Introduction: What’s left on God’s calendar? Where are we headed? With absolute assurance, we can know that we are eventually going to go thru these 4 stages. Let’s take a look at the book.

1. Phase 1 (2Thess 2:1) – “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.”

This first phase includes the rapture. The phrase “our gathering together with him” speaks of that truth. Are you ready for the right rapture?

2. Phase 2 (2Thess 2:2,3) – “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. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”

Their next phase includes the “falling away,” which may be both spiritually and politically. Certainly, we can see the “signs of the times” today. Are you preparing to do battle against the enemy right now?

3. Phase 3 (2Thess 2:4-7) – “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”

This third phase includes the “restrainer” holding back the floods of the gates of hell coming upon the world. After the Church is taken then the Antichrist will emerge. He’s mentioned in Dan 7 – “little horn,” in Rev 13 – as “the beast” – and here as the “man of sin.” According to Revelation 6, this Political rule and economical genius will be riding on a white horse coming to conquer and desiring to be worshipped; plus he will make war with the saints. Can you see this stage being set?

4. Phase 4 (2Thess 2:8-11) – “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”

Jesus Christ is allowing Satan and the Antichrist to have their run as it were right now. However, all of this will come to a screeching halt when Christ comes in His second coming.