Relief

Jesus reveals Himself to unbelievers in judgment at the Day of the Lord. But He makes His presence known to believers at the time of the Rapture when He takes us to heaven to spend eternity with Him. For the lost, the apokalupsis in the Greek, or apocalypse. For the saved, the parousia in the Greek. For unbelievers, the judgment of God. For believers, relief from our afflictions.

Second Thessalonians 1:7a says, "to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us" (NASB). "Relief" (v. 7a) means "a loosening" or "freedom." It refers to relaxation, refreshment, restoration, and rest. In Scripture there is the rest salvation brings, or the Sabbath rest for God's people. The Bible also promises what can be called millennial rest, when Christ establishes His reign on earth and His subjects enjoy rest and peace. The Scriptures also promise an eternal rest that all believers enter into at death—rest from sin, temptation, trials, sorrows, and any other form of suffering. As Rev. 21:4 says, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain" (NASB). Such rest awaits the saints of the Rapture.

Why will God do this? Because it is just or right. As it was "only right for God to repay" unbelievers with "affliction" (v. 6a, NASB), so "it is only right for God… to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us" (v. 7a, NASB). How can it be just or right to punish the one and give relief to the other? A.W. Tozer wrote:  "[The] solution for the problem of how God can be just and still justify the unjust is found in the Christian doctrine of redemption. It is that, through the work of Christ in atonement, justice is not violated but satisfied when God spares a sinner. Redemptive theology teaches that mercy does not become effective toward a man until justice has done its work. The just penalty for sin was exacted when Christ our Substitute died for us on the cross. However unpleasant this may sound to the ear of the natural man, it has ever been sweet to the ear of faith" (The Knowledge of the Holy, [New York: Harper & Row, 1975], 94).

Who will find rest? Believers—the redeemed of God—will find rest in Christ. Paul wrote, "to give you who are troubled rest with us" (v. 7a). God promises rest to all believers because we all suffer through hard times. Paul told Timothy, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12). Suffering for Christ is a mark of a true Christian. Eternal rest comes to all who follow Jesus.

How will this relief come to believers? "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:52). Note Second Thessalonians 1:10—"When He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed." Our glorification is in view here. It is at the time of the Rapture that Christ will glorify us and receive us unto Himself forever. Christ is glorified in us as He changes us "in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor. 15:52a). All will marvel as they see Christ in all His glory. The reward is participation in the Rapture—being changed "in the twinkling of an eye" into full conformity with Christ—and going to heaven to spend eternity with Him.

That final phrase, "because our testimony among you was believed" (v. 10b), makes it all very personal to the Thessalonians. They have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, each one of them will be there on that day when Christ Raptures them to take them home.

Once you have received Jesus by faith, you can know for certain that you will also be included in that glorious day. The fact that you will be glorified with Christ should be more than enough encouragement to endure the afflictions unbelievers may bring your way.

As a believer in Christ you will be glorified with Him at His return. In the meantime, God has your best interest in mind. He will see you through any and all persecution or suffering. He will one day return and bring retribution to those who persecute you. He will also bring relief or rest to your soul, in that Day. Knowing this, you can stand firm for Christ by faith. He will enable you to stand firm. Amen.

Retribution

The thought of retribution is found in Second Thessalonians 1:8. It literally means "to give full punishment." It is sometimes translated "justice," "punishment," "retribution," "vengeance," or "avenging of wrong." You may recall Romans 12:19 which says: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'" (a quote from Deuteronomy 32:35). Such "vengeance" or "retribution" God will bring "on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thess. 1:8b).

Why will God do this? Because it is just. Note verse 6: "Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you." "No problem," says God. "I am just, and I will take care of any injustice done to you." Every nation, regardless of its ethical or moral standards, punishes criminals. All people have a sense of justice because they are made in God's image. Although the justice carried out by people is imperfect, God's justice is perfect.

The NASB translates verse 6 like this: "For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you." It is fitting and proper for God to repay with retribution those who disobey His law. Remember verse 8 where we are told that Jesus will return "dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus"? The word retribution or vengeance not only speaks of "giving full punishment," but is closely related to another word meaning "just" or "right." The retribution God deals out is the just punishment given by the perfect and righteous Judge to all unbelievers who have willfully disobeyed the gospel of Christ.

Who will receive this retribution from God? All who disobey the gospel and do not know God. The word "repay" (v. 6) means "to give back," or "recompense." It is a strong, compound word that conveys the idea of a full and complete repayment. God will gain complete vengeance on your behalf against "those who trouble you" (v. 6b, NKJV) or "those who afflict you" (ESV). To understand this truth means you can stand firm even in the face of persecution and affliction.

How will God repay the unbelievers who afflict you? With "tribulation" or "affliction" (v. 6b). Tribulation can mean "trouble," "distress," "difficult circumstances," or "suffering." Note verse 9: "These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." To repay "with tribulation" (v. 6b) is to repay with "eternal destruction" (v. 9a), which is defined as complete and eternal separation from God and His glory.

Destruction does not mean annihilation. It refers instead to ruination. It does not refer to the end of one's existence, but rather the loss of everything that makes life worthwhile. Eternal destruction does not mean that unbelievers will cease to exist, but rather that they will be forever ruined. They will continue into eternity with a life that is hopeless, meaningless, and completely worthless. They will be ruined forever. To which Matthew adds: "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 13:41-42). To spend eternity "away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might" (ESV) is indeed a life of utter darkness and a life of total misery.

With all of this in mind, do not miss the truth of verses 7b-8a: "When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire." This is when the repayment will be carried out. At the Day of the Lord, when Christ returns, then it will be too late. All who have afflicted you and who have not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins will receive their just punishment from God.

The day is coming when Christ Jesus will reveal Himself to both believers and unbelievers. When Paul spoke of the Second Coming in relation to believers, he spoke of the Rapture and used the Greek word parousia, meaning "presence" or "coming." For believers, the return of Christ is the presence with them of the One they know. But in verse 7, when Paul wrote "when the Lord Jesus is revealed," he used the Greek word apokalupsis, meaning "revelation," "unveiling," or "uncovering." It refers to the idea of manifesting or making known that which was previously hidden or secret. Here the Second Coming is spoken of in relation to unbelievers. Jesus, who was previously hidden, will reveal Himself in all His glory to those who do not know or worship Him. This is the Day of the Lord when Jesus comes to judge the unbelievers.

Note the three phrases used in verse 7 describing this revealing of Christ to unbelievers: (1) He will be revealed "from heaven." Just as Jesus visibly ascended into heaven, so His return will be just as visible. As the angels told His disciples, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11); (2) He will be revealed "with His mighty angels," literally, "the angels of His power." They are His instruments. They "gather" the unbelievers together and "cast them into the furnace" (Matt. 13:41-42); and, (3) He will be revealed "in flaming fire." This fire is the fire of judgment. The fire of God's judgment is so much a part of His divine nature that the Bible declares, "For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29; cf. Deut. 4:24).

The Lord Jesus will return "from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire" (vs. 7b-8a) and He will bring retribution to those who persecute you. Therefore, stand firm, even in the midst of suffering. Never turn away from the Lord your God. Amen.