JUDGMENT

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:8 NKJV).

Judgment is the theme of this verse. It is the judgment which shall come when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth. This verse speaks of the crowd and character of judgment.

Crowd for judgment – “Those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Two things are said about the crowd for judgment. These two things concern their dumbness and their disobedience. First, dumbness. This crowd is condemned to judgment because they “do not know God.” We can be ignorant of many things and get away with it, but we cannot be ignorant of God without serious adverse consequences. If we do not know God rightly, we will not respect Him properly. This means not worshipping as we ought. Ignorance of God makes our society hostile towards God. Second, disobedience. Judgment also comes to this crowd because they “do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This means they reject the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ will bring certain judgment.

Character of judgment - “In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God.” This judgment is both fiery and fair. First, fiery. “Flaming fire.” This is strong language and speaks of the fire of hell. It speaks of very severe judgment and tells us that sin is no joke. Folks may joke about sin now, but once they are thrown to the flames in judgment, sin will no longer be a joke. Do not think lightly of sin. It curses society and brings great fiery judgment. Second, fair. The word translated “vengeance” carries the idea of execution of justice and right in its meaning. This tells us that the flaming fire judgment from the Lord Jesus Christ, although severe, is still fair. Those who experience this judgment deserve it. Those who experience this judgment cannot complain that it is too severe, for they are getting only what is their due. God judges righteously.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“God’s justice indeed must be satisfied; and there is no way in the world to give satisfaction to God, but by believing in Christ!”

Ralph Erskine (1685 - 1752)

Scottish Pastor and Poet

Word Study

Flaming

In Eph. 6:16 we read, “In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (NASB).

“Flaming” is the Greek word puróō (πυρόω = poo-ro'-o), and it means to be ignited or set on fire, to be kindled, to burn. The word is in the perfect tense and describe the “arrows” as been set on fire and still burning. Metaphorically, puróō can be used of the emotions, i.e., one’s heart can become “excited” or “inflamed.” In classical Greek, puróō means to set on fire, burned, or ignited. In the Septuagint, puróō refers to the process of smelting or refining by fire. In the New Testament puróō means to be set on fire or burn up. In a graphic picture of the nature of spiritual warfare, the apostle Paul described the attacks of Satan as “flaming arrows,” a common weapon of ancient warriors. The figurative use is both picturesque and powerful. Satan and his minions literally bombard the believer with the “flaming arrows” of seductive temptation to produce ungodly, evil responses. The defense of believers at this point is “the shield of faith.”

Did You Know…

When the apostle Paul referred to the “the traditions of my fathers,” in the Book of Galatians, he was referring to the religious customs, teachings, and practices handed down through generations within the Jewish faith (Gal. 1:14; cf. Mark 7:9).

Bible Quiz

In Nathan’s story to David what was it that was taken from the poor man by the rich man?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

According to the Book of Hebrews, what is the Law is a shadow of? “The good things to come” (Heb. 10:1).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

False witnesses rose up against Him (Psalm 35:11; cf. Matt. 26:59)

"Fierce witnesses rise up; they ask me things that I do not know” (Psalm 35:11 NJKV).

According to David, these witnesses are described as “fierce,” meaning that they were not merely stating accusations against him, but were maliciously attacking him with false accusations. He goes on to say that they “rise up” meaning that they were officially summoned to rise up and testify in court, or were popping up everywhere and maliciously slandering him from all sides. This was the same kind of wicked tactics employed by the religious leader against the Lord Jesus. The religious leaders were not meeting to see if the Lord Jesus was guilty. They had already determined that He was guilty and that He had to die. In their opinion, He was a threat to both their nation and their personal security and position. They feared the loss of both, so they were set on killing Him. And since no honest witnesses could be found, the leaders arranged for false witnesses to testify against the Lord Jesus. These religious leaders twisted God’s Word to accomplish their selfish purposes (cf. Deut. 17:6; 19:15). Yet, no one was ever able to point an accusing finger at the Lord Jesus for any kind of sin (cf. Heb. 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).

Did You Know – Christian History

First Spanish Auto da Fe - February 06, 1481

An Auto-da-Fe, or act of faith was a ritualized or public punishment carried out between the 15^th and 19^th Centuries in condemnation of heretics, apostates, and minorities such as Jews and Muslims. It was imposed by the Spanish, Portuguese, or Mexican Inquisition as punishment and enforced by civil authorities.

Spain’s name is forever linked with the Inquisition. But the inquisition did not begin there. Pope Innocent III and Pope Gregory IX established the dreaded institution in the 13^th Century to combat heretical groups. What made the inquisition so terrible was the severity of both the questioning and the punishment and the lack of rights granted to the accused. Those who informed on them could do so secretly. A victim was not permitted to challenge the witnesses against him or her.

When Isabella and Ferdinand united Spain in 1479, they were paranoid with fear of revolt. This made them easily influenced by the queen’s minister, Tomas de Torquemada. Of Jewish origin himself, he told her that Christianized Jews were secretly practicing their Hebrew faith and corrupting good Christians. Isabella was horrified and frightened. She asked the pope for permission to establish the inquisition in Spain. This was granted, and the first Spanish auto-da-fe was held on February 6, 1481, when six men and six women, who refused to repent of alleged backsliding, were burned at the stake. 13,000 “heretics” were tried in the first twelve years of the Spanish Inquisition. Hundreds perished at the stake. Dressed in a penitent’s gown, they were marched in processionals to the stake and urged to repent even as they were bound for the ordeal. Those who confessed were strangled before the fire was lit. Those who refused to admit wrongdoing, were burned alive. As hard as it is to believe, the Spanish Inquisition ran for 327 years. It was not abolished until 1808, during the brief reign of Joseph Bonaparte. In those three Centuries, close to 32,000 people perished in the flames. About 300,000 others were forced to make some kind of reconciliation with the church. Even the 1808 “end” to the Spanish Inquisition wasn’t really the end. Incredible as it may seem, King Ferdinand VII reestablished the dreadful apparatus in 1814! But six years later, revolution swept it away. However, this was by no means assured; some defenders of the Roman Church were still excusing and justifying the practice in the 20^th Century although it is impossible to see the Lord Jesus winning followers by such means. He wants followers who are willing to follow Him, not coerced.

A Little Humor

An elderly woman walked up to the new pastor and said, “That was a good sermon, young man. You speak with fire!” He replied, “Thank you, ma’am.” She added, “Now next time, just warm us up a little less - we’re still thawing.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“The key to heaven was hanging on a cross!”