The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Thessalonians — Section 18

other Churches with which they had correspondence. What they especially gloried in wa~ the patience of the Thessalonians. Persecution had come upon them after perse- cut10n; they were then end11ring afflictions. But they had nobly stood their ground. '!'heir patience was sustained by faith-faith in a kind and wise Providence that was watehing over them, that made use of their afflictions for the spread of the gospel, that would not leave them in the end unrewarded. This patience sustained by faith, Paul and his companions held up before the Churches for their encouragement in like cir- cu1ntances. This being their motive, there was no breach of modesty in the instrnctors of the Thessalonians themselves glorying in them. II. RIGHTEOUS JUDOMENT OF GoD. 1. With reference to the Thessalon:!am. "Which is a rnanifest token of the righteous j 11dgruent of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer." The patience sus- tained by faith, which was held up for the encouragement of the Churches, is no"' useol for the encouragement of the Thessalonians themselves. Let them think of the judg- ment of God that was coming. That judg.nent would be righteous in dealing with men accoreling to character. 'l'he character they possessed left no doubt as to what the righteous judgment of God would be. It looked forward to their being in the end counted worthy of the kingdom of God. For that kingdom they were suffering; but let them know that they who thus suffered would also reign. 2. With reference to their persecutors. " If so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you, and to you that are afflicted rest with us.n The persecutors had no source of encourage111ent in their character. They also ha.d to pass under the judgment of God; but what could righteous judgment mean to them? Their character was that of cruelly afflicting God's people. Could it be a righteons thing with God to place them alongside of patient sufferers as worthy of the kingdom ? That would be to have no regard to distinction in character, to make God the friend of cruelty as much as of patience, and in that way to contr,1dict the very idea of righteous judgment. The incontestably righteous thing could only be that with what measure they meted it should be measured unto them; that, giving affliction, there should be given back to them alRiction; while, to the afflicted Thessalonians, the righteous opposite would be release from the strain of affliction-release in company with Paul and Silas and Timothy in like manner afflicted. III. JUDICIA;. PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH DEALING WITH = •r:aESSALONIANB AND THEIR PERSECUTORS FALLS. 1. Toward the wngodly. (1) J-:;,dg~ and time of jw.lgment. "At the revelation of the Lord Jesus." The righteous judgment of God is now associated, as in other Scriptures, with the Second Person of the Godhead. It is as Jesus, or Saviour, that he is to fill the lordly office, and to exercise the lordly preroga- tives of Judge. Ho is now concealed from human view, upon which the ungodly presume. But one <lay he shall appear upon this earthly sc,·ne, and not in the lowly form in which he before appeared, but in a form that shall mark his Uivine sovereignty. (2) Place from which revealed. "From heaven." When before he appearerl there was no impression of his coming from heaven. He was born upon this earth; he wore the earthly form of our humanity until, having made atonement for our sin, he ascended into heaven and sat down on the right band of the Majesty on high. The heaven which then opened to receive him will again open, that he may reveal himself on earth for judgment. It will be observed that this revelation from heaven is identical with the descent from heaven described in 1 'l.'hessalonians. (3) Manner of revela- tion. First circumstance. "With the angels of his power." In the former description the Lord appeared, attended by the archangel and (by implication) his angelic host. The old translaLion here is" mighty angels." Their attendance, as of an army upon an earthly sovereign, is intended to give an impression of his power. This they give by their numbers; they may also give it by the personal might, more than human, with which they are endowed. Second circ-umslance. "In fk,111i11g fire." In the former tlescri1,tion it is the clouds that are mentio11ed. Here the Lord appears encircled witl, a flame of fire. 'l'he clouds conceal and moderate for the saints that have been acknow- leJged. 'l'he uncreated spleu,h,ur displayed before men in view of judgment is as fire In 1 Cur. iii. 13 fire is ass11ciated with judgment: "Each man's work shall be 111adc manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed by fire; and the fire itsell ~hall prove each man's wurk of what sort it is." As separating frolll it all impurity  UI THE SEOOND EPISTLE TO Tli.h: 'l'li.h::S:SALONIANS. [oe. L 1-L