Where do First and Second Thessalonians take the reader according to this teaching?
First and Second Thessalonians take the reader up to glory. First Thessalonians 4 describes the church being caught up to meet Him in the air, and Second Thessalonians 2 reveals the wicked one after the departure of the church. Together they point to the fruition of everything in glory with the Crucified, Resurrected, and Ascended Lord.
Les explains that after the earlier letters, First and Second Thessalonians follow the format of doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, and they take the believer to a higher plane than the prison epistles. He says they answer the question, “Where does the Word take us?” with “Up to glory.” First Thessalonians chapter 4 is cited: “we shall be caught up to meet Him in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Second Thessalonians chapter 2 is cited: after the departure of the church, “then shall that wicked one be revealed.” Les teaches that these two letters take us on up to what we are all waiting for—the fruition of everything, when we will finally be in glory with our Crucified, Resurrected, and Ascended Lord.