WAS THE APOSTLE PAUL A FALSE PROPHET in penning 2 Thessalonians 1?
by Tuese Ahkiong
2 Thessalonians 1 English Standard Version (ESV)
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
TO THE CHURCH OF THE THESSALONIANS in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace TO YOU and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 WE (Paul, Silvanus, Timothy) ought always to give thanks to God FOR YOU (church of Thessalonia), brothers, as is right, because YOUR FAITH is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of YOU for one another is increasing.4 Therefore WE OURSELVES boast about YOU in the churches of God for YOUR STEADFASTNESS and faith in all YOUR PERSECUTIONS AND IN THE AFFLICTIONS THAT YOU ARE ENDURING.
5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that YOU may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which YOU are also suffering— 6 SINCE INDEED GOD CONSIDERS IT JUST TO REPAY WITH AFFLICTION THOSE WHO AFFLICT YOU, 7 and to GRANT RELIEF TO YOU who ARE AFFLICTED as well as TO US, WHEN THE LORD JESUS IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS 8 IN FLAMING FIRE, INFLICTING VENGEANCE ON THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD AND ON THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS. 9 THEY (the afflicters of the Thessalonians, The Jews) will suffer the punishment of ETERNAL DESTRUCTION, AWAY FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD and from the glory of his might, 10 WHEN HE COMES ON THAT DAY TO BE GLORIFIED IN HIS SAINTS, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
***WERE THE THESSALONNIANS AFFLICTED? See v4
DID PAUL NOT WRITE TO THEM THAT GOD WOULD GIVE THEM RELIEF WHEN JESUS WOULD BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN…? Yes, see v 6-7
IS PAUL A FALSE PROPHET? NO.
DID YESHUA AFFLICT THE THESSALONNIAN PERSECUTORS AND GIVE THE THESSALONIAN SAINTS RELIEF JUST LIKE PAUL SAID? YES.
IS PAUL EMPLOYING APOCALYPTIC LANGUAGE JUST LIKE YESHUA TO DESCRIBE THE DESTRUCTION OF THE JEWS AFFLICTING THE SAINTS? YES.
WHAT PEOPLE HAD ACCESS TO THE PRESENCE OF YHWH? THE JEWS
CAN A PEOPLE WHO DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE PRESENCE OF YHWH, BE CAST AWAY FROM HIS PRESENCE? NO.
WERE THE JEWS CAST OUT FROM THE PRESENCE OF YHWH JUST LIKE YESHUA (Luke 13:28) SAID AND PAUL HERE CONFIRMS (1Thess 2:14)? YES.
DID NOT YESHUA PROPHESY THAT HE WOULD RETURN IN THAT GENERATION (Matthew 24:34), WHILE SOME OF HIS DISCIPLES WERE STILL ALIVE (Matthew 16:27-28) AND PAUL HERE CONFIRMS THIS? YES. see v7-10
WHAT IS MEANT BY ETERNAL DESTRUCTION? APOCALYPTIC DESCRIPTION OF A COMPLETE NATIONAL JUDGMENT UPON THE COVENANT BREAKING JEWISH ENEMIES OF YESHUA AND HIS SAINTS. See Matthew 23:29-36