2 Thessalonians (Bible Study) (Introduction)

The Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, written around A.D. 52-53, aims to address concerns of early Christians in Thessalonica about the Second Coming of Christ and the possibility that they were already experiencing the Great Tribulation. Paul reassures them that the 'gathering together unto him' is still future and outlines events that must occur before the day of the Lord, such as apostasy and the emergence of the 'man of sin.' He contrasts the Rapture, an event where believers meet Christ in the air, with the future revelation of Christ when He returns to earth to establish His kingdom, emphasizing the difference between these two significant events in Christian eschatology.