Second Thessalonian's 1 Part 2 The Fate Of All Sinners Is Certain: Flaming Fiery Judgment.

Suffering and tribulation for Christ's sake.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 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:

Paul finished his apostolic greeting to the Thessalonians by commending them for faith that was growing.

They had vibrant faith that maintained love for one another and had patience during trials and troubles.

He gloried in the mighty work of the Holy Spirit with the Word of God in their hearts, and how many lives were being changed in the process.

The Spirit of God guided Paul to turn his thoughts to the future, final judgment from God upon all unbelievers.

We rest in God's promises knowing He will judge the wicked. 

2 Thessalonians 1:5-6 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6) Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

The persecutions and tribulation they endured are a clear proof that God has judged righteously in calling Gentiles into His Church. 

Jesus taught us that the world hated Him and it will hate His disciples (See John 15:18-23). Suffering always precedes glory.

Suffering is evidence of being born again, for all who enter the kingdom of God go through tribulation in this life. 

Christians who endure tribulation have proof of their status as children of God. 

They know that our Father permits suffering for Christ's sake before receiving eternal blessings in Him.

The trial of their faith and the persecutions they endured for the sake of the gospel are reminders that our holy God will work to purge the dross from our hearts.

He works to dethrone self and enthrone Christ upon the throne of our heart. He works to humble us so that Jesus Christ is magnified in us and through us.

God's refining fire is a purifying fire. It eliminates impurities and strengthens what remains. As Job said "I shall come forth as gold" (See Job 23:10).

God use holy refining fire to purify His children and make us fit for His use.

Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Christians will go through the refining fires of suffering and persecution in this life. We have ways of thinking and conduct that must be changed so that we live a life that is pleasing to God. Such change is accomplished by God's refining fires.

Cultural influences have a way of creeping into our heart. Soon, we find ourselves thinking, talking and acting like the culture, instead of thinking, actions and talking like Jesus. 

Thus, refining fires from God purify our inner man and strengthen us to walk by faith with the Lord each day. 

We will also be the target of the Devil's wrath because he hates those who worship God in Spirit and truth. 

Satan hates parents who seek to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He hates Christians who heed the gospel call to live a separated life dedicated to following Christ. 

When the Father finishes His purifying process in us, He will declare us to be His children and we will exclaim Jehovah is our God!

Jesus will come as Judge and King to judge the wicked. 

2 Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

Paul exhorted the Thessalonians (and us) to rest by taking God at His Word. Rest by holding fast to His promises. Rest by staying on the solid rock of His Word. Rest by serving God as He calls us to do, loving Him and loving our neighbors. 

Now Paul begins to describe final judgment, what is often referred to as the great day of the LORD judgment. 

First, we learn that Jesus will be revealed as He comes from heaven to the earth to judge all the wicked sinners in the world. 

All the mighty army of God's angelic host will accompany Christ. Fear and dread will fill the hearts of all who rebel against Holy God.

Isaiah describes the believers rest in the promises and provision of God. 

Isaiah 57:1-2  The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2)  He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. 

The prophet Isaiah reminds us of that future day when the age of the church is over and no righteous man can be found on the earth. 

After the "rapture" of the church happens, all believers in Christ shall enter into eternal rest God has prepared for us. 

Isaiah describes this promise as walking in peace, sleeping in safety and being clothed with Christ's righteousness. 

Signs, wonders announce Christ's return and eminent judgment.  

Matthew 24:29-31  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30)  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31)  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

The coming of Jesus Christ to judge sinners is usually  spoken of in the scriptures by mentioning holy angels who will accompany him (See Deuteronomy 33:2; Matthew 25:31; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 26:64; Mark 8:38).

Jesus said that the sun and moon will go dark and the stars in heaven shall fall. Whatever that will look like, it means that all who live on earth at that time, will know that Jehovah is coming. His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence shall be on glorious display. 

There will be a specific sign in heaven whereby all on earth will know that it is the Lord Jesus Christ coming to rule and reign with absolute power and authority. 

He will send out His mighty angels to separate the good fish from the bad fish, the wheat from the tares (See Matthew 13).

