after. There was an unusual spate of the moon appearing red which happens when the moon is in the earth's shadow or umbra. Some people think about that.

Some people are so unstable that if the moon happens to fall in the earth's shadow they take that as a dire sign of a soon-coming catastrophe. And some enterprising writers take that as an opportunity to make some money.

The point is some people are easily troubled. They're unstable. Well here the apostle tells the church not to be easily bothered. Be stable calm down. When it comes to thinking about the end we see that here in three very unequal parts.

The Day of the Lord, the Rapture, and the Rebellion

First the problem where we'll spend most of our time. Second the promise and finally the prayer. Well the problem is that the thessalonians are troubled. They're shaken. In verse 2 the word there described a boat was tossed in the waves.

Imagine a small boat out on the waves and describe someone which is unstable and upset by some news they think has come here. It's caused by someone telling them that paul is saying that the day of the lord has already come.

The day of the lord is the old testament way of speaking of god's judgment. Well we would call the second coming but in the old testament is called the day of the lord. It's also used sometimes like here in the new testament.

Isaiah chapter 2 verse 12 says. The lord of host has a day against all that is proud and lofty. It comes with fire. And so it is the same as what paul referred to in chapter 1 verse 5 as god's righteous judgment.

That's why he described it like he did there in chapter 1 j revelation with god's powerful angels and flaming fire inflicting vengeance bringing eternal destruction. So it's not something is subtle or mystical or private or deniable.

If you can debate whether jesus has come i mean there's someone willing to say no he hasn't come. If you can debate that topic well then he has it. So don't be shaken by claims that he has come now. Here in chapter 2 paul is addressing that problem directly concerning the coming or the appearance as the key word the appearance in greek is parousia the appearance of our lord jesus christ when he appears in a way that is seen by all.

And in the second half of verse one are being gathered together with him what some people now call the rapture. Don't be bothered by claims that it happens or that is has already happened. Notice the order of the named events right.

The appearance of our lord jesus christ and are being gathered together to him. Over the last century or so many evangelical christians have accepted the idea that the rapture happens before christ returns usually seven years before.

But notice here two things. First paul mentions the appearing that's the second coming. Right. Remember the appearance of our lord jesus christ. He mentions that first that's the second coming and then the gathering what's now called the rapture which some say is separate from and before the second coming.

But why would he mention the second coming first if it was after the rapture. If you remember last year when we're first thessalonians chapter four and five. Well we saw that the rapture is part of the events of the second coming.

It's the glorification or the resurrection of believers who are alive when jesus comes. I don't know if you call it a resurrection because they're not dead but it's their glorification. We saw that it's like the practice in their day when a king would come visit one of his cities an entourage from the city would go out to meet him.

Right. You don't just wait for the king to come right in you go out to meet him when he's nearby and escort him into the city. And so when jesus comes to the earth over which he already has all authority his people us will go to meet him and escort him back were his entourage.

So here paul mentions first verse one jesus is appearing. And then when that happens our gathering to meet him now. Second remember the problem. The thessalonians are bothered by the report that the day of the lord has already happened.

It's kind of over and somehow they missed it. Now if paul had been teaching them a pre-tribulation rapture that is that christ gathers his people years before his second coming. If he'd been teaching them that then you would expect him to say right.

When you don't you know that it could not have happened yet because you haven't been raptured yet. Right. Wouldn't be. Wouldn't that be the first objection. The in fact so obvious an objection the thessalonians would have come to it themselves.

But he doesn't say that. Indeed in verse three when he says let no one deceive you in any way for that day will not come that day the day of the lord. The second coming will not come unless something happens first.

He doesn't say unless the rapture happened first unless we're gathered first unless the church is taken out of the world first because god can't pour out his wrath on the earth while the church is in it.

He doesn't say anything like that. He lists things that will have to happen before christ returns before he appears a rapture is not one of them. The problem is that the thessalonians were bothered by the report that paul was saying the day of the lord has already happened.

And so verse two don't be shaken in your mind or disturbed. Don't be bothered by a spirit. Probably mean he means a prophecy someone prophesying the say of the lord i've returned already. Or a spoken word that is someone telling you.

Or a letter in my name. Paul says you know if it says it's from me. You get this letter from someone some messenger gives it to. You don't know who he is and he. And the letter says christ has already appeared.

