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1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-28
LESSON #12
THE ROUSING HOPE OF CHRISTS COMING AND THE DAY OF THELORD
v MEMORYVERSE: 1 THESSALONIANS 5:9
v READ1THE 5:1-11
Ø THEDAY OF THE LORD (2)
§ READ JOEL 1:15
§ WHAT DOES THE PHRASEDAY OF THE LORD REFERS TO IN VERSE 2?
· THEPHRASE DAY OF THE LORD IS A PROPHETIC PHRASE THAT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN THEBIBLE BY OBADIAH IN HIS LITTLE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK BY THAT NAME. THE THEME WAS FULLYDEVELOPED BY THE PROPHET JOEL IN HIS LITTLE BOOK OF JOEL.
¨ THEPHRASE DAY OF THE LORD MEANS THAT GOD HAS DIRECT INTERVENTION IN MANSAFFAIRS. MORE SPECIFICALLY IT REFERS TO A TIME OF GODS JUDGMENT FOLLOWED BY AGLORIOUS PROMISE.
¨ THEPHRASE IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF THE JEWISH DAY THAT GOD BEGAN AT CREATION (GEN 1:5THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WERE THE FIRST DAY).
Ø OURDAY BEGINS AT MIDNIGHT, BUT THE JEWISH DAY BEGAN AT SUNSET IN THE EVENING. THEN THEDARKNESS OF NIGHT FOLLOWED. AFTER THE DARK OF NIGHT PASSED, THEN CAME THE LIGHT OF DAY.
· THEREFORE,THE PHRASE DAY OF THE LORD REFERS TO A SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT FOLLOW THEPATTERN OF THE JEWISH DAY.
¨ THEDIMNESS OF LIGHT AT SUNSET REFERS TO THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD WHEN THEANTI-CHRIST PROMISES PEACE, STABILITY, AND PROSPERITY. THE LIGHT IS DIM BECAUSE IT IS NOTTHE TRUE LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST BUT THE FALSE PROMISE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST.
¨ THEDARKNESS OF THE NIGHT REFERS TO THE LAST HALF OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD WHEN THEANTI-CHRIST HAS FULL POWER AND OPERATES UNDER THE POWER OF SATAN. IT IS DARKEST JUSTBEFORE THE DAWN. THIS DARKEST POINT IS THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON AT THE END OF THETRIBULATION PERIOD.
¨ THEDAWN IS THE EVENT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST WHEN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORIOUSPRESENCE BREAKS FORTH ON THE WORLD SCENE.
¨ THEBRIGHTNESS OF THE DAY REFERS TO THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF CHRIST THAT FOLLOWS HIS COMING.IT IS A TIME THAT WILL LAST FOR 1000 YEARS AND EXHIBIT THE FULLNESS OF THE BLESSINGS OFCHRIST ON EARTH.
· TOFULLY UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT, WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEDAY OF THE LORD AND OTHER TYPES OF DAYS MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE.
¨ MANSDAY:
Ø MANSDAY IS A TIME OF JUDGMENT BY MAN.
Ø TODAYMEN HAVE CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT TO JUDGE THE AFFAIRS OF MEN. THEREFORE, THE DAY IN WHICH WENOW LIVE IS MANS DAY. (1COR 4:3)
¨ THEDAY OF CHRIST:
Ø THEDAY OF CHRIST USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT REFERS TO THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH WHEN BELIEVERSARE REMOVED FROM THIS EARTH. (1COR 1:8 1COR5:5 2COR 1:14 PHIL 1:6,10 PHIL 2:16)
¨ THEDAY OF GOD
Ø THEDAY OF GOD REFERS TO 2PET 3:12 WHEN, AFTER THE MILLENNIUM, THE HEAVENS PASS AWAY AND GODDESTROYS THIS EARTH BY FIRE FROM HEAVEN BEFORE HE CREATES THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH.
· TOSUMMARIZE, WE CAN SAY THAT FIRST COMES THE DAY OF MAN (INCLUDES THE CHURCHAGE), THEN COMES THE DAY OF CHRIST (THE RAPTURE), THEN COMES THE DAY OFTHE LORD (THE TRIBULATION AND THE MILLENNIUM), THEN COMES THE DAY OF GOD(FIRE FROM HEAVEN AND THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT).
§ WHY DOES PAUL SAY IT IS NOTNECESSARY FOR HIM TO WRITE ABOUT THE DAY OF THE LORD TO THE THESSALONIAN CHRISTIANS? (2)
· BECAUSETHE DAY OF THE LORD DEALS PRIMARILY WITH GODS JUDGMENT ON A NON-BELIEVING WORLD,CHRISTIANS WILL BE ABSENT FROM THE EARTH DURING TIMES OF GODS WRATH.
¨ THERAPTURE OCCURS BEFORE THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, BEFORE THE DAY OF THE LORD BEGINS.THEREFORE, CHRISTIANS DO NOT NEED TO BE PREOCCUPIED WITH THEIR OWN SAFETY DURING THETRIBULATION PERIOD. THEY WILL NOT BE ON EARTH. THEY WILL BE WITH THE LORD IN HEAVEN.
