THE RECOMPENSE OF GOD

2 Thess 1:6-10 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with Us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; 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.

All men and women, born into the world, are God's creation; they were made in His image. Because of this, He is the Supreme Ruler over all mankind, His will cannot be contested, and His judgment cannot be disputed. The God of heaven and earth will deliver the final recompense for all people of the earth. His judgment will be rightly and justly meted out based on His will for mankind, with His holy word as the source of what is just and what is unjust in His sight. The recompense of God, is His just reward for either obedience or disobedience to His will, by all men and women of the world. This scriptural fact, Paul explains in the lesson text.

First righteous judgment will be God's just compensation of all evil, Satan driven, ungodly people that trouble you - that is, those that persecute members of the churches of God (Vs. 4), the universal church that His Son, Jesus Christ died to establish, and of which He became its Head. Those that brought troubles and tribulations to God's children will suffer the eternal tribulations, ordered by God, as just punishment for their disobedient, rebellious, and sinful ways. Secondly, to those that, by faithful patience, endure all persecution and tribulations, at the hand of those that hate God, they will find rest with us. This great gift of God's grace will come to His faithful children on Judgment Day,when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed form heaven with His mighty angels.

At the same time salvation is brought to God's children, Jesus will come in flaming fire of eternal destruction. As promised throughout His word, this is the just vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These are the defiant ones that hate God and refuse to obey His will. This text assures us that they will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power. The meaning is, not that the souls of sinners will be destroyed or annihilated immediately, but rather, they will be banished from the presence of God, from Jesus Christ, from those that are saved, and from all other heavenly beings. Their punishment will continue eternally. This scriptural fact was taught by Jesus regarding those that refuse to accept and obey the will of God, and His gospel message of salvation. Continuing His parable, Jesus said, Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand (the ungodly), Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). Justice will be served by the recompense of God.

Previous to this, and using the same parable, notice what Jesus said about those that were obedient to God and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. (He said to) them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matt. 25:34). We now have Judgment Day described, in the lesson text, as taking place when He (the Savior, Jesus Christ) shall come to be glorified in His saints. Compare this description of the Day of Judgment to that of Jesus when He said, 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: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep (the righteous) from the goats (the unrighteous) (Matt. 25:31-32).

(B)ecause our testimony among you was believed, that is, the message of salvation taught by Paul and his fellow laborers in Christ, this can be said of the church of Christ in Thessalonica, as well as faithful Christians throughout all ages of time. What a joyful day it will be when all the saints in Christ are gathered together to glorify the Savior. His just judgment will served by the recompense of God.