2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

Received my copy of BIB-SAC (Bibliotheca Sacra) today, which I have subscribed to for around 40 years and in my opinion is the best Theological Journal available. This issue has a study by David Dean on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3. He makes 5 points that are to be assumed by anyone studying this passage.

• First, Paul had instructed the Thessalonians on endtime chronology during his stay in Thessalonica before he wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and his teaching must have included the timing of the rapture with respect to the Second coming as well as the events he mentioned in 2:3-12.
• Second, a false report of some sort, purportedly form or through Paul, had let the Thessalonians to believe that the endtime sequence had begun, and that they were already in the Day of the Lord.
• Third, the Thessalonians’ problem was not that they had misunderstood Paul’s teaching on the endtime sequence or had failed to learn it.
• Fourth, the false report was plausible enough to the Thessalonians to raise their concerns that it might be true, though they obviously saw some dissonance between their expectations, their experience, and the report.
• Fifth, Paul’s response in 2 Thessalonians contains sufficient information to correct the confusion of the Thessalonians. To suggest otherwise impugns the effectiveness and sufficiency of Scripture.

"Does 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Exclude the Pretribulational Rapture?"

BIBLOTHECA SACRA, 168 (April-June 2011): 196-216.