Prophetic Lessons from Thessalonians

Prophetic Lessons from Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed…”

2 Thessalonians is specifically directive concerning the coming of the Lord – His return. Nevertheless, it can educate us on how to navigate current winds, reports, and prophecies, whether true or not.

Because many people are out to gain reputation for themselves and promote their name (among other motivations) there are all sorts of perspectives and winds voiced. People who engage in self-promoting mindsets usually are not people of prayer, since having a vital prayer life keeps us from such foolishness. Note the attitude of our Lord Jesus from Philippians 2, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form [morphe: internal manifesting externally] of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped [seized], but emptied Himself, taking the form [morphe] of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” Because He was God, He lived as a servant. Furthermore, because He was God, He died. Intense!

Getting back to 2 Thessalonians. As stated, 2 Thessalonians is prophetic about the returning of our Lord Jesus. Since it is prophetic in nature, we also may be able to glean from it some helpful instructions on the prophetic. It seems there is so much more that resides within the depths of these scriptures.

Initially we have this exhortation, “do not be soon [hastily or quickly] shaken in mind or troubled...” This sets quite a sea-tossed stage in the Greek, denoting the imagery dominance of the word “shaken.” The Greek word means literally “the tossing or swell of the sea.”

Paul goes on to say how these winds can come to us, “either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us.” We may want to throw in “by phone, email, text, TV, radio, or web.” Demons can and do speaks lies to people that are then repeated through seemingly prophetic means. Throw into that mix people’s emotions and unspiritual thinking, you then end up with a ship tossed back and forth in hurricane force winds. (Sounds like Ephesians 4 – how desperately we need the 5-fold to rise up and equip the church!) Paul even says that these “prophecies” may even come through people in positions of authority “as if from us” – maybe even from people we trust in the church.

Basically, the Holy Spirit is saying, “Do not let things you hear create hurricane force winds in your thinking causing you to be frightened and alarmed.” Jesus said to take heed to both what [who, which, what] and how [in what way] we hear. Sometimes we do not have control over what we hear, but we always have control over how we hear. So, how can we be discerning and not tossed about? How can we stand stable in a fluctuating and violently blowing world?

First of all, as we hear it is essential we rely on the Holy Spirit and His Word to help us judge what we are hearing. Along with that let’s be courageous enough not to believe everything we hear no matter who we hear it from. Know God for yourself. Know His word so you have a context for things you hear. He has graciously granted us His anointing, Who teaches us all things. 1 John 2:27b (NIV) says, “But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit —  just as it has taught you, remain in Him.” We can rely on His anointing to guide us through the tumultuous seas and guide our ship safely to its haven. It is not counterfeit though the liar wants us to believe it/He is! We have the ability through the Holy Spirit to make righteous sound judgments. In fact, we are supposed to. 1 Corinthians 2:15 says that the spiritual person judges all things. Let’s stop being blown around, grow up, and make righteous judgments. (As a side note, sometimes we don’t “hear” a true prophecy because it doesn’t apply to us. It is for others but not for us.)

Interestingly this exact theme is in John 14:25-29, spoken to the disciples by Jesus. He told them the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth, that He would give them peace, and also that He was leaving and coming back again. There are plenty of reasons to live in the hurricane, but we can and should live in peace – peace that is discerning.

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

“You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.”

If you are in the hurricane, tossed to and fro, stop listening to the winds. Rely on His Spirit to guide you into truth. He is your Due North.