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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
January 17, 2021
The Day of the Lord
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
Introduction
Last week I stated that I believe that I am charged by the Lord as your pastor with the responsibility of preparing you for what is to come. In one sense that has always been true since a pastor is to shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5:2) and preach God’s word in all seasons ready to reprove, rebuke and exhort with great patience and instruction (2 Timothy 4:2). Life is always moving forward and the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to enable us to not only understand God and His purposes for life, but to also live it according to God’s will and commands. By preaching and teaching the Holy Scriptures God uses me to prepare you for what is coming in the normal flow of living your life and how to make wise and godly decisions so that your life can be lived properly before God and fulfill its eternal purposes. By fulfilling my role as a shepherd, I help you to apply Biblical truth to daily life so what is learned is also lived out in practice. That is actually a role every believer has in their interaction with one another so that the whole body matures and becomes more like Christ (Eph. 4:11-16). Understanding God and His will through His word enables you to live properly in righteousness in each next step in your life as you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
It enables children to learn of God and know Him and develop character traits that will last them a life time. It enables young adults to figure out what is important in life so that they can set their course to use their life for what has eternal value instead of being side tracked by the enticements of worldliness to waste their lives on its vanities that pass away like a morning fog. This includes both career paths and finding a life partner should God so bless with a spouse. It enables young married couples to learn to become a picture of Christ and the church as they learn to love each other as He loved us. It enables young parents to train their children in the ways of the Lord and usually makes them more attentive to their own example and therefore promotes godliness in the whole family. It enables middle age adults to not only guide their older children into adulthood, but also to take up leadership roles in their community. It enables older adults to have the godly wisdom to be the sages that will teach the younger generations the purpose of life while being prepared themselves for entering into eternity. There is always something next in life for which the Scriptures will prepare if we are paying attention to them and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
There are also times when current events give clear indication of what is coming next within that society. What has occurred in 2020 and especially in the last few weeks have removed all doubt that God’s wrath has come against this nation. The case has been building for years as the slide of society into depravity following the pattern set in Romans 1 has unfolded before us. We begged God for mercy for the sake of the remnant even though our political and social leaders have descended so far into the pit of moral perversion that they cannot even recognize there are innate physical and psychological differences between men and women. Some of them also advocate the mutilation of children based on gender confusion which they block from receiving counseling to reorient themselves to reality. God’s wrath is revealed in His pulling His hand away to allow man to pursue his sin.
In the past year we have seen that the character of the American people is not what it once was as such a large part of our population out of fear of a bad cold has given government and business elites control over their lives – which businesses can be open, where you can travel and whom you can gather together with. We are no longer the land of the free and home of the brave. We are a land of the oppressed and home of the afraid. Even worse, many state governments have blocked the medications already proven to alleviate the sickness and prevent death. There is a reason that the U.S.A. is a leader in COVID infections and deaths with over 188 nations running less than half our death rate (1,211 / million) and 77 less than 10%.
Added to this is the blatant and flagrant voter fraud for which no legal recourse was ever found as court after court including the U.S. Supreme Court blocked even examining the evidence and Congress proved to be too partisan or spineless to pause to examine the evidence so that legitimacy would be conferred on whoever was inaugurated as President. An illegitimate administration will take the reigns of power this week and it will finish the job of fundamentally changing this nation into another failed socialist experiment quickly moving to a totalitarian regime. If this new regime carries out only a small portion of what is it promising to do, we can expect a further economic meltdown and direct persecution of political conservatives and Bible believing Christians.
That purge began quickly as big tech firms began cutting off the voices of any one that disagrees with their agenda. When the President of the United States can be cut off, anyone can be cut off. It has already been reported to me that particular sermons on our youtube account are no longer accessible – but they are still on SermonAudio. I am quickly downloading copies of anything we do not already have on hard drive to repost on alternative social media. Due to Amazon cutting off conservative apps from their servers, my family will no longer use Amazon and neither will the church. I encourage you to do the same. Even if you pay a few dollars more, it is worth it to use vendors who believe in freedom of speech otherwise you are giving profit to a company that will cancel you. I also encourage you to switch to alternative social media platforms while maintaining your current ones solely, and I repeat solely, for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel until you are cut off. That is how we will use the church facebook and youtube accounts until we are cancelled.
