First Thessalonians 5 Part 1 Addressing Both Aspects of Jesus' Return

Paul continues his train of thought, as guided by the Holy Spirit. He taught us a right view of death and instructed us about the return of Christ.

Paul expands on the second coming of Jesus Christ which shall occur in two distinct phases: the rapture of the Church and the Day of the LORD judgment.

Confusion and chaos can enter into the church when the distinct aspects of Christ's second coming are ignored.

Paul's instruction on the day of the LORD. 

1 Thessalonians 5:1  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 

Jesus taught about the times and the seasons during his return. He was speaking about what cultural conditions would be like when He returns. 

However, during Jesus' earthly ministry, He addressed it primarily in terms of the kingdom of God and how this related to the Jewish people.

When Christ establishes His kingdom, it is the Father's decision. 

Acts 1:6-7  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7)  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 

Right before Jesus ascended to His Father, the apostles asked Him about when the kingdom would be set up. 

Jesus reminded them that the timing of establishing His kingdom on this earth is in the Father's hands. 

Much damage and sorrow has been caused by men and women who claim to have figured out when Christ is returning, only to discover that they were wrong.

Thus, we as Christians can rest secure, knowing that the Father will bring all things to pass in His time, according to His good, eternal purposes.

Jesus teaches about the last days, the end of the world. 

Matthew 24:3-14  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4)  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5)  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7)  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8)  All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9)  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10)  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. :11)  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12)  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13)  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14)  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The disciples of Jesus asked when He would return in judgment and what signs would be manifested to indicate the end of the world. 

Jesus said there will be constant deception and imposters claiming to be Christ. Wars and rumors of wars have been part of history since Jesus spoke those words. 

Nations fight against each other for a variety of reasons and this is accompanied by famine and disease.

Earthquakes have continued around the world since Jesus spoke these words. 

These conditions result from the curse of sin and the world convulsing under the impact of mankind's depravity. 

The Jewish people have been under constant threat of persecution since Jesus spoke those words. 

However, there will be a time in which the gospel is preached to all nations, and the the end will come.

Separation of wheat and tares, sheep and goats. 

Matthew 24:29-31  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30)  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31)  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

What Jesus describes in this text is connected with  His parables on separating the wheat and the tares, separating the good fish from the bad ones in Matthew 13.

This teaching is also connected with the parable of the ten virgins, the parable of the ten talents and the judgment of sheep and goats in Matthew 25. 

It is a day of final judgment, a day when Christ will send His angels to separated believers from unbelievers. 

These specific times and seasons are also connected with the book of Daniel and Revelation.

Thus, we have pictures and descriptions of the end times, the final war against God, the triumph of Jesus Christ, and His kingdom rule. 

However, the church is not in view. The church is not even in existence at this time. It was a mystery not revealed until the feast of Pentecost when the Spirit of God came. 

The book of Acts describes a gradual shift from Messiah ruling all nations on the throne of David in Jerusalem, to Jesus governing the body of Christ, His church.

I know that this is a more complex topic, so I have a suggestion for all of our Readers who want to learn more about this.

Please go to the archive section of this blog. 

I posted a series of lessons on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ from January 3, 2020 though January 6, 2020.

I posted a series of lessons on the End Times As God Reveals them from October 27, 2020 through January 7, 2021.

I posted a series of lessons on Jesus Is Coming Again from April 11, 2023 through June 14, 2023.

Judgement day will come and we are not ignorant. 

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3)  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4)  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  

Paul now refers to Jesus' teaching about His second coming which is that day of final judgment. {As noted above, you can study this topic in greater detail by looking in the archives.}

Jesus used the metaphor of a thief in the night to teach all believers to be waiting and watching for His return (See Matthew 24:42-44; Luke 12:39-40). 

Heaven and earth will be purged by fire.

2 Peter 3:10-12  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11)  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12)  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

Peter also wrote about the day of the Lord and it helps to compare what he says with Paul's letter to the Thessalonians.

We see the phrase "thief in the night" used again. We see that this world is destined for judgment by fire where the heavens shall pass away with great noise and the earth be dissolved with intense heat.

All of this being true, Peter reminds all Christians that we are to live a holy life until Christ returns. 

However, none of this imagery is used where Paul describes the return of Christ with our Lord stopping in the atmosphere, the dead in Christ rising and living believers changed and caught up together. 

None of this describes Jesus taking His church to heaven. 

This is why it is important to remember that Jesus second coming has two distinct parts. The first is when He comes to take His bride home to heaven for the marriage supper of the Lamb. 

The second is when He returns to earth, physically touching the earth, coming with all His saints in great power and judgment at the end of seven years of awful tribulation on earth.

The Thessalonians suffered from the impact of false teaching about the second coming of Christ, and Paul will address it more vigorously in his second letter to them. 

Those who promise world peace are liars.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3)  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4)  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 

Elsewhere, Paul wrote that perilous times filled with seducing spirits and doctrines of devils would mark the return of Christ for His church (See 1 Timothy 4:1).

He told Timothy that the whole world will wax worse and worse as the return of Jesus Christ approaches.

Paul's warnings help remove ignorance so that we continue to seek to glorify God with our lives, and to be His faithful witnesses sharing the gospel with the lost. 

We have been called out of darkness into the marvelous light of His gospel, so that we can be a testimony to the world for Christ. 

Walk in the light as children of the day!

1 Thessalonians 5:5-7  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6)  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7)  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 

Christians are called to be holy as God is holy. We are called to walk worthily of our Lord. We are called to walk in love and to perform the good works that God ordained for us to complete.

Therefore, we should not sleepwalk through this life, oblivious to our Christian duties, for God will hold us to account for how we use our time, talent and resources for His kingdom.

Many professing Christians who live for the world and self instead of for God's glory and His kingdom, will suffer loss of reward when they stand before the judgment seat of Christ (See Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

The church is not appointed for the wrath of God. 

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9)  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10)  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11)  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 

Paul gave us the "put off" of not living for self and the world and he follows with a "put on" for us. We must put on the gospel armor and we must yield to the Holy Spirit so that His fruit is evident in our lives. 

Notice that Paul states emphatically that the church is not appointed to wrath of God's judgment that will be poured out during the seven years of tribulation, and reach a climax at the battle of Armageddon.

As I noted, he will speak more about this in his next letter to the Christians at Thessalonica. 

Again, Paul tells us that these are words of edification and comfort for us to embrace.

I pray for the Spirit of God to help us all understand the precious and powerful truths communicated by the apostle.

May we determine to live as children of the King, living in the light of His Word.

May we be active in serving our Lord and seeking to advance the gospel.

Bob