Oh then you know it's a forgery. Just ball it up throw it away. Because at verse three that day will not come unless three things happen. First first the rebellion. Second the man of lawlessness is revealed.

And third the restrainer is taken away. The rebellion translates the greek word which you'll recognize or learn a little greek. It's apostasy apostasy. And so some people take that to mean well that it's just that.

It's just what we call in english an apostasy a religious falling away. But it the word in greek generally just means kind of any kind of rebellion a military revolt a political insurrection or a religious apostasy.

What is the rebellion. Well here they're waiting on the rebellion. The day of the lord christ's second coming can't happen first unless the rebellion happens first. And then after that christ can come and we will be gathered to him.

But but what is it. What's the rebellion that we're waiting on here. Is it the jewish rebellion against roman rule that started in 80 66. Right. We don't know. You know your ancient history. This letter was probably written about 80 50.

So the jewish rebellion hasn't happened yet. It'll come in about another 16 years. Is that what he's referring to is what is that what they're waiting on. Maybe. Or is it a religious apostasy like the falling away.

Much of the formerly eastern and southern roman empire was for a while was mostly christian became islamic fell away apostasized into islam in the 7th century. Or is it the acceptance of icons into christian worship which really just idolatry which would which had been icons have been strictly prohibited but were imposed on the church in 787.

Or is it the slow slide into sacramentalism how many began kind of in the early church but particularly in the middle ages. Or is it protestant liberalism. Or today is it the great de-churching that's going on right now in america paul tells them not to be troubled because the righteous judgment of god won't come until the rebellion comes first.

Like he was expecting one singular kind of massively important rebellion now. Our problem now is that we have a lot of rebellions to choose from. Right. You just listed a few of them. You can name more.

Which rebellion is it. Paul if we could talk back like 2 000 years ago there's a lot of apostasies. Now it fit the bill. So whatever it is and avoiding speculation a lot of people like to get carried away by speculation over the chapter.

But whatever it is whether it's the jewish roman war of 66 to 70 or something else for us it's already happened. At least enough of them have happened to fit the bill and so the day of the lord can happen.

And at any time at least as far as the rebellion is concerned. Well the second thing that must happen is that the man of lawlessness must be revealed. Interesting that the word for man of lawless is being revealed is the same word as for christ being revealed in chapter 1 verse 7.

It's where we get the word apocalypse from. At the apocalypse there are revelations. That's what apocalypse means. The book of revelations. The book of apocalypse are revelations of the revelations both of christ he's revealed and of his opposite.

And first john called the antichrist and revelation called the beast here second thessalonians 2 the man of lawlessness he must be revealed before the day of the lord before god's righteous judgment. For the second coming before it has come.

Now who is he. Who is the antichrist. But you've all wanted to know. Now we'll find out for certain. Well we see four descriptions of him here. His first title is the man of lawlessness which shows that he's antinomian and he's against law.

He doesn't recognize any law beyond himself that binds him. He doesn't submit to any standards that are beyond himself that can restrict him or guide him. He's what the 19th century philosopher friedrich nietzsche called the superman or ubermensch in german the overman.

He's over everyone. All the rest of you simple people are bound by laws but not me. I'm i'm one of the ubermensch the over people the superman. He he lives as if god is dead. And so he doesn't submit to any laws from god but imposes his own will on others as the law.

It's the triumph of the will. It's what nazism was all about. It's seen in there in the 19th. In the 18th century french king louis the 14th the sun king who said i am the state. It's seen in the 19th century pope pius the ninth declaring i am the church.

It's seen about a decade ago when the u .s supreme court thought it could arbitrarily redefine marriage. It thought it had the power to do that something that lasted from all of human civilization here this is what we think it is.

It's all lawlessness. Second the antichrist is doomed. He is at the end of verse three the son of destruction which means it's in his nature to be destroyed. It's his destiny. He will be destroyed. He will go in the scrap heap of history.

Now he'll think he's a champion a winner. And he'll boast about it today. They'll say well we'll be on the right side of history. History is going to prove us right. Well no it won't. The antichrist is destined to lose.

Third the antichrist is the enemy the the opposition. In verse four he sets himself in opposition to god or anything that is worshiped anything that is exalted besides himself. He can't stand the idea that someone somewhere is worshiping and admiring and praising anyone other than himself.

So he is the enemy of what other people like us worship. He's our enemy now. He is the same spirit we've seen in this country over the past few years trying to tear down statues to anyone who is respected always smearing anyone that was respected in the battle find something wrong about.