While all of this is heartbreaking to those of us who love America and believe our heritage has been a great blessing from God, it fits perfectly well with what God has already revealed will happen in the future. As I stated last week, my goal is to prepare you to live full and vibrant lives to the glory of God even though it will be a nation in which the elites view true Christians as enemies of the state. The first step in that is making sure you understand some of the basics of what God has revealed will happen in the future. If you clearly understand where you are heading, then you can keep a straight path on the way to reaching your goal. If you become distracted by what this world values, then you will meander about and squander the years of your life on what will in the end be futile chasing after the wind.
Last week we saw in our study of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 that Paul sought to remove the ignorance of the Thessalonian believers concerning what will happen to those who had already died, and specifically would they miss the rapture, the catching up of believers to meet the Lord in the air upon the presence of His appearing. I pointed out in that sermon that the souls of believers who have passed from this life are already with the Lord, and that at the rapture, their resurrection bodies will arise first and then those believers who are alive and remain will have their bodies transformed into immortal, incorruptible bodies and both groups will meet the Lord in the air as already pointed out. That is why this doctrine is comforting (vs. 18). (See: Comfort & Hope in Christ’s Return)
There is debate as to the timing of the rapture, and I believe that we should be gracious to one other in dealing with it since precise understanding in eschatology is difficult at best since there are still so many things that will remain unknown to us until they actually occur. However, I also believe the greatest Scriptural support is that the rapture will occur at the beginning of the 70th week prophesied in Daniel 9, also known as the Tribulation Period. The other views have great difficulty with the many passages that we are to have an eager anticipation of the imminent return of Christ as well as those that clearly state that believers are not destined for God’s wrath which is what will come upon the earth during that time period.
Paul springboards from his discussion of the rapture and the hope that it brings that gives comfort / encouragement (parakalevw / parakale ) to believers to bring up the broader topic of the day of the Lord as another source of encouragement (parakalevw / parakale ) in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. This passage builds directly off Paul’s discussion of the rapture and its ramifications to the believer.
Overview – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Paul makes it clear that he has already taught them concerning what is to come, the “times and epochs.” But here he reminds them of particular details so that they would use it to encourage each other based upon these teachings. While I would certainly like to know the details of what Paul had taught the Thessalonians prior to this, I am content that what has been revealed to us is sufficient for us to live life in godliness even as described in 2 Peter 1:3-4. Notice from the beginning that this doctrine is to have a practical effect in how we live life in the present. What we believe will happen in the future should result in us living, as Paul describes here, as sons of the light and sons of the day who are alert and sober. I will go into that in more detail next week, but for this week I want to make sure that you understand the direct connection between a proper understanding of eschatology – the doctrine of last things, of what is prophesied still to come – and living holy lives.
I believe it is very fair to say that if your discussion about God’s revelation of future events does not result in you living a more righteous life, then something is seriously wrong in your understanding. While I believe theological discussions can and should include strong arguments and can even be passionate, I also believe that the kinds of vitriol and breaking of fellowship between brothers and sisters in Christ that has occurred over differences in eschatology is wrong if not just plain sinful. I have often said in both humor and all seriousness that those who hold to something other than a pre-tribulational position – that Jesus will return for His church prior to the tribulation period – want me to be right, and that if I am wrong, I am already to be ready for persecution because many Scriptures tell me to expect it and be ready for it. There is no reason for me to be angry with a brother because he thinks his position more Biblically sound than my own. Mature believers welcome the differences as prods for both to dig deeper into God’s word in pursuit of properly understanding what God’ has revealed. Frankly, I am more sure of my position today and its strong Biblical foundation than in years past directly due to those that have challenged me on it. (See: Why We are Pre-Millennial & Why We are Pretribulational)
Times & Seasons – 1 Thessalonians 5:1
Paul’s transition here, now concerning (Peri; de; / peri de), moves the focus from the details of events that will take place at the time of the rapture to a more general discussion of the “times and epochs.” Jesus used that same phrase in Acts 1:6 in answering the disciples question, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” That was a logical question for them to ask since according to their understanding of Biblical prophecy that would be next. Messiah was present and resurrected from the dead, so He should set up His kingdom especially in light of Jesus’ warnings to be ready for the return of the Son of Man (Matt. 24, 25; Luke 12:35-48; 17:20-37) and specifically to “be on the alert” (Mt. 24:42; 25:13; Mark 13:33).
Jesus’ answer is intriguing because there were so many ways He could have answered including“no, not yet” or“no, but it is the start of the last dispensation before the kingdom is restored” with some sort of explanation either brief or extensive. He does not rebuke their expectation, but only their focus on the timing of it. Jesus replied to them, “7 It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Jesus did not want them to be concerned about the timing of the restoration of the kingdom. God would take care of that according to His own plan. They were to be focused on the priority at hand which was being His witnesses once they had received power when Holy Spirit would come upon them.
This is a good reminder to us before we start digging into the details of what Paul states here in 1 Thessalonians 5. We need to make sure we keep our priorities straight and not get caught up into the speculation that is so common with the study of eschatology. Again, if your study of this topic does not produce in you greater holiness, then something is seriously wrong.
Since Paul states that there was no need for him, or anyone else, to write to them about this subject, we must assume they were already well taught concerning “the times and epochs.” To what then is he referring to? Time, crovnoV / Chronos, is a general reference to its course or span. From it we get our words “chronology,” the sequencing of events in time, and “chronometer,” which we usually refer to as a clock. The word translated as “epochs” or “seasons,” (kairovV / kairos), carries the idea of a decisive moment or point. It encompasses the events and characteristics of a period in which related events would occur. We use the words epoch, era or season to signify periods of time marked by certain characteristics. Summer is the season when it is hot. Winter is the season when it is cold. The “Victorian Era” refers the characteristics of English society during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Joining the ideas of both crovnoV / chronos and kairovV / kairos together refers to when the events of the future will take place, what will be the characteristics of future eras, and how long those eras will last. All of these are fixed by God as stated in Acts 1:7. We do not know the specifics of what Paul taught the Thessalonians concerning the times and epoch, but what is stated here and in other Scriptures does give us a general understanding of what God has planned for the future.
Notice that one again Paul refers to these Greeks in Thessalonica as “brethren.” A basic rule of interpretation of any literature is that a word that is repeated many times is important. We know that the Jews tended to be ethnocentric as the “chosen people of God” and looked down on other ethnic groups. But the same was true for most cultures and it was certainly true of the Greeks. In Acts 17:18 the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers referred to Paul as an “idle babbler” a condescending term for someone that did not really have anything worthwhile to say for their knowledge was considered to be just scraps picked up here and there. Throughout this letter Paul makes an emphasis that Jews and Greeks became one family – brothers – in Christ.
The Day of the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 5:2
In verse 2 Paul uses a phrase that has wide usage and therefore can have a wide ranging of meanings that must be determined by the context of the passage. What is the meaning of the day of the Lord?
I have included in the bulletin a chart of the usage and meaning of the day of the Lord that I slightly adapted from one the given to me in Seminary that was compiled by Dr. Irv Busenitz. Please take that out so I may show you the wide range of usage of this phrase. It is too detailed for powerpoint, so you will have to look at the paper or pdf copy. click here for Day of the Lord Chart PDF
First, note that the phrase can include the article “the” before “Lord” but it does not have to do so. Singular entities do not need an article to distinguish them, and in each of these, the references are actually to God’s covenant name, Yahweh, a singular being, and not to an “adoni” / lord, that must be distinguished from other lords.
The second block of columns list out particular objects that are mentioned in the passage listed. These include particular nations as well as people with particular characteristics. The third block of columns distinguishes particular characteristics described in the passage. These range from particular events that take place such as seismic activity to unusual signs in the heavens to actions taken such as a trumpet call. The next block of columns distinguishing the results of the day of the Lord is split into negative and positive results. Plundered houses, destruction and death are all negative while restored land, salvation and knowing the Lord are all positive. The final set of columns marks the nature of the fulfillment of the prophecy of whether it has imminency, was already fulfilled, will be fulfilled in the future or contained elements both historical and future.
