The Lord is Coming…

One of the most important verses of Scripture concerning the coming of the Lord is II Thessalonians 1:10. 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. He is coming in His saints. Do you understand? He is coming forth in His saints! His life and presence is coming forth in them. This is the parousia, and it has already begun!

Now because verse 10 begins with the word “when,” the things coming before it are taking place “when He is coming to be glorified in His saints.” So let’s look back a few verses and see what the Lord is doing as He comes forth in His saints.

II Thessalonians 1:3-4 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
4 So that we are ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure...

This Thessalonian church looks very good. Their faith is growing exceedingly and their love for one another abounds.

II Thessalonians 1:5 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...

He didn’t say they were in the Kingdom at that time, but that they may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God.

II Thessalonians 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you...

This is one of the things the Lord will do when He comes to be glorified in His saints. He will minister tribulation upon those who have troubled His people.

II Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels...

Remember, this is not referring to a bodily return of the Lord, but a revealing of Himself in His saints. Revelation 1:7 speaks of the coming of the Lord Jesus when every eye will see Him. Some have said, “That can happen now that we have television. Everybody all over the world can see Him on TV.” That isn’t what the Scripture is talking about. He is coming forth in His saints to be glorified and admired. He will be revealed in them, and those who have eyes to see will be able to see Him. The Lord will be ministering through His saints, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people (II Corinthians 6:16).

The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. The word “heaven” here is not referring to a place in the sky. It is the word used for the realm of spirit. The literal translation of the Greek reads: the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with angels of power of Him. The Greek word translated “angels” is aggelos, which more literally means “messengers.” The “messengers of power that are of Him” are the saints that He is glorified in.

II Thessalonians 1:8a In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God…

When His presence begins coming forth in you, then you will understand what “in flaming fire” means. Our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). When He begins coming forth in you He will start consuming everything in you that doesn’t know God and doesn’t want to know Him. It is the fire of His presence.

II Thessalonians 1:8b …and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ...

This is not merely speaking of sinners out in the world. This is referring to the kings of your earthen nature, all the various aspects of your self-life that you have held in royalty. All that you are must learn to obey the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

II Thessalonians 1:9-10 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.

Since all these happen when He comes forth in His saints, we understand that He does them first in them and then through them. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? I Peter 4:17. The Lord ministering His judgments through His saints is to their honor. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all His saints. Psalm 149:5-9.

II Thessalonians 1:11a Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling…

Does that tell you something? Paul had just commended the Thessalonian church very highly – your faith groweth exceedingly and the love of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth (verse 3). Now he is praying for them that they might be counted worthy of this calling. Every Christian may not experience this coming of the Lord in His saints. Some may not be worthy.

II Thessalonians 1:11b-12 …and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

May this Word live in our hearts and make us aware of this calling. John 1:11 says that “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” Don’t merely see that historically when many did not receive Jesus the Nazarene. Listen, He is coming forth today in a people and many of His people are not receiving Him. The Lord is coming…

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