The Day of the Lord - 15

Will we continue from first Thessalonians for the chapter 5 as we are still looking at the subject of eschatology that is the study of last things that surround the second coming of Christ second coming, which is mentioned in all five of the chapters of first Thessalonians, but in only two of those chapters. Is there extended treatment of the subject.

Last week we looked the first of those in chapter 4 and today were looking at the second chapter 5 chapter 4 deals with the rapture of the saints. Chapter 5 with the day of the Lord.

Another is no division in the original writing of this book between chapter 4 and five because there were no chapter and verse divisions originally and therefore we can see by the subject by the placement of these two sections, one right after the other, that they are connected. Yet even though there are connections that are also some dissimilarities or lease. In contrast, which we will look at today. Though there are connections there certainly is a shift in emphasis chapter 4 the treatment was addressed entirely to believers and was entirely about believers that a single word in chapter 4 about what the second coming of Christ means for the unbeliever, but in chapter 5, Paul deals with both believers and unbelievers and he tells us what that event will mean for those who will not repent of their sins and turn Christ divided these 11 verses into the following three sections.

Number one the great event.

Verses one through three, number two, the great contrast verses four through 10 and finally the great purpose in verse 11.

The great event verses one, two and three and I will begin by reading those verses again but concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night for when they say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape the great event, what, when, and how what for that. We started verse two and pick up that phrase the day of the Lord. That's were talking about the great event the day of the Lord phrase which is found rather frequently throughout Scripture. Both the Old Testament and the new. When I put mine sermon notes into my computer this morning after I finish typing them.

I realized that I already had a sermon to my computer, entitled the day of the Lord.

So this is in my sermon file the day of the Lord. Number two, and I could see by first glance at that previous sermon the day of the Lord was preached in 2017 and I thought that probably was in our study the book of Malachi, but just to be sure I clicked on at the track and no it was our study the book of Joel so in the book of Joel unified the day of the Lord, the book of Malachi, you find the day of the Lord. In fact, you'll find that phrase. A lot of times in the Old Testament and as well in the new.

And every time you find at that phrase the day of the Lord carries with it the idea of God's judgment not always the final judgment, as we have it here but always the concept of judgment the day of the Lord is going to come and he's going to judge those who have persisted in rebellion and unbelief. The day of the Lord brings judgment sometimes judgment upon the nation of Israel for their transgressions, but not necessarily the at the end of time. But here, of course were talking about the final judgment, the day of the Lord is going to bring judgment to this world and also that phrase the day of the Lord, along with judgment generally carries the idea of some significant intervention by God into Earth's history. He comes with judgment. Any change is something likewise that's what we find. Before us in first Thessalonians chapter 5, the day of the Lord is when God comes in judgment and he changes some things that's what question number two.

Flynn takes his back to verse one Paul says concerning the times and seasons, brethren, I have no need that I should write to you times in the season. What is this going to happen. That's always the question, but that's exact to terms that are used in acts chapter 1 verse seven where the Disciples of Christ were told that the times and the seasons they will that would not know Christ would return. But the times and the seasons were to be left determined by the father. The times of the season so it's what we always want to know what when Christ started these Olivet discourse. The disciples are called attention to the temple. You know the great massive buildings. How magnificent, how wonderful Jesus said the times coming with W not one stone left upon another.

All these things are going to be destroyed. And what did they want to know immediately. They wanted to go when plan when's that going to happen. We always want to know were curious.

That's a natural desire and so were not surprised that that arises very quickly in our minds when the subject of such Christ second coming is before us.

But Paul makes clear what is made clear elsewhere in Scripture. Namely, that the times and seasons are in the father's domain and we don't know.

It's interesting what Paul says here he says concerning the times and the seasons. You already know I don't need to write to you. Well what is it that you already know you already know when this is coming know you already know that you don't know you already know that you can't know you already know that this is something that God will not reveal to men. We don't know when the time will come. It's interesting that Paul indicates is what is going to cover in chapter 5. They didn't know because he taught them before. In contrast to what he said in chapter 4 when he said I realize I'm paraphrasing, I realize your ignorant about this subject.

