Christ's Coming in Judgment

Today's Sunday School lesson is taken from 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Here are a few observations from the lesson. For some reason this lesson feels a little disjointed, however I was blessed in studying it.

Paul starts out with his traditional greeting verses 1 and 2. It would appear that only a short amount of time has passed since the last letter (First Thessalonians). The 3 men are still working together and are most likely in Corinth. Paul is giving additional teaching (almost like correction) to the believers on the subject of Christ’s return.

Paul continues to have fond memories of Thessalonica and the people he met there. He loves them and rejoices at their success.
Verses 3-10 is a complete thought that would qualify as too long of a sentence in modern English, however we need to look at it together to understand what Paul is trying to say.

• Paul is thankful for the Thessalonians because:
• Their faith is growing.
• Their love for each other is growing.
• Paul boasts of the patience and faith that they have in the midst of persecution.
• This (referring to their patience and faith in persecution as well as their growth in faith and love) is evidence of God’s righteous judgment.
• How is this evidence of God’s judgment? How can you have patience and faith in persecution? Currently we have a modern day example of this in Iraq. This patience and faith comes by the Holy Spirit.
• God will set everything right because He is just. v6 Also see Romans 12:19
• How will Jesus return?
• With mighty angels.
• In flaming fire, with vengeance on those who do not believe and do not obey.
• With glory and admiration of all who believe.

Counted Worthy of His Calling
Twice I find this phrase “count(ed) worthy”. The first is in verse 5 where we are to be “counted worthy of the kingdom of God”, “for which ye suffer”. Secondly I find this phrase in verse 11, where Paul says he prays that they [Thessalonians] would be counted worthy by God of this calling.

Application
In Mark 13:32-37 Jesus gives a very clear application to this lesson:
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:33-37)

Verses 11-12 also tell me that I need to be in prayer.

Often times when we hear of Christians being persecuted such as they are in Iraq, we ask what we can do. The first response from the persecuted people is rarely, if ever, send in your army! No, it is always, “PRAY FOR US!!” Am I praying? In this passage Paul was clearly a man of prayer and he specifically prayed for this church in Thessalonica as they faced the trials of persecution.

Watch and Pray my fellow Christian, Christ WILL come again! Be ready