Question

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THE GLORIOUS COMING OF THE LORD

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

Key Verse: 4:16

1. What misunderstanding did the Thessalonians have about those who sleep in death, and how did this affect them (13)? How did Paul explain the gospel more fully, and what difference would this make for them (14)?

2. Read verses 15-16. What does “the Lord’s word” imply? How is Jesus’ second coming described? What does this reveal about his divine authority, power and glory (cf. Mk 13:26)? Who rises first, and why was this important?

3. What happens to those who are still alive when Jesus comes again (17; 1Co 15:50-52)? How do the words “meet the Lord in the air” and “be with the Lord forever” encourage us (18)?

4. What did the Thessalonians know, and why did Paul mention this (5:1-2)? What does the slogan “Peace and safety” tell us about the mindset of people of the world (3a)? What will Jesus’ coming be like for them (3b)?

5. How does Paul contrast believers and unbelievers (4-5)? How should a believer’s way of life be different than that of an unbeliever (6-8a)? How can we practically be sober (8b-9)?

6 How does Jesus’ death for us help us to be sober (10)? As members of Christ’s body, what must we continue doing (11; 4:18)?

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Attachment

• 1Th 04130511.que.docx

Message

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Children of the Light, Children of the Day

(Parousia)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

Key Verse: 5:5 “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”

This time of year is a season of graduation. Michael Lanier graduated last Saturday from SIUE with a Master’s degree, and Luke Yang graduated yesterday from SIUC with a Master’s degree, too. This coming Friday we will have graduation ceremonies at Wash U. and Clayton High School. Graduation Day is a day of victory and a day of glory. At a commencement ceremony, family members and friends congratulate those who finished their race and earned their degrees. They are happy to see the graduates’ achievements after their long perseverance. When their graduate’s name is called, they congratulate them by shouting and making a lot of noise.

Yesterday our St. Louis UBF co-workers attended Luke Yang’s graduation ceremony. His ceremony reminded me of my spiritual graduation day when I will finish the race of my life. Being surrounded by many witnesses of faith, will I stand before the judgment seat of Christ and receive the crown of life? When my name is called, will there be people whom I know congratulating my salvation? Will I hear the complimentary words from my Lord Jesus, “Well done, my good and faithful servant! Congratulation!” How about you? Do you have the same hopes as me? When you finish your life on this earth and stand before God with your life report, are you sure of your eternal peace and safety in the kingdom of God? Whether you believe or not, whether you like it or not, we all die once and will face judgment. (Heb 9:27) Jesus promised to those who persevere and finish the race of faith to the end, in Revelations 2:10b, “…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” Life is short, but the truth of God lasts forever. I pray for all of us here to receive the crown of life as our heavenly reward and honor degree. Amen.

First, Parousia and rapture (4:13-18) In today’s passage, some of the Thessalonians raised a question about the resurrection of those who had died earlier, before Jesus comes again. At that time, the Thessalonians believed that Jesus would come soon in order to bring them to heaven so that they could be with him forever. Some of them died with this hope. Still others asked a question about what would happen to those who had died earlier before Jesus comes back. Had they lost the chance to be lifted up? Were their faith and labor for Jesus useless and in vain? Not at all! Paul answers for their question in verses 13-18. Look at verses 13-18. “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For 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. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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. 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. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” In these verses, Paul described those who died in Christ as those who have fallen asleep. Paul didn’t see death as the end of everything, but as a short sleep before next day. In fact, there is death and we all die. But Christ Jesus changed death into falling asleep through his resurrection. As for Christians, death, the separation body from soul, is the prelude for new life in a new world, which is the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, there is no real death in Christ, but a temporary sleep. Christ Jesus died on the cross, but he rose again from the dead. He also slept for three days and woke up on the third day. As Jesus rose, we also will rise again. This is the living hope for all those who are in Christ Jesus. This is reason why we don’t grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

In these verses Paul answered that there is an order of resurrection and rapture. When Jesus comes again, those who had fallen asleep, those who had died earlier, will rise again first, then those who are still alive or left will follow them. Paul said that there would not be the reverse of this order. Therefore, the Thessalonians did not need to become anxious and grieve about those who had died before Jesus comes again. The returning Christ Jesus will lift them up first before he will lift up those who are still alive.