Wondering about what happens to your departed loved ones when the Lord returns do they miss this glorious event. Are they somehow at a disadvantage to living believers.

When Christ returns and I don't want you to be ignorant about that you let me fill in the information about that when he comes in chapter 5 he says basically, this is review of already been taught this you already know, but need to be reminded about the day of the Lord.

So that's the what, that's to win another how how is this going to transpire. And Paul just gives true illustrations. How is it going to come, verse two, as a thief in the night. How is it going to come. Verse three as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, how's it going to come.

It's going to come as a thief in the night that is suddenly, unexpectedly, no prior announcement. These don't call you up and say I plan to be at your house tonight at midnight suddenly, unexpectedly, no prior announcement that cell.

This is going to come and therefore unbelievers will be caught off guard and unprepared when this transpires. So how is a thief in the night. How, as labor pains and he says specifically when they say, peace and safety when there's a sense of normalcy, a sense of of everything's all right when there seems to be peace and safety. Instead, sudden destruction, their safety is illusory. It's not real it's imagined.

It is supposed to but it is wrong and like labor pains suddenly come upon a woman and though there's a general idea that is going to happen eventually.

We all know that it is notoriously difficult to predict when that is going to occur. Even today, with all the modern net methodology and techniques God blessed my wife and I with four children.

I didn't enter into the labor pains that's the wife's responsibility, but in every case we didn't know when or when that child was going to come in. In some cases the case in particular, Dr. was off by I think a couple weeks or so. This was impossible. You never can tell. But one thing is for sure when they had they hit suddenly and when they hit they hurt urgently and when they get. There's no escape. You are going through this thing now is going to happen the way out.

That's the way the day of the Lord is. It is inescapable. Once our Lord begins his return. Then the day of the Lord comes and no one is going to escape that it is inevitable as the great event though most of this passage is taken up with what I call the great contrast because the rest of the time Paul contrast believers with unbelievers that he's addressing most of it to believers but what he says to believers is often the opposite of what is true of unbelievers, so both are very much in view believers versus unbelievers the great contrast Paul tells us that unlike unbelievers because of horses writing to believers, not to unduly unlike unbelievers, believers are, and he mentioned several things in life. Summarize them in six statements and let me give them to you.

Believers are number one not spiritually blind nor to not spiritually unaware nor three not spiritually inactive nor for not spiritually defenseless nor number five not spiritually condemned or number six spiritually hopeless. But unlike unbelievers believers are not spiritually blind. But you, brethren, verse four not in darkness so that this day should overtake you as a thief. You are sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor the darkness. Believers are not in darkness, that is in spiritual darkness and spiritual blindness. Unable to discern unable to understand spiritual truth. Just the opposite. Believers are sons of light. They are in the light. In fact, they are of the light is really more than being in the light.

They are of the light not only sons in the light, but what sons of the light sons of God have something of the character nature of God within them sons of life have something of the character nature of light within them sons of light have truth given to them which they understand you are sons of light that's your very nature. Your sons of the day and now Paul shifts in the middle of verse five from this is true of you to.

This is true of us shifts from you to we start including himself and what he says for the rest of this passage, but number one you're not spiritually blind. Number two, you're not spiritually unaware and I think that also from verse four you, brethren, are not in darkness so as this day my Bible has a D this day. This day of the Lord were talking about this day should overtake you as a thief. Unbelievers is already told us are going to be overtaken like a thief in the night. The going to be surprised or going to be unprepared to going to be unaware they did know this is going to happen. They thought everything was okay they thought life was going on. I have been surprised, sometimes in talking to unbelievers in our day and how many of them think everything is just fine in the world of our country believers are say I've never seen it like this before. It's getting worse and worse and worse. Things are changing.

