Yup, JEW FIRST, then Gentile

After apostle Paul’s first letter to Thessalonica, we are left with hope and comfort of the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ - FOR US - so we will be with Him forever. Our loved ones ‘asleep in Jesus’ won’t miss the Rapture (harpazo) and we have not been ‘appointed to wrath’...  

Okay but what about that ‘Day of the Lord’? How much of it will we see? 

Before we go any further, here’s how Paul described himself... 

• “a Jew...brought up at the feet of Gamaliel” - a doctor of the law held in honour by all the people
• “taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers”
• “a Pharisee, son of a Pharisee” “...after the strictest sect of our religion”
• “an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin”
• “Are they Hebrews? So am I.   Are they Israelites? So am I...”

Even though now a Christian and the Lord’s ‘chosen vessel’ for the spread of the gospel, taking the good news to Europe for the very first time, this guy still clearly identifies as an Israelite and knows his Bible better than any of us! 

He has recently visited Thessalonica, beginning at the Jewish synagogue, and experienced persecution from fellow Jews first hand.   Yes, he makes it abundantly clear that the Jew always comes.... FIRST!                           

Whether for salvation... or tribulation for doing evil... or glory, honour and peace for doing good - it is always Jew first, then Gentile. In fact he clearly distinguishes between Jews, Gentiles & the Church of God.

Now Paul and his team have written another letter soon after the first!                                                            

Obviously the faith of these Thessalonians is ‘growing exceedingly’ (1:3) so that they are really copping heavy persecution (1:4), although a few are being lazy busy-bodies (3:11-15).

Paul sounds somewhat exasperated though:              

“Don’t you remember that when I was with you I told you these things?”  (2:5)                                                                                                                               

Where did we find the Day of the Lord?                       

In Old Testament Jewish prophecy – WHERE WE DO NOT FIND THE CHURCH!    

Keep all this in mind as we open this 2^nd letter further....NEXT