Remember that the church of Jesus Christ will be with Him in heaven. When the seven years of tribulation begin, God will again call His chosen nation to repentant faith in Jesus Christ. 

He will send two witnesses with powerful signs (See Revelation 11). 

Many Jews will respond in those days and those are the wheat and good fish. They will be separated out and not go through the fiery judgment promised to the wicked. 

Angels will separate believers from unbelievers. All sinners will be judged by fire. 

Matthew 13:37-43  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38)  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39)  The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40)  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41)  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42)  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43)  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

When Paul tells us that Jesus is coming to mete out powerful permanent judgment upon all the wicked, he is connecting that with Christ's teachings. 

This is why we must preach and share the gospel whenever we have an opportunity. People who die in their sins, even if they are good, moral people, will suffer eternal condemnation.

Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world and HE rose to vindicate the salvation freely offered to all who will hear and heed the gospel. 

Can we bear to think about loved ones, friends and neighbors who do not know Christ, suffering in the fires of judgment? Let us share gospel truth. Let us maintain a worthy walk with our Lord so that our witness for Christ matches what we say we believe. 

Jesus Christ will return in flaming fire to unleash heaven's wrath against all rebels. 

2 Thessalonians 1:8-10 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9) Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10) When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Flaming fire is the fate of all who remain in unbelief even though the gospel of Jesus Christ has been faithfully preached for almost 2,000 years. 

The gospel has spread throughout the world for generation after generation. There is no excuse for any person to remain in ignorance of the wonderful, glorious salvation wrought by Christ for us. 

In our digital world, the Bible is available in almost all languages, and blog platforms such as this one, provide instant translation of the scripture and lessons into more than 200 different languages. 

Faithful missionaries have take the gospel of Christ into the remotest parts of the world for centuries, often suffering or dying for the sake of the gospel.

When Jesus returns to the earth when the great tribulation draws to a close, He is coming in flaming fire. He will take His just revenge upon all who sin with impunity as if God does not see or care about their wickedness.

They all will be consigned to eternal condemnation in the flames of Hell. They will be eternally banished from the Lord's presence.

Believers will express their triumphant joy when sin and rebellion meet their end. They will express unfettered adoration and praise to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. 

God is just and right in bringing such a fiery judgment upon all Christ rejectors. He gave mankind a conscience to convict us when we are tempted to sin. He gave the whole world a powerful testimony of His majesty, glory and holiness through Creation. He gave us His Word and faithful men to preach and teach truth to each generation. 

Most of all, He sacrificed His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for our sins. Jesus suffered for our sins. 

He died for our sins. He shed His divine blood for our sins. 

He rose from the grave because death could not hold Him. He appeared to hundreds of believers before He ascended to His Father in heaven.

All that needed to be done to bring a repentant sinner into a saving relationship with the Father through faith in Christ, has been done.

Therefore, God is just in judging all who reject His Son.

God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 10:23-31 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26)  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27)  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 ) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29)  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31)  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 

The writer of Hebrews also looked toward future, final judgment. He reminds us to be faithfully serving God until Jesus Christ returns. 

He reminds us to remember that certain judgment and fiery indignation will be poured out upon all sinners. Gdd is holy, righteous and just in all He's doing with mankind. He will rightly pour out His wrath upon all who reject the gospel. 

Thus, it is a fearful fate to fall into the hands of the Living God who is a consuming fire for those who rebel against Him.

Never to see the face of God throughout eternity is a heart rending thought.  To be eternally banished from the glory of His power which is manifested in saving the lost and glorifying the faithful, is cause for great dismay. 

But this is the lot, the fate of all who acknowledge not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12  Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12)  That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Because all of the spiritual realities are true and fast approaching, Paul prayed hard for the believers at Thessalonica. 

He prayed that they would continue to walk worthily for the Lord. He prayed that they would continue to faithfully serve God and do His will. 

Most of all, the apostle prayed that the wonderful name of Jesus Christ would be glorified and honored with our lives. 

May we gain a greater appreciation for all that Jesus has done for us in saving us, rescuing us from Hell and eternal condemnation, in order to give us eternal life and all spiritual blessings. 

Bob