Waiting with Comfort, Not Complacency

‌1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 NASB95

1 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.

Opening Prayer

Waiting

One of our favorite activities

As kids, we can't wait for Christmas

As high schoolers, we can't wait for graduation

As adults, can't wait for

this promotion

this house

this baby to get here

this baby to grow up

retirement

When are we not waiting?

Does it get easier with time?

Does technology help?

We are waiting on Jesus’s return whether we realize it or not

What do we mean by that? Let’s look at 1 Thess 5:1-11

Caution for the unbeliever

What is the day of the Lord?

1 Thessalonians 5:1–2 NASB95

1 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.

Period immediately following the rapture of the church beginning with the tribulation leading to the judgement following

The day of the Lord will come without warning to the unbelievers

1 Thessalonians 5:2–3 NASB95

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.

The world will be happy to be rid of Christians and think it’s a time of peace

2 illustrations of the suddenness of the day of the Lord

thief in the night (v2) - when you least expect it

sudden pains of childbirth (v3) - sudden, unavoidable pain

Early labor with Tyler story

Jesus’s return will take the unbelieving world by complete surprise. In addition to surprise, the destruction and pain of judgement will come upon them suddenly when Jesus returns.

Paul is reminding the Thessalonians of these truths

These are not new concepts as Paul states in verse 1

The cautionary tale presented for the unbelievers sets the contrast to what Paul says is in store for believers

Comfort for the believer

4 sources of comfort for the believer in light of Jesus’s return

1. Jesus’s return is not a surprise to believers

1 Thessalonians 5:4–6 NASB95

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.

The believers are waiting and looking for Jesus’s return, however, so the surprise is not on them, unlike the unbelievers who are asleep at the wheel (v4-6).

!!Remind distinction between Rapture and Day of the Lord!!

2. The pain and judgment is not for believers

1 Thessalonians 5:7–10 NASB95

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.

The judgement that is coming when Jesus returns is not meant for believers.

Because of salvation through Jesus Christ, we can live in confidence that we will not face the wrath of God. (v7-10)

3. Believers have hope for the dead and the living

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NASB95

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.

Hope in death (dead in Christ will rise first 1 Thess 4:16)

Hope in living (we who remain will be caught up together in the clouds 1 Thess 4:17)

4. AND SO WE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD!

1 Thessalonians 4:17 NASB95

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.

All of these truths should comfort the believer in light of Christ’s return

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB95

11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Motivation for the believer

Imagine the gospel message without the promise of Christ's return.

Jesus's second coming is an important part of the hope for the believer.

The message of Christ's death and sacrificed is completed in his second coming.

1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 NASB95

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.

The promise of Christ's return was the hope that Paul had.

It was the hope that the Thessalonians had.

It is the hope that we have today

Procrastination is not an option for Christians

In the 19th century, there was a wave of enthusiasm for prophecies predicting the actual date for the Second Coming of Christ. One such prophecy was an Adventist leader name William Miller. After studying Daniel 8, Miller predicted that Christ would return on March 21, 1842, but then revised the date to April 3, 1843. Over 3,500 of his followers jammed the Boston Advent Temple, only to be disappointed. You might have thought that the movement would have died. But it didn’t. Rather it continued to grow. Miller decided to recalculate his date for the Second Coming and soon publicized a new date - April 18, 1844. When the messiah did not show up on that date, there was again frustration and some followers left the Adventist ranks. Undeterred, Miller came up with a third date – October 22. 1844. And, surprisingly, this third date rallied his followers. They began to spread the news of the new date of the Second Coming with an enthusiasm that had not seen before. Churches that did not accept this message were denounced as agents of “Babylon.” and the devil. And - despite opposition from established, mainline religious groups, thousands of people – including many clergy – began to prepare. One account notes that “Fields were left unharvested, shops were closed, people quit their jobs, paid their debts, and freely gave away their possessions with no thought of repayment.” Huge press runs of Advent publications like The Midnight Cry warned the public that “The Time Is Short”. “Prepare to Meet Thy God!” and “The Lord is Coming!” William Miller himself began peddling white “ascension robes” to the faithful, many of whom waited for the miraculous event in freshly dug graves. But as we all know, the Second Coming did not occur.

It is not intended for believers to spend their time staring into the clouds waiting for Jesus to return

Military spouse waiting for her deployed husband to return (active waiting, taking care of kids, etc)

"Satan would like to silence this doctrine, because the hope of Christ's return is one of the greatest motivations for Christian service and sacrifice." - Dr. Thomas Constable

Let’s look at some examples from the Apostle Paul.

Some rewards now, all rewards later

1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 NASB95

19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

Paul speaks of the Thessalonians being part of his immediate and future reward

Paul understood that there was no greater service than reaching people for Jesus and discipling others

Philippians 1:21–24 NASB95

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

Paul wrestled with his desire to stay and serve or to go be with the Lord

Finally, Christ’s second coming is the crescendo of our narrative in which justice will be served and God will be glorified.

A crescendo is defined as the highest point reached in a progressive increase of intensity.

The second coming of Christ is the culmination of our entire history from creation onwards. This is the climax of the great narrative.

"Thus the return of Christ is the final argument that produces faith, the abiding confidence that inspires labor, and the ultimate victory that creates patience." - Dr. Thomas Constable

Application

During his 1960 presidential campaign, John-F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. One day in 1789, the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Quelling a clamor for immediate adjournment, Davenport rose and said, “The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought. Rather than fearing what is to come, we are to be faithful till Christ returns. Instead of fearing the dark, we’re to be lights as we watch and wait.”

Comfort and motivation

We should be both comforted and motivated by the reality of Jesus’s return. In light of this reality, we are not called to be passive, but should be motivated to invest in eternity now.

It’s never too late

Tex, saved at 55, now a little over 20 years later is fervently discipling