Reading: 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 1-12.
Ill:
Acronyms
• IKEA- Named after the founder of the company; and a place in Sweden;
• Tesco is similar named after TES – T.E.Stockwell & Co – Jack Cohen.
• LASER –
• Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
• SCUBA – Self-Contained Under water Breathing Apparatus;
• Or: Swimmer Comes Up Barely Alive!
• TARDIS –
• Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space.
• IBM – International Business Machines Corporation
• Or: I Blame Microsoft
• Good old BOGOF – beloved of those who love a bargain;
• Buy One Get One Free
• NIMBY – is a favorite of those protesting against a new road, or a mobile phone receiver;
• Not In My Back Yard.
• FOBIO –
• Frequently Outwitted By Inanimate Objects.
Question: Why I am I giving you this riveting information?
Answer:
• There are many terms and expressions in the Bible;;
• That you may or may-not be familiar with the meaning behind it
• e.g. ‘Eschatology’
• e.g. ‘Rapture’.
• e.g. ‘Armageddon’
• e.g. ‘Tribulation,’
• e.g. the expression in verse 2: ‘the Day of the Lord’:
(1). The day of Lord (vs 1-2):
“Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the nigh
OLD TESTAMENT: ‘the Day of the Lord’:
• The topic ‘the Day of the Lord’ is a frequent Old Testament teaching.
• It is mentioned explicitly at least nineteen times in eight Old Testament books.
• The expression only occurs in the books of the Prophets;
• Obadiah, Joel, Amos, Isaiah, Zephaniah, Ezekiel, Zechariah and Malachi.
Note:
• To the Old Testament Jew all time was divided into two ages;
• There was the present age which was wholly and incurably bad.
• Then there was the age to come which would be the golden age of God.
• In between there was the ‘Day of the Lord’.
• This was often viewed as a terrible day;
• It would be a day in which one world was shattered and another was born!
• Many of the most terrifying Old Testament pictures of judgement;
• Are referred to by the term ‘the Day of the Lord’.
NEW TESTAMENT: ‘the Day of the Lord’:
• The topic ‘the Day of the Lord’;
• Is mentioned four times in the New Testament.
• (first): Peter mentions it in his very first sermon on the day of Pentecost.
• (Acts chapter 2 verse 20).
• (second & third): Apostle Paul mentions it twice in his letters to the Thessalonians:
• 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 2 & 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 2)
• (fourth): The apostle Peter mentions it in his second letter;
• 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 10.
Note: A couple of helpful things to note:
(a).
• Although it is called “The Day of the Lord”:
• It is not a single day made up of 24 hours.
• Rather “the Day of the Lord”: is a period of time;
• It could last for hours, days, even weeks etc.
• Note: nowhere does the Bible give a Day of the Lord as a time measurement.
(b).
• “The Day of the Lord” is a generic (a broad) phrase;
• Used by God’s prophets to describe historical future events;
• The theologians would say; “The ultimate eschatological consummation”.
• Ordinary folk would say; “Events that are linked to the end of the world” – i.e. age)
(c).
• “The Day of the Lord” is an expression that must always be studied in context;
• Because it has many meanings and applications;
• Only by examining the context of the particular passage that mentions it;
• Can we rightly determine its true meaning,
(d).
• “The Day of the Lord” is primarily a time when God judges His enemies;
• And establishes His kingdom on earth.
• The day of the Lord for some will be a day of judgement,
• For others a day of salvation.
(2). The coming of the day (vs 1-2)
“Now, brothers, about times and dates (or seasons) we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”
Question:
• When will this day be?
• When will the Day of the Lord take place?
Ill:
• General Douglas MacArthur tells the story;
• Of when he was just a at West Point college.
• The first section was studying the time-space relationship;
• Later formulated by Einstein as his Theory of Relativity.
• The text was complex and, being unable to comprehend it,
• I committed the pages to memory.
• When I was called upon to recite,
• I solemnly reeled off almost word for word what the book said.
• Our instructor, Colonel Fieberger, looked at me somewhat quizzically and asked,
• “Do you understand this theory?”
• It was a bad moment for me, but I did not hesitate in replying, “No, sir.”
• You could have heard a pin drop. I braced myself and waited.
• And then...slowly the professor spoke:
• “Neither do I, Mr. MacArthur. Section dismissed.”
Answer:
• The apostle Paul’s reluctance to give the Thessalonians an answer;
• Was not because he did not understand it - but rather because he did not know it!
• The apostle could not give them a specific time and date when he was with them;
• And he still could not give them a time or date now!
• These things are known only by God himself;
• He only and he alone knows the times and the dates!
The apostle Paul had taught these truths when he was staying in Thessalonica:
• Because in verse 1 he says: “we don’t need to write you”.
• In other words; “You have already had enough teaching on the topic”
• We covered all these bases when we lived among you.
• So instead of times and dates he gives an illustration, a word picture.
• His aim is to cause these Christians not to think about the future as something far off;
• Instead he wants them to think of ‘the Day of the Lord’ as a imminent reality!
• He gives them a strong image to impact their minds.
• i.e. “A thief in the night”
ill:
• Burglary is an increasing problem in our society;
• Did you know that Over 1.8 million houses are burgled each year in the UK,
• Burglary is dependent on the element of surprise.
• They come when they are least expected.
• Otherwise the householder would stay in or make sure the police were there;
• To catch him/her or them.
• Now by using this analogy Jesus makes the point;
• That his return to earth (and the Day of the Lord) will be when people least expect it.
Although the ‘Day of the Lord’ will be sudden;
• No Christian need be caught unaware;
• Because as we will see, it is only the person living in the dark - who cannot see,
• It is the person who is fast asleep;
• Who will not be ready when the thief arrives.
• But Christians are pictured here as those ‘walking in the light’,
• Those who are awake - therefore they should always be prepared!
Question:
• Christian are you awake or asleep?
• I suppose it’s a dangerous question for a preacher to ask.
• Quote: Someone defined preaching as: “Sleeping in someone else’s sleep”.
• In the context of these verses - Christian are you awake or asleep?
Ill:
• Ill: It is too late to prepare for an examination;
• When the exam paper is before you!
• Ill: It is too late to cook a roast meal;
• When the family are already seated around the table!
• Ill: It is too late to wait on the platform;
• When the last train has long gone!
• Ill: And it is too late to clean the house;
• If your visitors are standing on the doorstep.
Ill:
• If we know we have visitors coming;
• Very few of us do not tidy up, dust, Hoover etc.
• We might say; “You’ll have to take us as you find us”;
• But in reality most of us make the effort!
• In anticipation of our loved ones coming;
• We find the motivation for the job ahead!
Ill:
• It will be too late to put ‘our own house’ in order when he returns;
• Christian – do it now – while you can!
• Non-Christian – do it now – while you can!
(2). Unbelievers and the day (vs 3).
“While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
Two groups of people are mentioned in this chapter:
• Christians (that is committed believers) in Jesus Christ;
• And non-believers (those without a personal faith in Jesus Christ).
• The Christians are referred to as children of ‘Light’ (vs 5a).
• The non-believers as children of ‘Darkness’ (vs 5b).
• In the first six verses of chapter 5 we find the words:
• “They” mentioned twice and the word “”You” & “Us” (or “We”)” mentioned six times.
Notice:
• In this verse Paul shifts the pronouns from “You” (Christians he has been talking to);
• Now shifts the pronouns to “They” (that is those without faith in Jesus Christ).
Ill:
In September 1938 a man living in Long Island New York;
• Was disappointed with his mail order gift;
• He had seen a barometer advertised in a magazine and sent away for it..
• As he unwrapped it the needle was stuck on hurricane;
• He shook it and tapped it and banged it but it was stuck fast and refusing to move.
• He wrote a scathing letter to the company and the next day sent the barometer back first class asking for a refund.
• That evening when he returned home from work;
• Not only did he have no barometer but he also had no home!
• The instrument was not broken and had been pointing correctly all the time.
• It was just that the man refused to believe it!
Most non-Christians do not think about judgement;
• It’s a bit like their own death – it is a topic best ignored;
• Left on the back burner – because it is too painful to face!
• Paul says that when life for these particular unbelievers seems to carry on as normal;
• These people content in their unbelieving state – that’s when disaster will take place.
Ill:
• The people mentioned will be like the company and crew of the Titanic,
• They were full of the joys of life,
• Dancing cheerfully in the ballroom,
• Unaware of the immediate danger that was lying ahead!
