Glory To Christ
2nd Thess.1:3-12 (1:1-12)
July 11, 2010
As Paul begins His 2nd letter to the Thessalonians, he prays for God’s Grace and Peace to continue w/them thru Christ Jesus v2. V3 Then he commends them and praises God w/thanksgiving for the growth of their faith in Christ, and love for one another. Notice he says, we are bound, obligated to thank God, v3a. And that is because God is the source of all good that comes to us, or is done by us. Phil. 2:13. God is the one who keeps us faithful 1st Peter 1:5 – Jude v24. In the 1st letter Paul thanks God for their faith, love, patience and service. In this letter he thanks God for the increase of all of these Graces. We are as obligated to God for the increase of His Grace in our lives, as we are for the 1st work of Gods Grace in our life. God’s Grace is like rivers of living waters, that flows thru life for all Eternity from the very 1st moment we believed, Consider John 7:37-38 and Rev. 22:1-2. The evidence that these Thessalonian believers and believers today, have accepted and truly believe The Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the Good News of how to be Saved, by believing in The Blood-Death-Burial-Resurrection of Jesus Christ, is seen in the growth of our faith and the lively expectation we have in another, better world to come. .And the evidence of our faith should be seen in our works of faith. James 2:14-20 and 26.
2 Thes 1:4-5
Not only did their faith in Christ and love for one another grow, but in spite of suffering and persecution, trials, and tribulations v4, their patience also grew, and they endured for the sake of Christ Jesus and His righteousness. No doubt they believed what Jesus said in John 16:33. This enables them to follow Paul’s example of 2nd Cor. 4:17-18, and walk by faith and not by sight. V5 Paul explains to the Thessalonian believers, that God was using suffering and persecution to purge, purify and perfect them, in order to make them worthy of God’s kingdom Consider Roman 8:16-18 and 2nd Tim. 2:12.
2 Thes 1:6
V6 Paul explains that just as God’s righteous judgment works for the good and perfection, of his saints, it also works to punish those who persecute His children. V7-10 Gives some details about future judgment the wicked. Now v7 Paul includes himself as a fellow-sufferer w/the Thessalonian believers, for the just cause of Christ. And like the Thessalonian believers, Paul hoped for that ultimate rest and reward for their suffering for The Kingdom of God that was to come when Christ returned to judge the ungodly. Consider Rev.14:13 for the believers rest and reward. Now v7b no doubt refers to Christ being unveiled in His coming as judge. The first aspect of His revealing Himself occurs at the end of the 7 year tribulation period Matt.13:24-30, 36-43; 24:29-51; 25:31-46; Rev.19:11-15. The final and universal revelation of Christ as judge occurs at The Great White Throne Judgement following Christ Millenial on the earth Rev.20:11-15. Note: The Lord Jesus Christ promised this two-fold coming for the rest believers and retribution for the unbelievers. Now this Revelation of Christ is not the same as the return of Christ for His saints described in 1st Thess.4:15-17, which is called The Rapture. The Rapture precedes the Tribulation Period 1st Thess.5:2-4 and 9-10.
2 Thes 1:7-8
Paul’s purpose in v7 is to give believers assurance, that all persecuted believers shall find rest and relief from suffering at the hands of the ungodly, Consider Rom.8:18 and 1st Peter 4:13-14. Also Consider Matt.13:40-43; 25:31-33 and John 5:24-29, for the believers rest, and punishment for unbelievers. Also Notice the Thessalonian believers were not focused on their suffering, personal comfort, fulfillment and happiness, nor wealth or health, but upon The Glory of God and the fulfillment of His purpose for His kingdom. They were not moaning about the injustice of their persecutions, but patiently enduring the suffering they did not deserve Consider 1st Peter 2:19-23. They understood 2nd Tim.2:12 and Rom.8:18 and 28 and 1st Peter 4:12. And they knew God had not forsaken them, but was perfecting them James 1:2-4 and 2nd Cor.12:7-10. And they knew their faith was genuine which is evidence they had the Eternal Life of Christ living in them. Now when Christ is revealed from Heaven w/His mighty angels v7, in flaming fire v8 it shall be terrible to some and joyful to others. For those who rebelled, and knew not God, this appearance of Christ shall be terrible for them. Those who do not know God are those who are willfully ignorant of God’s Truth, the unbelieving and disobedient Rom.1:18-22. They have also disobeyed The Gospel John 3:36. Note: Unbelief brings its own destruction. The unbelievers condemn themselves for they love darkness rather than The Light that has come into the world. Therefore the wicked who are alive when Christ returns at the end of The Seven Years of Tribulation shall be punished in a devastating judgment Rev.19:11-16, and then Christ Shall set up His Earthly Millenial Kingdom when you and I the saints of God shall reign w/Christ whom all judgment has been committed unto Him John 5:22,27.
2 Thes 1:9-10
At the end of the thousand year reign of Christ on earth, the final judgment of the unsaved of all ages Shall take place at The Great White Throne Judgment of Christ Rev.20:11-15, and this is the place of eternal separation from God where the unsaved have no hope for Salvation. Although this punishment v9 refers to ruin and destruction, it does not involve annihilation, but rather a new state of conscious, which is significantly worse than the first Rev.20:14-15. And this describes being Eternally Separated from The Presence and Glory of God. And to be Eternally Separated from The Presence and Glory of God, is to be separated from His Love and all the comforts and joy and peace and happiness that a person has enjoyed in this life, w/no hope of relief from torment, Consider Matt.13:41-42 and Rev.14:9-11. But in contrast to the eternal punishment and torment of the unbeliever, believers Shall Never Be Separated from The Love of God Rom.8:37-39 and we shall experience and enjoy Eternal Life w/Christ in a place where the quality of life shall be greater than anything we have or could ever experience in this world Matt.25:46-Rev.21:1-4 and 9-27 and 22:1-5 and 4. When The Day of The Lord arrives at the end of the Tribulation Period, Christ shall bring retribution and ruin for unbelievers, but for believers The Great Glory of Christ Shall be revealed in the saints Rom.8:18-19 and displayed and believers shall find rest and relief and the privilege of sharing Christ Glory Phil.3:21-1st John 3:2-Col.3:3-4. And all saints from Adam and Eve Shall Worship Praise, Honor, Adore and Glorify Christ, because we believe Paul’s testimony of The Gospel.
2 Thes 1:11
V11a This calling is the highest honor and privilege any human being could ever experience, because it determines ones eternal destiny. And Gods purpose for those whom He calls is to become like Christ, Roman 8:29-30.This process of becoming like Christ is called Sanctification, and it is a gradual life long process, that shall be completed when we see Christ face to face 1st John 3:2. To be counted worthy v11 means that God would make us worthy of His calling Phil. 2:13 and 1st Tim. 2:12-14. We can’t make ourselves worthy, because we have no, worthiness of our own Roman 3:10-12. It is all by the Grace of God that He us worthy of the life of holiness and glory that He called us to, for His kingdom. This is Paul’s prayer for the Saints of God, then and today, that God would carry on the work He began in us. And we can pray this prayer, w/confidence, for God promised Phil 1:6. Our responsibility is to keep striving for the mark, by the power of His Holy Spirit Phil. 3:12-14, that 2nd Thess. 1:12 which is the ultimate purpose of Paul’s prayer.
In Jesus Name Amen
