2 Thessalonians 1:7

rest with us St Paul's was a life full of harassment and fatigue, and the hope of restwas sweet to him (note the outburst of Galatians 6:17). Men of an easy untroubled life miss the delight of the thought of Heaven.

But in his visions of future joy his children in Christ always shared. Comp. 2 Corinthians 4:14, "God will raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you;" again in 2 Timothy 4:8, "the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge (comp. 2 Thessalonians 1:5 above), shall give me at that day and not to me only, but also to all who love His appearing."

when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven Lit., in the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven. His advent is His people's deliverance; it guarantees, and virtually contains in itself the relief for which they sigh.

Note, once again, the prevalence of the title Lord Jesusin these letters the designation of the returning, triumphant Saviour. Compare notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:19.

Here and in 1 Corinthians 1:7 (so in 1Pe 1:7; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 4:13) Christ's second coming is called His revelation; for it will exhibit Him in aspects of majesty unknown and inconceivable before. In like manner there will be a "revelation of the sons of God," and "of the righteous judgement of God" upon the wicked (Romans 8:19; Romans 2:5); those events, along with this, certified beforehand, but in their form and nature beyond our present conception. The "coming" of Antichrist is also foretold as a "revelation" (ch. 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2Th 2:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:8, see notes). So this revelation comes

from heaven comp. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (see note); 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Philippians 3:20, "from whence we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ;" and the very definite promise of Acts 1:11. It will be the unveiling of Christ in His glory (descending) from heaven; whereas His previous coming was in the form of a lowly man on earth.

with his mighty angels Lit., with angels of His power: i.e. "attended by angels as signs and instruments of His power." Comp. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (and note) for the office of the angels in Christ's advent; and for their relation to Divine Power, Psalms 103:20, "Ye angels, mighty in strength, that fulfil His word." Their presence suits the majesty in which He comes as the Judge of mankind, "in his Father's glory, with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38); and they are, perhaps, the agents of those changes in material nature by which it will be accompanied. Comp. Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 68:17, for older theophanies.

New and severe features are added to the picture of the Advent in the next verse: