II Thessalonians 1:7-9
…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.
Punished. Sometimes we bristle at the word. Why? Do we think that punishment—everlasting destruction—is incompatible with a loving God? Do we then properly understand love? God is all love, to be sure, but it is a holy love.
