Returning

Introduction

What is a “pre-millennialist”? Premillennialism - The theological position that Christ will return prior to a thousand-year earthly reign characterized by a utopian peace. (SBC)

post-millennialist - The theological position that Christ will return after the millennium. The work of the gospel on earth is thought to lead to the utopian resolution of social ills and the achievement of millennial peace prior to Christ’s return. (Liberals)

The theological position that there will be no 1,000-year earthly reign of Christ after his second coming. It suggests that references to a millennium for the period between Christ’s ascension and second coming are figurative. (Reformed, Presbyterians)

pan-millennialist? - “It will all pan out in the end”

But…all scripture is profitable and God-breathed...

Peanuts comic

1. Warning Issued

1 Thessalonians 5:1–3 CSB

1 About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

v. 1 “times” - chronos: sequence of time

“seasons” - chairos: epoch (e.g., industrial revolution)

Paul had already taught the Thessalonians - about what?

The Day of the Lord - in the OT both “near historical judgments” and far off divine judgments. In the NT - “day of wrath, day of visitation, great day of God almighty.

Some in the OT looked mistakenly looked forward to this day, thinking it would be a time of vindication rather than judgment

“a thief in the night” - sudden, unexpected

“they say, ‘Peace and Security’ - unbelievers, those who will be accepting of Anti-Christ

2. Alertness Required

1 Thessalonians 5:4–8 CSB

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. 6 So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.

v. 4 “not in the dark” - “Believers have no part in the Day of the Lord, because they have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of light (Col 1 13).

v. 5 Children of the day - not children of the night

v. 6 so... “let us not sleep”

It is appropriate to sleep at night, but not during the day!

also “self-controlled”

asleep - “spiritual lethargy and insensitivity”

awake - watchful and soberly waiting for the Lord’s return

self-controlled - maintaining self-discipline in view of the great events to come

v. 8 “armor of faith and love” - breastplate, covered a Roman soldier from his neck to his waist and protected vital organs.

Faith - “trust in God’s promise, plan, and truth”

…goes with love. “These two graces cannot be separated; if one believes in God he will also love other people.”

“helmet of the hope of salvation” - “helmet is always associated with salvation in its future aspects (Eph 6:17). Our future salvation is guaranteed, and nothing can take it away.”

3. Future Defined

1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 CSB

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 5:9

God’s intention for them is not the wrath that will come on the earth in the day of the Lord, but the full salvation that will be theirs when the Lord returns for them in the clouds. The wrath of God referred to here clearly refers to the Tribulation; the context makes this apparent. Deliverance from that wrath is God’s appointment for believers. This temporal salvation comes through the Lord Jesus Christ just as does eternal salvation.

v. 11 “encourage one another”, “build each other up” -how?

Jesus is coming! (Lord’s prayer - Thy kingdom come)

Our suffering is temporary

We will live together with God