(1 Thessalonians 4:1-8) Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
After being taught about the Tribulation and the Millennial kingdom, a lot of the Thessalonian church members thought they had missed the rapture and were already in the Tribulation. (Hm, I've heard Christians talk like that in this day and age. Anyway!)
Because the church members had quit working and were having to beg for financial support. Paul told them to keep working...
(1 Thessalonians 4:9-12) Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.
Paul also explained to them how the rapture was going to happen, so that they would not have to worry or be afraid...
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Listen, there are no signs which will warn us of the coming rapture. When people are saying "Peace and safety!" - then like a thief in the night - WITH NO WARNING - the rapture will happen. I don't know of any thieves who warn their victims in advance!
Believers will not be part of the Tribulation because we are not in darkness, and as it says below, the thief will not overtake us! The Tribulation is called the "day of wrath" - and believers have been saved from God's wrath!
I've heard a few arguments for a mid-trib-rapture, but Paul says right here in verse 1, that we do not have to worry about ANYTHING regarding the times and the epochs. Guess what? The Tribulation - all seven years - is part of the times and the epochs...
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) 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 will 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.
From this we see:
- believers who pass away do not and cannot communicate to loved ones, and do not and cannot watch over them, because they are in a heavenly sleep until the rapture. It is comforting enough to know that Jesus watches over us and communicates with us! (1 Thess.4:13-16)
- at the rapture, Jesus will meet us in the air with a shout, there will be God's trumpet, and the voice of Michael the archangel will join in (1 Thess.4:16)
- believers are not of the darkness (1 Thess.5:5)
- avoid every kind of evil (1 Thess.5:22)
Personal experience: besides our society's obsession with sex, there seems to be periodic infatuations with anything paranormal I try to avoid watching any movies or TV shows within the genres of horror or the occult. In fact, when I notice a build up of movies and shows like these, I start praying for the public's interest to wane.
Years ago, what I realized was - when I did see a few movies on these topics - it was like an invitation for demonic activity. Like, rolling out the red carpet for Satan. No thank you!!!
And whatever people watch or buy - this alerts producers to know what the people want to see - so they will just keep on making more of the same thing.
Today's takeaway: we need to encourage each other to not worry or be afraid, but to keep on seeking out and doing God's will...
(1 Thessalonians 5:12-28) But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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