Proper preparation for the second coming of Christ
For a few weeks, God has kept leading me back to a specific passage in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 which I believe He wants me to share with you today.
Let me give you a brief introduction to put the verses we are going to look at in context.
1 Thessalonians is one of the earliest letters The Apostle Paul wrote to the early church, and also one of the first books of the New Testament to be written.
The Apostle Paul, Silas, and Timothy had been to Thessalonica on Paul’s second missionary journey.
Paul had spent a few months at Thessalonica before travelling to Berea, then to Athens, and then he went to Corinth.
Paul felt that he had not had enough time in Thessalonica to instruct the new believers in Christ as thoroughly as he would have liked - so while Paul was in Athens, he sent Timothy to further encourage the Thessalonians.
Then Timothy re-joined Paul in Corinth with news of the strong faith of the Thessalonians.
It was in Corinth, in either late 50AD or early 51AD that Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonian church to express his joy at their steadfastness, encourage them while suffering, and correct misconceptions about the Lord’s return.
Do we have any misconceptions about the return of Jesus?
Are we properly prepared for the second coming of Christ?
Will He find us ready when He comes?
Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5 verses 1 to 10.
Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labour pains begin. And there will be no escape.
But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armour of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.
How can we be properly prepared for the second coming of Jesus Christ?
Our preparation for the 2nd coming of Jesus must take into account that the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
The return of Jesus will be a surprise for many. We live in a world where many people doubt Jesus ever existed. Some say IF he existed, he was just another prophet or a good man who went around helping people and He is not coming back.
Some Christians look at everything that is happening in the world right now and assume that the return of Christ is imminent. They say because of this situation or that circumstance, war, famine, or persecution we must be in the last days.
It is almost as if they have never read these words in 1 Thessalonians or the words of Peter in 2 Peter 3:10, But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
Don’t misunderstand me, I believe we are living in the last days because every day since Jesus ascended into Heaven after His resurrection is one of the last days – we just don’t know how many days, months or years there will be till He returns.
However many years, months, days, hours or minutes remain we must be ready for Jesus' return - even though we don't know exactly when it will be, IT WILL BE.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labour pains begin. And there will be no escape.
Not in times of trouble or tribulation, but when everything is peaceful and secure – in his second letter to the Thessalonians Paul provides more detail on this in
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with His mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from His glorious power. When He comes on that day, He will receive glory from His holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about Him.
The day of Jesus’ return will be a day of glory for those who are ready and a day of disaster for those who are not.
Are you properly prepared for the second coming of Christ?
What will that day be for you?
When Jesus comes "as a thief in the night"?
Will you experience a day of disaster and destruction or a day of delight?
It all depends upon if we are prepared for His coming – it depends on if we have already repented of our sins and accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
This is a decision we must make before Jesus returns, a decision that we must make now, when He returns it will be too late, this is a choice we can not put off.
For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
Proper preparation for Jesus’ return requires us to live now as children of the light and of the day; because we don’t belong to darkness and night.
In John 8:12, Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
In John 12:35-36, Jesus said, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”
We are to live as "children of light" and "children of the day", we are to live as those who follow Jesus the light of the world.
Proper preparation for the return of Jesus requires us to walk in the light, Ephesians 5:8, For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practising the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.
Proper preparation for the return of Jesus requires us to cast off works of darkness, and seek to walk properly - Romans 13:11-14 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armour of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
Proper preparation for the return of Jesus requires us to be watchful for His coming, 1 Thessalonians 5:6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
Matthew 24:36 and Matthew 24:42-44, However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
Proper preparation for the return of Jesus requires us to pray 1 Peter 4:7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.
Proper preparation for the return of Jesus requires repentance, and strengthening what we have Revelation 3:2-3 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.
Proper preparation for the return of Jesus requires us to not be asleep – to not be spiritually lax but to be alert – to be watchful 1 Thessalonians 5:6-7 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.
Listen to how Jesus states the importance of watching for His coming in Luke 21:34-36 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
Jesus is telling us we should be properly prepared for His return.
It is so important that we take the promise of Jesus' 2nd coming seriously.
Proper preparation for the return of Jesus requires us to be correctly armed.
1 Thessalonians 5:8, let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armour of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
Paul encourages us to put on "the armour of God" and emphasises the importance of the breastplate of faith and love because faith and love protect our hearts from evil.
Romans 10:17, So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
And 1 John 3:16, We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Our confident hope of salvation is like a helmet that protects our mind from fear and doubt,
Our hope also comes from the word of God - Romans 15:4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Proper preparation for the return of Jesus requires us to wait
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out His anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when He returns, we can live with Him forever.
In regards to God’s anger, there is a day of anger coming, in Romans chapter 2 verses 4-11 Paul says Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honour and immortality that God offers. But He will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honour and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favouritism.
Friend, if you are in Christ, if you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour you will not experience God’s anger, Jesus came to deliver you from the punishment your sins deserve.
If you have repented and turned to Christ you will experience glory and honour and peace from God the Father.
Your salvation is certain and secure because of the blood of Jesus – Romans 5:8-10 God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son.
Here is the wonderful truth for all who trust repent and trust in Jesus, 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when He returns, we can live with Him forever.
When Jesus returns, whether we are "awake or asleep" (alive or dead), we will rise and live with Jesus forever!
1 Thessalonians 4:14, For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died.
1 Thessalonians 4:17, Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
The Apostle Paul was willing to wait. In Philippians 1:20-25 he wrote, For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honour to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.
IN CONCLUSION,
we can be properly prepared for the second coming of Jesus Christ by:
Being watchful and certain He is returning.
Living as children of the light and of the day because we do not belong to darkness and night.
Putting on the armour of God - With faith and love as a breastplate protecting our hearts, and with the hope of salvation as a helmet protecting our minds.
The absolute necessity for us to be able to do these things is spending time in the Word of God which builds our faith and our hope and provides us comfort and direction.
We must be diligent to be properly prepared for the second coming of Jesus Christ by applying God's Word to our lives.
I will close with the words of Paul from 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24 and 28 - Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
AMEN
