Note 2 at 2 Th. 2:2: Why would the second coming of the Lord shake or trouble the Thessalonians? Didn't Paul use the second coming of the Lord and our gathering together unto Him to comfort the Thessalonians in the previous letter? The answer to this lies in the fact that some people were trying to convince the Thessalonians that they had missed the second coming of Christ (see note 4 at this verse). That certainly would be upsetting.

Note 3 at 2 Th. 2:2: Things haven't changed much in 2000 years. There were people among the Thessalonians who were interpreting prophecy in light of current events in ways that were shaking the faith of some believers. Some were speaking "by the Spirit," some were reasoning from scriptures, and others produced forged letters from Paul saying that Jesus had already returned.

Certainly, the hardships and persecutions the Thessalonians were enduring were similar to prophecies about the end times, but that didn't mean these were the exact days prophesied about. Many people during World War II believed Hitler was the antichrist. He fit the bill closer than anyone who had come before him. It was plausible. But time has shown that he was not the one.

Those who interpret prophecy need to refrain from saying "thus saith the Lord" when it is only their own reasoning speculating on what might be.

Note 4 at 2 Th. 2:2: As described in note 21 at 1 Thessalonians 5:3, p. 1242, "the day of the Lord" is describing the second return of the Lord. There is no reason to doubt that what Paul called, "the day of Christ" is describing the same event. In the first verse of this chapter, "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" is mentioned along with "our gathering together unto him." These terms were used in Paul's first letter and referred to the second coming of Christ (see note 14 at 1 Th. 4:17, p. 1240).

Note 5 at 2 Th. 2:2: The NKJV translates this phrase, "at hand" as "had come." The NIV translates it similarly as "has already come." The NASV translates it, "has come" and the Amplified says, "has already arrived and is here."

Each of these translations clearly interprets Paul to be saying that some people had been telling the Thessalonians that the second coming of Jesus had already taken place. This is the reason they were shaken and troubled over the second coming of the Lord. They were being told they had missed it.

Jesus made it very clear that no one would miss His second coming (see note 2 at Lk. 17:24, p. 375) and Paul proceeds to give the Thessalonians assurances that Jesus had not returned yet.