Perseverance In Turbulent Times

Perseverance In Turbulent Times
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
March 8, 2026

Tonight, we will be looking at the 2nd letter that Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church. In the first letter, he addressed some questions that they had concerning the end times and the rapture of the church.

It seems that between the 1st and the 2nd letter, there was possibly another letter doing the rounds which was a forgery claiming to be a letter from Paul which really upset the church. We see a reference to this in the letter.

2 Thessalonians 2:2, … that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

Why were they so disturbed?  At this time, they were experiencing tribulation and persecution. In fact, they were starting to not only get persecution from the Jewish leaders, but also from the Roman empire.

They were the first gentiles who were persecuted because they would not bow before the statue of Caesar. At that time, also, wine was offered to Venus and Caeser, and then sprinkled on the produce at the markets so that those who would buy from the market would by default be honoring and worshipping Venus, and Caesar.     

Because of this, many Christians refused to buy at the markets and were then marked as Christians and perceived as people opposing Caesar which led to persecution. This is also where the first crucifixions and burning of Christians began. They were going through crushing distresses, persecution and affliction.

Most of us don’t have any frame of reference to what that might be like. To many, the most disturbing experiences are when the water heater breaks, or the Wi-Fi is down, or you can’t find the TV remote.

We are fortunate as the church in the west to be insulted against much of the physical persecution type of suffering in this world. Yet, it does not necessarily safeguard us against trouble forever.

These are urgent times. Paul reminded them in the first letter that Christ will return when it is least expected. To many, it has become like a fairy tale, but Paul gives a description of the end-times that I believe we see is starting to play out in the times we live in.

We should have a sense of urgency about these things because the world is changing, it’s getting more dangerous, and the signs of the end of the age are being revealed before our eyes.

How do we deal with this? Is there hope? Paul gives great encouragement in this chapter, pointing to blessed hopeful future. We can have heart-peace grounded in the grace of God in the midst of trouble.

I. Hard Times Brings Growth

• It is interesting to note that persecution never hurt the church. In fact, the church grows in times persecution.

Illus – In Acts we see that the church was persecuted. But instead of suppressing and killing the church, the scattered all over and the gospel spread. On the contrary, when the church became socially acceptable and ingrained in the church/state world system, it lost its power, and were even abused by those in power to control the masses in the middle and dark ages. The true church, however, who would not bow to the worldly religious power, was still persecuted through this time.

A. Persecution brings growth

• Persecution and trials separate the wheat from the chaff. The true colors shine through.
• In hard times is when true believers take their stand and grow. God even sometimes allows it in our lives in one way or another so that we will grow and our faith-foundation can be strengthened.

James 1:2-4, Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

• We have a famous saying in this church, faith that cannot be tested, cannot be trusted. Troubled times reveal what you place your faith in, as well as what areas of your life might be built on sand instead of the Rock.
• When you persevere, it becomes a testimony of your faith. Paul was speaking proudly of them to the other churches, setting them as an example.

Illus – It does a parents heart proud when you see your children navigate hard times well. Even though we want to spare them any hurt pain, adversity, hardship, we know that true personal and character growth only comes through testing and endurance. And it is good for them to conquer milestones. From the first step, and every milestone after that. It is sad when there are no goals, no pressing forward, no trying, failing, or succeeding.

B. Hard times can make your love grow

• Hard times reveal the heart. The selfish heart with a worldly attitude becomes more selfish.
• But a heart that has been changed by God can see love grow through hard times.
• Through history we have seen persecution brings the church together; supporting one another, even impacting the world with love.

Illus – It is incredible to see when there are natural disasters, or humanitarian disasters, that it is the church bringing relief and serving society.

Illus – I remember when I grew up in a town where many people lost their jobs because of recession…

• When things are going well, people are tempted to major on the minors. Hard times have a way to drown out the noise of less important things.

Illus- You can fight over hot water, until you don’t have any hot water. Or you can fight over who is hogging the Wi-Fi, until there is no electricity, or internet, to fight over.

It was incredible, for example to see how people came together to help others and were even drawn to faith after 9/11.

• In hard times, people start supporting one another, the small differences just don’t matter anymore.

II. There will be a Day of Judgment

• Paul then reminds them that, although they are going through hardship now, there will be a day of reckoning for those who are oppressing them. They are not in the great tribulation, the pouring out of God’s wrath yet, but that day will come. And that is when God will deal with the unrepentant, and those who have persecuted His church.
• Vengeance is not ours, but there will be day of bringing to account.

A. God’s judgement will be just

• The fact that persecution and tribulation happened throughout history and is still happening, proves the fact that God’s ultimate judgement for wickedness will be just.; when we see all the horrifying things happening on this earth.
• There must be punishment for horrible acts people engage in.
• Therefore, there is a time of wrath coming which is described in the book of Revelation, when God will pour out judgement on those who are unrighteous.
• Concerning judgment, many say God is unjust. How can a loving God punish so severely?
• God is loving, but God is just. It is interesting that while the vials of God’s wrath are poured out in Revelation, there are voices from the throne declaring, “Holy and righteous are Your judgements, Oh Lord.”
• Every judgment, penalty for sin, and punishment will be justified and necessary. For God to be holy, pure and righteous, He must punish sin, otherwise He is just as guilty of breaking the rules. Then He is unjust.
• When we get to Revelation, we will see that there will be terrifying judgements poured out. Just in the first four seals that are opened, the judgements will bring death to a quarter of the world population through wars and famine. And there will be much more. Pestilence, hail, sickness, darkness, boils, and many other terrible events.
• We might say, but God, it is not fair to destroy so many people! But the fairness of God’s judgement will be revealed when the character of those being destroyed are revealed.
• Verse 8 – Retribution will be severe. And retribution will be dealt out to those who choose against God and those who do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is very important. The gospel, the good news is available to everyone, but everyone has a choice.
• Verse 9 – They will pay the penalty with eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.
• We see destruction from a finite perspective; as something that has a beginning and an end. A building is standing, and then it is destroyed. It is a onetime event.
• This destruction and ruin, however, is eternal. Our minds cannot comprehend what that means. Eternal suffering will not start and then stay in flux for eternity, although this will also be horrible, it is described as active, continual destruction.
• And the horrible part of it is that the soul never dies. This body can die, but eternal punishment is a mind warping thought.
• It is so disturbing when people glibly say, see you in hell!!

