2 Thessalonians 1 (4)

Pray Psalm 96.11-13.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field be joyful, and all that isin it.
Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice
before the LORD.
For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with His truth.

Read 2 Thessalonians 1.7-10.

Reflect.
1. God’s judgment works two ways at the return of Jesus Christ. How would you describe each?

2. Many people today choose to keep the Lord out of their lives. Why is their eternal punishment just? 

Meditate.
Paul needed to be as explicit as possible concerning the coming of the Lord, since, as we shall see, some false teachers had been troubling the Thessalonians by saying that Jesus had already come and, oops, you missed it (2 Thess. 2.1, 2).

In his first epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul pointed to the return of Jesus as our great hope. When He comes, those who believe will be relieved of all their troubles and gathered together with all the saints from every age to dwell with the Lord forever. Here, Paul refers to that great hope as rest (v. 7). We know something about that rest even now, as we enjoy the peace that passes understanding and rejoice in the hope of glory. But this rest is but a foretaste of the eternal, glorious rest that awaits us with the Lord.

The fate of those who, in this life, choose to live separate from God and His presence is altogether just (v. 6). For all eternity, they will simply be allowed to experience that choice, but with the added realization of what they have lost, forever. When Jesus comes, it will not be some secret, “believers-only” happening. We saw this already in 1 Thessalonians 4. Now Paul adds that He will come “with His mighty angels, in flaming fire.” Those who in this life have chosen the way of unbelief and rebellion against God “shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.” To be apart from the Lord forever is everlasting destruction. To be apart from the Lord here and now is also the path of destruction, rather than of life. Believers must make sure they are not diverted to that path in any way.

When Jesus comes again, He will “be glorified in His saints” because we shall see Him as He is and be like Him (1 Jn. 3.1, 2), in new, glorified and eternal bodies (1 Cor. 15.42-53). To say that we will admire the Lord (NKJV) is understatement; the word is literally, be amazed (θαυμάζω, to wonder or marvel at some event or object – to wonder, to be amazed, to marvel). We will marvel and wonder and praise and adore and worship and serve and enjoy Him increasingly, without diminishment, forever and ever. We will do this in ourselves and among our fellow saints. Hallelujah! Amen!

Shouldn’t we be doing a bit more of this here and now?

Thus it is important that we guard true belief (v. 10), and that we allow nothing to divert us from the path of righteousness, peace, and joy which is the way of the Kingdom of God.

Prepare.
1. Do you think rest is a good idea to use in helping lost people understand the Gospel? Explain.

2. What does it mean to marvelor be amazed at Jesus? How might believers do this together? Why should they? Is this what corporate worship should be about? Explain.

3. How should the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in glory factor into our presentation of the Gospel?

But where, I ask, will be the location of hell? Somewhere, I think, far removed from this world. For as the prisons and the mines are at a great distance from royal residences, so will hell be located far from this world. We aren’t interested in finding its location but in escaping it. And just because God doesn’t punish everyone here, don’t doubt things to come. For God is merciful and patient. That is why he issues warnings and doesn’t immediately cast us into hell. John Chrysostom (344-407), Homilies on Romans 31.4-5

Be always before me, Lord Jesus, always in my soul’s vision, always my mind’s fairest object of contemplation, always my heart’s greatest desire, so that I…

Pray Psalm 96.
As you pray, think ahead to the coming of our Lord Jesus, and all that Paul reveals concerning that great day. Pray for the Lord to give you strength to live for His glory, worship Him in holiness, and make you His faithful witness to the people around you.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 96 (Mit FreudenZart: All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above)
Sing to the Lord! O, bless His Name! 
All nations tell His glory! 
Salvation’s tidings loud proclaim; 
Let earth rehearse His story! 
For God is greatly to be praised; 
His throne above all gods is raised – 
Fear Him, and sing His glory! 

All other gods are idols vain – 
The Lord created heaven.
Splendor and strength with Him obtain; 
To Him be glory given! 
All fam’lies, praise this mighty Lord! 
Give strength and glory to His Word; 
Exalt the Lord of heaven. 

Bring off’rings sweet to Him, our Lord, 
In holy garments praise Him! 
Tremble before Him, all the earth; 
Among the nations raise Him! 
The earth is fixed, it will not move; 
The peoples will His justice prove – 
Exalt the Lord and praise Him. 

Let heaven sing with lusty voice; 
Let earth and sea sing sweetly! 
Let fields and trees in Him rejoice, 
For He is coming swiftly 
To judge the world in righteousness, 
The peoples in His faithfulness – 
He comes; exalt Him greatly!

T. M. Moore

Where do 1 and 2 Thessalonians fit in the unfolding of God’s covenant? Order our workbook, God’s Covenant, and find out how all Scripture fits within this redemptive framework (click here).

Forward today’s study to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link to the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Paul’s ministry and prepare for your own.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).