When God Balances the Books

How much longer?" Have you stopped to consider how those three simple words hold such a prominent place in your life? For children on a long road trip in the family car, they represent the great gulf fixed between them and the fun awaiting them at the end of the journey. For the sports team that is attempting to run out the clock, they represent the only obstacle between their team and the final trophy presentation. For the parents paying for their child's education, they represent the months remaining until graduation.

At some point in your life, the question, How much longer? has either passed through your lips or weighed heavily on your mind. The question relates to your inability to know if and when things will get better. This is especially true for God's people as they view the pain, affliction, and suffering that is often associated with following Christ. God's people have always desired to know "how long" until God would bring an end to such injustice, to right all wrongs, and to judge those who harm His followers. Listen to how the prophet Habakkuk asked this question:

King David had a similar question for God:

The good news is that God is not offended by such questions. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that He told us to ask them. To illustrate this truth, Jesus shared the following parable:

The point of the parable is inescapable: If an "unjust judge" will respond to persistent requests of a widow, how much more will the loving Father respond to the requests of His own children? God is not only expecting you to bring your questions to Him, He is also waiting to answer you when you do.

Although we have no indication that the Thessalonians asked Paul the question, How long? we can assume that they must have been thinking about it. Whatever the source of their suffering, we know that it was 201intense. They had to be longing for God to bring judgment on their adversaries and to grant their church relief from its afflictions. Paul's words must have been encouraging: "It is righteous for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to reward with rest you who are afflicted" (1:6-7). Remember that Paul just told them how God was using their present suffering to demonstrate their worthiness for their future glory. While it was comforting to know that their suffering was worth it, knowing that God was going to bring retribution to their adversaries and relief to their pain had to give the Thessalonians hope for the future.

As we examine this text more closely, we must keep Paul's main thought in view. We find this in verse 7 where he says, "This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven." This verse points to the final and climactic event in human history, when Jesus Christ returns to earth, renders complete justice, and ultimately establishes His eternal reign.16 When this event occurs, Paul mentions two specific things that will happen: God will grant final relief to those who love Him, and He will bring retribution to those who do not. This passage thus portrays two very different eternal destinies: that of unending joy for the people of God and that of unmitigated judgment for the enemies of God.

The Hopeful Future of Those Who Are Faithful

2 Thessalonians 1:6-7a, 10-12

There is the story of an encounter between two farmers, one a believer and the other an atheist. At harvest time the atheist's fields were rich with crops while the Christian's fields produced a paltry little. The atheist taunted the Christian by telling him that apparently it did not pay to serve God. The Christian replied, "It does pay to serve Him,

202but you must remember that God does not always settle His accounts in October."

One of the most difficult things to do when walking through painful times is to keep the proper perspective. A loss of perspective is almost always followed by a loss of purpose. When our mind becomes fixed on what we don't like about our circumstances, we will invariably fail to consider what God may be doing in our circumstances. Paul wants the Thessalonians to view their present circumstances through the lens of God's future promises. The amazing thing about Scripture is that God unveils pre-written history. When you open your Bible, you are able to see into the future. God has the perfect perspective about everything:

With God the future is far from uncertain. And through His Word, He has graciously provided a preview of what is coming. Armed with knowledge of His plans, the Christian can view the future with expectancy and not uncertainty.

Concerning God's plans for His people, Paul informed the Thessalonians that at Jesus' return, He is going to bring His followers complete relief from their enemies, ultimate rest from their sorrows, and the just rewards for their faithfulness. Let's examine each of these promises more closely.

Relief From Our Enemies (2 Thess 1:6-7a)

Most of us are familiar with the expression, "Things are not always as they seem." Through personal experience we learn very early in life that looks can be deceiving. As we grow in our understanding of how God works, we quickly begin to realize that God is often at work in ways that we cannot see. So even though our eyes may tell us one thing when viewing the world, we know that there is so much more to the picture. Of course, this is the reason Paul exhorted the Corinthians not to fix their eyes on the temporary things (2 Cor 4:18).

