2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Peace to you my brothers and sisters.

Today’s Bible Verse: [2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 KJV] 1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 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: 5 [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; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 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. 11 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.

When I get these verses from Bible Dice sometimes I am led to look beyond what Bible Dice gives me. Today it is the entire chapter.

The title for this in the Blue Letter Bible is: Thanksgiving for Faith and Perseverance. Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus wrote this letter to the Thessalonians before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD and at a time of Christian persecution.

Meet: ἄξιος áxios, ax'-ee-os; probably from G71; deserving, comparable or suitable (as if drawing praise):—due reward, meet, (un-)worthy.

The people being written to are the saved, the elect of Thessalonica and the authors of the letter are thanking God for the love, patience, faith and all of the fruits of the Holy Spirit that the brothers of this church show each other. The brothers demonstrate the fruits of the Holy Spirit because they have the Holy Spirit in them and that shows their salvation.

[2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 KJV] 6 Seeing [it is] a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 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;

Now I know that the futurists in this audience will not get this, but this is not a future event. This event happened during the siege of and eventual destruction of Jerusalem that climaxed with the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. To this point the Christians were being persecuted by the Jews.

The Jews did not accept Jesus (God) as the messiah and killed him on the cross. They did not accept His resurrection. By not accepting Him as the messiah and not accepting His resurrection they did not obey (understand) the gospel. As a result they were punished for this with the siege and destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.

[Matthew 28:18 KJV] 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Jesus used the Romans to punish the Jews for his crucifixion but it was in His presence since all power was given Him in heaven and earth from His resurrection. These enemies have been made His Footstool.

[Psalm 110:1 KJV] 1 [[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

His power is manifested through His Holy Spirit and His church and through us he is making His enemies His footstool.

[2 Thessalonians 1:10 KJV] 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.

He is glorifying Himself in His church, His elect.

[2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 KJV] 11 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.

His elect pray for all of those to whom God has not revealed Himself yet, that they may receive the catalyst of their salvation soon and join the ranks of the knowing elect, the saved, to make all of His enemies His footstool.

We all have a job.

[Matthew 28:18-20 KJV] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

All of the disciples of Jesus are to spread His word and the gospel.

This is the gospel:

[1 Corinthians 15:1-6 KJV] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

[Acts 2:22-24 KJV] 22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Go forth and spread this good news.

I pray that God has revealed Himself to you and that you have salvation.

Remember, God is sovereign. That means that he controls everything.

I hope this has been a blessing to you. May the rest of your day be blessed. Peace.