Things are getting worse and there unbelievers who say everything's just fine. Are they living in the same country. Are they living in the same world we as they are what's the difference will there are sons of light. There are sons of darkness and sons of light see things differently than sons of darkness, sons of light and perceived truth in a way, the sons of darkness cannot and so it is with the coming of the day of the Lord and the unbeliever is prepared.

He's going to be surprised like a householder one thief comes in. Suddenly, in the middle of the night and he wasn't looking for him, but prepared people will be aware we will not be spiritually unaware we will be prepared and notice, though, were going to shift from what I'm saying now in a moment right now for what I'm looking at in verse four. Notice Paul does not say nonbelievers you need to be prepared.

You want to be prepared. He says believers you are prepared which does not negate negate what he says in a moment about the need to be alert to be sober. There are some things for us to do, but sons of light sons of the day.

Cannot be overtaken by this day in the same way that unbelievers are sons of light are prepared precisely because they have been saved precisely because they are sons of the light precisely because they do have the indwelling Holy Spirit, precisely because the good work is already been begun in them and will be completed until the day of Christ which is what he's talking about here. Believers, on the one hand, should be getting ready and alert and should not be indifferent but believers can not be prepared for this day is not a great thought glory hallelujah I'm writing why are you ready because I'm saved.

Praise God I'm born again and I'm ready for that day to come. So believers are number one not spiritually blind believers number two are not spiritually unaware. But this takes us to the other side.

Believers number three are not spiritually inactive. Verse six. Therefore contrast with verse five.

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night, nor of the darkness. Therefore, now here's what we gotta do exhortation. Therefore let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. There is that element to it, but that's not the whole picture. That's not everything even Peter and John in the garden to disseminate who could not stay awake and watch with the Lord while he prayed did not face the danger of God's judgment falling upon them because of their lack of alertness, shameful on the one hand it was revealing very much so of their spiritual lethargy, but probably is much also of their physical weariness.

They were worn out. Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, but believers still have a responsibility to stay alert to be watchful to be looking for the coming of Christ. Believers are not spiritually inactive, so therefore let us not sleep, let us watch and be sober. There is the activity of spiritual preparation, but once again what Paul is saying is something we often miss and that is believers are to do according to what we are sometimes get that.

The other way around as if we become what we do, but the emphasis in Scripture. The other way around. You're already a Christian. You're already a child of God you already is already saved now act like it behave according to it, demonstrate this reality in your life. In this case the alert be watchful. Unlike the unbeliever was totally oblivious to what's going on so believers number three are not spiritually inactive believers number four are not spiritually defenseless things are bad things are things are terrible around is yes they are but verse seven for those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober there again responsibility putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet of hope and as a helmet the hope of salvation. Night time activities characterize the people of the night sleeping. He's real sleep. Of course at night. I hope so, but is not talking about physical sleep is talking about spiritual slumber people of the night are on alert to things around them, particularly spiritual truth. They just sleep through all of that, the people who get drunk generally get drunk at night is not the only time that it happens but it's the most common time it happened so the things that what is generally saying is, the things that characterize nightlife are the things that people do belong to the night. Do that's the way they live. That's who they are.

That's what they do and that involves both sinfulness likes drunkenness and that involves virtual lethargy, like sleeping through admonitions of truth sleeping through sermons going to church, sometimes for years and years and years and never really hearing never really getting it never really applying it to your own heart. Is that sad, but that's true, how many times I heard somebody say I want to church on my life.

I've heard them say this and it may be true in some cases but I rather doubt it, but they often say something like, and I never heard the gospel until I was 23 and then I heard it and I believe it was saved and I'm thinking that could be true, but probably what you mean is you heard it, but you didn't hear it, you didn't. You heard it with your ears but you didn't hear with your soul. You heard it with your ears, but it just bounced off you. You heard it, but it never made any impact because you were a child of the night and you were sleeping, spiritually speaking, and then one day you heard it. Why because the work of God's spirit made a change in your soul. You didn't understand. Why was he thought I did that. Why did you do that for 23 years. I did that no you did in sense but you did it because the spirit of God changed your heart you changed your listening changed your ears a change to receptors in suddenly hearing something that is far as your consciousness is concerned, you remember hearing that before. And here it is wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ and you believed that you were say yes so nighttime activities characterize people of the night. But as Paul is telling us here people of the day.

