Comfort for the Saints Who Were Being Persecuted: 2 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 1  •  11 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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(Chapter 1)
Vss. 1-2—As in the first epistle, Paul includes Silvanus and Timotheus in his opening salutation to “the church [assembly] of the Thessalonians.” And, as in the first epistle, “grace” and “peace” are sent from “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Thus, the Fatherhood of God and the Lordship of Christ are again stressed. This is because Paul understood that knowing God as our Father and Jesus Christ as our Lord is essential for Christian growth and maturity. The Lordship of Christ is particularly emphasized in this second epistle. The title “Lord,” is used over 20 times in three short chapters.
Vs. 3—Paul saw spiritual progress among the Thessalonian saints and thanked God for it. Their “faith” was growing exceedingly, and their “love” for one another was flourishing. However, as was the case in his comments in the first epistle (chap. 3:6), he does not mention hope. Hope is the third item in the trio of virtues that go together in normal Christian living. Conspicuous by its absence here, it is evident that “the blessed hope” (Titus 2:1313Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13)) had been tampered with in their minds, and that is likely why Paul did not commend them for holding it as they once had (1 Thess. 1:33Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; (1 Thessalonians 1:3)). We learn from chapter 2, that bad teaching concerning “the day of the Lord” had infiltrated their ranks and had upset their hope. One of the main reasons for the writing of this second epistle was to straighten out this misunderstanding.
Vs. 4—Paul praises the Thessalonian believers for continuing in the path of faith despite “the persecutions and tribulations” they were facing. It proved the reality of their faith—and Paul rejoiced to see it. These things had upset them because they had been told (erroneously) that their trials were signs that the Church was passing through the judgments associated with the Day of the Lord. These persecutions, however, were not the trials of the Great Tribulation, but were sufferings connected with normal Christianity. Christians are passing through a world that hates Christ, and those who bear His name quite naturally will suffer persecution on account of it (John 15:18-20; 16:3318If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (John 15:18‑20)
33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)).
Vss. 5-6—Paul assures them that their suffering at the hands of evil men who had rejected the gospel was a “manifest token of the righteous judgment of God” that is coming on this world. Their sufferings were a proof that all such unbelievers would be judged. It is a righteous thing to do; a God who does not judge evil is not a righteous God. Thus, God is justified in His execution of judgment. In that day, He will balance the scales of justice. For the Thessalonian saints who were suffering persecution from the unbelieving men of the world, it meant that “the tables would be turned;” judgment will be meted out on those who have rejected the grace of God and inflicted suffering upon the saints.
Paul tells them that their suffering for Christ also showed that they had been “counted worthy of the kingdom of God,” for it is a privilege given to the saints to suffer for His sake (Phil. 1:2929For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Philippians 1:29)). Hence, he adds, “for which ye also suffer.” It is like he said, “Your steadfast endurance in persecution shows that you are truly part of that company that will share in the glory of Christ’s kingdom.” It is, therefore, “a righteous thing” for God to “recompense tribulation,” in the way of judgment, upon the rejecters of the gospel.
Two Sides to the Appearing of Christ
Vss. 7-10—These verses indicate that there are two sides to the Appearing of Christ. There will be:
•  The execution of His judgment on the ungodly (vss. 7-9).
•  The display of His glory in the saints before the world (vs. 10).
The Execution of Judgment
Vs. 7—Paul says, “And to you who are troubled, rest [repose] with us.” They were to wait until “the revelation of the Lord Jesus” (the Appearing) when He will intervene to set this world right. At that time, “He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained” (Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)). In the meantime, Christians have not been called to set right the wrongs and injustices of the world by involving themselves in its affairs. We are merely passing through the world “as strangers and pilgrims” on our way to heaven (1 Peter 2:1111Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (1 Peter 2:11)), and thus, we are to “let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth” (Isa. 45:99Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? (Isaiah 45:9)). Our responsibility in this world is to witness for Christ through preaching the gospel with a view that some, by the grace of God, might be saved. The world will be set right when God’s “judgments are in the earth,” which will begin at the Appearing of Christ (Isa. 26:99With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9)); it will not be set right through the influence of godly Christians and their preaching the gospel.
Paul then elaborates on the judgment that will be executed at the Appearing of Christ. The Lord will come out of heaven “with His mighty angels” and with “flaming fire” to take vengeance on the sinners of this world. He will bring His angels with Him for two distinct works: one is to execute judgment on sinners in the kingdom of the heavens by casting them straight into Hell (the lake of fire) without seeing death (Matt. 13:38-42; 24:37-4138The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:38‑42)
37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matthew 24:37‑41)), and the other is for the blessing of the ten tribes of Israel by gathering them back to their homeland (Matt. 24:3131And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:31)).
Paul speaks of two general classes of unbelievers who will be judged:
•  “Those that know not God”—These are Gentiles who have lived in ignorance of God the Saviour having never heard the gospel of His grace (1 Thess. 4:55Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: (1 Thessalonians 4:5)), but who have rejected the light He has given them of Himself through creation (Psa. 19:1-61<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. 2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. 3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (Psalm 19:1‑6); Rom. 1:2020For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)).
•  “Those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”—These are enlightened persons who have heard the gospel and know the way of salvation, but have rejected it (1 Peter 4:17; 217For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)
17Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17) Peter 2:20-21).
