Key Words: Flaming Fire, Vengeance, Man of Sin, Falling Away, Son of Perdition, Day of the Lord, coming of the Lord
The Thessalonian church was experiencing great persecution. The Thessalonians were being taught that they were experiencing the day of the Lord. They were comforted in knowing that they were not experiencing the Day of Christ. In contrast, they were told that the impending judgment upon the wicked persecutors was near, and their deliverance was at hand. This was the eschatological judgment that was coming upon the evil of thar age and generation.
The persecution they were experiencing was at the hands of the Jews who opposed the church and the gospel (2:15). The Thessalonian letters contain references to the man of sin, the son of perdition, and that Wicked who the Lord would destroy with the brightness of his coming. This was the eschatological evil that was present during the last days, and the end of the age.
The Thessalonians were comforted in knowing that those who had died would be raised and caught up with the living saints at the coming of the Lord. The coming of the Lord was the hope of the early church and would deliver them from the persecution and suffering they were experiencing.
Key Verses: 1 Thess. 2:14-15; 3:13; 4:14-17; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; 2:2-3, 8
Blessings
Apostle John