Christ's Coming
T. Manton, D. D. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: I. THE TERRIBLE MANNER OF CHRIST'S COMING. "In flaming fire," which serves — 1. To set forth the majesty of the Judge (Acts 7:20; Deuteronomy 5:22, 23; Psalm 50:3). 2. As the instrument of punishment on the wicked (Matthew 13:42; Matthew 25:41). 3. To burn up the world (2 Peter 3:10, 11). II. THE PERSONS BROUGHT TO JUDGMENT AND THE RULES OF PROCEDURE. 1. Some had no other discovery of God but from the course of nature and the instincts of conscience — these shall not be judged for not believing in Christ, but for not knowing God (Romans 2:12-15). Therefore among the Gentiles — (1) All Atheists who deny God's Being are obnoxious to judgment. (2) All idolaters who corrupt the worship of God. (3) All wicked men who when they know God glorify Him not as God, etc. (Romans 1:21). (4) All who despise and resist God's authority (Exodus 5:2). What is all this to us?To teach us — (1) That ignorance of God excuses no man from judgment. Whether foreign nations or His own people, God will punish them for wilful ignorance of necessary things. (2) That it is not enough to know God unless we know Him as we ought to know Him (Titus 1:16). (3) That the more means there are of knowing God, the greater the crime if we do not know His will (Luke 12:47). 2. Some having a discovery of Christ and His salvation are judged by the gospel. (1) All such obey not the gospel. (a) Who obstinately refuse to entertain the doctrine of Christ and His salvation (1 Peter 4:17). (b) Who profess to believe but practically deny (Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 3:6). (c) Who apostatize (Hebrews 10:39). (2) Who shall be judged by the terror of the gospel dispensation. (a) Those who have lived in the clear sunshine of the gospel (Mark 16:16). They are condemned because of their sins against God, and their refusal of the remedy (John 3:18, 19). (b) Those to whom the object of faith was more obscurely propounded. (i) Those who lived before or after the Flood. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are in the chronicle of faith (Hebrews 11; 1 Peter 3:19, 20). (ii) Those who lived under the legal administration of the covenant of grace shall be judged according to that (Romans 2:12). The law was more manifest, but the way of salvation was clear enough (Psalm 130:3, 4; Psalm 143:2). (iii) Those who lived under the ministry of John and of our Lord (John 8:24). (iv) Those who, under the dispensation of the Spirit, know Christ more or less: Mohammedans and Jews. (v) Those Christians to whom Christ is offered more or less purely: Papists, Socinians, etc. However God may deal with the vulgar who err in the simplicity of their hearts, we know not; but their leaders are terribly responsible. (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: WEB: giving vengeance to those who don't know God, and to those who don't obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus,