Tag: olethros

2 Thessalonians 1:9 – Eternal Torment

Posted on by Will

These shall pay the penalty, eternal distress from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

Truth to Learn

Those who reject Jesus Christ will suffer terribly, for eternity!

 

Behind the Words

The words “pay the penalty” is translated from the words dikēn tisousin. The word dikēn refers to “a judgment, a penalty, or a punishment” and tisousin is a form of the verb tinō, which means “to pay the value of something.” When these two words are used together they mean “to pay a penalty.”

“Eternal” is from the Greek adjective aiōnios, which is derived from the noun aiōn, meaning “an age of time.” Aiōnios means “constant, perpetual, or eternal.”

Olethros is the word translated “distress.” It is based on the verb ollumi, meaning “to destroy” or “to kill.” The fundamental thought behind olethros is not annihilation (ceasing to exist), but unavoidable and never ending distress and torment.

The word translated “presence” is prosōpon, which is made up of pros, meaning “toward” and ops, meaning “the eyes.” Thus, prosōpon literally means “toward the eyes.” It is most often translated as “face,” but it can also be translated as “presence.”

 

Meaning Explained

Paul has been talking about the righteous judgments of God: His righteous decision to show grace to sinners who believe in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, and His righteous decision to sentence all non-believers to eternal punishment. Yesterday we looked at one aspect of this punishment of unbelievers. Paul identified it as hot, blazing fire. In Luke’s gospel account the following description of this torment is described in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, where the rich man was in torment in hades:

And he cried out and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.” (Luke 16:24)

But even this pales in comparison to the final torment that unbelievers will suffer. According to Revelation 20:15, “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

As painful and torturous as this may be, I believe that this is not the worst part of the sentence that will be passed on those who reject the gospel message. Listen to the words of Jesus:

And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:11-12)

In this verse, the expression “sons of the kingdom” is a reference to the Jews, sons of Abraham, who rejected their Messiah. The total absence of the presence of God and His glory will produce such darkness that it will cause those experiencing it to wail and to gnash their teeth. This is the future that is promised to all who reject Jesus Christ.

 

Application

It is not our job to punish evil doers. That is God’s prerogative and His punishment will be worse than anything we could do.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 5:3 – Peace and Destruction

Posted on by Will

For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, like labor pains of childbirth. And they shall not escape.

Truth to Learn

The Day of the Lord will begin with a period of peace.

 

Behind the Words

Hotan is the Greek word translated “when.” It is composed of hote, meaning “when” and the preposition an, indicating uncertainty or possibility.

The words “they say” are from legō, meaning “to relate in words” or “to say.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood, indicating the possibility or probability of action.

“Safety” is translated from asphaleia, composed of a, meaning “without” or “not” and sphallō, meaning “to throw down” or “to fail.” Thus, asphaleia refers to “security” or “safety.”

The word “sudden” is from aiphnidios. This word is composed of the negative particle a, meaning “not” and a form of phainō, meaning “to shine” or “to make apparent.” Therefore, aiphnidios means “not apparent,” “unexpected,” or “suddenly.”

“Destruction” is translated from olethros. This is from ollumi, meaning “to destroy.” Olethros refers to “destruction” or by implication, “death.”

The words “labor pains of childbirth” are from the Greek words ōdin en gastri, which literally translates to “pain in the stomach” or “pain in the womb,” that is, “birth pain.”

The word “not” is from ou mē, a double negative indicating “absolutely not” or “no way!”

“Escape” is from ekpheugō, made up of ek, meaning “out of” and pheugō, meaning “to flee.”

 

Meaning Explained

Paul is now teaching about the Day of the Lord, called the Tribulation or Daniel’s seventieth week (see Daniel 9:24-27). It is a time period in which God will both judge the world (the earth dwellers) and accomplish the final salvation of the “remnant” of Israel (see Zephaniah 3:13 and Romans 9:27).

Keep in mind that Paul is writing this letter to the Christians in Thessalonica and all Christians in general. Back in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 Paul repeatedly used the personal pronouns “you” and “we” referring to Christians and the rapture. Now in today’s verse, observe that he is using the personal pronouns “they” and “them.” Paul is not talking about Christians, he is talking about those who will be on this earth when the Day of the Lord arrives. Notice that “they shall not [no way] escape.” This is further evidence that the rapture and the Day of the Lord are separate events. It is also evidence that Christians will not be on earth when the Day of the Lord arrives. This is because, as we have already learned, the rapture will occur before the Tribulation (the Day of the Lord).

Now we learn a little bit about the conditions on earth when the Day of the Lord arrives. This time of God’s judgment will begin with a period of peace (perhaps world-wide, but at least for Israel.) Then, suddenly, that peace will evaporate and the world will be consumed by destruction (see the first two of the four horses of the Apocalypse in Revelation 6:1-4).

