Hope Revisited

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

You may remember my post Hope.  Can you imagine being in an area of persecution-- like China, or India, or Iran-- and the hope that drives you to share the gospel, even under threat of death, is in danger of being snatched away? That is what the Thessalonian believers seem to be experiencing. Apparently someone had told them that Jesus had already returned. They may have even received a letter written, it seemed, by Paul. And suddenly their hope was crumbling. Can you hear them asking one another, "If our Savior has returned, WHY are we still suffering???"

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
1 Corinthians 15:19-24

I've been thinking for quite a while that "suffering" is a pretty broad term. And it is kind of a pet peeve of mine when Christians compare "sufferings", as if some kinds of suffering are more spiritual than others. The fact of the matter is that sin brought ALL suffering into the world, and pain hurts, no matter it's source! Yes, there are varying degrees of pain-- but ALL PAIN HURTS!!! But our Great God uses pain and suffering to make us more like our Savior. And I am HOPING for the day when sin and suffering are finally defeated FOREVER! =)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Revelation 21:1-5