Act differently is a great contrast between people of the night people of the day is a great contrast between unbelievers and believers is a great contrast folks.

If you act like a child of the night if that's the way you want to act. That's the way you want to live that's what you're drawn to continually and you don't seem to have any desire for the things that characterize people of the day, what conclusion should you draw about yourself aren't you being foolish to insist but I know I'm saved as I walked a mile prayed a prayer, so don't you Talk me out of that God you talk you out of it for the sake of your never dying so if you're acting like a child child of the night, then you must be a child of the night directing. According to that which characterizes children of the night because if you are of the day you act differently and if you are of the day, then put on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of hope.

That's your defense against spiritual souls in this world. Faith in the word of God love for God and the people of God and others.

Beyond that. Hope that is expectation earnest expectation for future salvation which is promised to you and you believe it. You know that it's coming and it fortifies you as you think about that day when that will come, which is connected with this day, the day of the Lord. So believers are not spiritually blind. Not spiritually unaware not spiritually inactive, not spiritually defenseless. Not spiritually condemned verse nine. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. We are not spiritually condemned were not appointed to wrath others are unbelievers are appointed to wrath the children of the day are not appointed to wrath, but are appointed to obtain salvation in this future aspect.

What is that future aspect salvation.

As you know comes in stages this past present future.

I was saved on being saved. I shall be safe.

I was saying today the spirit of God were to my heart brought me to faith in Christ and I was born again. I was saying, I am being saved.

I'm still wrestling with Adamic desires and sinfulness and I confess those to the Lord and I asked God to help me and I work on those in I'm being saved on. I'm becoming.

It slowly far more slowly than I wish and far more slowly. Probably than I should, but I'm becoming more like Jesus Christ.

Day by day and being conformed to the image of his son. I'm being saved but yes I shall be saved in the day is coming when all of my old Adamic nature is going to be gone gone gone or sinful thoughts no more sinful desire days coming will be entirely sanctified, that is coming when I shall have a glorified body body of flesh cannot inherit eternal life is mortal must put on immortality is earthly must put on the heavenly and so this body of flesh is going to decay. It's got to be changed later be changed in the rapture at the resurrection will be changed in the rapture. Five alive when Christ comes it will be changed as I rise to medium in the air, but it's going to be changed and when that happens, my salvation is complete. What my waiting for an salvation. I'm waiting for complete holiness and I'm waiting for that glorified body and when that happens I saved, say, past, present and future. I'm saved now. I just enjoy eternity with the Lord in that condition. That's what believers are looking forward to that's our hope, our hope of final salvation, of eternal salvation, and so this is what believers receive when Christ returns, not wrath like unbelievers salvation which is for believers and so number six were not spiritually hopeless.

Verse 10 because we believe in Christ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Christ who died for us that substitution he died for us. He died for believers. He died for those who trust in him. Did he die for you. Can you say that with assurance, Christ died for me. He died for us and whether we wake or sleep, we shall live together with him.

That sounds like what Paul was talking about in chapter 4 will question was, what will happen to believers who sleep, they died when Christ comes in connection with believers who are awake when Christ comes. Paul made that very clear. They're going to be unified.

The going up together.

