Introduction:
A. Do you remember which childhood game included these words: “Ready or Not, Here I Come”?
1. How many of you enjoyed playing “Hide and Seek”?
2. Which did you enjoy more: being the one hiding or the one seeking?
3. You remember how the game went:
a. The seeker would cover their eyes and count out loud up to the agreed on number, whether it be 50 or 100 – sometimes they would cheat a bit by counting really fast, or by skipping numbers. 1…2…3…5…10…20.
b. While they were counting, everyone else tried to find a really good hiding place.
c. When the seeker reached the magic number, he or she would scream: “Ready or not, here I come.”
4. Four things were always certain:
a. The seeker was surely coming.
b. The seeker was coming when he got ready.
c. The seeker was coming whether you were ready or not.
d. If you were not ready, then you would pay the consequences.
B. Who would have thought that this fun childhood game would so closely parallel the second coming of Jesus – Just like the game of hide and seek, four things are always certain about the second coming:
1. Jesus is surely coming.
2. Jesus is coming when he gets ready.
3. Jesus is coming whether you are ready or not.
4. If you are not ready when Jesus comes, then you will pay the consequences.
C. After taking a break last Sunday for the youth rally, today we return to our “Be Ready” series from 1 & 2 Thessalonians.
1. Two weeks ago, we focused on the wonderful and well-known section that ends chapter 4 – Please open your Bibles to that passage.
2. The Thessalonians had expressed their concern about the state of those Christians who had died before the Second Coming.
3. Paul put their minds at ease saying, Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
4. What an amazing day that will be when Christ returns!
5. The dead in Christ will rise, those who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds and we will be with the Lord forever! How does that sound to you?
D. Today’s passage picks up right there as Paul continues to address this topic and their questions.
1. It appears that in addition to being concerned about those who had died, the Thessalonians were also concerned about when the Second Coming was going to take place.
2. It is that second concern that Paul addressed in chapter 5:1-11.
3. Let’s work through the passage and see what Paul wants us to know about the Second Coming.
4. Paul makes three important points.
I. First, No one Can Predict the Date of the Second Coming.
A. Paul wrote: Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (5:1-3)
B. Here we notice that Paul used two illustrations to convey the suddenness and unpredictability of the Second Coming – both are fantastic illustrations.
1. The first illustration is one that Jesus also employed – the Second Coming will be like a thief in the night.
a. The cloak of darkness and surprise are the thief’s best tools.
b. The thief avoids well-lit houses and those with alarm systems.
c. The thief certainly doesn’t let anyone know when he intends to strike – he doesn’t send a note encouraging you to be gone on a certain date and time so he can rob your home.
2. The second illustration Paul used is that the Second Coming is like the coming of labor pains on a pregnant woman.
a. The use of the C-section has enabled many to be able to schedule labor and delivery.
b. But those using the traditional method of natural childbirth are at the mercy of the Lord.
c. No one but God knows when those labor pains will begin and the child will be born.
d. But once the powerful labor pains begin to do their work, they can’t be stopped – there is no escape at that point.
C. In spite of the fact that Jesus and Paul said that no one would know the hour or the day, many people over the centuries have tried to predict the date, and have been embarrassed by their failures.
1. Some of the recent well-known failed predictions include Edgar Whisenant, a former NASA engineer and Bible student, who published the book 88 Reasons Why the Rapture is in 1988.
a. When that didn’t happen, he released other publications predicting it would be the following year, 1989.
b. When that didn’t happen, he moved the date to 1992, then 1995, and then 1997.
c. He died in 2001, and the Second Coming still has not taken place.
2. Even more recently was the failed prediction of Harold Camping who predicted that the rapture would take place on May 21, 2011.
a. He had come up with that date after his earlier prediction of Sept. 27, 1994 didn’t pan out.
D. The temptation to try to figure out the date should be recognized for what it is, a temptation.
1. Like most temptations, it distracts us from what we ought to be doing instead.
2. Think about it: what would happen if God did let us know the date of His return? What it we knew Jesus was coming back on Dec. 3, 2012? How would people respond?
3. Likely, some people would not believe it and others would not prepare until the last minute.
4. Neither of these reactions would be desirable.
E. So, the first thing Paul wants us to know for sure is that no one can predict the date of the Second Coming.
1. It will come without warning, like a thief in the night or labor pains on a pregnant woman.
II. The second point Paul made is that some people won’t be ready – they will be in the dark.
A. Paul wrote: 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. (5:4-7)
B. Paul employs a very powerful image to characterize those who are ready and those who are not.
1. The image is of light and darkness.
2. Those who are not ready are in the dark.
3. In Scripture the “night” and the “darkness” are always associated with that which is wrong and is opposite of God.
4. Paul uses the illustrations of the “night” and the “darkness” a couple of ways in these verses.
a. He associates night and darkness with undisciplined and unholy behavior.
b. And he associates the night and darkness with being asleep and not paying attention.
C. Have you ever wondered what is it about the night time and darkness that promotes evil?
1. I have always tried to convey to young people that very little that is good happens after midnight.
2. When do most of the shootings and stabbings happen? During the night.
3. When does most of the vandalism and robbery happen? During the night.
4. When do most people get drunk and engage in sexual immorality? During the night.
5. So if we are trying to avoid all that bad stuff that happens at night, where should we be after midnight? We should be safe at home and in bed.
