AP

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2  Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers [and sisters], not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us – whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter – asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.

I found Leon Morris quite helpful here in making an important point: 

“As in the First Epistle, the main part of the letter begins in the second chapter, after the introductory prayer.  Some of the converts had evidently taken up with enthusiasm erroneous ideas about the second coming.  Paul writes to supplement what he had already told them by word of mouth (v.5).  It is unfortunate for us that we do not know what he had said to them, for what he writes contains many allusions to his oral teaching.  This passage is probably the most obscure and difficult in the whole of the Pauline writings and the many gaps in our knowledge have given rise to extravagant speculations.  We do not possess the key to everythig said here, and it is well accordingly to maintain some reserve in our interpretations.”

I gladly accept his warning, but in amongst the confusion there is one phrase that is crystal clear and unambiguous, which I therefore find most encouraging: “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him”.  My heart jumped as I read this yet again and reflected on what it means and implies.

Firstly, in the midst of all the struggles and challenges of this weary, broken world, I have something to look forward to with great joy and anticipation.  This world is not all there is.  Jesus is coming back, to reign for ever as its rightful Lord, and its Promised Christ, and in doing so he will ‘make all things new’, and this will be an undeniable and unmissable historic event, accompanied by “a loud voice from the [heavenly] throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’” (Revelation 21:3-4).

Secondly, and to me the most exciting thing of all: we will be ‘gathered to him’!  All those we have so dearly loved, and whom God has already taken to himself, will be gathered with us’!  Morris notes that the particular word translated ‘gathered with’ here is only used in one other place in the NT: Hebrews 10:25.  So this ‘gathering’ will be like it is when we regularly gather together in public worship, and encourage one another by the joyful, enthusiastic singing of God’s praises.

O, what a blessing it is that, by God’s amazing grace alone, we can sing, and know for sure, “When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more, and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; when the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, and the roll is called up yonder, I[and my loved ones who have died in the Lord]’ll be there.” – and then we’ll be “‘Forever with the Lord’, ‘Amen’, ‘so let it be’, life from the dead is in that word, ’tis immortality”, and all I’m required to do while I wait patiently for that Great Day is “nightly pitch my moving tent a day’s march nearer home” (with apologies to hymn writers James Black and James Montgomery)! 

– Bruce Christian