Still, looking beyond temporary things is one of the most difficult things for us to do. For example, consider how many of the typical Christian 203prayer requests are directed toward the temporal aspects of life. While there is nothing sinful about praying about these things, such as our desire for good health and our yearning for more stuff, Jesus taught that we are to take our prayers to a much different level. He knows that we need things like food, clothing, health, and shelter, and He expects that we will seek Him for these needs and trust Him to meet them. But Jesus expects that our prayers will be focused on much more significant matters like glorifying His Name, expanding His kingdom, and accomplishing His will (Matt 6:9-13, 32-33). We must learn to view the temporary things through the lenses of God's eternal plans.

With a proper perspective on eternity, we will recognize that what we see tells only part of the story. While apparently those who oppose the gospel and trouble God's people have the upper hand, behind the scenes God is orchestrating human history to accomplish His purposes. At Jesus' coming, God will bring final relief to all believers who have suffered at the hands of the ungodly. He is going to answer the prayers of His people who have cried out to Him, "How long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?" (Rev 6:10). As Charles Ryrie rightly notes, though the Thessalonians' "present adversaries seem so powerful, there is One who is mightier than all, who will mete out punishment on their tormentors when He appears in great power and glory" (Ryrie, First and Second Thessalonians, 99).

Rest From Our Sorrows (2 Thess 1:7a)

The concept of rest may mean different things to different people. For example, for the weary student who has just pulled an all-nighter preparing for her final exam, the word rest may conjure up images of a bed and a pillow. Or for new parents listening to the incessant cries of a newborn infant down the hall, the word rest may be an illusive dream. For the marathon runner whose legs are burning and feet are aching, rest is waiting just across the finish line. While rest may mean different things to different people, I think all would agree that rest is typically a good thing.

Imagine the Thessalonians' reaction when they heard that God was going to give His people "rest" when the Lord Jesus was revealed from heaven. What do you think crossed their minds? For people in the throes of affliction and pain, the thought of rest doubtlessly brought them relief. In fact, the word that Paul uses for rest often describes the releasing of a bowstring and thus can mean "loose" or "relax." In 204other words, if you are longing for a stress-free life, just wait until Jesus returns!

Paul says that God will bring ultimate relief to every believer "at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful angels." On that day God will provide eternal rest for His people. The apostle John peels back the curtains and gives us a glimpse of that day:

The fact that Paul points to a future rest is not to suggest, however, that there will be no rest in this life. Paul taught the Thessalonians that their present sorrows were preparing them for their future glory (1:5). In even our most troubling times, God still has a purpose. So though we may not rest from our sorrows, we can certainly take comfort that we can rest in our sorrows. Paul knew how to remain hopeful in sorrow. His words to the Corinthian church have provided comfort to countless believers: "I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor 12:10). Similarly he admonished the Romans to look past their suffering and ahead to their future glory: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us" (Rom 8:18).

Rewards for Our Faith (2 Thess 1:10-12)

As difficult as it may be for us to grasp, the relief granted from our enemies and the rest provided from our sorrows will pale in comparison to the reward we will receive for our faith. Paul's description of this reward surpasses our comprehension: "... in that day when He comes to be glorified by His saints and to be admired by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed" (v. 10; emphasis added). The present sufferings of following Christ mean nothing without this promise. But when we view the present through the lens of promises like this, we gain a better understanding of how it is possible to see the good in our pain. God is going to turn the tables completely. For those who now face affliction, persecution, and pain, God will one day grant the privilege of sharing with Jesus in the manifestation of His glory (2 Cor 4:17).

205We will be with Him when He comes. A number of suggestions have been offered to explain what Paul means by his statement that Jesus will be "glorified by His saints." Some see this as referring to the saints' worship and adoration of Christ. So when Christ returns, His saints will be praising, worshiping, and glorifying Him. Just as they proclaimed the wonder of His glory in this life, so also will they continue to do so through eternity, including the day when Jesus is revealed from heaven.