These sinners will be “punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” through the judgments that begin at the Appearing of Christ. Paul does not go into the details here, as to how and when these two classes of sinners with be dealt with, which a careful study of prophecy will reveal. Suffice it to say that the Appearing of Christ initiates “the judgment of the quick [living]” (Acts 10:4242And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. (Acts 10:42); 2 Tim. 4:1; 11I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2 Timothy 4:1)
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, (2 Timothy 1:1) Peter 4:5). This is an “umbrella” term that covers three distinct judgments of living persons:
•  The Harvest Judgment (Matt. 13:37-4337He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:37‑43); Rev. 14:14-1614And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. (Revelation 14:14‑16); Isa. 24:1-231Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. 2And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. 3The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. 4The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. 5The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 6Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. 7The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh. 8The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth. 9They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it. 10The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in. 11There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. 12In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction. 13When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done. 14They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea. 15Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea. 16From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. 17Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. 18And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. 19The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. 20The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. 21And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. 22And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. 23Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. (Isaiah 24:1‑23)).
•  The Winepress (Vintage) Judgment (Rev. 14:17-2017And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. (Revelation 14:17‑20); Isa. 63:1-61Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (Isaiah 63:1‑6); Joel 3:9-179Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. 11Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. 12Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 17So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. (Joel 3:9‑17)).
•  The Sessional Judgment (Matt. 25:31-4631When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31‑46)).
Some think that “everlasting destruction” (2 Thess. 1:99Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:9); Phil. 3:1919Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Philippians 3:19); Matt. 7:1313Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (Matthew 7:13); 2 Peter 2:1, 12; 3:161But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)
12But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; (2 Peter 2:12)
16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16), etc.) means that unbelievers are consumed by the fire of God’s judgment and will cease to exist. This false doctrine is called Annihilationism. God’s Word indicates that everlasting destruction does not have to do with the loss of a person’s being, but with the loss of a person’s eternal well-being under the judgment of God.
Job 14:2222But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn. (Job 14:22) and Job 30:2424Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. (Job 30:24), indicate that unbelievers still exist after they die. These verses say that they “cry” out and “mourn” even after they have been destroyed in death.
Revelation 19:2020And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20), tells us that the Beast and the false prophet were cast alive into the lake of fire. Then, in chapter 20, we are told that after the devil leads a brief rebellion against the Lord at the end of the Millennium, he will be taken and cast into the lake of fire; and then it says—“where the beast and the false prophet are” (Rev. 20:1010And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)). The Beast and the false prophet are still there suffering in the lake of fire after the thousand-year reign of Christ! They did not cease to exist.
Revelation 14:10-1110The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:10‑11), says that the worshippers of the Beast will be “tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night.” And again, Revelation 20:1010And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10), says that those in a lost eternity are “tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Torment is a condition that requires an existing person to endure. You cannot torment what does not exist.
In Mark 9:4848Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:48), the Lord said, “Their worm dieth not.” This also indicates that the torments of a guilty conscience will not die in the lost under eternal punishment.
Even in ordinary language “destruction” doesn’t mean the cessation of existence. For instance, if we took an axe and chopped a beautiful wooden table into pieces, we could be accused of destroying the table. Yet there would be just as much material lying in a useless heap on the floor as when it existed as a beautiful table. Destroyed simply means that the table can no longer be used for the purpose for which it was made—but the material out of which it was constructed still exists. It is the same with the destruction of human beings. Man was made for the glory of God (Isa. 43:2121This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. (Isaiah 43:21); Rev. 4:1111Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)); if he goes into everlasting destruction, he can no longer be fitted through salvation for the purpose for which he was created.
The Display of Christ’s Glory With the Saints
Vs. 10—As mentioned, the second side of the Appearing of Christ has to do with the display of His glory with the saints. The Lord will not only bring His mighty angels with Him when He comes (vs. 7), but He will also bring “His saints” (Zech. 14:55And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. (Zechariah 14:5); 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:1413To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13)
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14); Jude 1414And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 14); Rev. 19:1414And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:14)). At that time He will be “glorified in His saints, and to be admired [wondered at] in all them that believe.” The saints in that coming day of manifestation will shine forth in His likeness, and men and angels will look with wonder on them and will praise the glory of God’s grace (Eph. 1:6, 126To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Ephesians 1:12)). This display, of course, will include the Thessalonian saints. Paul, therefore, adds in a parenthesis: “For our testimony to you has been believed” (vs. 10). Thus, God will use the saints to bring glory to Christ (John 17:22-2322And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:22‑23)).
Sad to say, in these days of weakness and failure among Christians, it is often the reverse. The world looks at us and finds justification (so they think) for not believing the gospel. Like the Jews who caused the name of God to be blasphemed among the Gentiles by their bad behavior (Rom 2:2424For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. (Romans 2:24)), the Church has caused many in this world to turn away from receiving Christ. But in the coming day of which Paul is speaking here, it will be quite the opposite; many will flock to the Lord when they see what His grace has wrought in the Church (Eph. 1:6, 126To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Ephesians 1:12)) and with Israel (Psa. 47:99The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted. (Psalm 47:9); Isa. 60:1-221Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. 7All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. 8Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 9Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. 10And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee. 11Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. 12For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 13The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 16Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. 17For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. 18Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 19The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 21Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time. (Isaiah 60:1‑22); Zech. 2:10-11; 8:22-2310Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. 11And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. (Zechariah 2:10‑11)
22Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. 23Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. (Zechariah 8:22‑23)).
Paul’s Prayer for the Thessalonian Saints
Vss. 11-12—Paul then tells the Thessalonians the substance of his prayers for them. His main burden was that since they were going to be used to glorify Christ in a coming day, that they would be exercised about glorifying Him now while they were still here on earth. We can see from this prayer that he understood that all growth in God’s people that results in testimony for Christ is really produced by His grace working in their hearts. Therefore, he prayed that God might be pleased to “count” them “worthy of this calling” of suffering for Christ, and that He would “fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness” by a “work of faith with power” in them. And as a result, that they would behave rightly under persecution so that “the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified.” This, he acknowledges, could only be effected by “the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” All praise, therefore, should go to Him who has called Christians to this testimony.