Day of the Lord
Paul's Epistles - I
Thessalonians - Part 6
Pastor Bruce A.
Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
We began looking at the basics of
Christianity and the foundation of the church. How it was constructed, how it
is to operate, and the instructions we as followers of Christ are given.
We looked at the Book of Acts, which shows
the ups and downs of the Apostles and the early church. Many of the issues they
had then, we still deal with today. So it is good for us to read these books
and keep an eye on ourselves.
After Acts, we looked at the first few
chapters of Revelation to read what the letters Jesus sent to the churches
consisted of. We learned where the church were doing good, where they were
messing up, and in all cases, how they were “supposed” to be.
We took those letters, compiled them and
read them as if it were Christ’s instructions to us, as individuals, and as a
church.
From the letter’s of Christ, we turned
then to Paul’s letters, or epistles.
First looking at the Book of Romans, then
to I and II Corinthians, from there to Galatians, and now we are looking at his
letter to the Thessalonians.
This letter is believed to be Paul’s first
letter.
We will now look at Paul’s ministry in
Thessalonica.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE I Thessalonians 5:1-11
Now,
brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to
you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the
Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come
on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not
escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so
that this day should surprise you like a thief.5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do
not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be
awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get
drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But
since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as
a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He
died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with
him.11 Therefore encourage one another and build each
other up, just as in fact you are doing.
I.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
(Instructions to the saved)
a.
Times and dates (seasons)
i. Paul knows they are
anxious about death, and the resurrection
1.
This was addressed in previous verses
about those who died in Christ, those who still lived and when we receive our
resurrected bodies.
ii. Also,
they were anxious about The Day of the Lord and the Tribulation
iii. They
were curious and anxious for the return of the Lord as well
1.
Paul explained in previous verses the
Rapture would come before the Tribulation
2.
This is NOT the Second Coming though. That
takes place AFTER the Tribulation
iv. Paul
answers, “About times and dates, we do
not need to write to you.”
v. In other words, do
not worry or be anxious.
b.
You know very well that the day of the Lord will come
like a thief in the night
i. No one but the Father
knows the time and date
1.
We can make an educated guess of the
approximate time of year, though we will not know the “time or date”
2.
The feasts and festivals of God given in
the Old Testament were all references to Holy events.
3.
Just as Passover was given to signify the
redemption of Israel, it foreshadowed our deliverance from sin.
4.
As the Feast of First Fruits signified the
resurrection of Israel as a free people, it foreshadowed Christ’s resurrection
day.
a.
These days were fulfilled in the New
Testament with 100% accuracy
b.
Next to be fulfilled is the “Feast of
Trumpets”
i.
Signifies the
calling of Israel to judgment
ii.
This will be
fulfilled when the Trumpet is blasted and the Rapture takes place. Rosh Hashana
is the “sacred assembly and the day of rest”
c.
We will be called by the trumpet, to be
with the Lord for rest while judgment falls upon the earth during Tribulation.
5.
Rosh Hashana (feast of trumpets” takes
place around September/October (different every year.)
6.
So we know the season, and what is to come,
but we do not know the time nor day.
ii. While
people are saying “Peace and safety”
1.
This refers to Israel, but will also
characterize the world
2.
This is about the antichrist signing the
seven-year pact with Israel and other nations
a.
Daniel 9:27
3.
Then, sudden destruction comes upon them
a.
At the mid-point of the seven-year period,
the antichrist will break his pact and invade Israel
i.
Revelation 12:1-6
c.
As labor pains on a pregnant woman, there is no escape
i. The Great
Tribulation is coming upon the world
1.
Matthew 24:21
II.
HOWEVER, YOU ARE
NOT IN DARKNESS OF NIGHT
a.
You are not in darkness
i. Christians have
Spiritual enlightenment which comes from the Word of God
ii. We know
what is coming, what to look for, and how to avoid it!
iii. We are children of the light (refers to us knowing Christ)
iv. The
Light of the World (John 8:12)
v. We are in light,
not darkness
b.
Let us not be like others who sleep
i. Lethargy and apathy
1.
Growing tired, or being lazy and losing
interest
2.
In what?
a.
As Paul said in earlier verses…DOING GOOD
ii. Let us not sleep as others do, BUT let us WATCH and BE
SOBER
1.
Watching for Christ’s return means staying in relationship with Him
a.
Jesus told the parable about the 10
virgins watching for the groom.
b.
Half of them were foolish and let their
oil go out of their lamps.
c.
The wise kept oil in theirs (Holy Spirit)
d.
In the night, the bridegroom (Jesus) came
to take them away, the ones with no oil missed out.
i.
Later the others
came to the door and cried, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us.”
ii.
But He replied, “I
do not know you.”
e.
Jesus closes the parable with, “Therefore keep watch,
because you do not know the day or the hour.”
2.
Be sober
a.
Paul is not referring to alcohol here, but
staying sober as in clear headed and serious
b.
Clear headed and serious about what?
i.
Your relationship
with Christ
c.
Those who sleep and are drunk, do so at night
i. Not literally
sleeping and drunk, Paul is metaphorically speaking of a Spiritual state
ii. They
are not serious or clear headed about their relationship with Christ, and have
grown tired of doing good.
iii. They
are no longer watchful (meaning concerned) with Christ’s return
iv. And so,
they live in the dark, spiritually speaking.
III.
SINCE WE BELONG TO
THE DAY
a.
Let us (believers)
who are of the day (have Spiritual light) be sober
i. Putting on the
breastplate of Faith and Love
1.
Not “Righteousness” for battle as in the
Whole Armor of God
2.
Rather, Faith in Christ, which produces
love
3.
So we may continue TO DO GOOD
ii. And the
Helmet of Salvation
1.
Same as the Whole Armor of God
2.
Because it protects our thinking with the
Truth that we have a guarantee of deliverance from this present evil world,
pertaining to the Rapture Paul is speaking of.
b.
God did not appoint us to suffer wrath
i. He has not
appointed believer’s to go through the Great Tribulation
ii. Some
argue this point, but Paul is speaking specifically of the Rapture in this
chapter, and has made it clear in black and white, even stating it is the
“Doctrine of Christ”
1.
In verse 15 of the previous chapter, “15 According to the
Lord’s word,”
2.
As he describes the Rapture of the
Church before the judgment of earth in the Great Tribulation
iii. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to
receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
iv. This scriptural truth is not only
established by Paul, in accordance to the teaching of Christ, but also is in
line with God’s Holy Days.
c.
He died for us, so we may live with Him
i. The Rapture made
possible through Salvation in Christ
ii. 10 “He
died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with
him.”
1.
This refers to the previous chapter about
being alive or already dead IN CHRIST, and the Rapture, where the dead receive
their resurrected bodies before those of us still alive who will be “caught up”
to the clouds to be with the Lord
CONCLUSION – Therefore encourage one another, BUILD EACH OTHER UP, JUST AS
YOU ARE DOING.
This is how
Paul closed his last chapter, “Therefore encourage one another, build each
other up”
The last
chapter was about encouraging and building each other up by sharing the truth
according to Jesus about those who have died and those who are still alive
receiving their resurrected bodies at the Rapture, and now he tells us to do
the same with how we will be Raptured before the Tribulation and the Trumpet
call, to be with Jesus for a time of rest (Seven year feast in heaven) during
the earth’s Tribulation, before the Second Coming of Christ.
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