They've been sure there's something wrong about every mortal. And they'll say tear it down because they want they want to be respected. He's like communist dictators who oppose anything to be worshipped other than themselves.

Like in north korea christianity has flourished in south korea. But in the north the dictator opposes anyone or anything being worshipped besides himself. Fourth. The antichrist is the self-exalter. He promotes himself.

So he exalts himself above all even above all gods. So after what we just talked about how he's the enemy of god or gods of religion or of anything that is put that is respected above him. Anyone else who was admired besides that tearing down everything else he builds up exalts himself.

Now we've had men rise up who promoted themselves like caligula who ordered the roman emperor who ordered an idol of himself to be set up in the temple in jerusalem god's temple in jerusalem but he died before it was followed through or demission roman emperor near the end of the first century who proclaimed himself and this is put on his coins lord and god.

And we've well he didn't keep him from dying. And we've seen some who are particularly enemies of the lord and tried to stamp out worship of the lord like antiochus or antiochus. Do you remember from daniel the little horn who boasts great things and does as he pleases and who opposed the worship of the lord tried to kill the lord's people.

We saw that we saw all about that in daniel. But until modern times i don't know of any leader like this in second thessalonians 2 who opposes all other gods. Even antiochus set up an idol to zeus and he didn't set up an idol to himself.

He didn't oppose the worship of the great pantheon. So this suggests here in second thessalonians 2 someone other than the roman emperors because they didn't oppose other gods either. The romans wanted the people to have their gods.

They got to believe in all gods anything as long as it kept you in line. They were all for it even if they required them to burn a pinch of incense to the spirit of the emperor. They persecuted the christians not for believing in jesus but because the christians did not believe in any other god especially not that caesar was lord.

They would not say that. That's why he would persecute them. Now i don't know anyone in ancient times who was an enemy of all other gods like what we've seen in modern times particularly from communism like what's described here in second thessalonians 2.

Here in verse 4 he is the man of lawlessness whom john calls in first john 2 as the antichrist he takes his seat like he's enthroned in the temple of god proclaiming himself as a god. Now who is this.

Now. Does it refer to the literal temple in jerusalem. The temple of god. I think. Well there's got to be that literal temple. But we don't have any record of anyone enthroning himself in that temple and declaring himself to be a god before it was destroyed in 80 70.

There's nothing i think i believe is the roman general titus who eventually conquered jerusalem. He didn't do that as far as we know. Or is the temple the church. Paul calls the church the temple of god.

So does the man of lawlessness. Lawlessness set himself up as head of the church the vicar a representative of christ in christ's place claiming to have the chair of saint peter that is where he sits and he speaks ex cathedra latin.

For from the chair both the westminster confession of faith and the 1689 london baptist confession say that's who the man of lawlessness is. He's the self-idolizer who tries to get you to believe in himself and his organization rather than in christ.

The Mystery of Lawlessness and the Restrainer

Now we might wish we knew what paul had told the thessalonians. He mentions in verse 5 like it sounds like to me there's something he doesn't want to put on paper. It's fatal. Other people will see it outside the in verse 5 do you not remember that when i was when i was with you i told you these things i told you.

But we believe scripture is sufficient and so we're told everything we need to know. So be content with what is revealed and don't be bothered by speculations like the thessalonians were. They were bothered by the claim that the day of the lord had already come.

But paul tells them that the third thing that has to happen before that day is in verse 6 that the restrainer has to be taken out of the way. There's something or someone restraining the man of lawlessness.

And so when he's taken out of the way then the man of lawlessness will be revealed. It'll be obvious who he is. Oh that's who he is. He's been. He's been held back by something up until now. And then whatever is holding him back is no longer there.

And so now we see who he is. Now what's restraining him. Well some say it's the church. The church is restraining the antichrist. And when the church is taken out of the way at the rapture then he is revealed.

They say. But that wouldn't make any sense. In verse 6 he tells the thessalonians. Paul speaking of thessalonians you church you know what is restraining him. Whatever it was whatever the strainer was.

They knew it. They knew what paul was referring to. Paul had taught it to them. But if it was the church restraining and they knew it which they did they couldn't possibly think the day of the lord had come already because they are the church.

And they hadn't been taken out of the way that way they would. That would be obvious to them. They would have known that they would have been raptured. If that's what paul had been teaching they would be taken out of the way.

