“Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians — To You Who Are Troubled, Rest”

As we begin Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, the subject remains the return of the Lord although in chapter one the emphasis is not with the timing  of his return (that we will come to in chapter 2) but with the contrast between members of Christ’s Body Church and unbelievers as far as their eternal hope or lack of it is concerned.  The return of the Lord will secure that destiny for ever for unbelievers.  There is a principle taught here that is quite profound: when we suffer at the hands of unbelievers, Paul writes, this is but a token or sure indicator of coming judgment on those persecuting us.  They will themselves be judged severely and eternally by Almighty God.  Truly, it is our privilege to suffer with him therefore as the apostle writes often.  He is our head and we his body - he suffers with us therefore and our privilege is to suffer with him.  This is a major theme of the apostle, even here in this early letter.  Amen!