Leading The Way - Devotional for September 20

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September 20, 2026

Stand on Scripture

By Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

The apostle Paul knew about the dangers of false teaching. As an itinerant evangelist, he would travel from town to town, preaching the Gospel and planting churches. Many times, after he would leave a city to continue on his mission, false teachers would come in and teach God’s people destructive doctrines and lies. These false teachers were wicked men who would do anything to attain their ends. In Thessalonica, for example, they wrote a letter in Paul’s name, claiming that Jesus had already returned!

Thus, in the letter we know today as 2 Thessalonians, Paul set the record straight. And in so doing, he gave God’s people one of the clearest teachings on the second coming of Christ. He wanted the believers in Thessalonica to know the order of events so they would never again be led astray by false reports of Christ’s coming. 

First, Paul taught that there will be a great rebellion, a falling away within the church itself. Now, I don’t have to tell you we’re already seeing this today. An alarmingly large number of professing Christians claim Jesus as their personal Savior while simultaneously asserting that He’s not the only Savior of the world. But of course, Jesus was clear: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, emphasis added). 

Second, Paul taught that before Jesus returns an evil figure the Bible refers to as the Antichrist will come upon the world stage. There have always been evil leaders, but when the long-prophesied Antichrist is revealed, he will surpass them all. He’s not going to be a local despot; he’s going to rule over the entire world. His presence will be felt around the globe, but his reign will be short. He will be smitten by the breath of the returning Jesus.

Because the end times could be upon us soon and without warning, we need to be spiritually prepared. Friends, the day of salvation is today. If you have not yet surrendered your life to Christ, don’t postpone it—not even one hour. Now is the time of repentance. Now is the time to turn to the Lord!

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the promise of Your return to make all things new. Help me to share the incomparable hope of the Gospel with all who will hear. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon End of History and You, Stand Firm in Truth: LISTEN NOW

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Watch Dr. Michael Youssef on this week's broadcast of Leading The Way at LightSource.com.