Thursday, March 18, 2010

PERSECUTION AND THE LORD'S COMING--II THESSALONIANS-- LESSON 1

PERSECUTION AND THE LORD'S COMING
II Thess. 1:1-12 Memory Verse: II Thess. 1 :2 (N.W. II Thess. 2:7) II Thess. 1:1-12

II Thessalonians Lesson 1



This epistle was likely written soon after the first epistle to the I Thessalonians. Probably while Paul was still at Corinth. From the second chapter we learn that they were troubled about something. In the first epistle they were troubled about those "which are asleep." (I Thess. 4:13) Now they are "troubled" by those who have tried to deceive them concerning the "day of Christ." (II Thess. 2:1,2)



The divisions of this epistle are basically: (Chap. I) The Thessalonians had tribulation, not in the manner of punishment, but for the kingdom of God. v. 5; but God will "recompense tribulation to them" that brought trouble upon the Thessalonians. (Chap. II) The day of Christ and the things that transpire in connection with that time. (Chap. III) Words of comfort, prayer and exhortation!



I. THE SALUTATION & THANKSGIVING. v. 1-4



A. Paul Addresses The Church. v. 1-2



As in the introduction in I Thess., which varies very little I from this introduction, Paul recognizes two important things:



1. The church is divinely founded and sustained. v. 1



2. The church is divinely blessed and supplied. v. 2



a. Grace unmerited; unlimited; unfathomable.



b. Peace with God; from God, 3:16; with one another. I Thess. 5:13 "Be at peace among yourselves."



B. Paul's Appreciation Of The Church. v. 3-4



1. He has not changed his opinion of them. cf. I Thess. 1:1-4



2. A continuous thanksgiving. v. 3 "always."



3. A continuous growth is appreciated. v. 3. "faith groweth"



a. Their faith had been lacking. I Thess. 3:10



b. Growth is a sign of living faith.



c. It is right to pray for increased faith. Luke 17:5, And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.



4. A continuous growth in love one toward another. v. 3 "Charity ....aboundeth."



a. Persecution may have encouraged this growth.



b. Appreciation of others increased. Phil. 2:4, Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.



c. They learned to bear one another's burdens. Gal. 6:2, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.



5. Paul glories in them before others. v. 4; Cf. I Thess. 1:7-8



a. The ground for such praise. "patience and faith" in endurance of tribulation.



b. The proof of their patience and faith. . . they endured.



II. THE LORD OF HEAVEN REVEALED. v. 5-10



There is an interval of some 7 years between the coming of the Lord for the saved in I Thess. 4:13-18 and His being revealed "from heaven with his mighty angels . . . taking vengeance" in II Thess. 1:7,8.



A. The Significance Of Suffering In Relation To Judgement. V. 5-6



1. The righteous Judge will judge. Gen. 18:25, That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?



2. There will be a judgment of all.



a. Of the righteous. Psa. 58:11, So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. II Cor. 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.



b. Of the wicked. Rev. 20:12-15, 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.



3. The godly are sure to suffer for their godliness. II Tim. 3:12, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.



a. God's grace teaches godly living. Tit. 2:12, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.



b. God's grace prompts godly living. Heb. 12:28, Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.



4. Righteous judgment for the persecuted and the persecutor.



B. The Manner Of The Lord's Coming. v. 7-8



1. The "rest" until the Lord is revealed from heaven. v. 7. Rest: Greek, "anesis"; relaxation or (fig.) relief. (This is even in the midst of trouble.) Psa. 23:4-5, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.



2. The "revealed" Lord Jesus from heaven. v. 7-8



a. He shall come in person. Acts 1:11



b. He shall come in power. Jude 14-15



c. He shall come in praiseworthiness. v. 8; Rev. 19:11-16



C. The Twofold Purpose Of The Lord's Coming. v. 9-10



1. To bring righteous retribution upon the wicked. v. 9



2. To receive the glory deserved only by the Lord. v. 10



a. Glorified "in" His saints. (They being changed into His image. Rom. 8:29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. II Cor. 3:18, But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.



b. Admired "in" all that believe. (Admired: to wonder or wonder at such glory and power.)



III. PRAYER FOR THEM IN PROSPECT OF FUTURE GLORY. V. 11,12



A. That Their Lives Would Match Their Calling. v. 11



1. It was an "high calling . " Phil. 3:14, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.



2. It was a ''holy calling." II Tim. 1:9, Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.



3. It was a "heavenly calling. Heb. 3:1, Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.



B. That Their Lives Would Fulfil The Work Of Their Calling. V. 11b-12



1. Their conduct should display His character.



2. Their action should advance His glory.



3. Their future glory is due to His grace.



--W. W. Mosley



STUDY QUESTIONS



1. Give two important things that Paul recognizes concerning the church at Thessalonica?



2. What prompted the thankfulness that Paul had for the church?



3. What did the Thessalonians have that Paul gloried in before other churches?



4. What is the difference in the Lord being "revealed from heaven" in this chapter and the events of I Thess. 4:13-18?



5. What will God do to those who had "troubled" this church?



6. What does the term "rest" imply in v. 7?



7. What is the two-fold purpose of the revelation of the Lord?



8. What did Paul pray in their behalf?

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