Who’s been oppressing us? When will we receive relief? Why are we being oppressed?
The apostle Paul identifies those who have been persecuting us and causing tribulation for us, he calls out two groups. There are those who do not know God and those who will not obey the good news about Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10… it is righteous on God’s part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for YOU, 7 but, to YOU who suffer tribulation, relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels 8 in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. 9 These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength, 10 at the time he comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder in connection with all those who exercised faith, because the witness we gave met with faith among YOU.
You might be wondering who would not obey the good news about Jesus? I mean after all there is a difference between not obeying and bring about an oppression upon those who are for our Lord Jesus Christ.
You might be thinking that they did not really understand the good news about Jesus Christ possibly. But then taking action against those who are obeying brings about a separation between those who are obeying and those who are not obeying. Those who obey our liken to sheep and those who do not are liken to goats. Matthew 25:31-33
Those who do not obey the good news, like their life the way it is, they do not want a change to come, God’s kingdom is not for them.
And how true is that statement: God’s kingdom is not for them, no they don’t deserve it and they refused to act on what’s been declared to them.
But what about the people who do not know God? What excuse do they have for acting up and bringing about the oppression upon those who love the Lord Jesus Christ?
There are no excuses, God is not left himself without representation. Creation testifies to the fact that he is real. He is sent forth his word and it has proven true with the respects to the promises that he has given to those who love him. He is sent forth prophets who prophesied the things that God is going to do. God is even sent forth his son to represent him and gave us the message and the teachings on how we are to please God and to enter into his Kingdom. Jesus Christ even sent forth his disciples to bring us this good news. And his angels the helpers have been sent forth in these last days to help reap the harvest. We have the events of today, signs in the sun moon and stars and earth that prove God is shaking the world around us. So, no there are no excuses for not knowing God nor the good news that is being declared around the earth. Hebrews 10:26-31
Oh, What a Relief
God is righteous in getting rid of these two groups, this is a judicial punishment, a vengeance that brings about an everlasting destruction upon them. A clean sweep, a new start, a relief from the wicked oppression.
When will we see this relief? The apostle Paul says it will be the day that Jesus Christ is revealed from heaven. When he comes acting as the avenger of God and the executioner of God’s righteous judgments. At that time, he will be glorified with the holy ones who been suffering and waiting for the release from oppression. Yes, come Lord Jesus!
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