No, we aren't the troubled ones, the Thessalonians of the first century were the troubled ones. Thus, those persecuting them were to get "repaid" were they not? If this rest was not for the Thessalonians and is instead for us, then Paul had nothing comforting to tell them, correct? They would continue to suffer and die at the hands of their persecutors. They would suffered in vain and those responsible got away with it. You see, I don't believe we are to receive the rest promised to the persecuted Church. I believe they got their rest and here's how.
From 66-70 AD while the zealots were rebelling against Rome, most of the devout Jews living throughout the Roman Empire would return to Jerusalem for the three mandated feast, Pentecost, Tabernacles and Passover. Once inside, they were not allowed out of the city. The population of Jerusalem swelled 5 fold just as it did in Acts 2. Thus, the Thessalonica church got rest from their troubles because the devote Jews who were persecuting them were gone. Then when the presence (parousia) of the Lord came in 70 AD to burn that wicked city, that perverse and adulterous generation He spoke of, He did so in flaming fire taking vengeance in fulfillment of 2 Thes 1.
The presence of the Lord AKA, "Day of the Lord' is often found in the OT to describe the invasion of a foreign army against the subject of God's wrath. We see this 4 times in the OT when Egypt, Edom, Babylon and Jerusalem of the 6th century BC fell. Since we are specifically told God was presence returned those 4 times in very similar cosmic disturbance language ( sun and moon turning dark, etc) should we not expect His presence when Jerusalem at last fell in 70 AD? I would be shocked if He wasn't there. After all, Christ said repeatedly that He would return to that generation and some standing there listening to Him would still be alive. I accept Him at His Word.
Tell that to those who have died in the faith. And You did not explain Peter and Paul who were the troubled ones LOL. You don't believe Jesus when HE said " Upon this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail".
Was Jesus only speaking of the early Church? LOL. You accept HIM at some of HIS word to which you agree with or hold to your line of thinking. The suffered in vain? I guess you think that the preaching Paul did where no one was saved was a waste of time?
Paul preached to Felix, Agrippa, and Ceaser guess what. We have no record of their conversion. Paul had his head taken off and you think he suffered in vain? Paul was victorious in Christ. Paul taught the Thessalonian's Faith and Trust in the Promises of God as They go through their tribulation at that time.
those who have died did not see " Their rest" on this side of heaven. The Presence of the Lord and the day of the Lord have different meanings depending on the context. And FYI Peter and Joel say the same thing yet Peter added something in Acts 2 that maybe you did not see or know in the Greek language
Acts 2:20-37
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass,
that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall
rest in hope:
Less move into Chapter 3 of ACTS
aFTER pETER AND jOHN HEALED THE LAME MAN pETER BEGAn to teach :
verse 13 of CHAPTER 3
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let
him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did
it, as
did also your rulers. But those things,
which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven
must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Some things you may want to consider doing.
1. read Joel and Acts 2 and what did Peter say in chapter two of Acts that was different than what Joel said.
find out what Great and notable day of the Lord is and Restitution of all things is.