The Last Days
I Thessalonians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsThe Day of the Lord will be a complete surprise for unbelievers but should not come as a shock to those who know Christ and are looking for His return.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Just prior to this passage the apostle Paul has detailed the events of the rapture of the church. He did so to offer comfort to the believers in Thessalonica and to remedy the concerns they felt.
Paul then moves on to describe the implications of the end time events upon believers and unbelievers alike.
It is vitally important to note the pronouns that Paul uses in this passage. We see the pronouns you, ye, yourselves, and us to refer to Paul and to the believers in the church at Thessalonica. He also uses the pronouns they, them. and others to refer to the unbelieving world outside of the church.
There are a number of contrasts in this passage between these two classes of people in this passage.
We see the contrast surrounding the:
Expectation of Christ’s Coming (Vs. 1-4)
Expectation of Christ’s Coming (Vs. 1-4)
The unbelieving world will be in complete shock when Christ returns and the world is plunged into the tribulation period.
The believers in Thessalonica had evidently been thoroughly instructed by Paul concerning the events of the last days. He begins this passage stating the fact that they knew perfectly (accurately, exactly) the details that were available concerning the day of the Lord.
The believers in Thessalonica did not know the exact timing of the Lord’s return but they were aware of the fact that He would one day return and they were aware of the events that would follow His return.
As believers, we ought to live each day with an expectation that the Lord may return today. We should not be caught unaware at Christ’s return.
This will not be the case for the unbelieving world. They will be caught completely by surprise when the events of the last days begin to unfold.
The day of the Lord is always used in reference to the tribulation period that begins following the rapture of the church. Once the church has been caught up God’s judgement will be unleashed upon the unbelieving world.
There will come a time when it seems that the antichrist has achieved world peace but ultimately this peace will be plunged into sudden destruction.
No matter what the world believes they will not escape the coming judgement from God.
Preparation for Christ’s Coming (Vs. 5-8)
Preparation for Christ’s Coming (Vs. 5-8)
The unbelieving world is dwelling in darkness with no concern for Christ’s return. They are living their lives as though Christ does not exist and as though the Bible is untrue.
- as it was in the days of Noah
The world will be caught sleeping or drunken and will have no opportunity to prepare themselves for Christ’s coming or for the coming judgement that they will ultimately face. Drunkenness in this context presents a people who are totally unequipped to respond to the situation.
Drunk driving accidents- reaction time is seriously increased.
You and I as believers are children of light, meaning we are no longer walking in darkness since the day we trusted Christ as savior. We ought to be prepared for the Lord’s return regardless of the day or the hour. We ought to be always ready.
We have the Word of God and the Spirit of God to shed light on the events of the last days but we must purpose to allow this light to motivate us to be watchful and sober.
We cannot afford to fall asleep spiritually as we live our daily lives. It is tempting to think that since the Lord has not returned in the last 2000 years of church history that it is unlikely that He will return during our lifetime. We can be lulled into forgetting that each day could be our last and that Christ could call the church home at any moment.
Paul instructs the believers in Thessalonica to watch (to be alert and aware) and to be sober (clear-headed, self-controlled). This certainly applies to the modern day believer who is nearly 2000 years closer to the Lord’s return.
The world has no concern for Christ’s return and the majority never even give a moments thought to the idea that Jesus Christ is going to return and that God will one day judge this world.
You and I must discipline ourselves to be always mindful of the fact that Christ will return and that this world is not our home. We should live with a desire to be faithful to the Lord and to His commandments so that we will not be ashamed at His coming.
We must put on the armor that Paul mentions here to enable us to defend ourselves against the constant barrage of attacks from Satan that would cause us to be unprepared for Christ’s return.
- ashamed at his coming
We must do all that we can to abide (remain in fellowship with) in Him. We can only do this by heeding the instruction of the Word of God and faithfully executing the will of God for our lives.
The un
- We are not to stand around idle awaiting the Lord’s return. You and I ought to be busy about the Lord’s business as we patiently look for His return.
“There is a difference between being ready to go to heaven and being ready to meet the Lord” - Warren Wiersbe
Verse nine again reminds us that you and I will ultimately be delivered from the wrath to come by our faith in Jesus Christ and that we will be united with Him at His coming to live together with Him.
Again Paul states that these words are intended to comfort and edify (build up) you and I as believers. A right response to the promise of Christ’s coming will do exactly that!