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Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd.   P.O. Box #3762   Gillette, WY  82717   (307) 686-1516

 

- Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2 -

 

 

 

 

GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT IN PERSECUTION (Pt. 2)

2Th 1:6-10 (02/26/12)

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

 

  1. PAUL GIVE THANKS AND ADMIRATION FOR THE THESALOIANS (3-4)
  2. GOD DEALS WITH PERSECUTORS AND THE PERSECUTED (5-10)

 

A.      In Evidence of His Righteous Judgment (5)

1.       The whole idea of persecution is “plain indication” (e,ndeigma - evidence, proof, or manifest token) that distinguishes the believer from the unbeliever.

2.       Suffering (pa,schō - to undergo and experience suffering, even death) is a litmus test that God allows to show those who are worthy (kataxio,ō - regarded as worthy) of the kingdom of God.

3.       This is a result of God’s “righteous judgment” (dikai,as kriseōs) who gives recompense to all depending on what they deserve. Believers in themselves deserve the same judgment as those who reject Christ. However, they have received pardon and righteousness from Christ, while unbelievers have remained in their sinfulness and perdition. Therefore believers receive relief, comfort, and strength from God in persecution (2Th 1:7).

B.      In Repaying Persecutors with Affliction (6)

1.       Is it right (dikaios - that which is righteous and just) for God to repay the sin of those who persecute believers? It is so obvious that Paul uses a conditional expression (eiper, if indeed) that could be translated as “since.”

2.       Indeed the Thessalonians were presently and continually being afflicted by persecution. What is meant by affliction and to what degree does affliction and persecution come to the believer? “Affliction” (thlipsis fr. thlibō - to press hard, make thin, squeeze, or crush externally or internally) can speak of general tribulation such as famine (Act 7:11), captivity (Act 7:10), poverty (2Co 8:13). It can refer to the particular event known as the “Tribulation” (Mat 24:21, 29), but it can specifically refer to the tribulation that comes against believers for their faith and witness (Act 11:19).

a)       It can pressure and tempt one’s faith (Mat 13:21; 1Th 3:3-5).

b)       It can be the pressure of public humiliation (Heb 10:32-33).

c)       It can refer to anything up to and including martyrdom (Heb 11:36-37).

3.       God does “repay” (antapodidomi - to give back in turn or equivalence) persecutors with what is divinely coming to them. Why? Because of their sin, along with the fact that they rejected Christ, and because they afflicted His people.

a)       God’s righteousness will not permit doing wrong to another (LXX, Lev 25:17).

b)       God will have vengeance and retribution against sin (Deut 32:35; Psa 31:23).

c)       God will bring wrath to His enemies and the enemies of His people (Isa 59:18).

d)       God will respond to the cry of His people (Psa 107:6, 13, 19, 28).

4.       Though Paul will explain in the preceding verses, he states that God will repay the persecutors with none other than “affliction” (thlipsis). He can and often repays persecutors with affliction in this life, but He has promised to pay them back in the future (2Th 1:8-9).

C.      In Giving Relief to the Persecuted at the Second Coming (7)

1.       Verse 7 is the second object of the verb “repay” (vs. 6). He will repay those causing the affliction with affliction, but He will repay the ones being afflicted (His people) with relief. “Relief” (a,nesis - to relax or refresh) means that God will allow His people refreshment and freedom from the affliction at some point. It could be in this life that God will remove some particular affliction. However, being called to be persecuted, the believer will find himself being persecuted in another way or by another person.

2.       The relief that Paul had in mind is the future and ultimate relief and freedom from persecution. This will happen at the “revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven.” This is referring not to the Rapture (1Th 4:16-17) but to His Second Coming, which was identified with such phrases as, “powerful angels” (Mat 16:27) “flaming fire” (Heb 1:7) and “dealing out retribution” (Rev 19:11). The Rapture is characterized as an event of reward and reuniting with our Lord in the clouds but the Second Coming is characterized as an event of judgment upon unbelievers (Psa 2; Isa 26:21; Mic 1:3; Mat 25:32).

