"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2nd Thessalonians 1:3-10)

Included in Paul's Thanksgiving Statement for the young church at Thessalonica, is an encouragement that God is aware of their suffering, and He will not take it lightly!

What we should gain from this passage is that God is aware when we are persecuted for doing righteous things. Not only is He aware, He knows who is attacking us and why. They will be judged and eternally punished for what they have done.

What we should not take from this is the idea that, if someone picks on us, we are allowed to tell them they are going to hell if they don't repent of their persecution. Judgment is the Son's, not ours! Further, this text is to bring encouragement to us that God WILL judge those that persecute His children. God WILL judge and will judge in HIS righteousness, not OUR revenge.

Incidentally, this text also points to the idea that there is a general resurrection of both the just and the unjust at the same time. The elect will be glorified in Christ. The wicked will be judged and sentenced to eternal torment.