Second Thessalonians:
This book is a letter from Paul, Silas, and Timothy to the Church at Thessalonica (Greece), further describing Jesus' return and encouraging them to withstand the oppression for their beliefs:
- "...you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief...This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction (i.e., hell) and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power." (2 Thessalonians 1:5-9)
- "...for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) "The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan..." (2 Thessalonians 2:9)
Paul advised them not to be lazy and to work hard -- not just
waiting around for the return of Jesus.