Paul called the Thessalonians to rejoice because their persecution was not the tribulation, and the same God who allowed their suffering supplied the strength, consolation, and peace to endure it.
The Thessalonian believers were under such intense persecution that they feared they had missed the rapture and were already in the tribulation (Clips 4–5). Paul wrote to reassure them that the day of the Lord had not come, and Les Feldick shows that this assurance—along with the consolation God provides to those who share Christ's sufferings—is the foundation for rejoicing under pressure (Clips 1, 5–6).
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 — Paul directly addresses the Thessalonians' persecution-induced fear that they had missed the rapture and entered the tribulation.
2 Corinthians 1:5-7 — Explains why persecution and rejoicing can coexist—the same Lord who permits suffering supplies consolation.
Scripture shows that persecution and joy can coexist for the believer. In 2 Corinthians 1:5-7 Paul writes that as the sufferings of Christ abound, our consolation also aboundeth by Christ, and those who are partakers of the sufferings are also partakers of the consolation. The same God who allows trials provides the comfort to endure them. In Philippians 4:6-7, believers are told to bring every request to God in prayer, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. And in 2 Corinthians 2:14, Paul gives thanks to God who always causeth us to triumph in Christ—even in the midst of distress. To the Thessalonians specifically, Paul wrote that they should not be soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, 'as that the day of Christ is at hand' (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2), because their gathering together unto Christ was still before them.
Les Feldick explains that the Thessalonian believers were under such severe persecution and pressure that they thought the Lord had already come and they had missed the rapture—they believed the tribulation was upon them (Clips 4, 5). Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians to correct this, showing them by 'our gathering together unto Him' that the rapture is a distinct event where Christ gathers His own to Himself (Clip 6). Les also teaches that persecution does not mean God has abandoned believers. The same Lord who permits testings and persecutions is the same Lord who provides the strength to go through them, and those who are partakers of the sufferings are also partakers of the consolation (Clip 1). Paul himself modeled this, being pressed down and distressed yet always triumphant in Christ (Clip 7), and through prayer believers can know the peace of God that passes understanding, keeping their hearts and minds in balance even in adverse circumstances (Clip 0).
Les Feldick explains that the Thessalonians' persecution was so severe that they concluded the Lord had come, the tribulation had come in, and they 'had it' (Clip 5). They were convinced that the rapture had taken place and they had missed it (Clip 4). Paul had to write 2 Thessalonians quickly to reassure them that this was not their situation (Clip 6).
Paul told them not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as that the day of Christ is at hand (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2). Les explains that the day of the Lord is the seven-year tribulation when God's judgment comes on the scene, and Paul set their minds at ease that this had not happened. He pointed them to 'the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together unto Him'—the rapture—as the event still before them (Clips 5, 6).
Les teaches that the same Lord who permits testings and persecutions is the same Lord who provides the strength to go through them, so believers who share in the sufferings also share in the consolation (Clip 1). In prayer, believers can leave everything in the throne room of heaven and receive the peace of God that passes understanding, keeping their hearts and minds in balance despite adverse circumstances (Clip 0). Paul himself modeled this triumphant life—pressed down and distressed, yet always triumphant in Christ (Clip 7).
Peace of God in Prayer
Les teaches that prayer brings the peace of God which passeth all understanding, keeping a believer's heart and mind in balance even through adverse circumstances—leaving every crisis in God's care.
Consolation for the Persecuted
Les teaches that the same Lord who permits persecution and testing is the same Lord who provides the strength to go through it, so partakers of the suffering are also partakers of the consolation.
Paul's Joyful Confidence Under Pressure
Les explains that early Christians were under pressure the moment they professed faith in Christ, yet Paul's confidence was that they could grow and become trophies of God's grace in spite of the pressure.
Persecution and Paul's Expectation
Les notes that Paul expected the Lord to come at any moment and had a foreview of the horrible persecution that was coming upon the Christians.
The Thessalonians' Fear of Missing the Rapture
Les explains that the Thessalonian believers, with all the persecution and pressure they were under, were afraid that the rapture had taken place and they had missed it.
The Reason for 2 Thessalonians
Les teaches that the Thessalonians thought the tribulation had already come because of their pressure-filled situation, and that this is the reason Paul wrote the comforting letter telling them not to be soon shaken or troubled.
Reassurance of the Gathering Together
Les shows that Paul's phrase 'by our gathering together unto Him' refers to the rapture—Christ gathering His own to Himself—and that this reassuring truth proved they had not missed it.
Triumphant in Distress
Les points out that Paul could be pressed down and distressed and yet always triumphant, and that these are tremendous lessons showing believers can both be down and rejoicing.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2: Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
This directly addresses the Thessalonians' fear that their persecution meant they had missed the rapture and entered the tribulation.
2 Corinthians 1:5: For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
Suffering and consolation both come from the same Lord, so believers can have comfort even in persecution.
2 Corinthians 1:7: And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
Those who share in Christ's sufferings are assured of sharing in His consolation.
2 Corinthians 2:14: Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Even when pressed down and distressed, God causes believers to triumph in Christ.
Philippians 4:6-7: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Through prayer, believers receive the peace of God that guards their hearts and minds even in adverse circumstances.
Because their persecution was so intense, they thought the tribulation had already come and the Lord had taken the believers and left them behind. Les Feldick explains that they thought 'the Lord had come, the tribulation had come in, and they'd had it' (Clip 5).
No. Les teaches that the Thessalonians made that mistake, and Paul wrote to correct them. Suffering has always been part of the believer's life—early Christians were under pressure the moment they professed faith—but the tribulation is a specific seven-year period of God's judgment (Clips 2, 5).
By remembering that the same God who permits the suffering also supplies the consolation and strength (Clip 1), by bringing everything to Him in prayer and receiving His peace that passes understanding (Clip 0), and by recognizing that He always causes us to triumph in Christ even in distress (Clip 7).
Watch the Teaching: Why God Says Pray About Everything — Philippians 4:6-7