"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."  2nd Thessalonians 1:6-10

(THIS BIBLE STUDY SERIES WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH 7 LESSONS ON THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS!)

LESSON 1 ... TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2004, FROM CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA:

Paul loved to talk about the Second Coming of Jesus!

He saw that great event in two stages.

First there would be a Rapture, a seizing and taking away (from earth into the air) of the Church of the Lord Jesus, His very Bride!

This is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.  "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

This will be followed 7 years later by the actual return of Christ to this earth!

It is the second of these events that Paul is preaching in our text.

"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."  2 Thessalonians 1:6-10

Paul actually (using his own words) LOVED the Second Coming!

Listen to him in 2 Timothy 4:8, nearing the day of his death! "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Wow!

John believe that staying focused on the Second Coming would help us achieve more godly lives!  Listen to him in 1 John 3:3 --- "And every man that hath this hope (of the Second Coming) in him purifieth himself, even as He (Jesus) is pure." That says a lot!

And there must be some kind of blessing engulfed in Second Coming study.  I say that because of Revelation 1:3 --- "Blessed is he that readeth (the New Testament Book of prophecy), and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."

So ... here we go!

Right into 2 Thessalonians 1 and one of the Bible's KEY paragraphs on the Revelation (2nd Coming) of Jesus!

His return to earth is often called by fundamental preachers the "revelation" of Christ because (unlike the Rapture) then every eye shall see Him!  ("Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."  Revelation 1:7)

Lord willing, verse 6 begins tomorrow!

Join us ... with a Bible in your hand!

                                                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2 ... WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2004:

Jesus is coming again!

I do not now speak about the "Rapture" when our Lord is coming "in the air" to catch away His Church!

I am referring to His actual return to this earth!

Again I say it.  Jesus is coming again!

Realizing that everyone does not believe this truth, I begin with some validating Scripture.

Talking about our Lord (in reference to the Battle of Armageddon) ... Zechariah says: "And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south."  (Zechariah 14:4)

Folks, this event could not possibly have happened yet!  That makes it a future occurrence according to Bible prophecy.  Jesus has NOT yet stood on the Mount of Olives with Armageddon being fought in the background!  (One reason being that Armageddon has not yet been fought!)

Furthermore, this Return of Jesus is accompanied by (what appears to be) an earthquake!  Or at least something happens that rearranges the topography of the land.  A mountain splits and a valley forms instantly (and other phenomena listed in the following verses too)!  Those things have not yet literally occurred either!

Jesus is coming again!

Here's another Scripture.  Acts 1:11 relates to us what two angels said to the Disciples as our Lord ascended to Heaven (from the Mount of Olives):  "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

Listen to them carefully.  Jesus is coming again just like He went into heaven!  "In like manner" too!

Let's see.  He went from that Mount (Olivet).  That means He is coming again to that Mount!  He went upward ... He's coming downward!  He went to Heaven ... He's coming from Heaven!  He went into a cloud ... He's coming back out of a cloud (likely the Shekinah Glory)! 

And how about this Passage in Isaiah!  "Who is This That cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This That is glorious in His apparel, travelling in the greatness of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save."   Isaiah 63:1

Why, it is a description of Some Glorious Monarch who is returning from Bozrah (the enemy of Israel).  He is dressed gloriously!  He is amazingly strong!  He is "mighty to save!"  I (along with thousands of Bible preachers and teachers and theologians and students) believe it is the Lord Jesus!  And look at Isaiah's next verse also:  "Wherefore art Thou red in Thine apparel, and Thy garments like Him that treadeth in the winefat?"  He has blood on His clothing!  He has been in battle (Armageddon)!  And the language (word picture) used is that of John's New Testament Book of Revelation (as Armageddon is described)!

Jesus is coming again!

Since I mentioned John, let's let him share some verses with us too.  "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He hath on his vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army.  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."  Revelation 19:11-21

Sounds like the Second Coming again, doesn't it?

Believing friends, God can't lie!  (Titus 1:2)  It is impossible for Him to do so! (Hebrews 6:18)  He said He was going to return to earth!  And He will!

That's for sure!

And what should our attitude be toward that great event?

The same as Scripture says.

In fact ... it is the very last prayer of the Bible!

"He (Jesus Himself) which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."  Revelation 22:20

Again I say it.  Jesus is coming again!

                                                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, OCTOBER 28, 2004, FROM CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA:

Let's study verse 6 today.  "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you." 

The opening word "seeing" translates a Greek conjunction "eiper" that usually means since or indeed or after all!  What Paul is about to say is in his mind a foregone conclusion!  There's no doubt about it!  God will punish those who abuse His children!

The word "righteous" means conforming to God's standard!  (Proper in God's eyes!)

The verb "recompense" is in Greek "antapodidomi" and means to repay or to exact a penalty!    Literally:  to give (didomi) away (apo) in the face of (anti)!

Our text says that God will place "tribulation" on those who trouble the Believers at Thessalonica.  That noun is "thlipsis" and basically means pressure!  (From a verb that means to rub hard!  Then to crowd!)

When God sends pressure, watch out!

What did these rebels do to receive such treatment fromGod?

They harassed the Christians!

They "troubled" the followers of our Lord, the saints to whom Paul was writing.

That verb "troubled" (in Greek = thilbo) is the very same word we just noticed!  It means to pressure, to rub hard, to crowd!

They opposed God's people ... they got opposition from Almighty God!

They received from the Lord exactly what they gave to His body of Believers!

Talk about reaping what one sows!  Here it is in exact form!

Therefore ... based on Paul's Holy Spirit inspired reasoning here ... one purpose for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is to punish and judge those who have hated and sought to destroy Christianity!

Wow!

"Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"  Revelation 22:20

                                                                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4 ... VERSE 7:

It seems that the Thessalonians have had some trouble! They are suffering for their faith. Back in 1st Thessalonians Paul said: "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost." (1 Thessalonians 1:6)

Paul obviously wants to comfort them some.

He does so by appealing to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Here's the verse I have in mind today:  "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels."  2 Thessalonians 1:7   (Notice the connection between "rest" and the "revelation" of Jesus!)

The pronoun "you" is in Greek "humin" and is a dative plural indicating that Paul is addressing the whole church! They ALL were experiencing trails because of their belief in Jesus!

The verb "are troubled" translates "thlibo," meaning to press hard upon or to squeeze tightly! It’s a New Testament word for pressure (at the least) or the heavy load of many difficulties (as most often used)! As it is constructed here in the King James text the form is one of a present participle in the passive voice. They did not put this pressure upon themselves. Someone (who hates the Lord) has put these believers in dire "straits" and is persecuting them! The "present" tense idea tells us that the harassment is continual!

But Paul invites these wearied saints to experience some "rest!" (Rest in Jesus!) This word is in Greek "anesis" and means a loosening of tight bonds! (From "ana" meaning up and "heimi" meaning to send!) To send or release tight constraints! To let up on someone! To slacken! To desist! The word has an interesting New Testament history. In Acts 24:33 it is translated "liberty" and is used when Paul is given some laxity as a prisoner (to have guests visit him at will)! Twice (2 Corinthians 2:13 and 7:5) Paul is said to have NO rest! He is disturbed over the care of the churches! Paul wants the Thessalonian believers to have something he often did not have! Then in 2 Corinthians 8:13 Paul talks about some of the saints being "eased" from a particular responsibility!

It sounds to me like Paul is fulfilling the role of an exhorter, encouraging these suffering believers as best he can.

He invites them to rest with himself and Silas and Timothy, his companions at that time. (See 1 Thessalonians 1:1 for proof. "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ.") That’s what he means by "rest with us."

But WHEN will this rest be made a reality?

According to Paul here ... especially when Jesus comes again!

The word "when" is represented by the Greek preposition "en."  This "rest" will come IN the revelation of Jesus from Heaven ... again at the Second Coming of Christ!

That’s the very word Paul uses too ... "revealed!" It translates the Greek word "apokalupsis." (That’s our English word apocalypse.) The Textus Receptus (which the King James translators used) says we will have this "rest" IN THE UNVEILING OF JESUS! (It’s really a noun here ... not a verb!)

The word is derived from a compound Greek term ... "apo" means off or away from ... and "krupto" mean to cover or conceal ... so we have an uncovering of Jesus, an unveiling of our dear Lord at His Return! Revelation 1:7 describes it well. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." That’s a "revelation!" As you know, in Greek our last New Testament Book is named the apocalypse or revelation!

From whence does Jesus come?

Why, from heaven! (From is "apo" again ... out of heaven!)

But He is not coming alone!

He will be "with" someone! Here is the Greek preposition "meta" which means "in the midst of!" Surrounded by angels ... here comes Jesus!

But what kind of angels?

"Mighty" ones! This adjective is "dunamis" and means powerful, miracle working, dynamic or forceful! It comes from a root verb that means "to be able!"

Paul is telling these Christians ... just wait, REST is on the way!

Jesus is coming!

(The great Apostle has used this type of eschatological encouragement before as you may remember. In 1st Thessalonians the believers had some loved ones who died. They died before the Lord had returned. Would they ever get to see them again?

YES, says Paul!

And with his answer he encourages their hearts!  I believe he speaks of the Rapture of the Church!

Listen: "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) Notice the words I have capitalized

I therefore have to believe this truth: The Second Coming (including the judgment that accompanies it) can be a great source of rest and pause and encouragement to the saints!

Glory to God.