3.       The Second Coming will be the ultimate relief because it will finally be extended to all believers of every age. It will also be the ultimate relief because it will be at that time (and the Great White Throne Judgment) when every persecutor will receive the retribution for afflicting God’s people.

D.      In Dealing out Retribution upon Persecutors (8)

1.       The purpose of His Second Coming is made clear. When He comes He will at the same time be “dealing out” (present participle from didōmi, give, carry out, hand out) His plan of punishment (8).

a)       “Retribution” is the Greek word ekdikêsis and combines the two words “justice” and “out,” i.e. to carry out and see that justice is done. This word carries the idea of vengeance (LXX Deut 32:35; Heb 10:30) and avenging (LXX Deut 32:43; Rev 6:10; 1Th 4:6). His righteous vengeance, according to His righteous standard, will be carried out upon those who have violated it.

b)       This vengeance is not just being poured out because they were persecutors, a symptom; but because they “do not know God,” the diagnosis. They are described as having not known God and continuing to not know Him (perfect participle - oi,da - see or know). Not only did they not have salvation and a relationship with God through Christ, but they will receive the wrath of God. Why? Because they rejected and disobeyed the “gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” To obey the gospel did not mean that they were to obey His commandments to earn salvation, but we were to believe and put their trust in Christ finished work on the cross (Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23). The very reason they were persecuting believers proved that they were enemies of God, enemies of the gospel, and enemies of His people.

c)       To receive Christ as Savior, is to receive not only His forgiveness of sins and eternal life, but to be delivered from His wrath (cp. Rom 5:9; Joh 3:36). This is why it is called the gospel (euaggelion fr eu-good and angellō-to give a message or news) or the “good news.”

E.       In the Penalty of Eternal Destruction for Persecutors (9)

1.       Such retribution was described as having to pay a penalty. To “pay” (tinō - undergo, suffer) would correlate with the affliction and suffering repaid to the one ones who were afflicting the Thessalonians (2Th 1:6). Scripture teaches that the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23a).

2.       This payment of punishment is “eternal destruction.” “Destruction” is the Greek word o,lethros which means  to come to complete ruin, corruption, destruction, and death. It is usually associated with the eschatological idea of destruction and punishment which will continue for all eternity (“eternal” aiōnios). It is as eternal as the meaning of eternal life (Mat 25:46; Rev 14:11).

3.       Here the Scriptures do not teach Annihilationism or Soul Sleep, but an eternal and conscious existence apart from the life of God. Eternal destruction is ultimately excruciating because it takes place “away from” (apo, - separation from) the “presence” (prosōpon, lit. face) of the Lord. The unbeliever will experience God’s wrath and not His favorable presence. Eternal destruction will also be “away from” (apo, - separation from) God’s of His power.” They will experience the might of His anger because they have rejected His glorious strength in complete deliverance and salvation, which only the believer will experience. This punishment is described as hell (Mat 23:33; Luk 12:5), in darkness (Mat 8:12), and pain (Mat 13:42).

4.       This is the final payment and affliction spoken of in 2Th 1:6.

A.      In Glorifying Himself among the Saints (10)

1.       God’s glorious strength in complete deliverance will be seen on the behalf of believers “on that day”, i.e. the day of His return which no man knows (Mat 24:36).

2.       “When” (ho,tan - whenever) He returns, He will come to be ”glorified” (endoxomai - glorified in) in the saints. He will be glorified “in” (en) in the sphere of and among His holy ones. His glory is manifested in the accomplishment of saving sinful man, namely “all who have believed.”

3.       Also it is these “saints” (toi hagi,oi - holy ones) and only these who will “marvel at” (thaumasthênai - be marveled at) Christ in His glorious person and salvation.

4.       This is the ultimate relief that all believers, including the Thessalonians who believed Paul’s testimony, will experience and behold according to God’s righteous judgment (2Th 1:7).

 

  1. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

 

A.      We are able to endure the expected persecution of a bold witness because the believer will have gloriously relief from persecution when we experience and marvel at His glory when He returns.

B.      We are able to endure the expected persecution of a bold witness because we know that God will repay all evildoers with eternal punishment.

C.      We are able to endure the expected persecution of a bold witness because we are moved with pity for the destiny of sinners unless they believe.