The living are not going to proceed. Those who died. The resurrection of the dead will occur first and though receive their glorified bodies. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. And so there's going to be this wonderful union and we shall be with the Lord forever in what an end with that will be given from whatever position we are and when Christ returns of reliving it will begin with the glorification of our bodies and the sanctification of our souls before dad. Our souls are already sanctified in the presence of the Lord were still waiting the resurrection glorification of our bodies. So the same concepts are found in the chapter 4 coming of the Lord passage. The present passage are also touched upon. Here in chapter 5 in this day of the Lord. Passage which connects therefore the day of the Lord with the perusing at some point doesn't make clear all the points that may be so, so that covers what number one the great event number two the great contrast with number three the great purpose why does Paul give us this material and he tells us was 11. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you are also doing.

Let Sanchez just almost exactly like what he said at the end of chapter 4 doesn't tissue these things. Therefore, verse 18. Comfort one another with these words.

That was the purpose for my teaching in chapter 4. That's the purpose for my teaching here in chapter 5 comfort one another what the purpose is not to argue and divide about these words in the different positions, but mutual encouragement and edification comfort one another edify one another, build up, encourage and strengthen one another, which is accomplished by mutual edification, which requires interaction with one another and truth, the teaching of God's word we use God's truth to mutually comfort and build up one another. Paul says that in this case they're already doing that that's different from chapter 4 chapter 4. They work because the truth he covered in chapter 4. They didn't know so they could use that truth to edify and build up encourage, but the truth of chapter 5 they already had and obediently they were using that already to encourage and build up and edify one another.

They did as they were instructed with as much knowledge as they had even as they waited for more knowledge. Good for them. What about us. Sometimes I think we've got tons and tons and tons of knowledge and only handfuls of practical activity with the knowledge that we have. They were doing with their knowledge enable them to do. Now let me give you some comparisons and contrasts between these two passages. First of all contrast, there are different terms in chapter 4. It is the coming of the Lord, Greek word pair Asea Peruzzi and sometimes pronounced coming of the Lord. Chapter 5. It is a day of the Lord is the also the contrast the different aspects. In chapter 4. It's all for believers and it's all about encouragement and hope there's nothing there for the unbeliever, but in chapter 5 there is both comfort for the believer, but there is strong warning for the unbeliever for the unbeliever. It is a day of wrath.

It is a day of destruction. It is an awful day. Please please please don't delay don't procrastinate, don't assume that that's not going to catch you. It's going to catch you. Or if you're dead it was to catch it's going to catch every unbeliever. Someday be ready, but there are a lot of commonalities in these two sections. Both passages deal with Christ second coming. Both passages are dressed to believers, even on the second passage she deals with unbelievers. He's not talking to on talking to believers as you would expect in that epistle written to the Christian church where people who are believers would be listening to these words.

Both of these conclude with the same practical exhortation use this truth, encourage, strengthen and comfort one another. That's its purpose and both passages address the issue of departed believers.

What about those who have died already. When the Lord returns, they'll be rapture with the living saints and so in chapter 5 whether we are asleep or alive, we shall be together with him.

He deals with both aspects in both sections but now as last week. Let me touch upon some unanswered questions. Question number one. How do we reconcile the public announcement of the coming of Christ. In chapter 4 with the stealth of the day of the Lord in chapter 5 will I think the answer is pretty simple, may be my minds to simple but I think that the answer is as simple as this, it secret until it begins when it begins it begins with a buy.

I think that's the answer.

Those things are not mutually exclusive and all there's no contradiction. It is unknown nobody knows the time nobody knows when it's like a thief in the night, but when that when this the brakes and he doesn't just cut it coda screen quietly and slip inside put a few things in a pillowcase and slip back out quietly when this thief comes in he comes in with a guy and everybody knows he's there at that point but they were expecting him another question. How do we understand the nature of God's wrath in chapter 5 in verse nine.

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ is that wrath the seven years of tribulation.

God did not appoint us to wrath. God did not appoint us to the seven years tribulation. If you are free tribulation rapture position Christian, you probably think that's what that is.

I've narrowed down. I usually start out when I start a new book. I start out with several commentaries until I can find the ones that I think will be most useful to me than I narrowed down and concentrate on those and for first Thessalonians.

