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BIG IDEA:

THE SECOND COMING SPELLS RELIEF FOR THE AFFLICTED BUT RETRIBUTION FOR OUR ANTAGONISTS

I. (:6-7) THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD

“For after all it is only just for God”

Context: verse 5 – The Second Coming and its execution of the righteous judgment of God and introduction of the victorious kingdom of God.

A. Retribution for Our Antagonists

“to repay with affliction those who afflict you”

Vengeance belongs to the Lord; there will be a final and accurate accounting. The record will be set straight.

B. Relief for the Afflicted

1. Persecuted Believers in Thessalonica

“and to give relief to you who are afflicted”

not minimizing their pain and suffering, but putting it into perspective

2. Apostolic Missionary Team

“and to us as well”

Paul and his missionary team are not detached observers, but are intimately involved in the same struggles and experiencing the same persecutions.

C. Timeframe = The Second Coming / Transition

“when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire”

Morris: “Some commentators prefer to take ‘in flaming fire’ with what follows as indicating the manner in which the vengeance spoken of will be visited on the wicked. It seems preferable to take it with the preceding, and as being the third in the series of prepositional phrases describing the Lord’s revelation. In that case the majesty of the appearance of the Lord who is revealed is brought out by comparing it to that of flaming fire. This comparison is to be found in other places as Exod. 3:2, Isa. 66:15, Rev. 1:13 f. On outstanding occasions, like the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai or the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, fire is the symbol of the divine presence.”

II. (:8-9) THE PENALTY OF ETERNAL DESTRUCTION

A. Characterized as Payback – Expression: “Paybacks are Hell”

“dealing out retribution”

B. Who Has to Pay the Piper?

1. Unbelievers

“to those who do not know God”

2. Disobedient

“and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus”

Hubbard: “Some have suggested that two groups – Gentiles (cf. I Thess 4:5) and Jews – are indicated. More likely this is a blanket reference to all who refuse to act on what they know about God and who more specifically, reject his revelation in Christ.”

C. Eternal Consequences for Unbelief and Disobedience

1. Eternal Destruction

“And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction”

2. Eternal Separation

a. “away from the presence of the Lord’

b. “and from the glory of His power”

III. (:10) THE GOAL OF THE SECOND COMING

A. Its Certainty

“when He comes”

B. Its Glory

“to be glorified in His saints on that day”

C. Its Awe

“and to be marveled at among all who have believed”

Piper: “One of the most exhilarating experiences in life is to see a wonder or a marvel so great and so glorious that we are utterly amazed, speechless before beauty. That’s how it will be when we see Jesus coming in His glory.”

D. Its Vindication

“for our testimony to you was believed”