GOD WILL REPAY THOSE WHO TROUBLE BELIEVERS

PROCLAMATION

“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when The Lord Jesus be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  2 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the Apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, in his second letter to the believers in the church at Thessalonica.  After he introduces himself and greets them, Paul states that he thanks God for them because their faith in God and because their love for one another is growing and increasing. (2 Thessalonians 1:1-3)  He tells them that he brags to other churches about their perseverance and faith in the midst of their persecutions and trials. (2 Thessalonians 1:4)  Then he tells them that God is just, and that He will pay back trouble to all those who trouble them.  God will punish all non-believers when The Lord Jesus returns. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10)  He ends this first chapter by telling them that he prays for them that God will count them worthy of His calling and that His name will be glorified by them. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

 

APPLICATION

Those who do believers wrong and cause them to suffer will be punished by The Lord God.  They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction. (Matthew 25:46 and Revelation 14:9-11)  He said, “… Vengeance is mine; I well repay …” (Romans 12:19)  The Lord Jesus is coming back to gather up His church (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) and to judge the wicked.  All mankind will see Him when He returns (Revelation 1:7) but our perspectives will differ.  Every knee shall bow to Him (Isaiah 45:23 and Romans 14:11) but for different reasons.  Some of the people will see Him as Savior, while others will see Him as judge.  How we see Him will depend upon our relationship with him.