2 THESSALONIANS 1:6-12 - TROUBLERS TROUBLED: FAITHFUL FULFILLED

2 THESSALONIANS 1:6-12

TROUBLERS TROUBLED:

FAITHFUL FULFILLED

2 Thessalonians 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

God will righteously judge the persecutors of His bride, the church.  Their eternal punishment is not directly due to their persecution of believers but is because they have rejected Jesus, and therefore, rejected God.

2 Thessalonians 1:7a And to you who are troubled rest with us,

We can rest along with Paul in God’s sovereign, faithful control.  Everything may seem unfair to us right now, but God will mete out justice in His own timing.

2 Thessalonians 1:7b when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

This is the judgement of God upon non-believers, those who have rejected Jesus.  We, as believers, have no need to retaliate or exact vengeance.  That is God’s responsibility, and He will repay those who have harmed us.

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

These are people who never accepted the invitation to trust Jesus, who turned their backs on God.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

The non-believers will get what they thought they wanted, a world without God.  They will be banished from His presence forever, a place with no glory, no good, no beauty, no light—only torment.  This is the place Jesus named as Hell:

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

2 Thessalonians 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

The flip side of Jesus’ return is that those who have trusted Him will behold Him in all of His glory and have the privilege of worshipping Him. We will be with Jesus forever, in the presence of His light, surrounded by goodness and beauty eternally.  Paul encouraged the Thessalonians that they would be a part of this magnificent celebration of Jesus’ glorious return because they have surrendered their lives to Jesus and held fast to their faith, persevering through persecution.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

2 Thessalonians 1:11 (CJB) With this in view, we always pray for you that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill by his power every good purpose of yours and every action stemming from your trust.

Paul prayed that God would continue to utilize these believers as instruments for His divine purposes.  His desire was that they would continue to mature in their faith as they were already doing.

2 Thessalonians 1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus would receive glory as the Thessalonian believers matured.  The testimony of their lives—their perseverance, faith, and love—would draw others to Jesus.

QUESTIONS:

1. Does it seem like the wickedest people prosper while Christians plod along?  They will “get what they deserve” in God’s timing.   Read Psalm 37 for more on this subject.

2. Is Jesus receiving glory because of the way you live?