Monthly Archives: October 2022

1 Thessalonians 5- Thief in the Night

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But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

When will Christ return? This is the million dollar question, in fact many false teachers made millions writing books false prophecies of when Jesus was actually going to return, you should throw all those books in the garbage, Jesus said “Nobody knows the day or hour” (Matt. 24:36) Don’t be deceived by false teachers, read your Bible!

The Apostle Paul describes Christ returning as a “Thief in the night”, so what does that mean? Well think about if someone breaks into your house, it usually comes at a day and time when you least expect it, it usually is an event that catches you off guard. This is what Paul is saying, Christ is going to return at a moment when you least expect him. The world will believe in a false sense of peace and safety, yet judgment is coming to the world when the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ returns

But as Paul says to the Church “You are not in the darkness” the true Church shouldn’t be caught off guard with the return of Christ, we are not in the darkness, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are the children of the light. We have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, however “let us not sleep”, the Church can’t spiritually fall asleep as the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25) half was not ready and The Lord shut the door!

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 1 Thessalonians 5:7-11

Referencing the parable of the Ten Virgins again, half were caught with their lamps empty (Matthew 25) which I believe the oil is a reference to the Holy Spirit. Half of the Church was not Born Again, therefore they were not ready for Christ. Paul warns the Church , when Christ returns “Be Sober” Where will you be when Christ returns? Will Jesus find you drunk in a bar at his return or will Christ find you living in a way worthy of his calling? We should live everyday as if Christ was going to return, this is exactly how the first century Church lived

Paul says “God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation”  Jesus dies on the cross for our sins, so we may inherit eternal life, this is our living hope, this is the promise by God Almighty. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)

Jesus is coming as a Thief in the Night, have your lamps full of the Holy Spirit, always be ready for the great blessed day when our Lord returns to take us to eternal glory, Amen!

1 Thessalonians 4- The Rapture Part 2

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For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Hebrews 9:28 says “Christ will appear a second time”, when we were talking about the return of Jesus Christ, we were not talking about multiple returns. When Jesus returns, it will be his second and final time. With that said, the Rapture and the Return of Christ are essentially the same event. When Jesus Christ returns , raises the dead and raptures the Church, this is the beginning of judgment on the world. Many people try to treat the Rapture and the Return of Christ as separate events, this does not coincide with scripture

Now for those who say “The Rapture” doctrine is man-made, the word Rapture is derived from the Latin word Rapturo, which simply means “caught up”. The Rapture is Biblical and not a man- made doctrine, this is what Paul was teaching here to the Church of Thessalonica, what is man-made are the additions that people add on to the teaching, such as the timing of the Rapture and when Christ will return

Paul lays this out very simply, The Lord (Jesus) himself shall descend from heaven. This is simply the return of Christ. The dead will rise first, all the Born Again Christians who died before the return of Christ will be resurrected at this moment. Those Born Again Christians who are still alive will be Raptured with Christ in the air. So at this moment the Church, past and present, are now with Jesus Christ. There is nothing complicated about this doctrine, it’s only humans who try to greatly confuse this teaching

Then Paul says “So shall we be forever with The Lord” (v17) Once we are Raptured we are with Christ for all eternity. The Apostle Paul tells us “We will reign with Christ” (2 Timothy 2:12) Many false teachers try to complicate the Rapture and Seconding coming of Christ teachings to sell books , but it’s not complicated, read your Bible, not false teachers

While many Christians argue and fight over the timing of the Rapture and the return of Christ, this was actually the opposite reason Paul taught us this doctrine. Paul says “Encourage one another with these words” (v18) how many people are we encouraging with the promise of the Rapture? Mostly Christians argue with each other over the rapture, some I see even disown one another as brothers and sisters. This is not conduct being led by the Holy Spirit, this is fleshly , ego driven carnal attitudes, it’s not from God

Encourage one another with the good news, Christ is coming back for his Church, when the trumpet sounds we will all be raised immortal and reign with our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen!

1 Thessalonians 4- The Rapture Part 1

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But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15

The early Church always had the expectation that Christ was going to return soon, and we as Christians should have the same mentality today, as Jesus said “Nobody knows the day or hour” (Matthew 24:36) However the Church of Thessalonica started becoming concerned, when their loved ones were passing away, and there was still no resurrection of the dead.

