2 Thessalonians 1:8-10

Punishment

The apostle said Jesus would come in flaming fire and take "vengeance," which is from the same root as "righteous" in verses 5 and 6. The punishment for wrongs committed against God and man in the final judgment will be just, or righteous, because it will be based on the deeds wrought on earth (Galatians 6:7-8; Romans 12:19-21; Hebrews 10:28-31). Such punishment will belong to two groups. First, those who do not recognize God as the one true and living God of all (Romans 1:18-32; Ephesians 4:17-19). This group may include those who intellectually know God is but do not acknowledge it in their deeds (James 2:19). It certainly would include Jews who would not yield to the Father's will (John 8:54-55). Second, those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord. This group would, of course, include those who have not repented of their sins, confessed Jesus as God's Son and put him on in baptism (Luke 13:1-5; Acts 17:30; Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:9-10; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Also in this group would be those who do not keep on obeying the gospel (2 Peter 1:4-11; Hebrews 3:8-13). The rewards for the righteous and the wicked will last forever (Matthew 25:46).

Thomas says, "The original term for 'destruction' ( olethros) literally means ruin or death; and since death always involves a separation, the implication is that the sinner will be forever separated from God, who is the source of all life." The two classes of people described in verse 8 will be vanished from the Lord's presence, power and glory for all of the ages to come, or eternity.

The banishment will come in the day of the Lord's second coming. Kelcy says the original "has 'whenever' with the aorist subjunctive, a construction indicating the certainty of the event and yet the uncertainty of the time of it." He will have two purposes at that time. First, Christ's glory will be seen in all of His set apart children. Second, all of those obedient believers will marvel, or be in awe, of the Lord at his coming. Remember, He will not come again as a man to be a perfect sacrifice for sins but as a king who has conquered His enemies (1 Corinthians 15:23-28; Revelation 1:12-18). Paul wrote all of this because his testimony was believed by the Thessalonian brethren who would be a part of those showing forth Christ's glory and awed in His presence (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10).