Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
I have recently noticed some features of the epistles to the Thessalonians which seemed very special. Research into word meanings brought out the following information.
Thessalonians are the people of Thessalonica, today known as Salonika.
Thessalonica was named after a Greek princess named Thessalonike.
And Thessalonike means victory in Thessaly, she was named in honor of a victory in Thessaly. I didn’t find any further information on the meaning of Thessaly. But the important part here is the word nike meaning victory. At that point the Lord spoke to me, saying ‘message to the victors.’ So the epistles to the Thessalonians are a ‘message to the victors.’ We are going to look at just how this is.
Recall the old song lyric, We’ve been made more that conquerors, overcomers in this life, we’ve been made victorious through the blood of Jesus Christ.
These definitions from Strongs’ may help us see the relationships between these words. They are all roughly synonymous.
Nike victory
nee'-kay
Apparently a primary word; conquest (abstractly), that is, (figuratively) the means of success: - victory.
Nikao overcometh
nik-ah'-o
From G3529; to subdue (literally or figuratively): - conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.
Hupernikao conquerors
hoop-er-nik-ah'-o
From G5228 and G3528; to vanquish beyond, that is, gain a decisive victory: - more than conquer.
Here in first John there is a reference to overcoming.
1 John 5:4-5
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Now we are going to take a look at a few points and make some spiritual interpretations. Here are the opening sections of the two letters.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-6
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
2 Thessalonians 1:1-5
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
The first couple verses of each of the two letters are nearly the same. It mentions three authors, Paul, Silvanus and Timotheous which indicates that this is the full trinity of the Godhead speaking here.
Next note how it mentions that the Thessalonians are in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is an important point if you consider Jesus prayer in John 17.
John 17:21-23
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Here Jesus is praying that his disciples would be in him and in the Father, verse 21. And he also mentions that the Father is in him and he is in the disciples. So this description of them speaks of a fulfillment of Jesus prayer in John 17. The same thought is echoed in 2 Thessalonians 1:12.
2 Thessalonians 1:12 That the name [nature, character and authority] of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Note also that Jesus’ prayer includes the phrase that they may be made perfect. This speaks of perfect obedience the way Jesus was made perfect. Note also the idea of glory mentioned in John 17:23 quoted above and here in Hebrews 2.
Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
The question of obedience is also touched upon in 2 Thessalonians 3:3-4
2 Thessalonians 3:3-4
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
Both salutations pronounce Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Now understand that Grace, is the Spirit of Grace i.e. the Holy Spirit. And also Peace speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our peace. So God is saying here that He is granting them Grace in the person of the Holy Spirit and Peace in the person of Jesus.
Verse 3 in both passages mentions several traits of the Thessalonians which are fruits of the Spirit. These naturally follow from a full, end time outpouring of the Spirit. Faith, Charity, Patience, Enduring persecution and tribulation, are mentioned.
1 Thessalonians 1:4 says Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. This tells us the Thessalonians are Chosen, the elect.
Then verse 5 adds our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power. This is another clue to what’s going on here. As First Corinthians mentions this about the Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
It should be apparent that God is saying they are chosen and have been given an entrance into the Kingdom. Note also that verse 6 mentions the joy of the Holy Ghost, which is an aspect of the Kingdom as this verse from Romans tells us.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Verse 6 also mentions that ye became followers of us. Compare that to what it says in Revelation 14 about the overcomers.
Revelation 14:4 …. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
2 Thessalonians 1:5 also mentions the Kingdom of God as does this next quote which speaks of the calling into the kingdom and glory. And we note that these Thessalonians had understanding of The Word from verse 13, knowing that it is not just a historical record or an inspired word, but the very word of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-13
11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Summary
Looking at the letters to the Thessalonians through spiritual eyes shows us many traits they have in common with the Manchild of Revelation 12 and the 144 thousands of Revelation 14. And we conclude that the Lord is using the Thessalonians as a type of this Manchild in His Word. And it means the letters to the Thessalonians are letters to the Manchild. They are a message to the victors.
Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
And most importantly there is a direct connection between the coming forth of the manchild and the coming of the kingdom of God, as you can read farther down in Revelation 12.
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: ….