The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, “This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed– for our testimony to you was believed.”

There are always those who want to be “first” in everything! “I was the one who first told you that.” “I was the first to arrive.” “My car was first in the parade” –and on and on it goes: first in this, first in that; just always first! Preachers, too, are among those who always want to be first. One wonders if those who are hungry to always be first, would be as anxious if the line led to execution! And pastors, most of all, need to employ caution in what they declare, because their proclamations register more highly, due to their position in the community.

Well, someone in the Thessalonian Church wanted to be first –and he was! – first in spreading the error that they all were then and there living in the Tribulation era. He was wrong, but he stirred and swayed the church nevertheless. Just another mess left for the Apostle Paul to clean up!

Paul’s argument employed four basic truths: first, the Coming of the LORD would be a Comfort to those who would be persecuted (1:5-7). Second, His Coming would be a horrible terror to the unconverted (1:8-9). Third, there will be a falling away from the Truth of the Word. The Coming of the LORD for His Own true people will reveal the “Man of Sin,” the Antichrist, while, simultaneously, the LORD’s Coming with His people will destroy the “Man of Sin.”

All of this was intended to comfort those who had been misled about the Coming of the LORD. It also opened some unique opportunities for the church to engage in some services. They (and we, as well) should show loyalty to Him; evangelize the world; pray for His servants; exercise patience while waiting for His Return; continuing to live separated lives; and exercise tenderness toward those who are slipping away from the Truth of the Gospel.

It was A. J. Gordon who said, “The mystery of godliness is God humbling Himself to become man; the mystery of iniquity is man exalting himself to become God.” May the LORD teach all of us humility and patience.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom