When the Apostle Paul talks about the final judgment coming in Christ, he does so with simple language of finality in display of Christ's absolute authority and power.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
Paul here also echoes the words of the Prophet Isaiah. As you read through Isaiah's words you realize that the message expands in the way it gives amazing warning and hope to a people under the threat of opposing nations. Let's step through it.
1. The Messianic King will come in the power of the Spirit.
Isaiah 11:1-2 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
In clear reference to Christ (The Messiah), Isaiah renews the expectation that Jesus will be the humble root that comes in the line of David (father, Jesse). Our Messiah is fruitful in all he does and works all things in the power of the Spirit. He is full of wisdom, might and complete devotion to God.
2. His power in righteousness and judgment is unmatched by any other.
Isaiah 11:3-5 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
These verses that Paul later alludes to (as above) show us that Jesus is the very definition of righteousness. His judgment is always right because he judges out of his righteous character. Those he comes to vindicate can know that his judgment will be complete and without answer. The power of his word will destroy the wicked and there will only be one Lord who has the last say.
3. From the judgment of Christ comes complete restoration.
Isaiah 11:6-8 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.
Isaiah shows us a picture of the reversal of the fall. The struggle for life and the danger and threat of creation in the groaning curse of sin has been restored to its pre-fall condition. The comprehensive judgment of Christ will bring about the entire reconciliation of creation that our Messiah already won for us on the cross. When Paul quoted from Isaiah about coming judgment, surely he was also aware of this glorious restoration that Isaiah connects to it. The final day of judgment in Christ will abolish all opposition to God and bring about the glory of a new creation. After reading Isaiah, it's hard to believe that Paul doesn't have this in mind too.
4. The judgment of Christ will bring about the glory of God proclaimed throughout the whole earth by every nation.
Isaiah 11:9-10 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples--of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
Ever since Genesis 3, all Scripture has built upon an expectation that God's name would be glorified throughout his entire creation through mankind. This is what God's purpose in creation was from the beginning. Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." In Christ, this has begun to happen with the spread of the gospel throughout the world, but when final judgment arrives on the last day, this will be seen in the consummation glory of the new creation. There will be a day when the nations (those saved out of every nation) will praise him forever on the restored and reconciled earth.
What a glorious truth to hold on to! Both Paul and Isaiah speak of the comprehensive judgment that comes through the all-powerful word of Christ on the last day. But...Don't forget, with final comprehensive judgment of evil comes the eternal comprehensive glory of God enjoyed by his elect all across the world - as the waters cover the sea.