Others, however, see Paul as suggesting that Jesus is glorified by the work that He has done through and/or in His saints. When viewed in this way, His saints are seen as those who by their transformed character reflect or radiate His glory. Stott offers the analogy of a light bulb by suggesting that Jesus' glory shines through His people like an electrical current travels through its filament:

For when the current is switched on, it becomes incandescent. So when Jesus is revealed in his glory, he will be glorified in His people. We will not only see, but share his glory. We will be more than a filament which glows temporarily.... We will be radically and permanently changed, being transformed into his likeness.... We will glow forever with the glory of Christ, as indeed he glowed with the glory of the Father. (Stott, Gospel and the End, 149-50)

However you choose to interpret this verse, the point that cannot be missed is that Jesus alone is the source of glory; and at His coming, His glorified people will display it in its fullest sense. Calvin affirms this:

Christ will not have this glory for himself alone but it will possess all the saints.... When the Son of God is manifested in the glory of His kingdom, he will gather them into the same fellowship with himself. (Calvin, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 79)

The apostle John pointed to the day of Christ's appearing:

We will serve Him until He comes. Throughout his epistles, Paul has a unique way of transitioning from heavenly discussions about future promises to the daily responsibilities of present life. For example, after teaching the Corinthians about the promise of a future resurrection and their 206subsequent glorified bodies, Paul immediately brings them back to earth by reminding them of the importance of taking up a weekly collection at church (see 1 Cor 15:58-16:1). Future promises must always be met by practical obedience. While we long for heaven, we must also remember that we have work to do until we get there. If we are not careful, like Peter at Jesus' transfiguration, we may find ourselves wanting to build three tabernacles in heaven so that we don't have to go back to earth (Matt 17:4). Of course, Peter could not persuade Jesus to stay in heaven, as He had not yet completed the work that He came to do on earth.

In verses 6-9 Paul took the Thessalonian believers on a journey to their heavenly home, but before they could get too comfortable there he immediately brings them back to Thessalonica. To make the transition from the future promise of being glorified with Christ to the present reality of their current circumstances, Paul uses the phrase, "and in view of this" (1:11). These five words provide the link between the future and the present. In other words, Paul says, "Now that you know that your future is secure, let's not forget that God is still at work in you and He still has work to do through you." Although Christ's coming was imminent and God's promises were guaranteed, the Thessalonians still had a walk to pursue and a mission to fulfill. In view of this, Paul offers a prayer on their behalf.

His prayer includes two specific requests: First, he prayed that God would consider them "worthy of His calling" (1:11a). This is not the first time that we heard Paul pray in this way (1:5; 1 Thess 2:12). As we have discovered, God uses every circumstance, even our sufferings and afflictions, to prepare us for future glory. Our faithfulness in affliction and steadfast hope in trials reveals the genuineness of our faith. So we demonstrate our worthiness of His calling by passionately pursuing God regardless of our circumstances. We do not prove ourselves worthy of His calling in order to be saved, but are proved worthy because we are saved. Stated another way, through the progressive sanctification of God's Spirit, He transforms those who belong to Him into the likeness of Christ and thus reveals their worthiness to bear God's name and enjoy God's kingdom (see comments at 1 Thess 5:23b).

Paul's second request is that by His "power" God would "fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith" (1:11b). The word fulfill means "accomplish or bring to its proper end." Paul is asking God to complete the work that He began in them at their conversion (see Phil 1:6). This prayer is for their ongoing sanctification.

207This is no perfunctory prayer. The depth of his requests for the Thessalonian Christians should challenge us to pray in like manner for others. His prayer went well beyond the superficial "Bless my church" requests that are all too common among God's people. He knew that the stakes were high for these young Christians. So instead of asking God to remove them from their danger, He asked God to keep them faithful in their suffering, grounded in their faith, and steadfast in their work. Through his prayer, Paul not only provides us with a pattern for how to pray for the churches, but he also reveals the kind of prayer that is consistent with God's will. When we make God's passion our passion, we can be confident that He will hear us when we pray. King David knew this when he wrote, "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act" (Ps 37:4-5). Jesus stated it this way: "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you" (John 15:7).

What then is God's ultimate goal for His church until Jesus returns? Paul says it is "so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:12). What a marvelous thought! Jesus Christ is glorified by the faithful work that His people do for Him; and the church is glorified by the faithful work that Jesus Christ does by His grace in them. Gordon Fee perfectly sums up the main point of Paul's prayer:

In the midst of the Thessalonian believers' pain and suffering, Paul's prayer for them focuses ultimately on God and his glory. Yet God's glory will be manifest as he fulfills in his people the desire of this prayer. And one should never lose sight of the fact that God's glory is intimately tied to Christ's being glorified in and among his people. (Fee, First and Second Letters, 268)