No wonder Paul called it the "Blessed Hope!"

                                                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5 ... VERSE 8:  

The literal return of Jesus to earth is going to contain a few surprises for this old wicked world!

Our God is not some senile old Grandpa who lacks strength and resolve!  Neither is He a Judge who has forgotten the law (or refuses to enforce it)!

When Jesus returns, fire will fly!

Here's my Bible proof: 

As Paul speaks of Jesus' Second Coming, he says: "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." That description is found in 2 Thessalonians 1:8!

At the "Rapture" Jesus returns quietly and "in the air" to claim all His saints!  But seven years later when He comes again (and His feet touch this earth) ... it will be in "flaming fire!"  The Greek noun "pur" is used for fire 73 times in the New Testament (and only once more anywhere in Scripture ... being "fiery" there)!  Hence there's no doubt that it is to be taken literally!

The adjective "flaming" is used less yet in the Bible.  "Phlox" is found only 7 times in the Word of God.  First it's located in Luke 16 where the rich man cries from Hell ... "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."

Next look at Acts 7:30 where the Lord is pictured as a flame!  "And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush."  (Moses' burning bush experience)

Then the angels of the Lord are described in "flaming" terms!  "And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire."  Hebrews 1:7

And in Revelation 1:14 Jesus is described as having:  "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire."  Wow!  This truth is repeated (still about His eyes) in Revelation 2:18 and 19:12!  What eyes!

It seems that everywhere the glorified resurrected Lord goes ... there is the presence of flaming glowing fire!

BUT this time (2 Thessalonians 1:8) it is described for sure in terms of judgment and wrath!  "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God!"

That noun "vengeance" translates "ekdikesis" and means punishment.  (Like that which a righteous law-enforcing judge decrees from the bench!)  It literally means to carry Justice ("dike") out ("ek") to the fullest degree!

The verb "taking" is "didomi" and just means "giving!"  And it here is a present participle too!  (Constant action!)

On whom, Preacher?

"ON THEM THAT KNOW NOT GOD!"

The verb "know" is a form of the word "to gaze upon!"  They refused to look upon Jesus and believe in Him as Saviour of their lives!  Its "time" sense is one of past action that has been completed ... but with an impact that continued to the very moment Paul wrote this description!  Constant rejection of Jesus!

The verb "obey" is picturesque!  It combines the Greek words for hear ("akouo") and under ("hupo"), suggesting a submissive student sitting under a teacher's authority and doing what is commanded!  (Another present participle!)  Sinners rebel against such a Saviour!

And Gospel is our old friend "euaggelion" or "message of good (news)!"

The choice is clear to people of our age:  Accept Jesus now or face the awful possibility of His return in flaming fire ... exacting justice on those who believe not the greatest story ever told!

Paul just stated the Gospel in clear and certain terms!

Are you saved?

                                                                                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6 ... VERSE 9:     (NOVEMBER 2, 2004)

It's in the Bible!

Psalm 9:17 is where you will find it.

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

Not only will wicked men and wicked women be judged and ultimately cast into hell with all its fire ... so will wicked NATIONS!

And our God is BIG enough to do just that!

The noun for wicked here is (in Hebrew) "rasha" and means "moral wrongness" or badness that is active and malignant!

This is sin which, like a cancer, is NOT in remission.  It is active and spreading and destructive (deadly)!

(Just as holiness is experienced in degrees of closeness to Jesus ... so is wickedness experienced in degrees of departure from God!)

The verb "shall be turned" translates "shub," meaning (5 times in the King James Bible) "delivered!"  (One Hebrew dictionary says "turned toward or into something ... with no escape provided!")

And "Hell" is "sheol" which is rendered as "Hell" 31 times and "grave" 31 times and "pit" 3 times in the Word of God!  (Used a total of 65 times.)

And, get this!

The noun here designated "nations" is in Hebrew "goy," which designates Gentile peoples usually!  (Non-Jewish nations!)

Nations like France or Russia or the United States or Great Britain or Germany or Spain!

And the qualifier "all" is spelled "kol" and designates ... each, every or all!  (No exceptions!)

But what did these "nations" do that was so wrong?

They forgot God!

The verb "shakeach" means to loose something (to "mislay" it) due to neglect!  A Hebrew lexicon says:  "to be oblivious to something from want of attention or memory!")

Now if these "national" judgments do not occur before the Lord returns to earth ... they WILL occur then!

(However keep in mind many have already occurred in history!  God has buried many a nation in the recorded years of human history!  Where today is the USSR? Where is the land of the Hittites?  Or the Ammonites?  Or the Moabites?)

And America, you had better wake up and listen!

If not before ... certainly when the Lord comes again ... the United States will answer for her sins!

Here's how Paul words it in 2 Thessalonians 1:9.  "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."

