3 Biblical Signs That Must Happen Before the Rapture: A Study of 2 Thessalonians 2
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In our meditation yesterday, we looked at the first of three events that the Apostle Paul mentioned must occur before we can expect the Rapture of God's people. Paul called this initial event the "rebellion," which is also known as apostasy or falling away in various English translations. Today, we will consider the remaining two events. Here is the key passage Paul wrote again:
1Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2not 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. 3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; emphasis added).
Sign #2: The Revelation of the Man of Lawlessness
The second event that Paul says must happen before the catching away of God’s people and the Day of the Lord is for the man of lawlessness (another name for the Antichrist) to be revealed (v. 3). He writes about the man of lawlessness opposing everything related to God, a spirit that is at work in many people today all over the world, but there will be a singular individual who will come to the forefront of this world system and stand in opposition over everything that is called God or worshiped. The prophet Daniel also spoke of this opposition against those who stand for God: “As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them” (Daniel 7:21). What will opposition to everything concerning God (v. 4) look like in the days ahead? We can speculate that God’s enemies will attempt to halt all Christian worship, similar to the outbreak of sickness in 2020. Perhaps that's why he's called the Antichrist—he will be against everything pertaining to Christ, even exalting himself as God.
Sign #3: The Abomination of Desolation in the Third Temple
Daniel wrote that when this man, the Antichrist, comes to power, a peace treaty or covenant will be confirmed or signed regarding Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27), the city claimed by both the Jewish people and the Palestinians. His bargaining position may involve allowing the Jewish people to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem, possibly in exchange for the Palestinians having their capital city in East Jerusalem. For this reason, the Jewish people will accept this man, as they have longed for their temple to be rebuilt for many years. Of course, Satan’s plan is for the Antichrist to sit in the temple and proclaim himself as God, which is the third event (v. 4). Jesus said that this abomination or desecration would mark the beginning of a time of persecution or tribulation for His people (Matthew 24:15-21). The signing or confirming of a peace covenant or treaty is a sign we can observe that initiates the last seven years of Daniel's 70 weeks of years prophecy (Daniel 9:24). This prophecy refers to a seven-year period, with the Antichrist desecrating the rebuilt temple at the midpoint (Daniel 9:27). Paul warned the Thessalonians and us to be aware of these events as signs of Christ’s coming and the catching away of believers in Christ, commonly called the rapture.
Prophecy in 2026: Why the Rebuilt Temple Matters
The Antichrist will establish himself in God's temple, claiming to be God (v. 4). As of April 2026, there is no Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Believers must prepare to endure persecution by getting closer to Christ and meditating on His Word. When faced with the temptation to accept the Mark of the Beast and worship the Antichrist, we are to refuse and cling to the Lord Jesus, trusting that He will deliver us from Satan's wrath (Revelation 12:12 and 17). Grace will be poured out on God's people, and I believe a powerful revival will occur as people awaken to the reality of what is happening in the world, recognizing that we have been living under great deception and bondage to dark, evil spirits. The Lord will intervene for the deliverance of His people and pour out His wrath on His enemies. Pray that we may endure and be found on the right side when Christ comes.
How Should We Live While We Wait?
1. Evaluate Your Allegiance The "spirit of lawlessness" is already at work. Application: Ask yourself, "Where am I compromising with the world’s values?" Strengthening your resolve today in small things (like daily prayer and honest living) prepares you to stand firm if the Great Deception or the Mark of the Beast arrives in your lifetime.
2. Shift Your Focus to the Harvest We talked about a "powerful revival." Application: Instead of just watching the clock for the Rapture, look for people who are confused by the world's darkness. Use these prophecies as a conversation starter to share the hope of the Gospel. If people are scared of the future, offer them the security of Christ. Keith Thomas.
Continue Your Journey…
To keep up with our daily meditations on the Second Coming of Christ, consider bookmarking the link below for all our free 3-minute Bible meditations in English:
The full study on this topic is titled “The Rapture and Day of the Lord.” The video teaching is found at the following link: https://youtu.be/55VR6a8P9Bo
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