In 2 Thess 1:1-10, the Apostle Paul seeks to encourage the Thessalonians saints, who were enduring a time of severe persecution. He exhorts them to stand fast in the faith, taking comfort in the knowledge that God saw their suffering, and that the day was approaching when Jesus would return to both put an end to the persecution of the saints, and punish those who were afflicting them:
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
There is an important element within this passage that many fail to see because of preconceived ideas about Jesus' gathering of the saints relative to the coming tribulation period:
Paul states that 3 things will happen the day that Jesus is seen coming in the sky with power and glory, accompanied by His mighty angels:
1). The outpouring of wrath, and everlasting destuction upon all who reject the Gospel.
There can be no doubt that this refers to the outpouring of God's wrath on day of the Lord. The appearing of Jesus and the angels in glory, and the ensuing judgment on the ungodly cannot but remind one of the many passages that describe the fiery destruction of day of the Lord.
2). Deliverance of the saints from their afflictions.
Note that Paul includes himself in the rapture in 1 Thess 4:16-16 and 2 Thess 2:1-3. Since he also includes himself in the "rest" that will come when Jesus returns, he has to be referring to the rapture here as well.
3). Jesus will be glorified in His saints, and marveled at by all those who believe in Him.
When could Jesus be glorified in His saints except when they are joined to Him? And when do the saints join with Jesus except when He gathers them to Himself?
Conclusion: We have the testimony of Paul that God's wrath will be poured out on the unsaved the same day that Christ returns to gather the saints. This would necessitate that the day of the Lord and the rapture occur at the same point in time--not years apart.
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
There is an important element within this passage that many fail to see because of preconceived ideas about Jesus' gathering of the saints relative to the coming tribulation period:
Paul states that 3 things will happen the day that Jesus is seen coming in the sky with power and glory, accompanied by His mighty angels:
1). The outpouring of wrath, and everlasting destuction upon all who reject the Gospel.
There can be no doubt that this refers to the outpouring of God's wrath on day of the Lord. The appearing of Jesus and the angels in glory, and the ensuing judgment on the ungodly cannot but remind one of the many passages that describe the fiery destruction of day of the Lord.
2). Deliverance of the saints from their afflictions.
Note that Paul includes himself in the rapture in 1 Thess 4:16-16 and 2 Thess 2:1-3. Since he also includes himself in the "rest" that will come when Jesus returns, he has to be referring to the rapture here as well.
3). Jesus will be glorified in His saints, and marveled at by all those who believe in Him.
When could Jesus be glorified in His saints except when they are joined to Him? And when do the saints join with Jesus except when He gathers them to Himself?
Conclusion: We have the testimony of Paul that God's wrath will be poured out on the unsaved the same day that Christ returns to gather the saints. This would necessitate that the day of the Lord and the rapture occur at the same point in time--not years apart.