When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven

Title: When the Lord Jesus is Revealed from Heaven …
Date: 28 November 2021
Preacher: Ps Tan Hock Seng

I. Thessalonian Believers’ Faith & Love in Times of Suffering [1:3-7a]

A. The believers were persecuted for their Commitment to Jesus [1:3-7a].
I will explain briefly How Christian persecutions came about?

The reaction against the Gospel sprang from …
1.Paul’s outreach strategy
Whenever Paul entered a city, he would …
a. Visit the synagogue [13:15a]
b. Preach the Gospel during the exhortation time [13:5b-43]
c. Go to the picnic ground where there was no synagogue [16:12-16]

2. Reasons for Persecution
A few factors gave rise to persecutions. The first factor is …
a. Religious [Acts 5:17; 13:45; 17:5]
Jealousy of the Jewish religious leaders
The hearers’ turning to Jesus incurred the jealousy of some Jewish leaders. Those Jews were displeased that Gentiles could approach God in worship without becoming a Jew first.
4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large group of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
5 But the Jews became jealous … [Acts 17:4-5]
However, not all Jews were antagonistic. The Jews in Berea were more open-minded.
They examined the Scriptures carefully to verify what Paul preached about Jesus as the Messiah.
11 These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed … [Acts 17:11-12].

The second factor is …
b.Political
The political turmoil started as a misunderstanding that Jesus was being proclaimed as another king. The threat grew into accusation of treason; and it evolved into civil disobedience.

They are all acting against Caesar's decrees, saying there is another king named Jesus!" [Acts 17:7 ]

The third cause is
c.Economy
Many cities in Macedonia and Asia Minor were full of idols [Acts 17:6]. When believers believed in Jesus, they stopped worshipping idols … As a result, the idol-making industry faced a loss of revenue.

The fourth is …
d.Moral
The Gospel message upset moral norms such as, Greed, Sensuality, & Sexual immorality. As a result hatred towards Christians was generated those offended by the Gospel.

The Christians were persecution in different ways
3.Forms of Persecution
Persecution was initially localized and sporadic. There were Incitement of hatred against the Gospel-preacher. The hatred resulted in beatings and arrests. The Thessalonians were persecuted by their country men [1Thess. 2:14-167]

When persecution became universal during Emperor Domitian reign [AD 81-96], Christians experienced destruction or confiscation or of properties. They were imprisoned, tortured, murdered, and executed.
Unexpectedly, in Thessalonica …

B.The believers grew in faith and love amidst their sufferings [1:3]

1.The believers’ faith in God grew
They became more trusting in God
2.The believers’ love for one another increased
They cared more for one another more.
3. Paul said, “We are always thankful to God for you.
The believers’ faith flourished, and their love strengthened.

3 We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater [v. 3].

C. The believers persevered in their sufferings for Jesus [1:4]

1.They did not renounce their Christian faith when persecuted, but trusted Jesus all the more

2.Their endurance was inspired by their hope in Jesus [1 Thessalonians 1:3]

3.Paul said, “I spoke of you with pride among the churches. You are exemplary in your faith and endurance.

4 As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring [v. 4].

D. The believers’ perseverance testified that Gospel of Jesus is true [1:5]

Just like the merchant in Jesus’ parable who sold everything to buy the pearl of great value, the Thessalonian Christians were willing to give up world pursuit and endure suffering, in order to follow Jesus.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 46 When he found a pearl of great value, he went out and sold everything he had and bought it” [Matthew 13:45-46].

In verse 5 Paul told the Thessalonians, This is evidence of God's righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which in fact you are suffering [v. 5].

Verse 5 does not teach that: Believers will earn the kingdom through suffering; or suffering is redemptive for them; or suffering is a Divine curse.

It teaches that God will make believers, who identify with the cross that Jesus carried, worthy citizens of His kingdom.