The Fateful Future of Those Who Do Evil

2 THESSALONAINS 1:6, 8-9

The story is told of a time when the Viceroy of Naples was visiting Spain. While visiting a harbor, he noticed a group of convicts aboard a large galley ship. As punishment for their crimes, these men were required to pull the oars of the ship. Curious as to what crimes these convicts 208committed, the Viceroy went aboard and asked each of them to tell him his story. One man begrudgingly said that a corrupt judge was bribed to convict him. Another said that his enemies framed him by paying people to bear false witness against him. Still another said that he was falsely accused by a case of mistaken identity. One after another, the convicts explained why they were innocent and deserved to be set free. Arriving at the last man on board and expecting to hear the same story, the Viceroy was shocked to hear the man exclaim, "I'm here because I deserve to be. I am a thief and a criminal. I committed a crime and I deserve my just punishment." Upon hearing this, the Viceroy shouted to the captain, "How have you allowed this one wicked criminal to be in the presence of all of these innocent men? Release him immediately, lest he corrupt the others!"

Human beings have such a difficult time admitting guilt. From our earliest years as a child to our later years in adulthood, we have an innate tendency to claim our innocence even when we know that we are guilty. No matter how guilty we may be, we will always be able to find an appropriate excuse to legitimize why we did what we did. Over and against this reluctance to be honest about our sin is the reality of a coming day of judgment when God will call the world to ultimate accountability. While the redeemed people of God will receive relief and rest on that judgment day, the fate of the ungodly will be much different. Paul details the fate of the ungodly by pointing to three aspects of God's judgment with language that is direct and vivid: it is just, it is fearful, and it is final.

God's Judgment Is Just (2 Thess 1:6)

Both the hope of life with Christ in heaven and the horror of separation from Him in hell are wrapped up in the justice of God. Paul writes, "It is righteous for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to reward with rest you who are afflicted" (1:6; emphasis added). God's justice demands that He will always do what is fitting and right. Thus God is completely consistent when He promises to reward the righteous with rest and the unrighteous with judgment. A. W. Tozer explains,

Justice, when used of God, is a name we give to the way God is, nothing more; and when God acts justly He is not doing so to conform to an independent criterion, but simply acting like Himself in a given situation. As gold is an element in itself and can never change nor compromise but is gold wherever it is 209found, so God is God, always, only, fully God, and can never be other than He is. Everything in the universe is good to the degree it conforms to the nature of God and evil as it fails to do so. God is His own self-existent principle of moral equity, and when He sentences evil men or rewards the righteous, He simply acts like Himself from within, uninfluenced by anything that is not Himself. (Tozer, Knowledge, 87-88)

So then, given the fact that all human beings are sinful, how can a just God reward one person and judge another? Understanding His purpose in sending Jesus Christ is the key to answering this question.

God does not set His justice aside when He redeems sinners. If God sacrificed His justice to pardon a sinner, then He would no longer be God. But through the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross, God provided a way to show mercy without doing away with His justice. Though all human beings stand guilty before God's perfect holiness, by His mercy He graciously offers them forgiveness and redemption through the death of Jesus Christ. Concerning this, Paul writes,

The most significant issue then for all human beings revolves around the question, What will you do with Jesus? A. W. Tozer explains further,

Because of our sin we are all under sentence of death, a judgment which resulted when justice confronted our moral situation. When infinite equity encountered our chronic and willful in-equity, there was violent war between the two, a war which God won and must always win. But when the penitent sinner casts himself upon Christ for salvation, the moral situation is reversed. Justice confronts the changed situation and pronounces the believing man just. (Tozer, Knowledge, 89)

Hence, those who accept God's offer of salvation through Christ receive the reward of God's justice—salvation and the promise of eternal rest 210(1:7a); those who reject God's offer also receive the reward of God's justice—judgment and the promise of eternal punishment (1:8).

God's Judgment Is Fearful (2 Thess 1:6, 8-9)

The language that Paul uses to describe God's judgment is vivid: "affliction," "vengeance," and "destruction." None of these words carry even the slightest nuance of hope concerning the eternal destiny of those outside of Jesus Christ. The words also appear to indicate an increasing intensity in judgment:

• Affliction carries the idea of tribulation or pressure.
• Vengeance indicates full and complete punishment.
• Destruction points to ruination and "implies the loss of all things that give worth to existence" (Rienecker and Rogers, Linguistic Key, 606-7).