 

Application

Once again, we have an opportunity to give thanks to God for His loving care of His children (Christians). Is it time to pray?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

2 Thessalonians 1:9 – Eternal Torment

Posted on by Will

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

Truth to Learn

Those who reject Jesus Christ will suffer terribly, for eternity!

Behind the Words

The word “punished” is translated from the words dikēn tisousin. The word dikēn refers to “a judgment, a penalty, or a punishment” and tisousin is a form of the verb tinō, which means “to pay the value of something.” When these two words are used together they mean “to pay a penalty.”

“Everlasting” is from the Greek adjective aiōnios, which is derived from the noun aiōn, meaning “an age of time.” Aiōnios means “constant, perpetual, or eternal.”

Olethros is the word translated “destruction.” It is based on the verb ollumi, meaning “to destroy” or “to kill.” The fundamental thought behind olethros is not annihilation (ceasing to exist), but unavoidable and never ending distress and torment.

The word translated “presence” is prosōpon, which is made up of pros, meaning “toward” and ops, meaning “the eyes.” Thus, prosōpon literally means “toward the eyes.” It is most often translated as “face,” but it can also be translated as “presence.”

Meaning Explained

Paul has been talking about the righteous judgments of God: His righteous decision to show grace to sinners who believe in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, and His righteous decision to sentence all non-believers to eternal punishment. Yesterday we looked at one aspect of this punishment of unbelievers. Paul identified it as hot, blazing fire. In Luke’s gospel account the following description of this torment is described in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, where the rich man was in torment in hades:

Then he cried and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” (Luke 16:24)

But even this pales in comparison to the final torment that unbelievers will suffer. According to Revelation 20:15, “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

As painful and torturous as this may be, I believe that this is not the worst part of the sentence that will be passed on those who reject the gospel message. Listen to the words of Jesus:

And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:11-12)

In this verse, the expression “sons of the kingdom” is a reference to the Jews, sons of Abraham, who rejected their Messiah. The total absence of the presence of God and His glory will produce such darkness that it will cause those experiencing it to wail and to gnash their teeth. This is the future that is promised to all who reject Jesus Christ.

Application

It is not our job to punish evil doers. That is God’s prerogative and His punishment will be worse than anything we could do.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Thessalonians 5:3 – Peace and Destruction

Posted on by Will

For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

Truth to Learn

The Day of the Lord will begin with a period of peace.

Behind the Words

Hotan is the Greek word translated “when.” It is composed of hote, meaning “when” and the preposition an, indicating uncertainty or possibility.

The words “they say” are from legō, meaning “to relate in words” or “to say.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood, indicating the possibility or probability of action.

“Safety” is translated from asphaleia, composed of a, meaning “without” or “not” and sphallō, meaning “to throw down” or “to fail.” Thus, asphaleia refers to “security” or “safety.”

The word “sudden” is from aiphnidios. This word is composed of the negative particle a, meaning “not” and a form of phainō, meaning “to shine” or “to make apparent.” Therefore, aiphnidios means “not apparent,” “unexpected,” or “suddenly.”

“Destruction” is translated from olethros. This is from ollumi, meaning “to destroy.” Olethros refers to “destruction” or by implication, “death.”

The words “labor pains” are from the Greek words ōdin en gastri, which literally translates to “pain in the stomach” or “pain in the womb,” that is, “birth pain.”

The word “not” is from ou mē, a double negative indicating “absolutely not” or “no way!”

“Escape” is from ekpheugō, made up of ek, meaning “out of” and pheugō, meaning “to flee.”

Meaning Explained

Paul is now teaching about the Day of the Lord, called the Tribulation or Daniel’s seventieth week (see Daniel 9:24-27). It is a time period in which God will both judge the world (the earth dwellers) and accomplish the final salvation of the “remnant” of Israel (see Zephaniah 3:13 and Romans 9:27).

Keep in mind that Paul is writing this letter to the Christians in Thessalonica and all Christians in general. Back in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 Paul repeatedly used the personal pronouns “you” and “we” referring to Christians and the rapture. Now in today’s verse, observe that he is using the personal pronouns “they” and “them.” Paul is not talking about Christians, he is talking about those who will be on this earth when the Day of the Lord arrives. Notice that “they shall not [no way] escape.” This is further evidence that the rapture and the Day of the Lord are separate events. It is also evidence that Christians will not be on earth when the Day of the Lord arrives. This is because, as we have already learned, the rapture will occur before the Tribulation (the Day of the Lord).

Now we learn a little bit about the conditions on earth when the Day of the Lord arrives. This time of God’s judgment will begin with a period of peace (perhaps world-wide, but at least for Israel.) Then, suddenly, that peace will evaporate and the world will be consumed by destruction (see the first two of the four horses of the Apocalypse in Revelation 6:1-4).

Application

Once again, we have an opportunity to give thanks to God for His loving care of His children (Christians). Is it time to pray?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved