Proper Preparation For The Second Coming Of Christ Series

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