For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 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, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 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. [2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 NASB]
Paul is continuing his encouragement to the Thessalonians regarding the persecution which they were enduring. It is encouraging to know that, since we suffer at the hands of sinners, they will suffer in the next life while we will be comforted.
The enemies of God and the gospel will be repaid with eternal destruction; denied the presence of God.
In the beginning, Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden. They were eternal beings living in God's presence. The serpent, who personified Satan, lied to Eve, tempted her, and said, “You surely will not die!" [Genesis 3:4 NASB] She believed the lie, and ate of the fruit. She then repeated the lie to Adam, who also ate of the fruit.
Of course, Adam and Eve died. Not instantly, but slowly, they grew old and died. But their worst punishment wasn't the death of their bodies, nor the thorns and thistles that grew out of the earth, nor the labor with which they worked the ground. The worst punishment was that they were driven from the presence of God.
Therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life. [Genesis 3:23-24 NASB]
Being driven from the garden was synonymous with being driven from the presence of God. Mankind has never again had that kind of personal presence and interaction with God.
Our hope and promise as believers is that the relationship between mankind and God will be restored. In the spiritual sense, it has been restored by the death of Jesus on the Cross. In the physical sense, we are still waiting for our resurrection bodies, which will be without the stain of sin. In that day, we will stand before our God, in all of His glory, and we will glorify Him.
We can take comfort in knowing that justice will be done to those who persecute the church, and to those who deny God.
It may appear, in this world, that evil often prevails. Bad guys get talented lawyers and, although they are guilty, they walk away without punishment. The soul of a righteous man is disheartened to see injustice in the world. That's the way it has to be for now. Satan is called, "the god of this world" [2 Corinthians 4:4] and he blinds the world to the ways of God and righteousness.
In time, God will punish evil. He has said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." [Romans 12:19] Take courage in knowing that justice will prevail.
Father, I thank You that I will be spared Your wrath; not because of my righteousness, but because of Your grace. I pray that You will bring every soul who is chosen into Your kingdom, so that they, too, will be spared.
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