But they weren't. So they weren't taught that. Well here are the mystery of lawlessness. That is the hidden truth of lawlessness mystery of lawlessness. This mystery that lawlessness has about it that it has been or it's soon to be revealed.

What it's about is in verse 7. It that mystery is at work. The rebellion against god's law is already in play. But there's someone restraining it. It's at work. But it's kind of being held back like a dog a vicious dog on a but it's all chained up can't do everything at once can only hurt whoever's in this little circle it's being restrained.

Lawlessness is. And then he says he noticed that pronoun he in verse 7 he who now restrains it that's the mystery of lawlessness will do. So it'll keep restraining keep tying him down until he the restrainer is out of the way he is a person.

A person is restraining lawlessness. It can't be the church because the church is not. Is it spoken of as a he. Now some say he's the holy spirit. But if is the holy spirit going to be taken out of the way.

Well if so then no one could be born again after that. So that doesn't seem possible. Is the roman government represented by the person of the emperor. Is that who it is. Maybe maybe now for us government in general whatever country we're in represented by its head.

Maybe we should be bothered by speculations. But be firm on what we know. We know already from time to time restraints have been taken away and lawlessness then increases. And so the love of many grows cold.

Jesus said because lawlessness will be increased the love of many will grow cold. It's unlike what many people today think. They think love and law are in contradiction. If you really love someone let them go let them free.

No that's wrong. Lawlessness produces lovelessness. Now we've already had many rebellions and antichrist and many restraints taken out of the way. From time to time. John said in first john chapter 2 verse 18 many antichrists have come in revelation 13 the beast which is another way to talk about the man of lawlessness.

The antichrist receives a mortal wound. That means it's killed. Right. You receive a mortal wound. You're dead. That's what it means to receive a mortal wound. And you would think oh that's the end of the beast.

He's dead. But the mortal wound it says is healed. Which is kind of contrary to the definition of mortal wounds. But the point is not to contradict itself. The point is likely. I think that the antichrist keeps coming back.

I don't mean back literally from the dead. You kill that one person. But there's you kill one and another one comes up. That spirit keeps coming into another person. You debunk you refute you defeat. You don't re-elect or you kill the antichrist.

But he keeps coming back. Many antichrists have gone out into the world. You kill hitler you have stalin. Then you have mao. You leave the church where the man who sits in the chair of saint peter says i am the church.

And you get cult leaders who do as they please and say i am the newborn christ. It never stops until the end. And we tell jesus ends it. So don't be too bothered by it. Will there be one last kind of grandest of them all lawless one idolizing himself.

Perhaps now now perhaps restrained by the rule of law. Well it seems so in verse 8 the lord jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth. Other words with his word he speaks the word and he kills the lawless one when he returns.

In revelation chapter 1 verse 16 john sees jesus in this vision and he sees him as having a sharp two-edged sword coming out of his mouth figurative for how his word kills his enemy. Then in revelation chapter 19 verse 15 is jesus is coming to rule the earth.

It says from his mouth that is from his words comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. The rebellious world is subdued by the word of christ. Here in verse 8 the lord will kill the antichrist with his word.

He will bring him to nothing. He's already been destroying antichrist with his word exposing them with his truth through his church. Or sometimes maybe ordering with his decree for governments to destroy rebellions.

And he'll do it one more time at the end by the appearance of his coming. In verse 9 the appearance to the lawless one notes that were appearance of his coming referring to christ. The appearance of the lawless one in verse 9 in contrast to the appearance of the lord jesus.

But the appearance of the lawless one will be by the activity of satan. In other words satan will be behind it. He's the lawless one is satan's agent. And it'll be by. It'll be with all power and fault signs and wonders things that make you go.

Wow. That's impressive. Can you imagine he can do that. There will be miracles or maybe just amazing achievements. People will think well how could he not be the right one. Look at what he did. He made the trains run on time.

He improved the economy. There's no unemployment now. Everybody's doing great. He brought peace to the world. No wars anymore. Free medical care for all. He will deceive those who are perishing. In verse 10 people are deceived because it says they refused to love the truth and be saved.

Oh they may have heard the truth. They may have even been raised hearing the truth in church every sunday. But they don't love it. They love money instead. Or maybe they love their ego love being told how great they are.

Therefore at the beginning of verse 11 because of their choice not to love the truth they they refused it notice that they made an act i will not love this truth. They may mentally say well that's true.

