The Penality of the Unbeliever

The Penalty of the Unbeliever

 

 

God is just:  He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.  This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels.  He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might on the day He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed…--------2Thessalonians 1: 6-10

 

 

Many Christians are persecuted in one form or another, by the hands of unbelievers.  Here in these verses, the Apostle Paul gives us insight into the retribution for the unbelievers’ persecution on the believers. 

 

He begins with the statement that ‘God is just:’ and that He will pay back trouble to those who trouble the believer and give relief to the believer who is troubled.  This will take place at the SECOND coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, not the RAPTURE.  It will be when Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth.  What a sight that will be when He returns in ‘blazing fire with His POWERFUL ANGELS. 

 

Then punishment will be meted out to those who have rejected God’s MERCY and GRACE, and have been DISOBEDIENT to the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  Paul says that they WILL be punished with ‘EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION and SHUT OUT from the presence of the Lord.’  They will NOT be given another opportunity at this time.  They will be ‘SHUT OUT’ from God’s presence.   There is a scripture that says that ‘God will not ALWAYS strive with mankind.’  Which means there is a deadline when an unbeliever crosses that deadline they will NOT have another opportunity for SALVATION, because God will remove His Spirit and they will receive their just punishment.  This punishment will not be temporary nor will it be annihilation, but it will last throughout ETERNITY. 

 

This time will be a day of judgment for the unbeliever and a day of glory for the believer, who will glorify their Lord, through their transformed lives.  ALL believers, those who will return with Him, those who will be on earth and those who have been resurrected will marvel at His majesty and His power that transformed their lives from sinner to saint.

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, and have been rejecting His gift of MERCY and GRACE, you fall into the class of UNBELIEVERS and if you continue to reject Him, you may cross that deadline, then you will be facing His judgment of ETERNAL DESTRUCTION throughout ETERNITY.  But you have at least one more opportunity to change your course, NOW!  By:  CONFESSING your sins to God and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and escape the judgement of ETERNAL DESTRUCTION.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting!!!