1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
Once again, we note that Paul had already talked to the Thessalonians about much of this. He had only been there for a few weeks, but these principles of the end times events were important enough to cover during those limited hours and days. Paul said he didn't need to write them regarding the times and seasons. This was an essential aspect of their faith but not the most important. The more important matter was how we live between now and then as if today were the last, every day in eager anticipation.
Paul said “they” will say “peace and safety.” This was a common saying in the Roman government. The Roman propaganda promoted the Pax Romana. This is Roman peace and safety, a priority for Rome. It’s fascinating because peace and safety are a common theme in the propaganda of our day. In times of terrorist threat, the world cries for peace and safety at any cost, even at the cost of freedom and privacy. Liberty is seemingly being sacrificed for comfort.
As “they” speak of peace and safety, destruction will come on them. Who are they? I believe it is a generality of the citizens of the world. They trust the ways of man, the government, and humanism, and we know it will fail. This word for destruction is defined as the “sudden loss of all that brings meaning to existence.”
These times and seasons are the words chronos and kairos. It’s the clock and the calendar. No one knows the time, as no one would know when a thief will come. This doesn't mean we shouldn't anticipate and expect Him. It just says that no one knows when. The time is unknown, but the fact that He is coming isn't a surprise in any way. I don't know the time that I'll be eating lunch, but I can still look forward to it and anticipate it because I know it'll be soon. That's the way it is with the Day of the Lord. It is sure, and it is coming and fixed by the hand of Gold, but we can't know the day or the hour. The knowledge that it is coming serves to bolster the hope of the believer and warn the unbeliever.
As for the kairos, this is the season in which these times will fall. This same word, kairos, is used in Matthew 16.
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
Jesus blasted the religious leaders of his day because they had no ability to discern the signs of the times. The same thing will happen on the Day of the Lord. The "Day of the Lord” is an Old Testament phrase referring to God intervening in the course of life and world events to accomplish His will. It's talking about a season when the Lord intervenes on the earth. This “Day of the Lord” is seen as the beginning of the seven-year tribulation period but also the entire period of the tribulation.
Jesus gave the signs that precede His coming in Matthew 24. This is what it says:
And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
These are the signs before the end of the age. These are the signs leading up to the 2nd coming of Jesus at the end of the tribulation period. If these are the signs for that season or kairos, and we are already seeing them now, doesn't that mean the rapture could be very close? Maybe.
We seem to be in a season of increased activity on all these signs. We know the end will resemble the day of Noah. We know that love will grow cold. There will be wars and rumors of wars. We know that ethnos will rise up against ethnos. This is a cultural or ethnic war. All these things and more are the signs of the kairos, the season of the end times. And while it seems those things are coming at us faster and faster, like birth pangs, these signs will become more profound and more intense during the tribulation period.
The end of chapter 4 speaks of the rapture, and the beginning of chapter 5 speaks of the day of the Lord. These two events go hand in hand, but we really don't know the timing between the two.
It appears the rapture of the church starts the process. After the rapture, you can imagine, the world will be in chaos. And without the presence of the believers on the earth, things will continue to grow darker. These days will begin to look like the days of Noah when every intent in the heart of man is only evil continually. In these times of chaos, when people are scared and without hope, they will be looking for something to cling to. Yet they will deny God.
“Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3)
This is just like what we noted when Noah was building an ark. There were scoffers and mockers. They said tomorrow will be like today, next week like this one, and so on. Yet, when the world is thrust into chaos and wrath, they will be looking for a deliverer. The world will be looking for someone with answers, someone who can bring peace to their life again, someone who will bring back the good life. And the Antichrist will come on the scene, and the world will follow him. He will make a peace treaty in a land that has never had peace.
The 7-year tribulation clock starts with the covenant of peace that the antichrist makes in the world. This is the cry of “Peace and Safety” as the world finds comfort in the Antichrist instead of Jesus Christ. There will be a three-and-a-half-year false peace, and then God will bring His judgment on the earth. You can read about these things beginning in Revelation 6. Then, there will be no escape. Sudden destruction will come on them, the bible says, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. When labor pains start, they are mild and spaced far apart. As time goes on, they become more intense and closer together. The pain is more severe and more frequent.
Paul said they shall not escape. Once the labor pains start, they can't be stopped. The unbelieving world is sealed out, stuck in a world that will be judged. While God has hidden the righteous away for a time. Paul said "they" shall not escape. Note that he didn't say "us." We won't be there.
If you look back at Matthew 24, the disciples asked what the sign of Jesus Come would be. Jesus gave all these signs that were precursors to his coming. Jesus doesn't answer their question until He gets down to verse 29.
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The sign that would be seen is the Son of Man as he appears in heaven. He is coming on the clouds. And he gathers his elect from the heavens because they are there from being raptured and resurrected. And Zechariah 14 tells us that on that day, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5
There is an expectation of those who are sons of light. We should recognize the days we live in. We should have a spiritual discernment where we can see clearly the signs of the times. There is some accountability built into this. With the bible and the presence of the Holy Spirit, we have the tools, and God expects us to use them. We should know the warning that God has given the world. God always announces what He is going to do before He does it.
There is a dark day coming. Those standing in the darkness have no ability to discern the spiritual times in which they are standing. They are in darkness and believe in themselves and their world; their faith is blind faith, looking within themselves for answers. They have self-esteem and self-righteousness, and they think that will carry them through anything the world throws at them. They believe the outcome is tied to desire. This is Oprahanity, yet, in all fairness to Oprah, this kind of thinking was around long before her. It's humanism. It's thinking that all the answers we seek and need are found within ourselves, our minds, and our ideals. It is a tool to suppress the truth in unrighteousness. But, Romans says, man is without excuse.
1 Thessalonians 5:6-8
As believers, we are responsible for being in the light, sober, dressed with the breastplate of faith and love, and fitted with the helmet of hope and salvation. Paul gives the picture of readiness by showing us a soldier fitted with his helmet and breastplate. He is ready when the call comes.
The armor spoken of here doesn't match the armor Paul describes in Ephesians 6. There is nothing rigid about Paul's picture and example of armor, but it is used to show us the principles. The breastplate protected the vital organs and instilled boldness and confidence because the soldier knew the protection was there. The breastplate Paul speaks of is faith and love. Faith and love offer vital protection of a spirit. And from that protection, we have boldness and confidence.
And the second most vital piece of armor was the helmet. And in this, we can see that hope and salvation protect our conscience and mind. This hope is a confident expectation that we are in God's hand and that He will save us by His grace when we've put our trust in Christ. The complete picture of this soldier is of one who is wide awake spiritually, alert, and watching. We can't be lulled to sleep in this world. We are to be watching and ready.
The world believes tomorrow will be just like today. And next week will be just like this week. And next year, like every other year. And the world is lulled to sleep and in spiritual darkness. For the most part, they are completely happy there. We can't slip into that trap.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
Our armor isn't needed for where we are going. It's needed to stand fast until we get there. We feel like it is close because the world is getting darker, and Christianity is looked at unfavorably by the world. Yet, there are Christians all over the world suffering horribly and have been for many years. They would love to see the rapture right now, probably much more than we do.
We don't know how God will determine the right time. But until we hear the shout, the trumpet, and the voice of the archangel, we are too equipped and standing fast today. So, our armor is needed today, not for the Day of the Lord, because God didn't appoint us to wrath. Yes, we will suffer some affliction and persecution in this world, but not the wrath of God. We weren't born again in Jesus Christ for that.
Jesus took the wrath we deserved on the cross. So, regardless of whether a person is alive or has passed on, those in Christ will live with Him. Knowing these things, the Thessalonians didn't have to worry about their deceased loved ones. With this knowledge that all believers will live together with Jesus, they can comfort and strengthen each other.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
We see three types of leaders that could be different people or three aspects of a single leader. The leader who labors among. This is the servant leader, the one leading by example. Then Paul said there was a leader who was “over you." This is the God-appointed shepherd of the flock. And then there is a leader to admonish you. This is the one who cautions the people and guides them. You might picture this as a big brother who offers his help. But, since he is a big brother, acting in love, he'll get a little forceful if needed.
Paul said esteem them highly in love for their work's sake and be at peace among yourselves. These men were called to lead and do these things. God had prepared them for this. Now, the people needed to find comfort in that. They were to quit resisting and allow these leaders to lead.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
These exhortations are for everyone. This is not just for the leadership to do. At church, it is easy to fall into that trap of thinking that if something is wrong, the pastor should fix it. If there is something I disagree with, the pastor needs to take care of it. If you carry that attitude to the extreme, you'll have a fellowship of people standing around doing nothing but complaining about how the pastor wasn't getting everything done around here. Every fellowship must guard against this.
Paul exhorts every person individually, saying that each of you has a responsibility and duty. No one gets a free pass. The word exhort is urgent and serious. It's not open for debate. It says you must do these things NOW!
Everyone is called to warn the unruly. "Unruly" is a military word. It is a reference to those who are out of formation. They've broken ranks. Paul said to warn them. Don't just let them break rank and wander away. Then, Paul said we are to comfort the fainthearted. The fainthearted are those who are turning and running. They are the people whose commitment is thin. Their courage is watered down; their survival instinct is overwhelming all else. They are timid and lack courage. They've shown cowardice, and Paul said they need comfort. It's each of our job to comfort these people.
We are also each called to uphold the weak. The weak are those subject to succumbing to the temptations around them. Their faith isn't strong enough to stand alone. We are to hold these people up and help them become strong so they can someday stand on their own. As Christians, we must be patient with these folks and everyone. We are not to render evil. Judgment is the Lord’s. These are just everyday principles of sharing our lives in fellowship.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Here it is, the will of God for you. That's what we all want, right? Isn't that what we all seek? Here it is. Rejoice always, don't stop talking to God, and thank Him for everything. Those three things will fill up your life. Rejoice always, don't stop talking to God, and thank Him for everything. If we got good at these things, many of our other issues would go away.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
You quench the spirit when your life is all about you and your comfort and circumstances when you are filled with doubt when distress over your own circumstances consumes your thoughts, and all your attention is on you. The Spirit is quenched when we act indifferent to the things of God by disregarding His word and despising prophecy. We are to test all things, but to conduct a test, there has to be a standard. There has to be a right answer. We need to test everything against the bible and hold onto those things that pass the test. And let go of everything else, even though it may appeal to us.
The Thessalonians were to draw comfort from knowing there was a day coming when we would be called to the Lord. Until then, there was a responsibility to recognize the leaders among them. This doesn't mean the leader is always right or you follow blindly. Everything a leader says and does should be measured against the bible.
Then, they were to consider how they might help the people around them. This isn't a bunch of people looking over each other’s shoulders; just looking for something to point out. But it's being involved in each other's lives. It's responding in love to a brother or sister who needs help standing fast. This is each person asking, how can I serve someone or hold someone up or comfort someone?
And then there were personal responsibilities for each Christian. The personal responsibilities are last because it isn't all about you. We each have a personal relationship with Christ. But that relationship is played out in every aspect of our life. And we are to be in a fellowship, a family of believers who are going through this life together, sharing our adventures.
This is a far cry from what is taught in so many churches in America. There are too many that go to Church just as a taker. There are no instructions for taking this; receive that. All these instructions were to give, offer, comfort, exhort, hold up, and so on.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
He called us, appointed us. He saved us and cleaned us up. He didn't do that just to abandon you to your sin and temptation or to leave you to be oppressed and depressed by the affliction and persecution. He's right in the middle of whatever you are going through. It's just hard to see that. He is working to sanctify you completely and is working in your life to preserve your body, soul, and spirit to stand blameless before the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:25-28
You can see the heart of Paul for these believers. The letter was encouragement and exhortation. He was excited about where they were walking and how they were walking with the Lord. But they had much to learn and faith to grow. The Holy Spirit cleaned them up and prepared them to stand before the Lord. And in fellowship, they shared in each other's adventure in the Lord. That makes this message particularly important to us in our times.
©2017, 2024 Doug Ford
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