I narrowed it down to six commentaries that I use regularly and three of them are dispensational.

Three of them are not. I'm not.

I'm not stack in the deck here I'm reading what both sides have to say reading it carefully and interestingly, one of the commentaries that I would have to say if I had to pick one for my favorite.

It's a it's a dispensational commentary and it's excellent and most regards. But this is not identify the day of wrath with the seven year tribulation to make that identification you have to put into the text.

What it does not say agreed. It's not there. Is it doesn't say that God did not appoint us to wrath by which I mean the seven year tribulation, just as God did not appoint us to wrath, and so were not told, and we do understand that to have protection from God's judgment does not require that we be in a different location where the judgment occurs.

That seems to be the assumption we can't be here during the tribulation because God says were not appointed to wrath so we can't be here consider Israel and the Egyptian plagues was Israel there when the plagues fell on Egypt they were when they protected from the plagues, at least for the worst. They were okay. Consider Daniel in the lion's dead. Didn't that same day on those same lines tear up the officials of Nebuchadnezzar wasn't Belshazzar forgot through in their but Daniel in the same location with the same lines is perfectly protected. He wasn't removed from the lion's dead was protected in the midst of the lines or consider the three Hebrew children what we call them children. At this point, they certainly were children but consider Shadrach me shack and Abednego in the fiery furnace did God remove them for the fiery furnace did text them or did he protect them in the midst of the fiery furnace, and when the king through an but when they when the when the servants of the king through them into the fire. Some of the servants got burned up by that very same fire that did not even cause the close Shadrach me shack and Abednego to smell like smoke. So is it necessary if God promises to protect us from wrath from judgment is a necessary that he remove us from the location where that's going on in the answer is clearly no, that's not necessary. Is it so that brings me to this question.

Are either of these passages.

Chapter 4 Chapter 5. Listen to me now. Are either of these passages incompatible with a pre-tribulation rapture position. My answer to that is no neither of them are incompatible with that I'm reading three commentaries that take that position.

They don't think it's incompatible, though they do make some statements occasionally that make me scratch my head like the one from Thomas Constable Bible knowledge commentary from from Dallas seminary said when it says God will will protect believers from wrath. He says because we've already been rapture and were safe in heaven.

Where'd you get that the passage is not there stuck that if that's what you believe that that's what you think.

But it ain't there that was the place to say that I don't is nothing, nothing in the passage that would indicate that, but is there anything in either of these passages is incompatible with the pre-regulation rapture position. No both of them can be interpreted in that light. In that way three commentaries to prove that one on this pretty pretty convincing. But question number four does either passage prove the pre-tribulation rapture position answer.

Again, no, neither passage certifies that position. In other words, neither of them is clear enough about that to be able to say dogmatically one way or the other. Neither of them teach a pre-tribulation rapture.

Neither of them need gate the possibility of a pre-tribulation rapture.

So my final question is which scenario fits these passages.

Best saints, rapture and continue on up to heaven to escape the seven your trip tribulation period or saints rapture and join the Lord in a huge retinue and return to earth, but they will not be will not be affected by the judgment of God that takes place them present but protected which scenario fits these two passages best and the answer is you decide I'm not really here to try to persuade you to any particular position.

I'm here to teach you what it says I'm here to point out what it doesn't say I'm here to try to help you think I'm here to try to dislodge some dogmatism that is unwarranted because things are soon to be said, that are not said, but I'm not here to persuade you one where the other study. Think decide if you come to a different decision than mine will be friends.

I'll be fine. I told you before, I don't think eschatology is something that we ought to divide over. I don't think eschatology is something that were supposed to understand all the details, but it's very interesting and very instructive and very helpful. Now listen to what you had to say and ask you questions and you can listen to what I have to say and ask me questions and hopefully in both cases, we will be faithful to encourage build up comfort one another with these words. It's pretty father, help us to know your word. Help us to believe your word help us to utilize your word for the purpose for which it is given. We pray in Jesus name, amen