2 Thessalonians 2:1: “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,”

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.” The followers of Christ understood the will of the Heavenly Father as written in John 6:37-40.

In order to be raised up in the last day, the followers of Christ, during the time period of the New Testament, had to endure until the end (of their life time), by not being shaken from the truth and remaining steadfast in Christ. Those who died in Christ would be raised up again to live in the time period of the Beast spoken of in Revelation before the second coming of Christ. Also, they will receive the promises and rewards of the Heavenly Father.

It is important to understand that just as the followers of Christ would be raised up in the last days; those who rejected Him would likewise be raised up for judgment. The Beast spoken of in Revelation chapter 13 also deceived people during the time period of Paul’s ministry.

2 Thessalonians 2:3: “Let no man” [The Beast spoken of in Revelation chapter 13] “deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,” [The second coming of Christ] “except there come a falling away first,” [People in the churches leaving Christ] “and that MAN” [The Beast spoken of in Revelation chapter 13] “of SIN be revealed, the son of perdition;”

2 Thessalonians 2:4: “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God,” [The man of sin, opposed the teachings of the Most High, Christ and his disciples] “or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,” [The temple of God was in Jerusalem, it was built by Solomon (See 2 Chronicles chapters 3 to 8), rebuilt by Zerubabel and Joshua (See Ezra 6:14-15).This temple was rebuilt after the Babylonian captivity, during the time of Persian and Media empire during the reign of Darius the king, because the Babylonian destroyed the temple (See 2 Chronicles 36:18-19). The same temple was also re-dedicated after it was desolation by the Greeks (See The Apocrypha 1 Maccabees 4:42-53, which is the holiday that Christ observed in John 10:22). Finally the temple of God was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD] “shewing himself that he is God.”

2 Thessalonians 2:5: “Remember ye not, that, when I" [Paul] "was yet with you, I" [Paul] "told you these things?” Paul taught these things when he taught at the church of the Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians 2:6: “And now ye know what withholdeth” [What had to be fulfilled] “that he” [The man of sin/Beast spoken of in Revelation chapter 13] “might be revealed in his time.” His time is explained in verse 8.

2 Thessalonians 2:7: “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:” [During the time of this letter to the church of the Thessalonians, the “man of sin” was on the earth and in the process of fulfilling what was written about him in Verse 4] “only he” [The Most High] “who now” [During that time period] “letteth will let,” [The “man of sin” continue in his wickedness] “until he” [The man of sin] “be taken out of the way.” Put to death.

2 Thessalonians 2:8: “And then” [After his death] “shall that Wicked be revealed,” [as a liar and deceiver] “whom the Lord” [Christ when he returns] “shall” [Future prophesy] “consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:” To be explained in Revelation 17:8 and Revelation 19:20. The “man of sin” (The Beast spoken of in Revelation chapter 13) shall be brought back and destroyed.

2 Thessalonians 2:9: “Even him,” [The Beast spoken of in Revelation chapter 13] “whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,” See Revelation 13:2.

2 Thessalonians 2:10: “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them" [The followers of the man of sin/Beast, those who were deceived and left the church of Christ] "that perish; because they" [The followers of the man of sin/Beast, those who were deceived and left the church of Christ] "received not the love of the truth,” [The teachings of Christ] “that they" [The followers of the man of sin/Beast, those who were deceived and left the church of Christ] "might be saved.”

2 Thessalonians 2:11: “And for this cause” [Rejecting the teachings of Christ] “God shall send them” [Those who lived during the time period of the New Testament who rejected Christ and his teachings] “strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:” Believe and follow the Beast and his teachings. Christ spoke of this in Matthew 24:24, and explained in Revelation 17:12-13.

2 Thessalonians 2:12: “That they" [Those who lived during the time period of the New Testament who rejected Christ and his teachings] "all might be damned who believed not the truth,” [The gospel, see Revelation 14:6] “but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Verses 13-17 are words of exaltation to those in Christ, to hold fast to his teachings, knowing that the Most High choose them from the beginning to receive salvation.

2 Thessalonians 2:13: “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

2 Thessalonians 2:14: “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Thessalonians 2:15: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”

2 Thessalonians 2:16: “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,”

2 Thessalonians 2:17: “Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”