While many of us could not really say that we are severely persecuted for our faith, there are many believers in various parts of the world who genuinely are strongly persecuted for believing in and following the Lord Jesus. For most of us, the worst that it gets might be some sarcastic or snarky comments from unbelievers at work or in the family. For some, they may have lost a few friends, or even various family members may no longer talk to us, but it doesn’t get much worse. However, there are many places around the world where Christians are severely persecuted, beaten, arrested, locked out economically, and even killed. True Christians have been persecuted down through the ages, going all the way back to the days of the Apostles. The church in Thessalonica was one place where the believers faced a great deal of persecution. The Apostle Paul wrote them several letters of encouragement, persuading them to carry on and not give up the faith. Our Scripture today comes from Paul’s opening remarks in his second letter to the believers there.
After the Apostle Paul and his companion Barnabas’ arrest and subsequent release from prison in the city of Philippi, the two traveled on to the city of Thessalonica. For three weeks Paul preached and taught at the local synagogue how that Jesus was the promised Messiah, how He died for their sins, and rose on the third day (Acts 17:1-4). Many people in Thessalonica came to accept Jesus as their Savior through Paul and Barnabas’ teaching. However, their message of salvation was not well received by many of the Jewish leaders in the synagogue, and riots broke out. Paul and his companions had to flee for their lives to the nearby village of Berea. The enemies of the Gospel, though, followed them there, threatening their lives, and they had to flee again (Acts 17:5-15). Even though Paul, Barnabas, and their companions were driven out of town, persecution of the newly founded church in Thessalonica continued. These new Christians there did not have it easy.
Did this persecution extinguish the faith of these new believers? Did they give up and quit, going back to their old beliefs, thinking that it just wasn’t worth it? No, they did not! Paul was concerned for the new church and the brand new Christians there. He looked on them as his spiritual children. However when word got to him about the believers in Thessalonica, he was told that their faith and love were growing, and that they were patiently enduring all the persecutions and tribulations that came to them, both from the Jews and the pagan Gentiles (vs. 3-4). Their faith was genuine and strong.
What happened to the church in Thessalonica continues to happen to many believers around the world. And though strong persecution doesn’t happen too much in the Western world, opposition to faith in Jesus and His Word, the Bible, is increasing everywhere, and will continue to increase as time goes on. Afflictions and persecutions are to be expected as believers live in an evil world.
The Thessalonians wondered whether this was judgment coming on them from God, and some today wonder if persecution is a judgment from the Lord, as well. Paul reassured them that their suffering did not reflect God’s judgment on them, but rather, that it will be evidence used in judgment against those who persecuted them (vs. 5). God will repay the wicked for what they have done to Christians (vs. 6). However, vindication and retribution are to be in God’s hands, not ours. When God repays, and how He repays, are to be determined by Him.
Paul continued in his letter to the believers suffering for Jesus in Thessalonica, reminding them that there will be rest and rewards for all of those who have suffered for God (vs. 7). He told them that though this wouldn’t likely happen now, that it most assuredly will when Jesus returns to judge the ungodly. When Jesus returns, He will give full punishment to those who did not accept Him as Savior, and who were persecuting His children (vs. 8). They will be given everlasting destruction (vs. 9). It is forever. They are not annihilated, but punished and tormented forever, just as heaven is forever.
In closing, we know that there are Christians around the world who are being persecuted, some quite severely. We should be in prayer for them. We should also be praying for the lost and those who are perpetrating this persecution, that they would come to salvation in Jesus. For those who are suffering persecution, hold fast to the Faith, for the Lord Jesus will soon return!
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