The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Thessalonians 2:7-10, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains

will do so until He is taken out of the way.

8 And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the LORD will slay with the breath of His mouth and

bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;

9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false

wonders,

10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love

of the truth so as to be saved.”

It may seem to some that the Apostle Paul has a “hang up” regarding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. He covered it well in his first epistle (1 Thess.), and now he’s covering the subject again (2 Thess.) Yet, the truth is that there is a lot to cover; and Second Thessalonians was written a year later than First Thessalonians. (How many times do parents repeat what they’ve said to their children? How many times do the children need the repetition? It’s the same with all of us.

I don’t need to say much about the “mystery of lawlessness,” with what we’ve been experiencing these past few days. But, this is only a blip on the radar. The REAL LAWLESSNESS is yet to come! And Paul says the only One who’s restraining it now is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit resides in the believer. When Jesus Comes in the air for all believers, the Holy Spirit will also be removed. Then Satan’s own Antichrist will take charge and flood the Earth with his evil intent!

The heartbreak is that those left behind will be subjected to Tribulation that the world has never before experienced! What we’re experiencing now is child’s play when compared to what’s coming! Think I’m wrong? Read verse 10 again: “…and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”

If you’ve never been saved (born again), may you sincerely trust the loving LORD today. It’s not what church you attend. It’s not how good you assess your life to be. God is the Judge. It’s whether you’ve told Him that you’re sorry for you sins, and ask Him to cleanse your life and make you one of His children. I pray for you daily! One day, it will be too late….

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus

Christ, and our gathering together to Him,

2 that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a

message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man

of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his

seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

Undoubtedly, you have noticed the avalanche of Christians who believe that the Second Coming of our

LORD Jesus Christ is virtually at our doorstep. There is no question but that the Apostle Paul was concerned about that day, too! For it was to him what it is to us: namely, the Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ in the air for His Church. But which church? Not a particular religious organization, but rather a gathering of all of those who have believed upon Him as their LORD and Savior.

Be ready, but don’t get excited about some particular time, as some preachers teach. Don’t be moved away from the Scriptural Truth. Jesus is Coming! But, remember that He said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Mat. 24:36). Notice that Paul says in verse two above, “…a message or a letter as if from us…” It would seem that someone wrote the Thessalonians a letter, pretending it came from Paul. That’s the deception Paul mentions in verse three.

What seems relevant to our times is the phrase in verse three that says, “…it (Christ’s Coming) will not come unless the apostasy comes first…” What we are experiencing today is part of that apostasy, the falling away from the Truth of God in Scripture. There are pastors, who deviate from the Truth, adding

their own thinking to the Word of God –thinking that in a short time replaces the Word of God in entirety, and sets the stage for the coming Antichrist. We’re not there yet; but what we’re seeing of people burning businesses and churches and causing ungodly havoc in the streets is a foretaste of the time of God’s Judgment on the Earth.

If you don’t know the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior, you’d better repent of sin and call upon Him now for salvation. Then, you will be caught up with all believers to meet Him in the air when He comes! Don’t be left behind!! Stay in the Word! Immerse yourself daily in earnest prayer! Share Him with others who do not know Him! The time grows shorter every day.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. I have attached a Chart on the Second Coming of Christ that I trust it will help you.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-23, “Rejoice always;

17 pray without ceasing;

18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit;

20 do not despise prophetic utterances.

21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

22 abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and

body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Some people look upon Paul as a heavy-handed intellectual. He is that, to be sure; but simultaneously

he is a practical instructor of our LORD’s Truth, as we witness in these short verses.

“Rejoice always!” If you recognize that everything good lies in the Hand of God, there’s no good

reason to become downcast or gloomy. He does everything well and to our ultimate benefit.

“Pray without ceasing” certainly does not mean being on our knees before God at every hour of the

day. Throughout the day, we can and should pray silently with absolute confidence that He hears

and answers according to His will.

