Their Endurance Is a Plain Indication of God S Righteous Judgment

2 Thessalonians Kay Arthur Lesson 3

Do you know where you would go if you were to die? How do you know you would go there? How do you know what it is like? Will we go on Scripture or on people’s experiences? 2Thes 1:3-10 -their endurance is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment - Jesus Christ is coming and those who are afflicting you will be judged JC comes to earth to deal out retribution 1)to those who do not know God :Romans 1:16-20- knew God but did not honor Him as God -salvation that saves from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and the presence of sin (Rom 8) -all by faith -every man is born with a God consciousness -there is also a witness w/out that proves that there is a God -Acts 14:16-17- God has never left Himself w/ out a witness –Psalm 19:1,7- the heavens and nature declare Him and the Word declares Him too -Romans 10:1-18 2)do not obey the Gospel of our LJC- if you really believe there will be obedience; Romans 2:1-4- those who declare Him as God but do not obey Him as God -“we know the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice those things” -when God comes to deal out retribution- He will judge according to truth; the kindness of God saves us, but the stubbornness and unrepentant heart (v.5) – truly obeyed the gospel- store up wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God 2The 1:9- pay the penalty of eternal destruction away from the presence of God and the glory of His power - pay the penalty = dike = punishment- only here in NT; connected with word for judge and righteous punishment determined by a lawful process; not out of anger or reactionary, but meted out of a lawful process because God doesn’t react Have you been stubborn about believing on the LJC? About being repentant- a change of mind about who JC is- God, the Creator, the one to whom I am responsible and accountable. a change of mind. Seen Him as God. Bowed the knee and confessed Him as Lord. Or do I insist on my way and on what I want to believe? Every deed done in rebellion is storing up wrath- He renders to man according to his deeds. Judgment is according to deeds- different degrees of hell. Ro 2:8-12- If truly saved then we seek to do good because we seek for glory, honor and immortality. Vs. those who do not obey the truth, and do evil = tribulation and distress Heathen who have never heard the law and have no knowledge of it- they die and stand before God for judgment- not for heaven or hell, they do not know God/Jesus, BUT they will not be held accountable for the law they ever heard- Ro 2:13-16 Those who knew the law and did not obey the gospel of JC- they perish and are accountable for what they had- the law There is a day when God will judge men ad their secrets according to the gospel = the good news that you don’t have to go to hell- John 3:16- part of the gospel is hell John 5:28-29- an hour is coming- those in tombs come to life- those who do good deeds to life- if truly saved then you will do good deeds- if you have faith show me your deeds - those with evil deeds to judgment Is there a general resurrection when everyone comes and goes to judgment -when we die- unbelievers Hades/ place of torment- Luke 16:19-31-(does not have the qualities and Jesus did not call it a parable); you can use the OT to lead one to the faith in God- Moses & the prophets; noone is oersuaded on the basis of a testimony- you have to have the Word of God 2 words for “Hell” Gehenna = 12X-Mt5:22,29-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15,33; Mark 9:43,45,47; Lk 12:5; James 3:6 Hades = 11X- Mt 11:23; 16:8; Lk 1:15; 16:23; Ac 2:27,31; 1Cor 15:55; Rev 1:8; 6:8; 20:13-14 Before the cross- 2 compartments in Hades = Place of comfort place of torment, gulf in between- no crossing; those who looked forward to the Cross went to place of comfort, the lost to the place of torment; no one could go directly to heaven because it is appointed for man once to die and after that the judgment; He 9:27 When Jesus died- He descended into Hades; the 3rd day He rose from the dead; to the thief on the cross “today you shall be with Me in paradise”- the place of comfort; He was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven; no man could go to heaven before Jesus because He is the first fruits of those who slept After the cross- …next week for believers Torment side “hell had to enlarge itself” = Bible; but not he final judgment Final Judgment = Rev 19:11, 14-16, 19-20; 20:1-15- lake of fire, place of final judgment; JC comes down; throws B & PF in to lake of fire; Satan thrown into bottomless pit; JC reigns for 1000 years with saints = 1st resurrection; rest of dead did not come to life for 1000 years; GWT judgment- dead (Christians are never called dead) are judged by the things written in the books according to their deeds (Ro 2); death and Hades are thrown into the LoF 1 There are degrees of punishment in LoF according to the light you had and the awfulness of your deeds This is when Jesus comes to deal out retribution to those who do not believe or obey. Repent or perish.