The comparisons in the chart make it clear that the phrase “day of the Lord” has a wide range of meanings and must be interpreted in its context. It can refer to something very specific and narrow in time such as the locust plague in Joel 2 which has already been fulfilled to something with a wide range of time such as 2 Peter 3 which starts with its arrival like a thief and then jumps to the destruction of the present heavens and earth and the start of eternity with a new earth and heavens. The comparisons also make it clear that there are multiple separate events which are referred to as a “day of the Lord,” and that there is also a final “day of the Lord” that begins suddenly and goes into eternity which has multiple elements within it. Each prophecy about it gives us a little more understanding about the “times and epochs” of what is to come. That is one of the reasons eschatology is difficult because it is putting together bits and pieces from various Scripture passages to try to understand the whole.
To this we can add passages that speak of the same prophetic events but do not use the phrase “day of the Lord.” For example, in Philippians Paul uses the phrase “day of Christ” three times in reference to Jesus’ return for believers. In Philippians 1:6 it is the encouraging promise that “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” In Philippians 1:10 he uses it as encouragement for them to abound in love, real knowledge, discernment, excellence that they might be sincere and blameless “until the day of Christ.” In Philippians 2:15 he uses it to encourage them to live differently than the world and hold fast to the word of life so that “in the day of Christ” Paul would have reason to glory in them for he would have fulfilled his purpose. Then there are prophetic passages such as Zechariah 14 and Daniel 7, 9, 11 & 12 which clearly speak of events of the end times but which do not use this phrase at all.
We know that what is said here in 1 Thessalonians 5 deals with the imminent return of Christ due to its tie with the rapture in the previous section. We also know it deals with the final “day of the Lord” of the last days because of its reference to its coming as “a thief in the night” and that those in it will not escape. Theologians refer to this as “the eschaton”
Unexpected Coming – as a thief in the night – 1 Thessalonians 5:2
The idea of the day of the Lord coming as thief in the night is cited in multiple prophecies and expresses the idea of it coming suddenly and unexpectedly. Jesus states this directly in Matthew 24:42-44, 42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
1 Peter 3:10 also states, “but the day of the Lord will come like a thief,” but then he jumps past the Tribulation period and the millennium to the final events in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” He then continues on to our hope “according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” Revelation 20 describes the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven and Revelation 21 describes the new heavens and new earth.
In Revelation 3:3 Jesus warns the church at Sardis that He will “come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come.” It was for that reason he challenged them to repent and wake up. The emphasis in all these passages is that the return of Jesus will come suddenly and unexpectedly. And while in all of these passages it is made plain that the exact timing is not known, that does not mean there will not be plenty of warnings that the time is drawing near. The problem is that the signs will be ignored by the vast majority or people. The Lord’s call is for us to pay attention and be prepared with an emphasis that we should always be prepared because we do not know what hour He will come, but there are plenty of signs it is near.
For example, Paul states in 1 Timothy 4:1-4 “1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” Asceticism is on the rise among some groups that claim to be Christian while other groups commonly claim to be speaking to God without realizing they are actually speaking to demons easily demonstrated by the heresy they teach and wickedness of their lives. Paul gives further description in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 stating, 1 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” In 2 Timothy 4:3–4 he adds another element pointing out 3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” All of these fit very well the time in which we live.
2 Peter 3:3–7 warns 3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” What an accurate description of those that have rejected the Genesis account for their own pseudo science religion of evolution. Jude 18–19 quotes Peter and adds concerning these mockers, 19 “These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.” Churches are still being rent asunder, torn apart, by false doctrines that creep in to destroy.
The church at large in America has become apostate and what we thought were fellow evangelicals are rapidly going in the same direction. America has a political problem because it has a religious problem described in these passages of what occurs in the later days.
Then there are all the prophecies of what will occur during the tribulation period such as those listed in Matthew 24 which correspond very well with Revelation 6 warning of the “beginning of birth pangs” which includes war, famine, death and apostasy. Remember, the doctrine of the imminent return of Jesus for His church is that many things could happen but nothing must happen before His return. When we see things happen that prepare the way for particular events to happen during the Tribulation we are given a clue that Christ’s return may be very soon.
