FIRE INSURANCE
2 THESSALONIANS 1:1-12
#2Thessalonians1
INTRODUCTION/ILLUSTRATION… Grand Entrances denofgeek.com/movies/the-25-most-iconic-movie-entrances/ [adapted]
Some entrances in movies are made to get your attention.
The scene is a boat. Not just any boat, but a pirate ship. We see a pirate standing atop of his ship’s mast, his hair flapping in the sea breeze as he pulls into port, at first looking every bit the impressive and dashing outlaw. He is a swashbuckling pirate after all! It’s only once the camera angle changes and we realize he is clinging to the remains of a sinking ship and he’s a far more of a shambolic pirate than we perhaps first thought. However, his perfectly timed step ashore did also show that while he may be far from perfect, he does it all with a definite sense of style. And so we meet Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean.
In a different movie, director Steven Spielberg builds the tension perfectly in a story written by Michael Crichton. It is the slow build up to the reveal that makes the eventual appearance all the more powerful. “Maybe it’s the power coming back on?!” “Where is the goat?” “He left us. He left us.” “Keep absolutely still, his vision is based on movement.” From the rippling water in the cup to the falling rain and the dismembered goat to that unforgettable roar, we are already terrified of this creature before we’ve even seen it. When it does finally arrive, the T-Rex storms on to the screen and immediately imposed its status as the apex predator of the Jurassic world. The rest of the movie Jurassic Park is then played out with the unsettling knowledge that this hulking death machine is out there somewhere, waiting to strike.
In the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the elusive Willy Wonka is painted as something of a chocolate magnate mystery by Charlie and his family. As a result, when the big reveal finally arrives, it appears almost underwhelming at first as the gathered crowds witness what appears to be a peculiarly dressed old man shuffling towards them down a red carpet, resting on his cane and struggling for balance. Finally, the man stops, teeters forwards and appears to fall, only at the last minute to turn it into a perfect forward roll coupled with a sprightly leap and a beaming smile. Willy Wonka lets people into his secretive world, but that doesn’t mean he won’t keep a few tricks up his sleeve.
ENTRANCES ARE IMPORTANT
Entrances and first impressions are important. We all know that. A firm handshake is important. Answers to questions in a job interview are a huge deciding factor when getting a job. Showing up at a date’s house empty handed is bad. Entrances and first impressions are important.
I can’t help but think this is why we are amazed at Genesis 1. We are introduced to God in Genesis 1 when He speaks the world into existence. That is power! That is amazing! That is a memorable entrance where God fashions all of existence from His thoughts and speaks the world into existence. It also can’t help but think this is why we wonder a little bit in Matthew 1. Jesus Christ comes on the scene and He is… He is… a baby. God incarnate shows up on the scene and He arrives to an unwed mother in a barn. Not the greatest first impression.
May I suggest that we don’t give up on Jesus. Jesus will make an entrance that every single eye will see. His entrance will not be on a sinking boat or a trickster falling over. His entrance will not be underwhelming in any way. The passage that we are going to read from today describes the Second Coming of Jesus.
READ 2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-12
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. 5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might, 10 when He comes on that day to be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
TRANSITION
In 2 Thessalonians 1, we find a description of the fiery judgement that happens when Jesus Christ returns in His grand second entrance. It is a grand entrance with fire and loss and destruction and glory!
FIERY JUDGEMENT
We find in this passage a description of the Second Coming of Christ which is consistent with other snapshots we get in Daniel 7, Matthew 24, 1 Corinthians 15, and Revelation 19… among others.
We have a picture of Jesus Christ coming from Heaven along with angels that are flaming with fire. Fire in the Bible is a symbol of the presence of God. We see this with Moses and the Israelites in the desert in many passages in the Old Testament. Fire in the Bible is used by God when He judges sinful people. We see this with Sodom and Gomorrah and the Baal prophets on the top of Mount Carmel. God and fire go together. Tongues of fire light over the Apostles and the rest of the Church at Pentecost when the Church is born and signifies the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and His presence with believers.
Why fire?
Fire purifies. We have fire because when Jesus Christ returns, He will purify this entire world of the sin-sickness that permeates every part of life. We may not realize it, but sin infects the ground, the water, the air, weather, every animal, and all the people. Sin is a ‘not good’ infestation in the Creation that God made ‘very good.’ When Jesus Christ returns, evil will be done away with. Death will be gone. Those that thumb their noses at the Almighty God will be purified to the top and scraped away. God does this not because He is angry… anger does not control God ever. God does not do this because He is hateful, power-hungry, unloving, unjust, or fickle. God purifies this world because He is making way for the pure holy and righteous life that will reign forever after His Son returns. God purifies this world with fire because He is holy.