But they just refuse to to love it. Because of that god sends them a strong delusion. God said think of that. God said the delusion comes from god. You think. Well god doesn't lie to. People doesn't delude them.

Well no he doesn't lie. But he will delude them. God will delude them not by lying but by doing precisely the opposite by telling them the truth. But they don't love the truth. And so their hatred of the truth leads them to react against the truth and choose to believe some some delusion.

You know like men can become women or vice versa. People who do not love the truth are driven to deception when they are exposed to the truth. And so the lord jesus said to the unbelieving scoffers in john chapter 8 verse 45.

Because i tell you the truth you do not believe me. Yes he didn't say in spite of me telling you the truth i've told you the truth. In spite of that you didn't believe me. No he says precisely because i told you that my telling you the truth is the causes you to not believe the truth is the cause at least of some unbelievers lack of faith.

Why do they not believe. Because they don't love the truth. And so our believers do not love the truth. God sends them the truth. And they react to that by accepting a delusion in order that in verse 12.

Other words this is the reason in verse 12. Why did god send them the truth. And god knew that doing that sending them the truth would result in them fleeing to a delusion instead. Why did god do that.

God's purpose in deluding them with the truth was that they might be condemned. That's god's righteous judgment. He sends the truth to drive those who do not love the truth into destruction. Because they had pleasure instead instead of the truth in unrighteousness.

Their problem is their lack of love for the truth. What's bothering you. Second briefly the promise verses 13 to 15. Rather than be troubled rather be unstable. Panicking he says be stabilized by the promise.

The promise that you will obtain the glory of our lord jesus christ you will be glorified. So we ought always to give thanks for you. Think of that you'll be glorified. So the result of that we should give thanks for you.

Just like chapter one last week paul's praise of them was it flattery. Just kind of butter them up before criticizing them. You should give thanks for those who will be glorified by jesus. You are beloved by the lord.

You're those he doesn't delude to their destruction. You're those he chose to love. Instead you're loved by god. Why though why are you loved by. Because you've done this or that. No. Because not for what you've done.

But because why does god love you. Because god chose you. You think. Wait that's all depending on god's gotta be something about me. Makes him love me. No it's not sorry. It's not you. God loves you because he chose you.

I guess i figure he's gonna choose you. I'm stuck with these people because i chose them. I might as well love them. I guess you're not loved because you chose him. It's the other way around. He loved you because he chose you.

And so then after he's chosen you and loved you then you choose him. Your choice for him comes from his prior choice of you. And in case you think well his choice for you is because okay he chose me. But this because he looked forward to in the future that i was going to you know say the right prayer that was accompanied the invitation.

I was going to love the truth. I was going to go to church and get baptized. It's because something prior in his mind about me. Maybe in time it's about him. But prior in his mind. No. In the middle of verse 13 he says his choice was god's choice was from the beginning.

Okay the greek. There should probably be that from the beginning. Probably not as the first fruits which doesn't make any sense as in the esv here the niv is probably right. In this case from the beginning god chose you to be saved.

And you are saved through sanctification. I don't. I don't think that means by you getting holier. But sanctification means being set apart by the spirit. The spirit sets you apart from the rest of the world that he's deluding to their destruction.

But he sets you apart. So you're different from that. And he gives you grace his setting you apart. And your belief in the truth. This comes from what he does in you. Your belief in the truth of the gospel.

You believe the truth of the gospel and so he saves you. God chooses you first and then works through your loving. And you're believing the truth to save you. And in verse 14 you are then called through the gospel to believe.

Right. The gospel invites you have faith in jesus. And you hear that invitation. If you love the truth he set you apart from the world. If god chose you first then when you hear the gospel you hear the call.

And so you believe. And so that in verse 14 that is for the goal of getting the promise. What's the promise. Again obtaining the glory of our lord jesus christ. So if you're bothered believe the promise.

So then in verse 15 because of the promise don't be bothered. Don't be agitated or unstable or panicky. Don't be chicken little. Every time you hear of a war or a pandemic or recession or blood moons.

You know going around crying out of the sky is falling. My life is over. Everything's horrible. Now don't do that. Hold on to the promise. You will obtain the glory of jesus. So the conclusion. The application.

Stand firm. Be stable. Hold of the teaching. You were taught from scripture not from someone saying that they have the oral tradition preserved from the apostles. You don't know that. They don't know that they're just saying what they're told.