Paul spends a third of this epistle not on prophecy but on people. The reason: there is nothing harder or more important than people. All of us need biblical guidance on dealing with the community that surrounds us. In this section Paul gives us our marching orders as saints.
After discussing two difficult subjects of hell and the Antichrist, Paul offers a practical guide to staying strong in the face of intense persecution.
2 Thessalonians charges out of the gate by discussing two of the scariest subjects in Scripture: hell and the antichrist. Both of these frightening subjects carry a message of hope for the church experiencing a sampling of hell and antichrist-like figures.
In a book about hope, why would the first subject be God’s judgment in sending people to hell? In this text we learn about evidence of God’s righteous judgments that will bring hope to every believer.
The thriving model church at Thessalonica has lost hope and the Apostle Paul pens his second letter to both theologically and practically reignite the hope they had in King Jesus.