Fire destroys. We have fire because when Jesus Christ returns, this world will be burned up to make way for the new restored Creation. Human beings, because of our sin, have absolutely wrecked this world beyond repair. Don’t think I am ‘going green’ on you. I am not talking about global warming or a hole in the ozone layer or piles of trash… sin has corrupted this world to the degree that when Jesus comes back, He will just start over. Sin ruined the Earth. Fire will burn away the sin garbage of this world and make way for a canvass on which God will make a New Heaven and a New Earth.
Part of this picture is also people being afflicted in this fiery judgement. Now, we notice in these verses, that not everyone is afflicted by the vengeance that comes riding on the clouds. The angels do not smite everyone. The sweeping judgment is not a broad net that catches everyone. The way I read all the passages about the Day of the Lord, judgement comes on the whole world, but the whole world does not need to be fearful. The punishment and fire and suffering comes on those “who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” We are told that after Jesus returns a second time that it will be those who do not believe in Him who will suffer eternal destruction. The purifying and the destruction comes to those who have rejected Jesus as the Son of God and who reject Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
As we finish up thinking about this judgement and what happens at the sound of the last trumpet, I want you to notice in verse 10, what the destiny of those who accept Jesus will be. Those souls who believe in Jesus Christ need not fear the purifying fire or the destroying fire, but rather will be changed in a twinkling of the eye to glorify Jesus in a marvelous manner. The fire of the Holy Spirit is already present with the faithful and there is no fear at the Last Day.
That is sure hope that He will be our God and we will be His people.
That is sure hope that Jesus prepares the way for us by His blood.
That is sure hope that death, even though it is somewhat unknown, is not to be feared.
That is sure hope that the end of the world is nothing to worry over.
ILLUSTRATION… Grand Entrances denofgeek.com/movies/the-25-most-iconic-movie-entrances/ [adapted]
In a classic 1962 movie, the scene begins at an opulent gambling establishment as a series of camera angles gives us tiny glimpse of a man currently playing a round of cards against a wealthy female rival. After claiming a daring victory, the unseen figure says to the lady “I admire your courage, Miss….?” To which she replies, “Trench, Sylvia Trench. I admire your luck, Mr…?” And at that, the camera reveals a man in all his tuxedoed magnificence, suave, debonair and handsome as ever as he lights his cigarette with style and mutters those immortal words: “Bond, James Bond.” Cue the music.
Soldiers run for their lives. Red laser blasts shoot on screen as droids try to get out of the way. As a smoke-filled corridor lies in recovery following the shoot-out that just raged inside it, troopers flood in and promptly make way for the arrival of their apparent leader. When he does arrive, he makes quite the lasting impression. Head to toe in black and towering over his minions, this striking figure simply strides confidently down the hallway, his cape billowing behind him and a startling mask covering his face. We hear distinctive breathing. The unforgettable mask and distinctive breathing adds volumes to Darth Vader’s chilling emotionless entrance in Star Wars.
To begin with, all we see is a faceless adventurer leading a patrol of men into the depths of the jungle, with brief glimpses of fedora and whip the only clues as to his identity. As the group come to a halt, one of his companions reaches for a gun and takes aim at our hero. His back still turned, the adventurer senses danger and reacts in an instant, using his whip to summarily disarm the turncoat. As the assailant flees back into the jungle, the man emerges from the shadows and steps forward in to the light, revealing himself to the world for the first time. He is a fearless explorer and a man thoroughly unfazed by either the jungle or the threat of murder. His ice-cool reaction paints him not only as a man you definitively want on your side in a scrape, but also one you know you are going to root for. He is Indiana Jones.
TRANSITION
In 2 Thessalonians 1, we find a description of the fiery judgement that happens when Jesus Christ returns and also a description of fire insurance with that grand second entrance in mind. By ‘fire insurance’ I mean making sure we ourselves are not caught up in the fiery judgment. It is a grand entrance with fire and loss and destruction and glory and it is fire insurance based on faith.
FIRE INSURANCE
Ever since the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, the timer on the Last Days began to tick. We do not know the day or the hour of Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, but we believe that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead and He will return in the same way He came.
He will come on the clouds!
He will come in power!
He will come and all people will see Him!