In 2 Timothy 2, the Apostle Paul quoted a hymn to exhort believers to identify with Jesus. In our death with Jesus, we will live with Him. In our endurance, we will reign with Him.

11 This saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him. 12 If we endure, we will also reign with him [2 Timothy 2:11-12a].

The hymn also warns believers against seeking an easy way out of their trials by denying Jesus. It encourages faithfulness. Even when the believers’ faith is weak, God will always be faithful to help them overcome their trials [cf. 1Corinthians 10:13].

If we deny Him, He will deny us. 13 If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is [2 Timothy 2:12b-13].

Application:

Today, Christians may experience persecutions in various forms:
Physical forms: In countries that are closed to the Gospel, Christians may experience beating, torture, and imprisonment. Physical persecutions are encountered in different intensity. In some regions physical persecutions are more severe than the other.
Socio-Politico-Economical: However, in countries, like Singapore, persecutions may be encountered in economic and psychological forms.

It is not true that Christians here are spared from persecution, but we may be stigmatized for taking Christian stance on moral issues. Doing what is right may cost you a poor but unjust end-of-year evaluation. You may lose of business opportunities; and you may be “cancelled” socially.

You might experienced the “Cancel Culture” experience when say the something that is politically incorrect; or when you hold a different view that comes off as offensive. You could be attacked personally by hate mails on the social media platforms. There could be attempts to shame, or silent you, so that you would be blocked from moving forward.

Many believers may choose to “siam” [evade] economy persecutions by compromising. Sometimes, when we compromise, nobody will know, but only God.

Some Christians say that we should pray for persecution in Singapore so that the churches would grow.

One important thing that we should understand is that Persecution does not necessary stimulate growth .

Persecution does not necessary induce Church Growth, or enhance personal growth. Jesus’ Parable of the Sower informs us of the seeds that fell on rocky ground . The seed sprang up quickly, but they were scorched under the Sun’s heat. Then Jesus explains that those people did not endure troubles or persecutions because they had no “spiritual root”.

Then Jesus spoke about the seeds that fell on good soil. Those people heard the word and understood. They bore fruit of thirty folds, sixty folds, and a hundred folds.

Many people get the wrong impression that the “good soil” people did not get persecuted, or were never tempted by worldly pursuits. The fact is, the “good soil” people were also exposed to worldly temptations, and they also encountered persecutions. The reason that they could endure is that their lives are rooted in God and His word.

Different believers will response differently to persecutions. When the church in Philippi was persecuted, the Apostle Paul had to exhort the Christians to stand united, and learn to put others’ needs first, above their own.

When the Hebrew church in Jerusalem was persecuted. The church members wanted to abandon Christianity and revert to Judaism. The epistle-writer had to warn the Jewqish bnelievers not to fall away, but to cling on to Jesus in faith.

The church in Sardis, however, was outwardly active but inwardly dead. There was no need for the Roman empire to persecute the church because the believers were sleeping – The church was in “Spiritual Coma”, and God had to shout, “Wake up!”

Jesus’ parable about the wise person who built his house on the rock teaches that houses with a firm foundation will remain standing under heavy rain and flood. Those who hear and apply Jesus’ teaching are building their house on the rock.

John Lennox’s testimony
I will share with a testimony about how a Christian student was intimidated because of his belief in Jesus.
Fifty years ago while studying at Cambridge University. John Lennox was seated beside a Nobel Prize winner at a formal college dinner. He asked the Noble Prize laureate if his studies had led him to reflect on the existence of God.

That scientist was not comfortable with that question. At the end of the meal, he invited Lennox to go to his study. He brought along three other senior academics. Lennox was invited to sit, while the professors remained standing.

The renowned scientist asked, “Lennox, do you want a career in science?”

Lennox replied, “Yes, sir!”

“Then,” he said, “in front of these witnesses, tonight, you must give up this childish faith in God. If you do not, then it will cripple you intellectually and you will simply will not make it.”

John Lennox sat in the chair paralyzed and shocked by the unexpected onslaught.

