From Paul’s Pen – 1 & 2 Thessalonian

Today we are going to take a look at two of Paul’s letters, 1 and 2 Thessalonians. There’s a lot of good content in these letters but what sets them apart are several sections that refer to Jesus second coming. There seem to be some misunderstandings about his coming that is causing some worry and some problems in the church.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (NIV) — 13 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. 14For 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–3 (NIV) — 1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 (NIV) — 1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

There has been so much written and said about he second coming of Christ. I consider myself somewhat of an end-times minimalist. I rely more on the passages that say it will come upon us suddenly rather than trying to figure out all the details of the second coming. I think a lot of the stories we hear are speculation to some extent. Not as clear to me. But there are some things that are clear.

The second coming is going to take place

We need to be ready for it. We need to live our lives with the end on mind. Judgment will take place. Some will be rewarded for their faith and others will be punished.

2 Thessalonians 1:6–10 (NIV) — 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

The fact that it hasn’t happened yet may give is the sense that God is just ignoring sin. We wonder how he can put up with all this evil. Why hasn’t he done something yet? What is he waiting for?

2 Peter 3:3, 4, 9-12, 14–15 (NIV) — 3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

Do you think about that? We need to hear that. We need to look at our lives and if there is any unrepentant, unconfessed, willful sin in our lives we need take care of that. I think that needs to be on the forefront of our minds – am I ready?

1 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV) — 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Being prepared is not just avoiding sin but it is doing good. It’s not that I haven’t done anything wrong but it’s also about whether or not I have done what was right.

James 4:17 (NIV) — 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

The last day of the year is a time to look back – did I accomplish what I wanted to? Did I let another year just slip by and not get involved in ministry? Did I miss out on opportunities? Or was I idle?

Idleness seems to be a problem in Thessalonica:

2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NIV) — 6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.

2 Thessalonians 3:11 (NIV) — 11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.

Idleness may be the devil’s most effective weapon. Maybe he doesn’t just want to tempt you to do evil but maybe he wants you to just sit back and do nothing. When he comes back I don’t want to be found doing evil but I also don’t want to be found doing nothing! But that can be tiring. We must not give up in spite of being tired.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV) — 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV) — 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I get tired sometime but the second coming reminds me that one day the work will be over. I just need to stay with it.

Fishing with Shen in Thailand

Recently I went fishing with my son. It was at one of those stocked ponds where you are guaranteed to catch fish. And catch fish we did. Big fish. Heavy fish.

After just a short wait I hooked one and got all excited. I began reeling and reeling and reeling. This was taking me way more time and energy than I expected. This fish was not giving up easily. After a while I called out to my younger, stronger, and more experienced son and asked him to take over. I was tired. Expecting him to come to my rescue, he refused! He said, “Dad, I know you’re tired but the fish is getting tired too. Don’t give up before he does.”

You may be getting tired fighting that temptation. You may be weary doing good. But that evil force working in your life - wearing you out urging you to give up - is getting tired too.

Jesus got tired of fighting him, but he didn’t give up and after a while Satan wore out. One of the most beautiful and reassuring scriptures that helps me in my battle is after Jesus withstood those temptations of the evil one and the Bible records, “Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:11) The devil got tired and relief came in the form of divinely sent angels.

In the letter of James, we are reminded of same truth: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) The devil is persistent but he is not tireless. Don’t give up before he does.

Heeding my son’s advice, I kept after that fish, and sure enough he wore out. We netted him and pulled him out of the water. I had won the battle.

This year may have been more than you bargained for. You may be tired. You may be thinking of giving up the faith and giving in to evil. You may be thinking of just giving up. But don’t. Don’t give up before he does and someday, hopefully soon, the devil will wear out and those refreshing angels will arrive.

Let’s remind ourselves of Paul’s encouraging words:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (NIV) — 13 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. 14For 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Another year has come and gone and still no Jesus, but rest assured, he will come back and all the waiting and all the work will be worth it.