For example, the abomination of desolation occurs in the middle of the Tribulation period causing the sacrifices in the temple to stop, so the fact that all the materials needed to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem and a red heifer has been bred for consecration of the temple means that can all happen quickly. Israel agreeing to not retaliate in the first Gulf War and let the United States provide protection sets the precedent for Israel to make a treaty with the anti-Christ for protection. The multiple treaties between Israel and formerly hostile Arabic nations negotiated by President Trump set the stage for a time when Israel believes it will be safe. Then there is the quick demise of the United States as a world power that is happening before our very eyes. What do I mean by that?
You can search the Scriptures carefully but you will not find even a veiled reference to the western hemisphere. We play no role in the end time events. The question in my mind has been, how can that happen quickly given the superpower status of the United States? Destruction by nuclear war was a strong possibility at one time, and though not quite as likely now it could still play a role. A theological solution would have been that the rapture of the church would leave the nation incapable of functioning because we had such a high percentage of Christians in the nation and in key positions of government and business. But that is certainly not true any more. What has become a very real possibility is our own economic self destruction leading to irrelevance. We destroyed our economy last year and the plans of the incoming regime will finish the job. We have placed ourselves into debt to our enemy, China, and Joe Biden has already proven he is a partner with them and will be not much better than a pawn of Bejing. Our military might is worthless if there is not an economy to support it, and diplomacy has no strength without the military, besides, what role could diplomacy play on the world scene if our own polices will favor our enemies. A secession of states would further erode the Americas from playing any role in the events of the Tribulation that have been foretold.
Then there is the fear of COVID that has made most of society easy to manipulate including taking an experimental vaccine if only it will solve the crises. People are clamoring to be the guinea pigs in the hope it will allow them to resume normal life – but it won’t. Now we have seen how easy it will be for the future world leader to get people to take the mark of the beast. Anything to enable the resumption of business, trade, travel and socialization.
What does all this mean? In short, what has happened in this past year has done much in preparing the way for events prophesied to occur in the Tribulation to happen very quickly.
Peace, Safety & Sudden Destruction – 1 Thessalonians 5:3
Paul gives one more description of how unexpected and sudden His return for His church will be and the beginning of the Tribulation period that will follow. It is quite a picture of contrasts.
3 Whenever they are saying, peace and safety, then suddenly they are overtaken by destruction like the birth pangs of a woman with child, they shall not escape.
At the very time they think they have finally achieved peace and safety, then they will suddenly receive the opposite. The description is vivid. A pregnant woman knows that she will have to go through labor pains, and as she gets into that last trimester, she can become very uncomfortable with twinges of pain hinting at what is coming. But just when she finds a comfortable position, then bam! Labor pains begin suddenly and there is no escape from it. So it will be at the beginning of the day of the Lord. It will begin suddenly and unexpectedly, and there will be no escape from it.
It is of course completely speculative about exactly what would cause people to say “peace and safety” just prior to their destruction, but I do think the context here gives some strong hints. Paul’s discussion of the rapture at the end of chapter 4 is what leads him to talk about the day of the Lord and the destruction of those he goes on to describe as those who are of the night while those who are sons of light obtain salvation instead of wrath.
Those paying any attention to what the leaders of what they call The Great Reset have saying know that they believe that those who hold the values of Christians are the problem. We are blocking the path to their utopian socialist dreams, so they are looking for ways to get us to either recant our beliefs and join them, or to be forced into submission to them, or to be removed. For many decades there have been ideas floating about among cults that some miraculous force might remove Christians for the benefit of all people. Satan has been preparing alternative stories for the reason for the Rapture for a long time.
So imagine the reaction of people when suddenly all Christians suddenly disappear? With the opposition gone, then their dreams of utopia can be fulfilled. They will believe they are entering into an unprecedented time of peace and safety, but it will be very short lived. Nero blamed Christians for the burning of Rome, and not much has changed since then among those who evil. They have always blamed others for the trouble they cause, but it will be too late when they realize the true source of their problems. Christians are a stabilizing factor in any society because they are a restraining force on blatant sin. With the church removed and the ministry of the Holy Spirit changed, people will pursue their evil desires without restraint. Revelation 6 describes in quick succession what occurs next. A conqueror goes out to conquer. This is followed by war, then famine, then death by starvation, disease, the sword and wild beasts and then everything else that is described in Revelation.
