in flaming fire

"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ"  (2 Thessalonians 1:7)

The Scripture quoted above holds out the absolutely severest warning to two classes of people: 1) those who do not know God; and, 2) those who pretend they know God, but they do not obey His Word.  The Bible furthermore declares that God's wrath is going to be poured out in the greatest measure upon those who are among the latter of those two "classes" of people just mentioned.  God's anger is most vehemently kindled against those who "profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16; Luke 12:47).

Do not be deceived: MULTITUDES of such people as just described are church-goers--many of whom are even church leaders!  Satisfied with the status quo, and going through the motions of practicing their religion; content with a "gospel" they can "live" with (it does not call them to be "crucified with Christ" and to be "dead unto sin"); they "will not endure sound doctrine" (the truth of Scripture), but they love to hear whatever makes them feel good about themselves: Apostates! Reprobates!  That is not my own judgment, nor are those my own denunciations, but it is God's judgment and His denunciations.

Those (and there are many) who say that no one should "cram the Gospel down people's throats"; what do they mean, really?  They mean it is not polite to press anyone to listen to what they are not pleased to hear.  Yet, Scripture teaches us that preaching of the Gospel is offensive! (Galatians 5:11; Hebrews 13:13; et al).  Christians are commanded, furthermore, to: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2).

 There is, however, a true--that is, a Biblical--saying, (which I will paraphrase, thus): 'Do not hold forth the precious Gospel to be trampled upon by PIG-ish people'.  You'll never guess who made such a crass ("lacking sensitivity or refinement") statement as that.  Here is the actual quote (which some will recognize):

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine" (Matthew 7:6).  

Do you recognize those as the words - - of Jesus?  What is he talking about?  What is "that which is holy", and what are "your pearls"; if it is not the most precious of all possessions, that is, the truth, the Word of God?  But who are the "dogs" and the "swine" he refers to?  They are beastly people.  Yes, people.  Jesus--the "gentle Savior"--refers to people who despise the Gospel, as "dogs" and "swine".  But do not be deceived: many such people may, in fact, look like your Grandmother, or your Sister, or your co-worker, or, perhaps, your preacher; despisers of the Gospel don't often appear as though they just escaped from a mental institution.

Jesus himself intimated that Christians ought not to subject the precious Word of Life to be trampled upon by those who hate Christ and the Gospel.  But that is very, very far from suggesting that those who share the Gospel should expect never to encounter any resistance.  On the contrary!  As Adrian Rogers (I have been told) used to say, "A Gospel that does not offend, is powerless to affect".

Christ--together with all the holy angels--is coming to the earth, in flaming fire taking vengeance!  When?  VERY, VERY SOON.  Why?  To "put down all rule and all authority and power" (1 Corinthians 15:24); in other words, to "put down" all rebellion.  He's not then going to patiently wait for anyone--including your Aunt Loraine--to "decide" whether or not to humble themselves and to acknowledge and obey the authority of Jesus Christ.  He's going to "put down" all rebellion.

Yet, many so-called Christians are afraid of offending someone's feelings, by telling them about the judgment of God against sin, and about the wrath to come.  Who are they kidding?  The truth is, they're only concerned about ONE person's feelings, that is, their own!  They don't want to run the risk --which, of course, is very real -- of being disliked or even hated or, God forbid, persecuted for Christ's sake.  They're ASHAMED to be identified with Christ, because, they know that Christ is the most hated person in the world; and they don't want anyone--besides their own "Christian" friends--to know they (supposedly) are "one of them".  They are not too unlike Peter: who was willing to be seen as being one of Jesus's closest companions--when miracles were occurring; but, when it appeared that his association with Jesus was about to bring him trouble (instead of admiration), he cursed and denied that he even knew Jesus.

"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand" (Joel 2:1).  

When shall it ever be the time to "blow the trumpet" and "sound an alarm" -- if not NOW?  And WHERE did God say that trumpet-blast and that alarm must be sounded?  "In ZION", "in my HOLY mountain".  IN THE CHURCH! TO THE CHURCH!  Why, then, do we FEAR to do just that -- in the churches?  We excuse our own selves, by pointing a finger at the lack of conviction and courage in others.  But what about me? what about you?  If we are walking in uprightly in the truth (as we say we want to be), then we must boldly proclaim the most important message of this present hour: which is, "Jesus is coming--in flaming fire taking vengeance!"  Those who believe that Christian witnessing should not be a part of any "polite conversation": you're absolutely right; for, THAT kind of "conversation" is anti-Christ.

When Jesus began his public ministry, he stood in the synagogue and read from the scroll of Isaiah, these words:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD..."  (Isaiah 61:1)

But Jesus stopped reading in that passage of Scripture, mid-stream.  For, it was not yet the time for him to fulfill what next is written, as follows:

"...and [to proclaim] the day of vengeance of our God" (Isaiah 61:2)  

That very same Jesus has been "anointed" by the "Spirit of the Lord God", not only to "proclaim" the day of vengeance of God, but in fact to carry out the same.

I want to conclude this brief message, by quoting an extended passage of Scripture, from which the quotation, at the beginning of this post, was excerpted, as follows:

"We [Apostles] ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.  

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him...." (2 Thessalonians 1:4-12a)

Question: what is the "calling" which is above mentioned?

Answer: To suffer "persecutions and tribulations", for Christ's name sake.

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matthew 5:11-2). 

"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6:26).

To be a faithful witness of and for Jesus Christ, is not a game.  It will not make you popular--among unbelievers and pseudo-Christians.  But if you sincerely hope one day to hear these words from Christ's own lips: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant," then, I exhort you to be "valiant for the truth"; and do not let anyone persuade you otherwise.