D. Paul says that those who sleep, sleep at night, and of course, that’s when we should be physically asleep, right?
1. What Paul is talking about here has to do with spiritual sleep and darkness.
2. Paul is saying that danger is coming, but the drunken sleepers are unaware of it.
3. Those who are not expecting the Second Coming, are going to be caught off guard and unprepared.
4. They are going to be asleep at the wheel or on the job, and they will not be able to escape the judgment and consequences that will result.
5. This is a sad reality, but it is the truth.
E. So the two points Paul made so far about the Second Coming are:
1. No one can predict when the Second Coming will occur.
2. Some are not going to be ready when it happens.
III. The third point Paul made is that we can be ready – we can be in the light.
A. Paul wrote: 8 But 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. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
B. In contrast to those who are of the night and darkness, Paul said that we, Christians, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise us like a thief.
1. We, Christians, are all sons of the light and sons of the day.
2. Because we are sons and daughters of the day, then we must be alert and self-controlled.
3. We must stay awake and be ready.
4. One of the ways we stay ready is to put on the armor of God.
a. Here Paul mentions that faith and love are the breastplate, and the hope of salvation is the helmet.
5. You may remember that we have encountered faith, hope and love before in this letter (1:3).
a. Earlier the Thessalonians were commended for what their faith, hope and love was producing in their lives.
b. Here they are described as armor to protect them while they await Christ’s coming.
c. Faith and love are like a breastplate that covers the heart.
d. Salvation hope is a sturdy helmet that protects the mind.
e. Being ready includes keeping our armor on.
C. Paul ends this section giving the Thessalonians the great comfort and assurance that those who are ready for the Second Coming will be greatly blessed.
1. He reminds them that God has not appointed us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. And Paul reminds them that Jesus died for us so that, whether we are awake (alive) or asleep (dead), we may live together with him.
3. These truths should give them and us something to encourage each other with.
4. It is interesting to see how this section is like a mirror image of the section we covered in the sermon two weeks ago.
5. The truths surrounding the Second Coming of the Lord, both for those who have already died, and for those who are alive at the time of His coming, should be very encouraging.
6. We should be encouraged by reminding each other of these truths, and we should do so often!
Conclusion:
A. As we bring this sermon to a close I want to leave us with a few things to think about and a few things to do.
B. As we process the truths Paul presented in today’s verses, I want to encourage us to consider these statements:
1. The proper preparation for the coming Day of the Lord is service rather than speculation.
a. God has not commanded us to figure out the when of His coming, but He has suggested that it will be best for us to be busy serving when He comes.
2. For believers, the Day of the Lord is a cause of anticipation, not apprehension.
a. God wants us to have assurance of our salvation, and to feel secure in Christ.
b. Paul declared, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” (Rom. 8:1)
3. The only source of genuine security is God, not human abilities or human institutions.
a. We live a very insecure existence in very insecure times.
b. No social institution can guarantee our future.
c. No economic organization or enterprise can guarantee our economic security.
d. No form of government, whether it be a liberal welfare state, or conservative capitalistic state, can deliver on the promise of peace and safety and prosperity.
e. The only genuine source of earthly stability and eternal peace and security come from God.
4. So these are some important things to keep in mind.
C. A proper understanding and awareness of the return of Jesus should result in action. Here are some things to do:
1. The reality of the Second Coming should cause us to put our trust in God and to live out our faith.
a. This includes living with love and obedience to God and offering whole-hearted service to God and others.
2. The reality of the Second Coming should cause us to think about and talk about the return of Christ every day.
a. This will include encouragement to those who already believe but may be stumbling or struggling to keep the faith.
b. This will include talking with lost people about the hope of eternal life and the reality of the judgment to come.
3. The reality of the Second Coming should cause us to strive to be ready for His coming.
a. We want to be ready at all times, because Christ could come at any time.
D. The story is told about an inspection that took place one day on a military base.
1. One of the base sergeants took the inspectors on the tour of the base.
2. When they came to the cafeteria, the sergeant noticed that the food was better than usual.
3. The sergeant also noticed that the servers were much more friendly and helpful than usual.
4. When the meal was over and the inspectors were preparing to leave, the sergeant asked them this question: “I’m wondering if you wouldn’t mind coming back tomorrow to do another inspection. And could you also come the day after that? And the day after that as well?”
5. One thing everyone in that army unit realized was that an impending inspection affects performance.
6. That should also be true in the spiritual realm.
7. Realizing that Christ could return at any moment and make the ultimate inspection should cause us to be vigilant, ready and serving at peak performance at all times.
E. There’s a great day coming! Are you Ready?
1. Remember: The Second Coming will happen when God decides, and He will come whether you are ready or not!
2. So we must strive to be ready at all times!
Resources:
The NIV Application Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Michael W. Holmes, Zondervan, 1998.
The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, John MacArthur, Moody, 2002.
The Bible Exposition Commentary, 1 Thessalonians, Warren W. Wiersbe, Victor Books, 1989.
The Daily Study Bible Series, 1 Thessalonians, William Barclay, Westminster Press, 1975.
Lie: You Have Plenty of Time to Get Ready, Sermon by John Raulerson, SermonCentral.com
