The Thessalonian Epistles

The Day of Vengeance

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Lesson XVIII

Written: June 10, 2005

TEXT

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8

(7) And to you who are troubled rest with us, 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:

The believers at Thessalonica were suffering and enduring “persecutions and tribulations” (2 Thessalonians 1:4). Jesus had warned his disciples of the world’s hate (John 15:19-20). He had said: “…in this world ye shall have tribulation.” (John 16:33). Paul wrote to the Philippians : “for unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:29). The Apostle Peter wrote: “beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you (1 Peter 4:12).

2 Thessalonians 1:4

(4) So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

John 15:19-20

(19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

(20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

John 16:33

(33) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Philippians 1:29

(29) For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

1 Peter 4:12

(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

In the words of the poet, “God has not promised skies always blue…”. Saints have, do and will yet suffer from the hands of wicked men who would crucify the Lord of glory again if they could. If the world hated him, they will hate you (John 15:20). One needs to be constantly reminded of the suffering of the saints by reading Church history.

2 Thessalonians 1:6

(6) Seeing [it is] a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

The Thessalonians were being greatly troubled. Paul writes to comfort them by the fact that “…it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you” (2 Thessalonians 1:6)

Romans 2:2-3, 5

(2) But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

(3) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

(5) But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Genesis 18:25

(25) That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

To the Romans Paul wrote: “…we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” (Romans 2: 2, 3). There will be no escape! Men are treasuring up “wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:5). Judgment is sure to fall on those who have been the troublers of the saints of God. Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25).

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8

(7) And to you who are troubled rest with us, 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:

Hear now Paul’s words to the Thessalonians. “And to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall 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 1:7-8).

The words are sobering, searching and serious.

There are words and facts stated in these verses that are being ignored or totally rejected by many theologians and preachers today.

First the words: “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven.” As we have discovered in the first Epistle, at the Rapture, the Lord Jesus will unveil himself to his Church. But here He unveils, reveals himself to an ungodly world.

Revelation 1:7

(7) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

“Every eye shall see him” (Revelation 1:7).

Revelation 6:16-17

(16) And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

(17) For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Ungodly men will no doubt say “to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:16-17) As when one turns over a rock allowing the sun to shine where it was and all the bugs and worms begin to bury themselves from the light, so will men do when the Sun of righteousness arises. Ungodly men will desire to go away from His presence and have no place to go!

Hebrews 10:31

(31) [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Romans 1:26-32

(26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

(27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

(28) And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

(29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

(30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

(31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

(32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

We write these words in the month of June, “gay pride and parade month” in our land.

In Romans 1:26-31 Paul lists all the sins of humanity and concludes by saying: “who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:32). We learn that men know that judgment is coming!

Not only will the Lord Jesus be revealed, he will be accompanied by His mighty Angels.

Revelation 18:1

(1) And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

2 Kings 19:35

(35) And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they [were] all dead corpses.

Isaiah 63:6

(6) And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

John saw one of these Angels coming down with great power (Revelation 18:1). In 2 Kings 19:35, in one night one angel smote one hundred and eighty thousand men. The Lord does not need angels to help Him in battle, He will trod the winepress alone (Isaiah 63:6). We do not know, but wonder if the Mighty Angels will come as witnesses of the wrath of the Lamb.

We read in verse 8 “in flaming fire.” No jokes will be made that day. None will be the arguments against the flames of Hell. Men will be more helpless against that flame than they have ever been while fighting forest fires!

He comes “taking vengeance.” Some teach that the God of the Old Testament is not the God of the New Testament. They believe the word “vengeance” belongs to the Old and not to the New for in the New Testament we have a God of love. But this is New Testament!

Isaiah 61:2

(2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

Luke 4:19

(19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Isaiah foretold the plan of God: First “the acceptable year of the Lord”, then the “day of vengeance of our God” and after that “to comfort all that mourn” (Isaiah 61:2). Here are three distinct periods of history. As surely as “the acceptable year of the Lord” began when Jesus came the first time (Luke 4:19), “the day of vengeance” will come when Jesus comes the next time. When we write about these things we always remember the words of Erich Sauer: “The Lord has not come yet, not because the world is not good enough. He has not come yet because the world is not bad enough.” For when He comes, His first business it to take vengeance on the ungodly.

Jude 15

(15) To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

We have seen the world population double from 3 billions to over 6 billions of people in our life-time. Someone said if all who have died since the flood were resurrected, the world’s population would only double. If that is true, then for every one who has died there is one alive in the world today. Therefore if the Lord came today half of the world’s population would be here to face this judgment. All this is very solemn. But God has kept His Word in the past and He will keep and fulfill all in the future.

Here is Divine Revelation, not human speculation.

The Lord Jesus shall be revealed. In flaming fire taking vengeance. Words men do not want to hear preached today. But preach them we must.

Matthew 21:44

(44) And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

“And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken ...” to be on the Stone (who is Christ), will be salvation: “but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:44).

On which side of the Stone are you?