The Lord Jesus Shall Be Revealed From Heaven
Faith & patience in the face of trials & tribulation, were two qualities of the Thessalonian believers. Those who are persecuted for righteousness sake are blessed in the eyes of Jesus, & this is the message of many New Testament writers. The apostle John tells us that sufferings, imprisonment, persecution & even death await many Christians in this life, but a crown of life is the promised reward for those that are faithful during the time of trial & who patiently endure in the day of trouble.
James (the younger brother of the Lord Jesus) explains that the testing of our faith produces endurance, while Paul encourages us by revealing that we who are afflicted will certainly be given relief: "When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire." God is the righteous judge of the whole earth, & although we appear to be living in days when evil men prosper & the righteous are treated unjustly, punishment & judgement awaits our persecutors, while peace & rest is the reward for the people of God who are abused, afflicted, troubled & oppressed.
Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble, & in his final epistle to Timothy, the apostle Paul reminds us that all who live godly will suffer persecution. But we are called to rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that affliction works perseverance in the life of a saint. As members of Christ's Body, we are to be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world.
We are further exhorted by Peter, not to be surprised by any of the fiery ordeals we may encounter, for God uses them to test us & train us for our fitness to rule & reign with Christ in His coming Millennial Kingdom. Rather, we are to remember that the extent to which we share in the sufferings of Christ is the same measure that will be meted out to us when He returns in power, great splendour & glorious majesty.
Paul's comforting words to these suffering saints in Thessalonica gave great assurance to them in their affliction, & also reassures us that a day is coming when God, Who is the righteous Judge of the earth, will one day repay the very people who afflict His children. Indeed, they will be afflicted with great trouble & severe punishment.
Often we consider that we suffer alone in times of trouble, but this passage assures us that God is a righteous Judge Who is with us in our pain & will repay with tribulation those that persecute us. Those who have undergone unjust treatment & have suffered for righteousness sake, will be vindicated & avenged by the Lord Himself, for God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man Whom He has ordained: the Man Christ Jesus.
This verse promises retribution for the oppressors of God's people & rest for His saints, when Christ returns for His Church. Vengeance belongs to the Lord & He will repay those who rejected Christ & persecuted His saints. The great & terrible Day of the Lord is fast approaching, when judgement will be poured out in fullest measure on this Christ~rejecting, Christian~hating, sinful world.
John the Baptist told us that Christ would baptise believers with the Holy Spirit & unbelievers with a baptism of fiery judgement. The judgement of the nations takes place at the end of the Great Tribulation, but the Great White Throne judgement occurs at the end of Christ's millennial reign when all who have rejected God's offer of salvation & refuse to obey the gospel of Christ will be flung into the flaming fires of everlasting destruction.
God is not blind to the treatment His children receive & the abuse we undergo for Christ's sake. One day, the tables will be turned & those who are afflicted will be given relief. All wrongs will be righted when the appointed day for Christ's return arrives & Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire.
God bless you all.
Forwarded fromCarli • Saved by Grace
3September 5, 2026 18 1