Why do we have to wait?
Matthew 24:14 (ESV) says: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” We are in the time when the Gospel Message about Jesus is going to every tribe and nation and language. We are waiting for the Church to complete its mission.
The Bible is also clear that believers must not be preoccupied with trying to guess the day and hour when Jesus Christ will return. It seems every time there is a natural disaster, or some kind of moral collapse, or a crisis shocks a nation, or a radical crime against humanity occurs, someone is ready to label that particular event as a prequel to the imminent return of Christ or even the one who did it as ‘the anti-Christ.’
Jesus will come at the last trumpet from heaven with fiery angels when He is good and ready and when the will of God is complete for humanity. We don’t know when that time will be. We must just wait. What do we do while we wait? What should preoccupy us? I think 2 Thessalonians 1, specifically verses 3-4, gives us divine godly advice on what to do while we wait.
RE-READ 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 (ESV)
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
The Apostle Paul says very clearly that he is thankful in prayer for the Thessalonians for specific reasons that make him boast about them to other believers. He says in verse 3 that their faith and love are growing abundantly. He comments that their steadfastness in faith (verse 4) in the midst of hardships and trials is something to be shared.
What do we do while we wait?
Grow in steadfast faith.
Grow in love for one another.
How do we do that? Here are some suggestions:
ILLUSTRATION… theodysseyonline.com/10-things-help-grow-deeper-your-faith [adapted]
#1 Identify places in your life in which you need Jesus the most. We should pray about those places where we know we are falling short as people and surrender those things to the Lord. And ask Him to take control.
#2 Get involved in a bible study or small group where you can converse the gospel, ask questions, and connect in a more personal and casual way. Bible study with others sharpens our faith and deepens our faith as we talk with each other.
#3 Find at least one blessing from God every day. Make a goal to praise God every day for something in your life. Thankfulness is a doorway emotion that leads to many other things.
#4 Turn to the Gospel before anything else. Instead of looking to our own wisdom or going to a bar or searching on the internet, we can look to the Bible for wisdom and direction… and do that first. Put the Bible first. Crazy idea I know, but in God’s Word we find more answers than questions.
#5 Download a Bible app to send you Bible verses or subscribe to a podcast that centers around the Bible. These tools can remind you every day to stay grounded to Christ. It may also help you to discover the Gospel more often as you move through your day.
#6 Write down one scripture a week that means something to you and memorize it. Memorizing Scripture changes our perspectives and our heart.
#7 Spend time with the Lord on more days than just Sundays. We can pray, read the Bible, meditate on a verse, sing to Him, and give Him our time any day of the week.
#8 Find Kingdom opportunities in everyday to act as Jesus would. We have people around us all the time who may deal with times of anger, depression, anxiety, and frustration. Maybe we know someone grieving. All these create opportunities to act the way Jesus would to offer a word like Him.
In all of these things, I hope that we see faith is not something only on the inside… in our minds and hearts and emotions… but that faith is an action word. Steadfastness and growth in faith and growing to love others more and more will not happen if we just sit in a pew and check an attendance box. Even if you disagree with me that faith is an action word, we cannot ignore the words Paul uses in this passage:
“growing abundantly”
“increasing”
“steadfastness”
“considered worthy”
“resolve for good”
“work of faith”
None of these words happen on their own, but come from a life surrendered to the Lord Jesus under the sovereignty of God guided by the Holy Spirit.
SUMMARY and INVITATION
The entrance described for Jesus Christ in the Bible at His Second coming will be bigger and grander than anything we have ever seen in a movie or imagined from a book or even speculated about. It will be mind-blowing and soul-bending and world-ending.
Listen to these words:
READ Revelation 19:11-16 (ESV)
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The One sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but Himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the Name by which He is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On His robe and on His thigh He has a Name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
When Jesus comes riding out of the sky on the clouds and brings the fire of heaven with Him, will you be afraid because you suddenly realize Jesus Christ is real or will you rejoice because your King of Kings has arrived?
PRAYER
INVITATION
I want you to know that this time is an invitation for you to come forward and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Be confident in the Blood of Christ on the Last Day. I wanted to mention… that you do not need to clean up your life first before coming to God. Cleaning ourselves up and righting our soul within and making us a new creation is what God does in us AFTER we come to Christ. If you are waiting until you get your act together to come to Christ, you will never come to Christ. None of us are perfect. Romans 5:8 shares with us, “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God knows your soul is broken. Come to Him and let Him heal you.