God is going to settle His accounts. While it appears that injustice and unrighteousness prevail, God is going to have the last word when He "repays" those who do not know Him and those "who don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (1:6, 8). His judgment will be rendered justly and not vindictively. We desire revenge for injustices done to us, but God desires justice for injustices done to Him. Hence, God's vengeance does not flow from His desire to exact revenge; His vengeance flows from His desire for justice. In fact, as Morris notes, the Greek word translated "vengeance" contains a root word that means "right," and that root, translated "righteous," is found in verses 5 and 6 (Morris, First and Second, 203). This means that even in His vengeance, God is doing what is right. Ezekiel notes that God takes "no pleasure in the death of the wicked" (Ezek 33:11). He is so unlike you and me. God is not on some egotistical "power trip" to put all of His enemies in their place. He takes no delight in that. God does delight when His Name is glorified, His Word is vindicated, and His Son is exalted (Matt 6:9; John 14:21; Phil 2:9-11). While He may not delight in the death of the wicked, He will hold those accountable who do not honor Him, His Word, or His Son.

God's Judgment Is Final (2 Thess 1:9)

Before we conclude with this final thought, let me help you to get a picture in your mind that will enable you to grasp the seriousness of what Paul is saying in verse 9. Think back to a time when you were watching your favorite football team attempt to mount a last-minute drive to win 211the game. You cheer them on as your star quarterback manages the clock perfectly while methodically moving your team down the field for a last second come-from-behind victory. Needing a touchdown to win, your quarterback throws a screen pass to your lightning-quick running back. You cheer excitedly as he zigzags among the defenders and heads for the end zone, but just before he can cross the goal line he gets tackled. You glance over at the clock and notice that time has expired. Your first thought is to quickly scan the field in search of a yellow penalty flag in hopes that your team may get one more play. But hope suddenly gives way to reality when you realize that the game is over and your team just lost. If you have watched enough football games, then you know exactly what I am talking about. It is a sick feeling to know that your team was that close to victory but will not be afforded the luxury of running another play. The game is over.

Now I want you to think about something much more serious. In verse 9 Paul vividly reveals the ultimate fate of every person who does not know God and does not respond in obedience to the gospel of Jesus. Listen to the finality of these words: "These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord's presence and from His glorious strength" (1:9). When Jesus comes again, He will pronounce final and ultimate judgment on those who do not know God. Unlike football, there will never be another game or another season with a chance to make up for the shortfall. It's game over—forever! This is "eternal destruction" away from God's presence forever (Rev 20:11-13). John Phillips describes the horror of this final judgment:

The wicked then, at the Lord's return, will be handed over to eternal ruin. Who can imagine the horrors that will accompany the dissolution of their personality, the gnawings of conscience, the torments of memory, the anguish of guilt, and the terrible knowledge that their doom is deserved, hopeless, and unending. (Phillips, Exploring 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 184)

Jesus repeatedly taught about a place of eternal ruin and destruction called hell. He described it as a place of "eternal fire" (Matt 25:41), "eternal punishment" (Matt 25:46), eternal "darkness" (Matt 22:13), eternal pain (Matt 8:12), and eternal separation (Luke 16:19-31). However, of all the biblical descriptions portraying the horrors of hell, perhaps none is more striking than the one Paul gives at the end of 212verse 9 where he speaks of eternal separation "from the Lord's presence," and "from His glorious strength."

Though the darkness, fire, anguish, and pain will make hell unbearable, the total absence of God's presence is what makes hell what it really is—hell. Paul's emphasis in this text has nothing to do with what you might find in hell and everything to do with what is absent in hell—the presence and glory of God. To have a conscious, definite awareness of God's presence and yet to be completely cut off from Him will be to suffer the worst kind of hell imaginable.

Of course, to know that such a place exists is bad enough, but to realize that untold millions will spend eternity there ought to cause you to shudder. In fact, according to the latest available statistics, nearly 150,000 people die worldwide every day. That equates to more than 4.5 million people a month. Where will these people spend eternity? The uncertainty of how we might answer that question should call us to immediate action. If heaven and hell are real and a personal relationship with Jesus is the only way that anyone can enjoy the eternal rest and reward of heaven and miss the eternal pain and isolation of hell, then nothing that we do could be more important than to tell others about Him. According to Luke, God "has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed" (Acts 17:31). As long as we have breath there is still time on the clock to make each day count, but we know that His coming is imminent. So, until we die and stand before Him, or He comes to gather His church, we must continue to "proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone" that Jesus Christ is the only way (Col 1:28).

