Surprise! Or Not…
Notes
Transcript
The Day of the Lord
The Day of the Lord
ILLUST:
Think of a place you have never been, but really want to go. Yes, you might need to leave Richland County…
If I told you, you get to go, what would be your first question… WHEN??
I say - “You’ll know…” How??? Description - you’ll know…
READ 1 Thess 5:1-11 (scroll slides on screen)
(We have been) COMFORTED by Hope - the certainty of the resurrection (discussed)
(Now) ENCOURAGED by the fact of believers being spared the wrath of God
“Now as to” - remember that this is part of Paul’s response to Timothy’s report
Times, epochs (signs of something to end, and to come, good thing…)
“You…know full well” - you have been taught well and correctly
This DAY OF THE LORD
Think of it this way…the time, a day, when the LORD finally intervenes
Psalmists cry “How long...? So do we…
What we all need to keep going…comfort and encouragement
Prophecy is not given to satisfy our curiosity; it is given to strengthen our faithfulness.
NOW…This Day of the Lord
1) Judgment
1) Judgment
This is the intent of the “day” mentioned here
Judgment is for all - not necessarily a bad word
Believers are judged (JSOC)
Unbelievers are judged (GWT)
The Bible word “day” - Genesis 1:5
God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
24-hour period, explain the usage - day 1 (supported by Exodus 20)
OT references of the era of judgment - the Day of the Lord
Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the Lord is coming; Surely it is near,
For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning Against everyone who is proud and lofty And against everyone who is lifted up, That he may be abased.
NT references
‘The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
Peter quotes Joel, actually
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
What’s Included in this Day of the Lord? (slide image)
Rapture - gathering together the church
Tribulation - 7 year judgment on the world
Armageddon - Physical return of Christ
1000 year reign on earth
Eternity future
2) Surprise?
2) Surprise?
“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
Like a thief - unexpected timing
Like a woman in labor - know what is coming, go ahead, deny it…
Unbelievers
Under God’s wrath during this time of judgment
They cry “peace” but refuse to embrace the grace needed for that peace
(Carrying on with life, no regard for the Lord, pride and false security rule their days)
Unbelievers will be surprised, shocked at Jesus’ return
They will be “sleeping”
Believers - rescued from the time of distress
NOT in darkness, we are of the Light
Spared God’s wrath
Not surprised when it occurs, overcome with joy
That is, not overtaken by that surprise - more like AHA!
(POINT - we do not know the day, yet when it does occur - OH YEAH!
Raise a Hallelujah!
Thieves, Drunks - typically busy at night, the time of spiritual darkness
Rapture will not occur when it is night everywhere (“like” a thief…)
Two-fold impact:
Jesus will deal with unbelievers when He literally returns to the earth
Jesus will meet believers in the air - sparing us from the wrath
Believers - guaranteed a spiritual environment with the LORD
So…
3) Our Response
3) Our Response
(The “preachy” part - you knew we’d get here)
Relax and just wait? Not quite
Not the time to “sleep” (tuning out, complacent)
That’s what the lost do…or the “Christians” in name only
Alert
Ready, aware of world and the Christian life
Paying attention to your spiritual well-being
Focused
ILLUST: Chameleons - eyes move independently, then lock on target
Honeybees - all other flowers are a blur…
Alert Christians - block out distractions that would keep them from following
Sober
Clear, self-controlled mind
State of spiritual readiness
Not about alcohol, but when you drink alcohol, you are impaired, cannot drive or see clearly, safely - senses are dulled (they ARE)
Spiritually - cannot discern the dangers and temptations if your spiritual senses are dulled
Not asleep - here, as in unaware, sleepy, not paying attention
POINT - Do not be lulled to sleep by the world which is under wrath, and lives like it
Paul references Isaiah, we also think of Ephesians 6
He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.
The Thessalonians had made great progress, spiritually
Some here have made great progress, spiritually
REM - “Excel still more…” ??
The well-equipped soldier (believer) wears a breastplate and helmet - WISE
Strengthened for the battle in front and ahead
Confident in what lies ahead, protected against the present
Focused…
BIG IDEA - Believers
Protect your “heart” - take care in what you allow in
Protect your mind - take care in what you allow to influence you
Take care of how this world affects you spiritually
Use knowledge, gain knowledge - think
And KNOW that believers are destined to be saved!
You have a choice - make up your mind
Complain about the times, the world, the politics, the church, me, your family, the neighborhood
OR
Encourage believers in Christ
We are not destined for wrath!
Jesus obtained salvation for us
He died for us!
The ENCOURAGEMENT - Believers
On account of His death on your behalf
If you:
Die physically prior to the gathering together - you will live together with HIM
Remain alive when the gathering together occurs - you will live together with HIM
The Encouraged Response
Build each other up, in this:
Live for Him, NOW
Verses 6, 8 sum it up - So then…since we are of the day!
Jesus finished His work
If you trust Him, then you have responsibility, to Him
Because (v 9)
Jesus died for you - to spare you, to save you
And He will return
QUESTIONS - CLOSE
If Jesus returns today
Will He find you awake?
Not because you figured out prophecy, or watched news, or argued about the End Times
But because you are faithfully living for Him?
Paul did not tell the Thessalonians to predict Jesus’s return
He told them to prepare for it
Live alert, live sober
Be guarded by faith and love
Be protected by the hope of salvation
And encourage others in the same
The Day of the Lord is coming
The timing is certain, even if the date is not
Terrifying to the unbeliever
For the believer, a great Day of anticipation
This is why Jesus died, to bring us home, sparing us from the wrath
This week
Stop asking “When will Jesus come?”
Instead, ask “Will He find me faithful, living for Him?”
May He find us
Awake
Alert, watching
Encouraging each other
Faithfully serving until that trumpet sounds!