Note:
• Once again Paul uses a very vivid and very telling word picture:
• “As labour pains on a pregnant woman”.
Ill:
• No pregnant woman knows exactly when her labour pains begin.
• She may suddenly be jolted out of her sleep by sharp pains,
• Her muscles powerfully and involuntary constricting with increasing intensity;
• As she nears the climax of birth.
Ill:
An old Scotsman lay dying;
• Someone spoke to him about his salvation;
• They asked him if he had made his peace with God through Jesus the saviour.
• He answer was a classic;
• “Ah man, I thatched my house when the weather was warm”.
(4). Believers and the day (vs 4-5).
“But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”
• Notice in verse 4 that once again there is a shift of focus:
• This verse moves from the unbeliever, back to the believer in Christ.
• After the terrifying predictions of verses 2-3;
• The contrasting word ‘But’ is a welcome relief.
Notice: Along with the relief comes responsibility (vs 6-8).
“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
• Because unbelievers live in the darkness of spiritual ignorance,
• They are unaware of the disaster that awaits them.
• It’s as if they are asleep or drunk or both!
But (note)in verse 8 here is the contrast again):
• Christians live in the light of truth, so Paul exhorts us to stay alert;
• The word translated as ‘alert’ means: “Both to be awake and to stay awake”
• Ill: one person yawns it will cause on lookers to yawn as well.
• Ill: If the world in which we live is sleeping – don’t let it cause you to sleep!
• The Christian is too be like a soldier, like a sentry on night duty;
• Listening out for any breaking twig that may betray a coming attack.
Paul tells all Christians to be “Self-controlled” or “Sober”:
• Maybe a better word would be ‘clearheaded’:
• Not fuddled or confused,
• Christians mustn’t numb their senses through drugs, alcohol or laziness.
• We must be vigilant and keep our sentry armour on.
Paul describes some of that armour for us:
• Verse 8;‘The breastplate of faith and love’
• Verse 8: ‘The helmet of salvation’s hope’.
• As we live the life of faith, love and hope;
• That protects us for whatever that day may bring forth!
Ill:
• Remember back in chapter 1 verse 3:
• Paul commended them for living with these qualities as a priority in their lives;
• Now he says – keep it up;
• Don’t rest on your laurels – you haven’t yet arrived – you are still on the journey!
• As we live the life of faith, love and hope;
• That protects us, it arms us and helps us be ready for the fight;
FAITH:
• Points to living with God.
• Trustfully accepting life with all its varied experiences.
• Ill: “Feeling, faith & fact poem”.
LOVE:
• Points to living in genuine caring fellowship with other Christians;
• That is why he keeps saying; ‘Encourage one another’.
• Love also points to reaching out to others – to a needy world!
• Because our life-saving information is the world’s only chance of rescue!
HOPE:
• Faith - points to living with God.
• Love - points to reaching out to others – to a needy world!
• Hope – points to living in expectancy;
• Who knows today could be the day!
Verses 9-11 gives the believer even more encouragement – the gospel:
“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
IN THESE VERSES ARE FOUR GREAT TRUTHS REGARDING SALVATION:
(1). The will of God.
• Our salvation does not depend on our determination but on his!
• Verse 9: “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation”.
• God’s will cannot be defeated, or turned aside, or lessened in its outcome;
• We will ‘Receive’ that is ‘Possess’ salvation in all its fullness!
(2). The Son of God.
• Verse 8: “...salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ”
• Just think of that name and title.
• “Lord” – full deity – therefore full power & authority.
• “Jesus” – full humanity – therefore full symphony & understanding.
• “Christ” – full vocation – therefore we are accepted in him – no other name!
(3). The cross of Christ.
• Verse 10: “He died for us”
• What we could not do for ourselves – he did it for us.
• His death is all sufficient!
• “One sacrifice for all”.
(4). The guaranteed future.
• Verse 10:
• “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.”
• Maybe Paul is referring back to what we looked at last week;
• In chapter 4 verse 13.
• It makes no difference if a Christian is dead or alive – they will not miss out!
• We are all going to be there!
• The apostle Paul reminds the Christian’s at Thessalonica;
• That “In Christ” they are protected from God’s wrath.
• This is yet another great reason to rejoice;
• And encourage and build one another up with these truths!
