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.