Matthew 22:13, Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 

• Verse 9 – Removed from the glory of God. God is life. We are alive because of the word that continually sustains us. Even those who are unjust is still now in their rebellious state sustained by God who gives life and is the source of life.

Matthew 5:45, for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 

Hebrews 1:3, And He … upholds all things by the word of His power.

• There will be a time, when the fullness of time has come, when God will turn Himself away from those who are lost. Not because He wants to, but because justice demands it.
• But it is not God’s heart that any should perish.

2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Ezekiel 33:11, Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways!

• Paul is not mincing words. He is giving it straight. These are serious things, and God doesn’t want anyone to be lost, but that all would come to faith in Jesus.

B. He made a way to escape

• How can a loving God allow this to happen? That is the crux of the matter. If He wasn’t loving, He would have left us in that state without hope. If he wasn’t loving, he could have sent us to damnation long ago.
• In fact, He could have ended it with Adam and Eve with the first sin. But because He is loving, he made a way back to Him for us.
• It started with the first blood that flowed for the sin of Adam and Eve when God made them their clothes of skin, which was a picture of another sacrifice that would one day be made.
• It was shown in the death of every bull and goat pointing to that one sacrifice. And then it culminated in that ultimate sacrifice when God gave Himself through His Son, Jesus, to pay the ultimate debt He did not owe to set us free and forgive our sin.
• Thank God that He made a way for us to be forgiven, washed clean from our sin, the wrath of a just God spent on Jesus, us being justified before Him. This is only possible through the sacrifice and atonement of Jesus Christ.
• With that in mind, the sacrifice God made, you can understand that the question one day before the throne will not be what the balance of your good and evil deeds are, but it will be, what did you do concerning the sacrifice of my Son? Did you accept it joyfully and thankfully, or did you shun and curse it, trampling it under foot?

Hebrews 10:29,  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

• It is the greatest insult to God.

C. Be worthy of the kingdom

• Verse 5 – Going through persecution in faith is a sign of one that has made a choice. When put before the choice to renounce God and live, or stand in faith and die, there is a clear-cut division of those who are worthy of the kingdom.
• All throughout history martyrs have been put before that choice. Even in our day and age, people are put before that choice.
• We are privileged to not at this stage go through such intense physical persecution, although we are not promised anywhere that we would be kept from it. In fact, Jesus alluded to the opposite.

John 15:20, Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.

• But there is a danger of not discerning the persecution that we are facing, because we are going through a type of persecution,
• There is already a spiritual persecution in this world and the danger is that we can be pulled into allegiance with the world without perceiving it, like the frog slowly being boiled in ever increasing warm water.

III. There Will be Eternal Relief

• When Jesus is revealed with His angels with flaming fire, the enemy will be defeated once and for all. Death will be defeated once and for all. Every tear will be wiped away. There will be no more misery and no more pain when the enemy of mankind is bound up.

A. He will be glorified in us

• Verse 10 – What a glorious day that will be when He comes. When Christ is revealed and us with Him. He is going to be glorified IN His saints. It is more than just an outward glory. This speaks of an inner glory shining forth from your innermost being.
• We have the glory in part now in our inner man.

2 Corinthians 1:22, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

• One day the fullness of the glory will be revealed, when we are changed in the twinkling of an eye.

Illus – A picture of this is the filament inside a light globe. When the electricity (power) runs through it, it shines. It doesn’t shine on its own, it is the electrical current that runs through it that lights it up to brilliance.

• When the fullness of God’s glory will be revealed and unleashed in and through us, we will shine for His glory forever.

Illus – There will be no sun, and no shadows. ( 1 John 1:15, James 1:170 Have you ever wondered how that is possible?…

B. Lean on Him while we wait

• Paul ends, with this mind with a prayer for them.

Verse 11 – With this in view we constantly pray for you, that our God may deem and count you worthy of [your] calling and [His] every gracious purpose of goodness (AMP)

• Jesus told His disciples when talking about the end times.

Luke 21:36, “Pray always that you will be accounted worthy to escape all these things and to be standing before the Son of man”.

• This can be seen from the wrong perspective if not read in full context.
• We know we are not made worthy by our own works, we are declared righteous because of our believing in the gospel.
• The wrath of God is not poured out on the saints, but it is poured out on those who OPPOSED the saints. Paul reminded them of this in the first letter.

1 Thessalonians 5:9, For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Verse 11b – ….and with power may complete in [your] every particular work of faith (faith which is that leaning of the whole human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness).(AMP)

• As we are watching and waiting, we lean on, hold on in faith. Faith, which is that leaning with everything on Him.
• Our faith is not in our faith. Our faith is in His power, wisdom and goodness. We lean with all we are, even our human personalities, on Him.
• When Christ returns, it will reveal the rebellious hearts of those who rejected Him destined for eternal destruction, but for those who believe in Him, He will be glorified in us.

Verse 12  – so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him,

• So, he reminds them of this hope. Live a life wherein Jesus is glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of, holding on to, leaning on the grace our Lord Jesus Christ.