“…and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels…“

Verse 6 deals with God’s justice in retribution against those who persecute the church. This verse shows God’s justice for the believer.

and to give you who are troubled rest

God will give the believer “rest.” “Rest” means to let loose, relax. This is rest from tribulation, trouble, and strain, not from work (2 Corinthians 2:13; 7:5; 8:13).

The Thessalonians do not rest in death here. No, the rest is the Second Coming. If they look forward to the Second Coming, then they will have a sense of perspective. Although the Second Coming did not occur in their lifetime, it was their hope.

with us

Paul, Silas, and Timothy, as well as the Thessalonians, will receive relief and rest at the coming of Christ

when the Lord Jesus is revealed

The “Lord Jesus” will vindicate persecuted Christians at His coming. We will clearly see the justice of God then. This is the climax of God’s dealings with men. Jesus will judge the nations of the world and then establish His rule over the world. The entire world will see the manifestation of His Second Coming. Everyone will watch His coronation as King Jesus, King of the World.

“So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel’” (Matthew 19:28).

“Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord,
‘That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and prosper,
And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell safely;
Now this is His name by which He will be called:
THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

There are far more Scriptures dealing with the Second Coming of Christ than His first coming. We cannot understand the import of His Second Coming without first grasping the significance of His first coming.

from heaven

The Lord Jesus is in heaven now. He went there from the Mount of Olives, and He will return to the Mount of Olives in His Second Coming (Acts 1:11).

with His mighty angels

“Mighty angels” will accompany Jesus in His Second Coming. Powerful angels will come with Him to execute justice on earth (Matthew 25:31). The entire world will see this event. It will be dramatic. Imagine what all the skeptics will think!

Christians will also come with Christ in the Second Coming because they were raptured seven years before.

“When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).

“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him’” (Jude 14-15 ).

Principle:

We will receive justice at the Second Coming of Christ.

Application:

Jesus, to this point, has not reigned one minute over the world in His humanity. One day He will. When He does, He will bring justice to the world.

God will one day reward us for all the tribulations we face on this earth. This is consistent with God’s justice. One day the entire power alignment of the world will change. At present, the rulers of this world are in power. On the day of the coming of Christ, Jesus will be King Jesus, King of the World.