This verse is promised to those who have "obeyed not the Gospel" (which America and her courts scoff today) and "know not God" (by choice in our nation's case)!  We perhaps have had more Gospel "light" than any country in the history of the world!

The verb "shall be punished" is a court term!  This is legal language for what a Judge does to the guilty and convicted criminal!  (The term is compound and literally means "to pay the price" asked by the Judge!  America, who likes money so much ... will one day have to pay a bill she has willingly ignored!  A sin debt!)

"Everlasting" carries the idea of "age after age after age after age!"  (Never ending!)

And "destruction" comes from a root verb that means "to bring ruin, death or punishment!  It ("olethros" in Greek) is only used 4 times in the whole Bible!  Here's one of those occurrences:  "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition."  1 Timothy 6:9  (Here the love of money led to that "destruction!")

And what's so bad about Hell?

Not just the fire and the brimstone and the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth (eternally) ... but the banishment from all the love of God ... from all God's very Presence!

The noun "Presence" here translates 2 Greek word:  "Pros" means to or toward and "ops" means the face of someone!  "Prosopon" = in the very Face of the Lord God Almighty!

What a joy it is to be "IN" Christ Jesus!  In His Presence!  In His Heart!  In His Mind!  In His Love!

Could our beloved nation ... due to its obsession with the economic issues of the day ... (as well as a thousand other sins) be casting herself headlong into eternal hell and destruction?

But hell is not only a place where God's Presence is absent!  (Sinner friend, you have NEVER in all your existence yet been in a place totally removed from God's Presence!  But you are headed to such a place if you do not get saved by God's Grace!)

Hell is also a place far removed from God's "power!"  The word Paul uses here is a bit unusual.  "Ischus" means ability in the sense of force ... sheer strength!  It comes from a root verb ("echo") that means to hold or to have!  Hell ... where one is out of God's Hands forever!  (That gives new meaning to being "cast" into Hell!)

God's power here is said to have "glory" (in Greek = doxa).  No more Glory of God in hell!  And there's nothing but the Glory of God in heaven!

Hear me.

Some day ... Jesus is coming again!

America ... our beloved land ... you face a choice today!  (Such is true of every other nation on earth too!)

Listen to the rockers and the abortionists and the reprobates if you choose ... but some day there will be hell to pay!

And that's literally according to God's Word!

                                                                                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7 ... VERSE 10 ... WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2004

Jesus is coming again!

Verse 10 of 2 Thessalonians 1 says:  "When He shall come ...!"

Not "if" ... but "WHEN!"

"Shall come" is a translation of the Greek verb "erchomai" and means to appear or to arrive!

It's a subjunctive verb ... suggesting that this "coming" is a real desire of Paul's too! It is also an aorist verb ... in Paul's mind the Second Coming is already a done thing!  (It is as sure as an event that's already happened!)

But what will occur as far as the saints are concerned when Jesus returns!

What will THEY do toward Him?

Two things are taught us here today.

Here's the whole verse:  "When He (Jesus) 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."

Two terms must be emphasized.

"To be glorified" informs us of the attitude we shall have in that great day!

We shall talk of all His wondrous traits and praise His sweet attributes (including that of righteousness as He judges this old wicked world)!  We shall heap upon Him all the Honor we know how to ascribe!  (Glory, "doxa" in Greek, means that which we think Him to be ... that which He seems to be in our hearts and minds and souls!) And He is EVERYTHING to us!

Here the precise word is a compound form ... "en" plus "doxa" ... placing honor in Him!  (Of course He is already perfect without anything we can do on His behalf ... but we shall still exalt Him for evermore!)

Next we shall "admire" Him!

"Thaumazo" means to be amazed, to wonder, or to marvel!  (It's from a verbal root ... "to look at closely!")

Maybe we had better get busy admiring Him now!

The verb's first use in the New Testament is in Matthew 8:10 where Jesus "marvelled" at the faith of a certain centurion soldier!

Next (in its second Bible occurrence) the word is used of mankind:  "But the men MARVELLED, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"  Matthew 8:27

Then in Matthew 9:8 (a third appearance for "marvel") our two verbs are combined in reference to Jesus during His first coming!  But notice the "order" here.  "But when the multitudes saw it, they MARVELLED, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men."

First men marvelled ... then glorified Jesus!

But when He returns the second time ... we shall reverse the order and GLORIFY HIM EVEN BEFORE WE MARVEL AT HIM!

Probably Paul is indicating an ever repeating joyful cycle!

We Christian have truly marvelled at Him since He saved us!  We shall soon glorify Him as we should!  Then ... marvel at him even more!

With some things the wonder and surprise and excitement gradually subside!  But NOT with Jesus!

We shall glorify and marvel at Him eternally!

Praise His Name!

                                                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell