This Material Has Not Been Edited For s4

THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR

SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR

I Thessalonians

Chapter Five

4:13-5:11 INSTRUCTION.

A 4:13. Instruction necessary as to those who are asleep [Dead].

B 4:14. First reason. For (gar) God will bring them [from heaven –believers] from the dead.

C 4:15. Second reason. For (gar) those who are live shall not precede them.

D 4:16, 17. Third reason. Because (hoti) both [the dead bodies and living saints] shall be

Caught up together (hama).

E 4:18. Wherefore comfort one another.

Remember what Paul said, ‘We are confident, I say, and will rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.’ 2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV To Paul death was only physically dieing but having your soul [as Job said ‘thou hast fenced me in with sinews and flesh.’]. Go to heaven. At the point of death, three things happen:

1. The body dies and becomes dust.

2. The Spirit or breath of life goes back to the source of all life which is God.

3. The Soul is the inner person that either goes to Hell to await the coming Judgment or if one is a believer goes to heaven [‘And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, doest Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them the dwell on the earth?” And white robes were given unto every one of them…’ Revelation 6:9-11 KJV].

A 5:1. Instruction is not necessary as to times and seasons.

B 5:2-6. First reason. For (gar) they knew already the character of the Day of the Lord.

C 5:7, 8. Second reason. For (gar) they that sleep [not looking] sleep in the night.

D 5:9, 10. Third reason. Because (hoti) we are appointed to live together (hama) with Him.

E 5:11. Wherefore comfort one another.

1 Thess 5:1-11

5:1The Day of the Lord But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. NKJV

DAY OF THE LORD Heemera kuriou Heemera (Day NT. 2250) kuriou (Of the Lord NT 2962)

CHAPTER FIVE

DAY Heemera NT: 2250

2. H¢méraas Time.

(a). "Lifetime" etc. (Heb 5:7; 7:3; 12:10), "period of time" (Rev 10:7, of future events; Acts 15:7, the early days; 2 Peter 3:3, the last time prior to judgment; Acts 2:17, the last time as already present; 2 Tim 3:1, the last time as the time of judgment; Luke 17:22, the days of the Messiah; Mark 2:20, the time after Jesus' death).

In the singular the word denotes the last age. The stress is on the divine action along the lines of apocalyptic [Revelation], but still with different nuances as in the Jewish world. Thus in Luke 17:24 the day of the Son of Man refers to his final coming in glory (cf. John 8:56).

In 2 Peter 3:12 the reference is to the day of God as a day of final conflagration, while in Rev 16:14 the great day of God is that of conflict with the kings of the earth. In Paul the "day" is the great day of judgment for the church (1 Cor 1:8) or himself (2 Cor 1:14) as well as non-Christians; it serves as an ethical incentive.

In 2 Thess 2:2 the manifestation of Christ is the primary concern; the day of the Lord here is equivalent to the day of Christ in Philippians. In the absolute, "day" is the Day of Judgment in 1 Thess 5:5; l Cor. 3:13; Heb 10:25(cf. "that day" in Matt 7:22etc. and "great day" in Jude 6; Rev 6:17, etc.).

The day of Christ's manifestation and the Day of Judgment are, of course, the same. The content may sometimes be denoted by phrases like day of judgment in Matt 11:22, wrath in Rom 2:5, and redemption in Eph 4:30. The last day is also used for the day of resurrection in John 6:39-40etc. But day may simply denote a point of time, as in Col 1:6, 9, or a period as in James 5:5; 1 Peter 2:12 these two passages are probably not eschatological.

E. Live as children of the day. 5:1-11

The discussion of the participants in the Parousia leads to questions about the time and the signs of the Parousia. In response to these, Paul alerts the believers to constant readiness. Vigilance and sobriety are the proper attitudes, while faith, love, and hope are the Christian's arsenal.

Note: It is interesting that from the inception of the Church on the day of Pentecost that every generation was looking for the coming of Jesus Christ from heaven and living to be ready for that great day. But our generation is:

1. Sleeping and believing that Christ can not come until all these prophecies in Revelation have been fulfilled.

2. That in order to be purified we must go through the tribulation that is coming. [Even though the church has never ever ceased from going through tribulation from its beginning.].

3. Now we have great buildings and large congregations and good music and entertainment to try to compete with the world’s attractions. We need the people to come in so that we can pay the bills. But what about the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and conviction for sins? Remember the 10 virgins 5 were wise and 5 were foolish. Paul the Learner

CHAPTER FIVE

Note: I am not condemning large churches or large congregations; I am only saying that the purpose of the church is the salvation of the lost and not just the entertainment of the believers. Let’s get back to basic’s, (a) the saving of souls (b) the teaching of the word of God (c) the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in operation in the local assembly (d) the true worship of God that draws the lost into the house of God. Paul the Learner

1 Thess 5:1

Paul had undoubtedly relayed personally to the Thessalonians the important words of Christ: "but of that day . . . knoweth no man . . ." (Mark 13:32-33). Nothing need or can be said about the time of the Second Coming. Times (chronon, length of time) signifies the chronological periods which are to elapse before the Second Coming; while seasons (kairon, kind or quality of time) refers to the significant events, the pregnant opportunities that transpire during these epochs (cf. Acts 1:7).

Homily 9 - 1 Thessalonians 5:1, 2

5:1, 2. "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."

Nothing, as it seems, is so curious, and so fondly prone to pry into things obscure and concealed, as the nature of men. And this is wont to happen to it, when the mind is unsettled and in an imperfect state. For the simpler sort of children never cease teasing their nurses, and tutors, and parents, with their frequent questions, in which there is nothing else but "when will this be?" and "when that?"

And this comes to pass also from living in indulgence, and having nothing to do. Many things therefore our mind is in haste to learn already and to comprehend, but especially concerning the period of the consummation; and what wonder if we are thus affected, for those holy men, themselves, were most of all affected in the same way?

And before the Passion, the Apostles come and say to Christ, "Tell us, when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matt 24:23) And after the Passion and the Resurrection from the dead, they said to Him, Tell us, "Dost Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (From Acts 1:6) And they asked Him nothing sooner than this.

But it was not so afterwards, when they had been vouchsafed the Holy Ghost. Not only do they not themselves inquire, nor complain of this ignorance, but they repress those who labor under this unseasonable curiosity. Hear for instance what the blessed Paul now says, "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you."

Why has he not said that no one knows? Why has he not said, that it is not revealed, instead of saying, "Ye have no need that aught be written unto you"? Because in that case he would have grieved them more, but by speaking thus he comforted them. For by the expression, "Ye have no need," as if it were both superfluous, and inexpedient, he suffers them not to enquire.

For tell me, what would be the advantage? Let us suppose that the end would be after twenty or thirty or a hundred years, what is this to us? Is not the end of his own life the consummation to every individual? Why art thou curious, and travails about the general end? But the case is the same with us in this, as in other things.

CHAPTER FIVE

For this reason Christ did not tell it, because it was not expedient. How, you say, was it not expedient? He who also concealed it knows wherefore it was not expedient. For hear Him saying to His Apostles, "It is not for you to know times, or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority." (Acts 1:7)

Ver. 2

Hear Paul saying, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." Not the general day only, but that of every individual. For the one resembles the other, is also akin to it. For what the one does collectively, that the other does partially. For the period of consummation took its beginning from Adam, and then is the end of the consummation; since even now one would not err in calling it a consummation.

And another thing again. The fear of death and the love of life restrain many. But if each one knew that to-morrow he would certainly die, there is nothing he would refuse to attempt before that day, but he would murder whomsoever he wished, and would retrieve himself by taking vengeance on his enemies, and would perpetrate ten thousand crimes.

Ye see how many advantages there are, and yet there are more than these that arise from not knowing the time of our end. Meanwhile it is sufficient to learn these. On this account He so cometh as a thief in the night; that we may not abandon ourselves to wickedness, or to sloth; that He may not take from us our reward.

"For yourselves know perfectly," he says. Why then are you curious, if you are persuaded? But that the future is uncertain, learn from what Christ has said. For that on this account He said it, hear what he says, "Watch therefore: for ye know not at what hour" the thief "cometh." (Matt 24:42.) On this account also Paul said,

1 Thess 5:2

You know perfectly. Paul had carefully informed the believers that constant preparedness was the Christian's obligation. The day of the Lord must be viewed against its OT background. The term was current in Israel before the time of Amos but was applied only to God's judgment of the Gentiles.

In a graphic passage, not unlike 1 Thess 5:2-4, Amos corrects this misinterpretation, pointing out that a righteous God judges sin wherever it is found-even in Israel (Amos 5:18-20). Cf. Joel 1:15; 2:1-2, 31-32; Zeph 1:14ff. The day is the time of God's righteous intervention in history, when he will exact his rightful due from mankind.

In 2 Thess 2:2ff. This day is connected with the great apostasy and the revelation of Antichrist, i.e., the Tribulation period. Thief, etc., recalls Matt 24:43 and Luke 12:39. The figure depicts the unexpectedness of the event.

CHAPTER FIVE

First let’s deal with the thought of sudden destruction cometh upon them:

1. The destruction will be general among the nations.

2. The cities of the nations will fall by a great earthquake.

3. Hail will fall the weight of 114 lbs.

4. The armies of the nations at Armageddon will be destroyed.

5. Except for a 6th part of them.

See Ezekiel 39:2; Zechariah 14:1-5, 16-21; Revelation 19:11-21). Many will be left alive to enter the Millennium (Zechariah 14:16-21; Isaiah 2:1-4; Matthew 25:31-46). Dake