Oct 10, 2021. I Thessalonians 5:1-4

Posted byJohn Sanzone

Please click here for the link to the audio, and click here for the link to the video of this message. Please click here to view today’s bulletin.

THE DAY OF THE LORD.  I Thessalonians 5:1-4.  10/10/21. #11.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 [New King James Version]

1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 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. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

  1. Plain signs of the times
    1. Paul states that believers do not need to be taught about the return of Lord, for the signs of his return are obvious
      1.  Indications of end times are all around us
      1.  The Church Age = last epoch before the return
    1. The Day of the Lord mentioned in the OT (Amos 5:18-20), is a major theme in the NT (Mt. 24, 1 Ths. 2, Rev. 4-19…)
    1. The Day of the Lord covers several aspects:
      1.  1 Ths. 5, 1 Cor. 15 Christ’s return for his Church, followed by the Bema Seat Judgment for the rewards of faithful, & Marriage Supper of the Lamb
      1.  Rev. 4-15 judgment poured out on the earth
      1.  Rev. 16 Christ’s defeat of Satan & his forces at the battle of Armageddon
      1.  Mt. 25, Joel 3 judgment of the nations (75 days)
      1.  Rev. 20 Christ setting up his Millennial Kingdom
    1. The Day covers from the Rapture to Christ’s coronation
      1.  A 7 year period
      1.  After The Day = Christ’s reign, release of Satan from The Pit, The Last Battle, The Great White Throne Judgment, The Cosmic Conflagration (II Peter 3), The New Heaven & Earth created (Revelation 21), and The Glorious Eternity
    1. When Millennium begins, all that enter are believers, but as children are born, many are rebels
    1. II Timothy 3 men continually grow worse (Gen. 6)
  2. Day of false peace
    1. Paul warns that the D of L will come covertly (as a thief)
      1.  Those in Christ are not caught off guard
      1.  Those apart from Christ will be destroyed
    1. The lie of tranquility
      1.  In the end times men will proclaim peace & security, when there is none (Gen. 10)
      1.  Evil men have continually promoted making an Utopia on earth apart from God (Jeremiah 6:14, 8:11, Ezekiel 13:10-16)
    1. The Jews will experience a false peace with a treaty with the Antichrist, which he breaks after 3 and-a-half years
  3. Birthing of the Millennial Kingdom
    1. The last 3 and-a-half years of the Tribulation are traumatic
      1.  God pours out his judgment on the earth
      1.  Jn. 19:37; Zech. 12:10 the Jews will finally come to Christ (the One whom they pierced)
      1.  144,000 Jewish evangelists will span the globe, sharing the gospel
      1.  Many of those who come to Christ will be killed
    1. Mt. 24 the 2nd half of Trib. = birth pangs of the Kingdom
    1. The wicked will not escape
      1.  No one gets by with anything
      1.  Psalm 2, Habakkuk 1, when time is ripe, judgment will fall on wicked men (will be permanent)
      1.  The blood of the saints will be avenged
    1. 3 aspects of judgment to keep in mind:
      1.  We want to see immediate judgment
      1.  Everything will be brought to account
      1.  The lost will be eternally condemned (Revelation 20), while the save will lose rewards for misdeeds, but will enter heaven (I Corinthians 3:11-15)
    1. Christ’s return will not overtake believers since we are already secure in Christ (only regret: unfaithfulness)
      1.  We are not objects of God’s wrath (pre-Trib.)
      1.  II Timothy 4 reward for looking for his coming