With a shaking voice, Lennox told the group standing around me “With all due respect, I would take the risk and stick with it.”

That was a situation where a brilliant scientist tried to coerce a student into giving up Christianity.

Later in his life, John Lennox earned three doctorate degree. He is a professor of mathematic at Oxford University

How the Thessalonian Christians behaved testified that the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is true.

If the Gospel is true, then don’t be ashamed but live it out at all costs.

II. Thessalonian Believers’ Hope in the Return of Jesus [1:6-10]
A. A Glimpse of Jesus’ Return
Today’s sermon-title is adapted from a clause in verse 7 “When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven …” when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels [1:7b].

The verb “reveal” instead of “return” is used to describe Jesus’ return. It means that the Lord Jesus shall be visible to all peoples in His Second Coming. Whether they believe that Jesus is God, or not, all peoples will see Jesus in His return. The majestic scene of the Lord Jesus entering our time and space will fill the whole sky. Somehow, people in every land shall be able to see Jesus.

The Lord Jesus will be revealed with His mighty angels [1:7b]

Jesus had mentioned of His return with the holy angels in glory [Luke 9:26] … when He [the Son of Man] comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

B. The Day of Jesus’ Return
In verses 6-7, we may observe three traits concerning the Day when Jesus returns:

That Day shall be:
A Day of Vindication for the Believers; A Day of Judgment on the God-Rejecters; and A Day of Glorification for the Lord Jesus

1. A Day of Vindication [1:6-7]
6 For it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us …
[2 Thessalonians 1:6-7a]

On the Day of Vindication … God shall reverse all the unjust treatments in His righteousness

God will repay the afflicters [6] God will give rest to all the afflicted [7a]

Because God will vindicate, Paul says, “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong”
[1 Thessalonians 5:15]
In Matthew 19:27-29, Jesus assured Peter that God will recompense those who left things or loved ones, in order to do what God wanted them to do.

27 Then Peter said to him, "Look, we have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" 28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: Whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. [Matthew 19:27-29]

Jesus will compensate those who gave their lives to follow Him.
2. A Day of Judgment on God-Rejectors [1:8]

8 With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [vv. 8-9]

On the Day of Judgment, Jesus shall judge people who willfully rejected God . In Verse 8 Paul says that the Lord Jesus will judge those who do not know God, and those who do not obey the Gospel.

To avoid misunderstanding, I will clarify the … Two traits of the people whom the Creator-God will judge:

a. The people who do not know God are Not those who have never heard the Gospel, Or those who could not understand the Gospel .
But they are those who heard and understood the Gospel, but chose to reject the Creator.

The Jewish concept of “know” is relationship focused, not information based.
In John 16:2-3 Jesus spoke of the Jewish leaders were religious but did not know God at all. They would persecute believers, thinking that they did God a service.

2 They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me [John 16:2-3].

In Acts 19:14-16, we read about the seven sons of Sceva, a high priest. They tried to cast out evil spirits invoking the name of Jesus. Not only they failed to cast out the spirits, they were attacked by the demon-possessed man. Their exorcism backfired because they did not know Jesus. They had the right theology but no relationship with Jesus.

b. The people do not obey the Gospel
In Romans 2:6-9 Paul teaches that God will judge all people [the Jews and the Gentiles] who do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness. They keep on doing evil.

6 He will reward each one according to his works: 7 eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works … but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness. [Romans 2:6-8].

In John chapter 3 verses 19-20, John explains that people are condemned because they love evil and hate the “light”.

19 Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed [John 3:19-20].

People who willfully choose to reject God already existed since the time of Adam. All the people in Cain’s family line, and most of Seth’s descendents rejected the Creator-God. It is very likely they chose to follow and worship the Serpent who deceived Eve. As a result, they committed great evils. Eventually, only Noah’s family of eight were saved through the Flood that destroyed the world.