Our enemies have depraved minds, so I do think that many of them believe that any means can be justified to achieve their goals of a socialistic society that allows every form of moral perversion and opposes anything that reflects God’s standards. Many believe that will be a superior society. Having no sense of history, they do not know that the leaders in socialist movements turn on each other in the quest for power and position. They also do not know that the “equality” of socialism only makes people equally miserable without a means of improvement except becoming one of the government elite. It will not be any different in the present or the future.
Christians can take heart in what Paul states here for God has given us a purpose that transcends this life. We will suffer persecution from people, but we will not undergo the coming wrath of God for we have obtained salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you need to deal with that issue today for you do not know if you have tomorrow. And while there will be people saved during the tribulation, for most of them that will come at the cost martyrdom as described in Romans 6.
Evil people have arisen, but they are oblivious to reality. God will hold them accountable. The day of the Lord is coming, and it could begin at anytime. That is a blessing to us, but certain destruction on them. Their only hope is repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have the message of hope they need to hear and Jesus has already given us a commission to proclaim it to them. God has given a job to do, lets be sure we are doing it.
Sermon Notes – January 17, 2021
The Day of the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
Introduction
Benefits of Knowing God’s word:
God’s Wrath on America
Purging of Opposition
Review of 1 Thess. 4:13-18
Overview
– 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
The Practical Result of Studying Eschatology
Times & Seasons – 1 Thessalonians 5:1
Acts 1:6-9
Chronos (crovnoV) refers to
kairos (kairovV) refers to
Together they refer to
Brethren
The Day of the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 5:2
See Handout Chart
A wide range of meanings that must be interpreted in its context
Joel 2
2 Peter 3
day of Christ – Philippians
Zechariah 14; Daniel 7,9, 11-12
Unexpected Coming – as a thief in the night – 1 Thessalonians 5:2
Matthew 24:42-44
1 Peter 3:10
Revelation 3:3
1 Timothy 4:1-4
2 Timothy 3:1-5
2 Timothy 4:3–4
2 Peter 3:3–7
Matthew 24 compared to Romans 6
Current events that prepare the way for fulfilling a prophesied event
The absence of the Western hemisphere in prophecy
Covid’s role
Peace, Safety & Sudden Destruction – 1 Thessalonians 5:3
Speculation
Christian, take heart
KIDS KORNER – Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – count how many times the “day of the Lord” is mentioned. Talk with your parents about the hope the Christian has in the coming day of the Lord and its destruction of the evil
THINK ABOUT IT – Questions to consider in understanding the sermon and its application. What are the benefits of knowing God’s word? How is God’s wrath being displayed upon America? How has the character of the average American changed in the last 20 years? What can be expected from the incoming regime in Washington? Why has big tech been silencing conservatives? Review 1 Thess. 4:13-18. What is the point of that passage? Can we have confidence in the timing of the coming rapture? How should we treat those who have a different view? What is the connection between 1 Thess. 4:13-18 and 1 Thess. 5:1-11? What should be the practical effect of studying eschatology? Examine Acts 1:6-9. Why does Jesus answer the question of the disciples in this manner? What does time, chronos (crovnoV), refer to? What does time, kairos (kairovV), refer to? What does the combination refer to? Examine the Day of the Lord chart? What are some of the difference distinguished? What conclusions about the day of the Lord can you make from this? What does “day of Christ” refer to in Philippians? What is meant by the usage of the phrase “thief in the night”? What are some of the present signs that we are in the last days? (1 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; 2 Peter 3:3–7) What are some of the events that have already happened that prepare the way for events prophesied to be in the tribulation period to happen? Why isn’t the western hemisphere mentioned in any passage related to eschatology? What are some way the United States be quickly made irrelevant to world events? What does government and societal reaction to COVID indicate? What could cause evil people to proclaim “peace and safety”? What would then overtaken them suddenly for destruction? What does the context of this passage suggest about these two events? What will happen to those involved in the “Great Reset” or any other socialistic utopian scheme? What will God do to such people? What is His promise to Christians?
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