Righteous Judgment

II Thessalonians 1:5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 

After a brief positive opening statement, Paul jumps right in to address the persecution that these believers were facing for their faith.  In his first letter Paul had written of the coming of Christ extensively, reminding them to live holy lives in light of that coming so that we are ready for His return.  As that persecution had increased, he now goes back to the other aspect of that coming: righteous judgment.  Their persecutors will receive what they rightly deserve, while they themselves, as believers, will receive the deliverance, the relief, the peace and rest.  But most of all God will receive the Glory that He deserves. Based on this, Paul prays for the grace we need to remain steadfast in hope and sanctified in our living.