However, God is a just. God is a just and righteous Judge. The stories of “Sodom and Gomorrah” and of “Jonah” show us that God cares about the innocence. God told Abraham that He would not destroy the city if they were 10 righteous men. God told Jonah that He cared for the 120,000 innocent lives in Nineveh. God will rescue the innocent people being destroyed with the evil people in His judgment.
Thirdly, the Day when Jesus returns shall be …
3. A Day of Glorification Jesus shall return to be glorified among his saints.
The believers’ Christ-likeness will bring glory to Jesus.

Our growth in Christ-likeness is the highest praise we offer to Jesus. Christ-likeness is a reflection of the Glory of Jesus; thus we may glorify Jesus in that manner. Together, we shall celebrate the Kingship of Jesus on the Day of Glorification.

10 when He comes to be glorified among his saints and admired on that day among all who have believed [2 Thessalonians 1:10]

In His anticipation of Christ’s return, Paul prayed for the Thessalonian believers, “ The Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him according to God’s grace.

11 And in this regard we pray for you always, that our God will make you worthy of his calling and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ [2 Thessalonians 1:11-12] .

B. The Fate of the Rejecters
Now, I want to clarify Paul’s teaching about the fate of the God-Rejecters in 2 Thessalonians. Paul wrote that …

The Rejectors of the Creator-God will be banished from God’s presence and glory [1:9]

9 They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength,

Q: What is the Glorious Presence of the LORD like?

It is important for us to have some idea concerning what the God’s glory is like, so that we will have a clearer understanding about God’s judgment.

In Exodus, the LORD revealed His glory to Moses:

"The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin [Exodus 34:5-7a]

But when the compassionate, gracious, loving, mercy and forgiving God is deliberately rejected , then

The guilt of those rejecters’ sins shall remain with them.

“He by no means leaves the guilty unpunished …” [Exodus 34:5-7b]
They shall be separated from God – Away from His Glorious Presence

Let us imagine what an existence without the GLORY of the LORD can be…

Let’s see what happen when the Compassion, Grace, Love, Mercy, Light and abundant Life is withdrawn.

Based on the teaching that the Creator-God is the Sustainer of His creation, I am convinced that without God, all lives cannot be sustained; materials will begin to disintegrate; the natural laws will become chaotic. Eventually. the universe would revert to the state of “without form and void”.

Jesus called that kind of existence “Hell” a place where the fire never quenched [Mark 9:43-48]; the Apostle John saw the place as the “Lake of Fire” [Rev 20:14-15]; and the Apostle Paul simply state it as “a separation from the Glorious Presence of God.” As to be burned by “Fire” is a danger that we fear most. The element “Fire” is used by Jesus to enable hearers to visualize and feel what the eternal judgment is like.

All these are glimpses of the eternal punishment.

The purpose of such dreadful and frightening depiction is to steer us away from evils, and to turn to God.

The quick flashes of God’s judgment is not for God’s people to clap their hand and gloat. Rather, It is also a motivation for us to proclaim the Gospel of Salvation from God’s Judgment.

Therefore, knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade others – be reconciled with God [KJV 2 Corinthians 5:11; 20]

Paul is saying that the knowledge of God’s terror should all the more move us to preach the Goodnews of God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:
Today’s sermon passage is about Faith, Love, and Hope.

During difficult times, the Thessalonian Christians lived out their Faith, Love and Hope. In their crisis, the Thessalonians’ faith in God grew, their love for one another increased, and their hope in Jesus strengthen them to persevere in sufferings.

In our present global crisis, let us learn to: Be more trusting in God [Faith] Continue to cast your anxieties and problems to God in your praying.

Be caring and giving to our fellow members-in-needs Some are retrenched; some, doing a less-paid job

Reflect Jesus in our lives as we await His return Reflect Jesus to others in our speech and in our conduct.

As people in God’s New Creation, What we are is God’s gift to us; What we become is our gift to God.

Bilingual Service Video Link: https://youtu.be/vepJjxLzNkM