What is the picture of Jesus’ second coming? It will be the most spectacular and glorious moment in human history. He 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 will be raised first. After that, all those who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. Can you imagine this glorious moment? Jesus’ second coming will be the global event. All people on this earth will watch this spectacular scene as if they were watching it live on TV. At that time, those whose names are called will be lift up to meet Jesus in the air. But those whose names are not called, I am sorry to say, will remain on this earth and wait until the day of judgment.

Look at verse 18 again. “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” Paul urged them to share these words in order to encourage others. Some may think that I am talking nonsense in this 21th century. They may think that I am telling a fairy tale or something like one. If I tell you this story out of my own ideas or from a man-made story, woe to me! I will be a false witness about God because I spoke about Parousia and rapture. But I am sure of what I am saying because it is the Lord’s word. In verse 15, Paul said, “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that…” Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, himself promised to come again. Jesus said in Matthew 24:35 and Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Amen!

Second, children of the light and children of the day (5:1-11) The second coming of Jesus is a good news of great joy and a living hope for those who are in Christ. But nobody knows when he will come back. Jesus said that even he does not know the hour and the day. (Mt 24:36) Paul said in verse 2 that Jesus would come like a thief. No thief gives notice when he breaks into a house. Jesus said in Matthew 24:44, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Look at 5:3. “When people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” No pregnant woman can predict the hour or the day of her childbirth. When birth pain starts, she must be ready. In the same way we also must be always ready for Jesus’ second coming because he comes when we do not expect him.

In verses 4-11 Paul instructed the Thessalonians about what kind of attitude they should have toward Jesus’ second coming. They must live as children of the light and children of the day. Look at verses 4-7. “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.” In his Epistles Paul often uses contrast in order to make his gospel message clear. such as light vs. darkness, day vs. night, life vs. death, righteousness vs. wickedness, grace vs law, and so on. He said in Ephesian 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” In Romans 13:13-14 he said, “Let us behave decently, as in daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Those who follow Jesus Christ and live in him are children of the light and children of the day, because Jesus is the light of the world. (Jn 1:4,9, 8:12) There is no darkness in him at all. (1Jn 1:5) Satan cannot do anything against us because we belong to Christ Jesus. We are his precious children. So we must live as children of God, not getting drunk or being asleep, but sober and awake.

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus warned his sleeping disciples saying, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mt 26:41) Prayer enables us to spiritually be awake and alive. Prayer gives us constant fellowship with God through the Holy Spirit. When we pray, we can be led by the Holy Spirit. This is the reason why Paul said in 5:17, “Pray continually.”

In verse 8 Paul gave them more active directions for living as children of the light and children of the day. Look at verse 8. “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to have the attitude of good Christian soldiers, ready to fight against their enemies. He asked them to put on the armor of God. A breastplate and a helmet protect us from fatal injury. A breastplate is protection for heart. Faith and love protect us from the arrows of our enemy Satan. The more Satan tries to tempt us and attack us, the more we must live by faith and love one another. A helmet protects our head. The hope of salvation protects us from all doubts and present sufferings.

Some Thessalonians raised a question about how those who had died earlier before Jesus comes again will be saved. Paul answered that those who had died in Christ will rise again first when Jesus comes again, then those who are alive who are left. People in these days raise similar questions: How can I be sure of my salvation because I am still sinful and doubtful? How can I believe that my faith and sacrifice for God guarantee my eternal life and security? How did Paul answer these questions? Look at verses 9,10. “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” This is amazing news, that Christ died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. In other words, those of us who are justified through faith in Jesus Christ will be saved despite our sinfulness and weakness. Those confess that Jesus is Christ the Lord and believe in him from their heart will live together with the Lord Jesus Christ. People ask the same question: those who are born again, but keep sinning, can they be saved? According to Paul’s answer, I can say, “yes!” I believe that Jesus will change them and bring them back into his kingdom on the last day. This does not mean that we have a license to sin. Those who belong to Christ Jesus must not go back to the darkness because they are children of the day and children of the light.

Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact we are doing! (11) The righteous will live by faith, not by sight (2 Co 5:7) We may witness Jesus’ second coming while we are still alive on this earth. And we may not see him. Whether Jesus comes again in our lifetime or after our death, he will come again as he has promised. Let us be awake and be prepared. He may come tonight!

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Attachment

• children of the light-children of the day-message.docx