I Thessalonians 2:14 “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.”
It happened cyclically in history and the cycle continues to this very day, the wicked, ungodly for a time rise up and seize oppressive dominion over the people, including the Lord’s Church. They all seem to assume the role of a deity, thinking they can continue their evil with impunity; for they always ignore the warning that, while God is longsuffering, He will certainly come upon them suddenly and terminate their wickedness. In this specific case, the Lord even gave Daniel the precise time that “he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27). Our Lord spoke of it to His Disciples when they showed Him the Temple; He said to them, “See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Matthew 24:2). Indeed, the Lord did, in just a few years, using the Roman army, bring utter destruction to Jerusalem and the war and mayhem spread throughout that part of the world; thus, “the wrath” of God came “upon them to the uttermost”. The corrupt rulers were overthrown, but the blessed Church was soon ushered away in God’s protective hand to various parts of the world where she continued to grow and prosper. Again and again wicked rulers have risen up to oppress and dominate the people, including the Lord’s Church; but, it is absolutely certain that there will come that moment, in each generation, in which “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18)! In every generation, such teachings are laughed at and mocked; for example, “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.” (II Chronicles 36:16). Our duty is to weather the storm, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)!