§ THE THIEF IN THENIGHT (2)
· PAULSAYS THE DAY OF THE LORD COMES AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.
¨ ATHIEF COMES WHEN LEAST EXPECTED AND USUALLY AT NIGHT.
Ø NOTICETHAT THE LORD DOES NOT COME TO THE CHURCH AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT BECAUSE THE CHURCH ISWATCHING AND WAITING FOR THE LORD TO COME.
§ A PERSON DOES NOT STAY HOMEWATCHING AND WAITING FOR A THIEF TO COME AND ROB HIM. THE THIEF DOES NOT WANT A PERSON TOBE AWARE HE IS COMING.
¨ THISMEANS THAT THE DARKNESS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD WILL COME SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTANTLY ONA WORLD OF NON-BELIEVERS. THE LORD COMES AS A THIEF TO THE NON-BELIEVERS (CHILDREN OFDARKNESS) IN THE WORLD. THEY WILL BE TOTALLY SURPRISED WHEN THE RAPTURE OCCURS, AND THEYSUDDENLY FIND THEMSELVES IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. (3)
Ø BELIEVERSARE CHILDREN OF LIGHT WHO ARE NOT ON THE EARTH DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
§ THEREFORE, THE BELIEVERSHOULD BE WATCHING FOR THE LORD TO COME AND NOT SLEEP IN COMPLACENCY AS NON-BELIEVERS DO.(6)
§ THE RESULTS OF THE RAPTUREON THE WORLD:
· THERAPTURE OF THE CHURCH ENDS THIS ERA OF GRACE CALLED THE CHURCH AGE.
· THERAPTURE OF THE CHURCH MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY OF THE LORD.
¨ THETRIBULATION PERIOD BEGINS WITH THE PEACE TREATY CONFIRMED BY THE ANTI-CHRIST. (DAN 9:27)
Ø WATCHFULNESS
§ PAUL SAYS THE BELIEVER INTHE LIGHT WILL WATCH AND BE SOBER WAITING FOR THE LORD TO COME. (6-8)
· WHATDOES SOBER MEAN (6)?
¨ THEWORD SOBER MEANS = TO NOT STAY DRUNK.
Ø THISDOES NOT ONLY REFER TO ALCOHOL BUT IT REFERS TO ANYTHING THAT TAKES OVER AND CONSUMES MANWITH AN OBSESSION.
§ SUCH THINGS AS POWER,MONEY, SEX, PLEASURE, DRUGS, ETC.
§ PUTTING ON THEBREASTPLATE OF FAITH AND LOVE, AND FOR AN HELMET, THE HOPE OF SALVATION (8)
· THISIS ARMOR FOR THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE MENTIONED IN EPH 6:10-18.
· THEBREASTPLATE COVERS THE HEART, THE VITAL ORGAN TO LIFE.
¨ SATANATTACKS THE BELIEVER IN THE AREA OF FAITH AS THIS IS HOW WE RELATE TO GOD. (HEB 11:6)
¨ SATANATTACKS THE BELIEVER IN THE AREA OF LOVE AS THIS IS HOW WE RELATE TO OTHER PEOPLE.
· THEHELMET COVERS THE HEAD, THE VITAL PART OF MANS BODY THAT HE USES TO RELATE TO HISENVIRONMENT.
¨ SATANATTACKS THE BELIEVER IN THE AREA OF HIS THOUGHT LIFE TO CAUSE HIM TO LOSE HOPE.
· PAULUSES THE SAME 3 WORDS, FAITH, LOVE, AND HOPE, THAT HE WROTE ABOUT IN CHAPTER 1 (SEE LESSON#3, THE THREE CHRISTIAN GRACES).
§ FOR THE LORD HATH NOTAPPOINTED US TO WRATH (9)
· GODHAS NOT CHOSEN US TO BE PRESENT IN THE DAY OF THE LORD. THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL BE A TIMEOF GODS WRATH ON EARTH. BECAUSE THE RAPTURE COMES BEFORE THAT, WE WILL NOT BEPRESENT DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
¨ THISFACT THAT THE RAPTURE IN VERSE 10 WHICH SPARES US FROM THE WRATH OF GOD SHOULD BRINGS USGREAT COMFORT. (11)
v READ1THE 5:11-28 THE TWENTY TWO COMMANDS FOR AWATCHFUL CHRISTIAN:
Ø THESEARE THE MILITARY ORDERS FOR THE BELIEVERS LIFE.
§ THE BELIEVER IS WAITING FORTHE RAPTURE TO TAKE HIM OUT OF THIS EVIL WORLD. THAT DOES NOT MEAN HE SHOULD GO AND SIT ONA MOUNTAIN TOP AND WATCH THE SKIES. SOME CHRISTIANS THOUGHT SO AND HAVE DONE THAT.
· HOWEVER,IN THE CONTEXT OF 1THESSALONIANS, THESE COMMANDS ARE VERY PRACTICAL FOR DAILY LIFE IN THISEVIL WORLD.
Ø #1COMFORT ONE ANOTHER(11):
§ ENCOURAGE OTHER BELIEVERSIN THE FAITH.