Conclusion

This text has serious implications for how we live today and how we view eternity. Let's briefly consider three implications for each.

How We Live Today

What you see is not always what you get. The fact that injustice appears to have an upper hand in the world does not tell the whole story. We have the tendency to view our world through the lens of our personal experiences instead of through the lens of God's redemptive plan. From the perspective of the Thessalonian Christians, their future did not look very hopeful. Their life was a never-ending story of persecution, 213affliction, and pain (1:4-5). However, when they began to view things from God's perspective, their picture changed dramatically. God can be seen moving "His" history and subsequently their history forward at His pace and according to His plan (1:6-10). While knowing God's ultimate plan for the future may not make our problems go away, it does provide us with a firm foundation on which to stand in uncertain times. Perhaps we will even be able to proclaim with David,

God is more than capable to right our wrongs. The more time that we spend in the presence of people, the more chances there are that someone will hurt us. These hurts may come as persecution from an antagonistic world, or they may be the result of an inconsiderate friend. The question for us is not, What will we do if we get hurt? But, How will we respond when we get hurt? The good news is that we do not have to play God. He is more than capable to defend us. If we are looking for a blueprint for how to handle our hurts, then look no further than Jesus. Peter tells us how He approached His hurts:

Ask this question: If Jesus will be glorified in His saints at His coming, then why not start glorifying Him now? Of course, this was exactly the point of Paul's prayer in 1:11-12. Considering the glorious future that God has planned for His people, we should be looking for every conceivable opportunity to make His name great among the nations. Perhaps a good place to begin is by reevaluating the what, the why, and the how of church. Admittedly, this will not an easy task, but if believers exist for the purpose of glorifying Jesus by fulfilling "every desire for goodness 214and the work of faith," then they must reach beyond just doing church—they must be busy being the church.

How We View Eternity

Let's also consider three implications of this passage for how we view eternity.

Heaven will bring us rest from our labor but not from our activity. Heaven not only promises to be a place of rest but it also promises to be a place of activity. Far from floating around on white clouds and strumming harps, God's people are going to enjoy ceaseless activity in His glorious presence. King David was looking forward to this when he prayed,

Jesus is Lord. The one admonition that continues to surface throughout the Thessalonian letters is that we should live today like Jesus is coming tomorrow. While the rest of the world may ask, "Where is the promise of His coming?" we live with expectation in the light of that promise. Until that day we know that the Lord is exalted and seated in heaven at the Father's right hand (Eph 1:20-21; Heb 1:3). He's not twiddling His thumbs to pass the time until the Father gives Him the final command; instead, He is now interceding for us (Heb 7:25), guiding His church (Eph 1:22-23), and preparing a place for His people (John 14:2-3).

Eternity is forever. Paul reveals that those who do not love God or obey the gospel of Jesus will face "eternal destruction" (1:9). The word eternal suggests an endless duration. In other words, there will be no end to their torment. There will be no time put back on the clock. There will be no second chances. The Bible warns, "It is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment" (Heb 9:27). The only opportunity 215for any person to respond to God's offer of salvation and forgiveness in Jesus Christ is in this present life. Our eternal destiny depends on it.

Reflect and Discuss

1. Explain why Paul's instruction in this passage would have been so encouraging to the Thessalonians.
2. What does Jesus' return mean for the wicked? What about for the saints?
3. Based on the context of this passage, what is meant by the saying, "Things are not always as they seem"?
4. Explain what Paul means when he says that Christ is going to bring "rest" for His people. What impact should that promise have on you today?
5. How does God use your present suffering to prepare you for glory?
6. What prompted Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians? What is the nature of His prayer? How can you use his prayer as a model for the way you pray for your fellow believers?
7. How is God just in the way He deals both with sinners and with His saints?
8. Describe how Paul details the finality of judgment for those who do not love God. What should your response be to this description?
9. How is God's vengeance so different from your vengeance?
10. Name some of the present-day implications of this text for how believers should live.