2 Thessalonians 2:2. “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” SHAKEN IN MIND. It is unsettling for one new in the faith to be unsure of the future. It is necessary to turn them to the Word and with God’s truth to nurture Their souls in a careful, relevant way, for they are like a ship without a mooring. They need confirmation from those who care, and the faith in Christ can share.
There is easily understood a cause for alarm if one is new in the faith. When someone unscrupulous pretends, or apostolic authority takes. Those who are shaken in mind need help to get back to God – Where can they find their questions answered by one who knows the Word?
Scare tactics are often used to force unsuspecting ones to conform To the imposed will of others who, at times, among us come. But help them to stop and consider if those words are truly consistent With the mind and will of God passed on to those we know He sent.
It often seems like there are those who follow behind the ones who initiate A work for God, and then teach the saints, who, like children, seek to contradict The guidance of those who, like fathers, really care and seek to avoid unnecessary conflict. But when deception comes, it is their responsibility the falseness to interdict.
Those who come under a shady cloud seem to have another reason For suggesting that those who came first were unqualified to teach them. With words so multiplied that the hearers are greatly impressed – They pass on great amounts of teaching they have never put to the test.
If someone has all the answers but the problems they don’t know, Be cautious in taking all they say as truth, and the Spirit will to you show What is wrong and right as their teaching by scripture you test. Then the confusion caused by those who came can finally be put to rest.
“Holy God of truth, righteousness, and holiness: preserve Thy chosen people from those who seek a place for themselves but are without the heart of a caring teacher. Give discernment to those who guard the flock. Help them to be strong in Thee and trust the divine guidance of the Holy Spirit. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
Those who are hostile to our Lord Jesus Christ and oppose the Gospel of Grace have done and will continue to do evil to the Lord's people, some even using His name. God sent His Son into the world so we might live through Him. Satan will send his son, the antichrist, the son of perdition, so that people will die through him. Turning away from the truth, "falling away," apostasy will come first before that wicked one will be revealed. We see evidence of that today as a foreshadowing of what apostasy will be like when it is full-blown. There are actions of apostasy going on now in nations and among people. Governments that once had the law of God as a foundation of their legal system have now changed to what is most expedient to the majority of the people.
The "man of sin," or "the lawless one," cannot be identified by us now. But this we do know about him: he is the antichrist, he is the son of perdition, he is the beast. His character is revealed in the scripture as wicked, arrogant, and loud speaking, and in spite of that, he is a charismatic leader who is able to deceive people with his words and actions. He will be "revealed" - suddenly set upon the world's stage as the one who can settle the problems that beset the world's economy, settle the Arab-Israeli conflict, and restore the balance of power. He is the spokesperson of Satan and will use flattery and deceit first, and then carry out evil and dangerous threats to those who oppose him. He embodies what apostasy is.