The Post-Trib and Amillennial Use Of 2 Thessalonians 1 -- By: Michael D. Stallard

Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 06:2 (Fall 2002)
Article: The Post-Trib and Amillennial Use Of 2 Thessalonians 1
Author: Michael D. Stallard


The Post-Trib and Amillennial Use Of 2 Thessalonians 1

Mike Stallard

Professor of Systematic Theology
Baptist Bible Seminary, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

The letters of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians are frequently discussed in the debate between pretribulational rapturists and those of the post-trib persuasion.1 Often appearing in eschatological discourse is the rapture passage of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 which is followed by the day of the Lord section in 5:1–11. Of special note also is 2 Thessalonians chapter two with its array of interpretive issues: the meaning of the “gathering together to Him” (v. 1), the nature and timing of the day of the Lord (v. 2ff), the nature of the apostasy that precedes the day of the Lord (v. 3), the identification of the lawless one who comes before the day of the Lord (v. 3–4), and the identification of the restrainer (v. 6–7). Many pre-trib apologists have written responses to the post-trib understanding of these important sections and have given the appropriate biblical exposition. Unfortunately, debates about these passages have overshadowed 2 Thessalonians 1 so that it has not received the attention it deserves.2 The intention of this paper

is to revisit the post-trib use of 2 Thessalonians 1:3–12 and provide a solid pre-trib understanding of the issues raised. Along the way we will also look at one amillennial exposition of the same chapter. Because both the post-trib view and amillennialism generally share the feature of a one-phase second coming as opposed to the two-phase approach, post-trib rapturists could make use of such amillennial arguments contra the pre-tribulational position.

Below is the passage in question from 2 Thessalonians 1. The discussion to follow will not be an exposition of the passage but will deal with some of the specific exegetical and theological arguments used in the debate against pretribulationalism.

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we oursel...

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