“In everything give thanks!” Not everything we ask is answered affirmatively. We should be thankful

that it is not, because we have no idea all that is wrapped up in what we ask. Some aspects could

work against us quite powerfully.

“Do not quench (extinguish) the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances.” The Holy Spirit has been given to us to guide and instruct us in the will of the Father. Shutting Him out and ignoring His direction is spiritually destructive!

“Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.” Test things to determine their goodness; then hold on to them securely, and abstain from everything that is productively evil.

‘Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and

body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Check the attachment for more information.)

Ever hear your mother say, “Wash your hands and your face; company is coming”? It’s true of Jesus.

He is Coming! And we need to be washed morally and spiritually clean when we meet Him! That

cleansing can happen quickly; but so can His Coming! So, don’t delay! God bless you!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 5:12-14, “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently

labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,

13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

14 And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be

patient with all men.”

Sometimes we never quite grow out of our childhood. Paul is nearing the end of his First Letter to the Thessalonians and he admonishes both the church there in the First Century and us in the 21ST Century.

And what is his admonition? That we appreciate those who spiritually feed and encourage us. He says, they “diligently labor” among us. Pastors do that kind of labor when they call upon the sick or encourage the ill in hospital beds or bury for us our loved ones. It’s hard work! It may not appear so, but a great deal of prayer and thought go into the preparation of such responsibilities.

Pastors, too, are like spiritual fathers to members of the church. They have a spiritual responsibility over us, by providing instruction that helps us to grow in the LORD. We are admonished to hold them in high regard. Of course, pastors are human and have failings like all of us; yet, we are to admire, love, and support them in every aspect of their work. After all, it is ultimately for the LORD that they do it.

Every church has members that need admonition and control. We are to engage in helping these unruly ones, encouraging at all times those who are undisciplined and weak in the faith. Perhaps, most of all, we must exercise patience with everyone. If our hearts are loving and well-intentioned toward others, we will be helpers of the pastors as well as good servants of our LORD. Let us prayerfully support and encourage our pastors! It is their teachings and instructions from the Word of God that ultimately encourages us. Stop right now and pray for your pastor. Then listen carefully for what the Good LORD has given him to say to you. God bless you abundantly!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:11-14, “My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, Or loathe His reproof,

12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father, the son in whom he delights

13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding.

14 For its profit is better than the profit of silver, And its gain than fine gold.”

As accurately as I can recall, my father only punished me once by spanking. Of the four types of personality,

he was phlegmatic. It took a lot to rile him. Don’t get me wrong. He knew right from wrong and he taught me accordingly; he just left the physical discipline to my Mother. And believe me, she handled more than her share!

Somewhere I had read of a boy putting a pie plate in the seat of his pants to absorb the “heat” of spanking. How I

did it without Dad seeing me, I never knew; but, in one sound swat he hit the plate and we both just sat there

and laughed.

The word “discipline” and “disciple” come from the same root. Good parents exert physical punishment in the effort

to produce a good “disciple” (learner). We are not to reject or dispise their disciplinary efforts because they are ultimately to our advantage.

In our verses above, Solomon is speaking of the LORD’s discipline. The LORD disciplines out of love. Good parents mimic the LORD, and discipline out of love, as well. I do believe that verse 13 is given in reference to the one who was disciplined in those earlier verses. Through physical discipline, he has found wisdom and understanding. And as the years fly rapidly by, he values the teaching that discipline brought him far more than he values monetary gain.

Our world today lays little stress on discipline of any sort for any reason. We have been lulled to sleep by the avalanche of distractions that surround us. I read from men who quote the classics; but I don’t quote the classics.

My discipline is sorely lacking when measured by those from the non-technological era. Children in the American

Colonies were taught Greek and Latin, in addition to Scripture and the classics. They seemed to hunger for more.

Many kids today brag about how they “got through” school without studying. Who do they thing the loser was?

Don’t let “things” masquerade as valuable. Study to show yourself approved unto God. There will come a day when

you will be glad you did!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need until He becomes all that we have.”