Paul writes a letter to the church in Thessalonians about their problems that they were having, and in his writing he was informing them that judgement was coming. The purpose of judgment is to rectify injustices. You see the believers at Thessalonica were suffering fierce persecution and all kinds of trouble at the hands of their neighbors and the local city government. Most of the citizens of Thessalonica wanted nothing to do with Christ, so they sought out way, looked for ways, hunted out ways to stamp out His name, they were threatening and persecuting all who confessed Christ, they threaten and persecuted anyone that admitted to being a follower. They were like some people I know that threaten to put you out, kick you out and threaten your membership if you don’t acknowledged what is right in their eyesight.
When we look at this situation, this situation had become serious; the situation had become so bad that it affected those that were around them. And I might as well just jump right in here and tell you that when the church is troubled, when the saints are acting like the sinners, when there is trouble in the church house, it will affect the neighborhood. It will keep people from coming to church, it will make people say that’s why I don’t go to church now, and it will cause a rift in the body of Christ. This can be seen and proven by looking at the account in Acts, and by the number of times persecution is referred to in the two letters to the Thessalonians.
Notice these verses.
"But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows (which means some nasty people, some mean people, ok let me say it like I feel it, some low-down people) of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them [Paul and Silas] out to the people. And when they found them, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, these that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things" (Acts 17:5-8).
"But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people" (Acts 17:13).
"And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost" (1 Thes. 1:6).
"We were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention" (1 Thes. 2:2).
"For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews" (1 Thes. 2:14).
"That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know" (1 Thes. 3:3-4).
"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" (2 Thes. 1:4).
The suffering of the believers was terrifying; therefore, they needed some encouragement. Paul had done this in the former passages in (2nd Thes. 1:3-5) and he would do at the end of the present passage (2nd Thes. 1:10-12).
But may I tell you that although he encouraged the suffering believers, something else was needed as well: the persecutors, the oppressors, the harassers, the intimidators, the tormenters and the unbelievers of the world needed to be warned. They need to be warned that God is going to rectify all the injustices of the world. God's judgment is going to fall upon every person who has mistreated others. All unjust behavior of men will bear the terrible judgment of God, all the • killing • mocking • cursing • gossiping • criticizing • defrauding • cheating • abusing • stealing • ridiculing • fighting • arguing • misusing • rejecting • ignoring • deceiving • lying • and hoarding God is going to rectify.
I must tell you, I need to tell you, I have to tell you and I shall tell you
that we live in the midst of an evil and an unjust people. Much of the world's behavior and much of man's behavior is evil and unjust. God must judge the world, for judgment is the righteous and just thing.
To judge the injustices of men is the very thing that must be done. All the injustices of the world must be corrected, because not to judge would be the wrong and unjust thing.
Now understand this, this is the reason why God is going to judge the world. Because He is just and righteous Himself; therefore, His very nature demands that all the injustices and wrongs that men have inflicted upon others be judged and punished.
Let me translate this verse for you: For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you" hurt you and misuse you. In other words, God is going to repay with crushing sorrows those who cause you these crushing sorrows" (Williams, 2 Thes. 1:6).
"It really is just for God to pay back with suffering those who make you suffer" (Beck, 2 Thes. 1:6).
"[It is a fair decision] since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with distress and affliction those who distress and afflict you" (Amplified New Testament, 2 Thes. 1:6).
"Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense (recompense means repay) tribulation to them that trouble you" (2 Thes. 1:6).
"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 Thes. 1:7-8).
"O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?...And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off" (Psalm 94:1-8, 23).
"According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense" (Isaiah 59:18).
"And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the lord" (Ezekiel 7:4).
And we don’t have to worry if this will be done right because the executor of this judgment shall be Jesus Christ Himself. It will be Jesus Christ who is coming to give rest to the believer as well as judgement to the world. The believer will be released from the injustices, sufferings, and death of this world.
The Christians in Thessalonica were so grateful to God for Paul’s letter, but unfortunately it did not immediately solve all their problems. In fact, the persecution grew worse and some believers thought they were living in the time of the Tribulation. Then a letter arrived claiming to be from Paul, stating that the Day of the Lord was actually present and this caused real confusion.
Some of the believers concluded that since the Lords coming was so near, they ought to quit their jobs and spend their time waiting for Him. This meant that the other members were under an extra burden to care for them.
It was in response to these needs that Paul wrote in his second letter. He began with their most pressing need, the persecution they were experiencing because of their faith. In this first chapter, Paul shared three encouragements with his suffering friends.
The encouragements of praise started in 1st Thessalonians (vv. 1-4).
Paul gave a statement of praise to God for what He had been accomplishing in their lives. He was practicing his own admonition.
And let me tell you that one of the best weapons for fighting Satan is praise in spite of the pain.
No doubt the Thessalonian believers did not consider themselves to be very spiritual as they suffered, but Paul detected what God was doing among them.
Secondly, Paul was letting them know that their faith was growing. A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted. And New G, our faith is being tested, to see who’s going to stand and who’s going to fall.
Paul also was telling them that their love was abounding or Plentiful 3b). And this was an answer to Paul’s previous prayer (1st Thes. 3:12).
Next Paul was sharing with them that their patience was increasing and my brothers and sisters, I tell you that if we are going to make it, we are going to have to run this race with patience.
But here’s what I liked. Paul was telling them that their testimony was helping others, so that tells me that in running this race we are going to have to help someone along the way.
But then he gave them the encouragement of promise (vv. 5-10), and that was. No matter how difficult their present circumstances may have been, the Thessalonian believers had a safe and glorious future ahead. And New G, if you don’t get anything else this morning, get this. Things might look a little dark at times, things might seem a little rough some days, but God has promise us a safe, secured, and glorious future.
Some nights we might have to cry.
Some night we might have to moan.
Some night we might not sleep at all but it’s alright because the Lord will guide us safely through, because there is a Reward (v. 5). This was one of Gods reasons in permitting their suffering, because Recompense will happen. In other words, there will be a payday one day.
God will repay affliction to the lost, and give rest to the saved. The wicked who persecute the godly will suffer in the hands of God.
Let me tell you that God will give relief, and he will give release.
God will open the pressure valve; and reduce the burdens.
Well, you might want to know before I leave you who are these people that persecute the church and the men and women of God. They are those who will lie on you, abuse you, manipulation you, mishandle you.
But don’t you worry about them because one day, I said one day the Lord will repay them for their evil deeds.