Ø #2EDIFY ONE ANOTHER (11):
§ BUILD UP THE FAITH OF OTHERBELIEVERS.
Ø #3KNOW THEM WHICH LABOR AMONG YOU (12)
§ GET TO KNOW, GIVE ATTENTIONTO, RESPECT, AND UNDERSTAND THOSE IN AUTHORITY WHO PREACH AND TEACH AMONG YOU IN THECHURCH.
Ø #4ESTEEM THEM HIGHLY IN LOVE (13)
§ LOVE AND HONOR THOSE INAUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH.
Ø #5BE AT PEACE AMONG YOURSELVES (13)
§ THIS REFERS TO PEACE IN THECHURCH BETWEEN BELIEVERS AND THEIR LEADERS.
Ø #6WARN THEM THAT ARE UNRULY (14)
§ WARNING SHOULD BE GIVEN TOTHOSE WHO ARE NOT AT PEACE WITH OTHERS IN THE CHURCH.
Ø #7COMFORT THE FEEBLEMINDED (14)
§ THE FEEBLEMINDED ARE THOSEWHO ARE FAINT HEARTED AND DISCOURAGED. THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO FAIL TO MOVE FORWARD IN FAITH.
Ø #8SUPPORT THE WEAK (14)
§ THOSE WHO ARE BABYCHRISTIANS OR ARE WEAK IN FAITH NEED SUPPORT AND HELP.
Ø #9BE PATIENT TOWARD ALL MEN (14)
§ DONT LOSE YOUR TEMPEROR BECOME IMPATIENT WITH BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS.
Ø #10DONT GIVE EVIL FOR EVIL TO ANY MAN (15)
§ DONT FIGHT, DECEIVE,OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANYONE NO MATTER HOW HE TREATS YOU.
Ø #11FOLLOW THAT WHICH IS GOOD (15)
§ TAKE AN INTEREST IN GODLYTHINGS, GODLY ACTIVITIES, AND GODLY ATTITUDES.
Ø #12REJOICE ALWAYS (16)
§ THIS REFERS TO REJOICING INTHE LORD THROUGH ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS.
Ø #13PRAY WITHOUT CEASING (17)
§ HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF PRAYERWHERE YOU PRAY REGULARLY AND OFTEN.
Ø #14IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS (18)
§ IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, FIND SOMETHING TO GIVE THANKSTO GOD.
Ø #15DONT QUENCH THE HOLY SPIRIT (19)
§ DONT IGNOR OR REFUSETO LISTEN AND FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO GUIDES YOU.
Ø #16DONT DESPISE BIBLE PROPHECY (20)
§ CONTINUE TO STUDY THE WORDOF GOD AND BIBLE PROPHECY THAT MAKES UP A LARGE PART OF THE BIBLE.
§ WHEN GOD SPEAKS A WORD OFPROPHECY THROUGH ANOTHER BELIEVER, EXAMINE AND CONSIDER IT SERIOUSLY.
Ø #17PROVE ALL THINGS (21)
§ THE BIBLE NEEDS TO BESTUDIED CAREFULLY TO SEE HOW GOD HAS FULFILLED BIBLE PROPHECY.
§ A WORD OF PROPHECY IN THECHURCH NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED CAREFULLY.
Ø #18HOLD FAST THAT WHICH IS GOOD (21)
§ AFTER EXAMINING A WORD OFPROPHECY IN THE CHURCH, YOU CAN THROW OUT WHAT DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE,AND KEEP WHAT DOES CONFORM TO GODS WORD.
§ #19 ABSTAIN FROM ALLAPPEARANCE OF EVIL IN BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT. (22-23)
· REMEMBERTHE PURPOSE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS TO MAKE YOU BLAMLESS IN HOLINESS. (23)
§ #20 PRAY FOR US (25)
· PRAYFOR THOSE, LIKE PAUL, WHO PREACH AND TEACH THE WORD OF GOD.
§ #21 GREET EACH OTHERWITH A HOLY KISS (26)
· THEIDEA IS TO HAVE WARM FELLOWSHIP BECAUSE WE ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.
§ #22 READ THIS BOOKOF 1THESSALONIANS TO ALL CHRISTIANS (27)
· THISBOOK SHOULD NEVER BE NEGLECTED IN A CHRISTIANS BALANCED DIET OF THE WORD OF GOD.
THE END
v THIS IS THE END OF PAULS FIRST LETTER TO THETHESSALONIANS BUT IT IS NOT THE END OF OUR SERIES ABOUT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. OURSERIES CONTINUES WITH 2THESSALONIANS.
v HOMEWORK
v 2THESSALONIANS1
v APPLICATION OF 1THE 5
Ø REVIEW THE 22 COMMANDS AT THE END OF THISLAST LESSON. MARK THE ONES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN NEGLECTING IN YOUR LIFE.
v PREPARATION FOR 2THE 1
Ø READ 2THE 1:1-12
§ WHAT IS THE REWARD OF THENON-BELIEVERS ACCORDING TO 2THE 1?
§ WHAT IS THE PERIOD OF TIMETHAT PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT IN VERSES 8-10?
v MEMORY VERSE: 2THESSALONIANS 1:4