Paul begins his teaching with “I would not have you be ignorant or uniformed, brethren” (v13) This statement indicates Paul is going to explain an already known doctrine into greater detail. Some will say this is a new doctrine that Paul was introducing, I disagree. The return of Christ, the Rapture of the Church, ect, these were all well known by the 1rst Century Church, Paul is now going to explain all this into greater detail because the Church needs to understand God’s plan

“Concerning them who are asleep (dead) that you sorrow not” Paul is telling the Church, when your saved loved ones pass away , you don’t have to mourn their deaths like the rest of the world, because they are going to be resurrected just like Christ. Now sometimes this brings up the argument for “soul sleep”, Paul has said “To be absent from the body, is to be present with The Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8) I don’t think Paul was every teaching or supporting the idea of “soul sleep”, how would it be encouraging if your loved ones didn’t exist until the resurrection?  For me, I don’t believe the idea of “soul sleep” is compatible with the overall theology of The Bible

Paul then says “Even as others, which have no hope” Paul is talking about non-believers, unsaved people. Outside of Christ there is no hope for anyone, this is why the resurrection of Christ is the central doctrine of Christianity. As Paul said “If Christ is not risen then our faith is worthless or useless” (1 Cor. 15:17) All of our hope is in Jesus Christ, and Christ is the firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:23) meaning we who are saved, will all be risen just like Christ into a perfect and immortal body

Then Paul goes on to explain the order of the resurrection, those who are dead and already “sleep in Jesus” will be resurrected first, and then who are still alive at the return of Christ, will be resurrected second. Paul reaffirms this with his teaching to the Church of Corinth “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Cor. 15:52)

The Apostle Paul is reminding the Church, that we have a living hope in Jesus Christ our Lord, who has already defeated sin and death, Amen!

1 Thessalonians 4- Brotherly Love

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But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12

What a great message for the Church “Brotherly Love”. The Apostle Paul commended the Church for their display of love towards one another, however Paul beseeches or urges the Church to love each other even more! There is so much division and coldness in the body of Christ today, this is a message that should be preached from every pulpit

I find it ironic that Paul teaches this lesson right before he gives his teaching on the Rapture. I don’t know if that teaching caused as much division back in the 1rst century as it has today, but I can’t believe the division I see with brothers and sisters over the timing of the Rapture. It’s heartbreaking to watch and read the comments exchanged by Christians over their disagreement over a non-salvational issue.

Notice the Apostle Paul said “You yourselves are taught by God to love one another” This isn’t a suggestion or teaching by Paul, this is a commandment by Christ. Jesus said “ A new command I give to you, love one another as I loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34) To hate your brother or sister in Christ is a sin against God, we need to reconcile our differences, we need to repent and submit to Christ Jesus our Lord

So how should the Christian live their life? Paul teaches us “you should aspire or study to be quiet, to do your own business, to work with your own hands” We should strive to live in peace with everyone (Romans 12:18) We shouldn’t be trying to stir up trouble, we should mind our own business, and we should be willing to take care of yourself. I know this is easier said than done, however this is why our Christian walk is a daily walk of carry our crosses and following Christ (Matthew 16:24)

Paul says “That you may walk honestly toward them that are without” Christians should be noticeably different or separate from non-believers. People should be able to identify you as a Christian by the way your behave and live your life. We need to be good examples for non-believers and our neighbors. 

As the Apostle Paul said “Let brotherly love continue or keep loving one another as brothers and sisters “ (Hebrews 13:1) in Jesus name Amen!

1 Thessalonians 4- Sanctification Part 2

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That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 4:6-8

The Apostle Paul says “God has not called us to uncleanness or impurity but to holiness” Now when you say this to other Christians or people, they label you a “legalist” or they say “who do you think you are” this is probably the same responses Paul got back in the first century because then he goes on to say “Therefore anyone who despises or rejects this command, rejects not man but God”

We know alot of “Christians” who reject the thought of sanctification or holiness, for example there’s a famous YouTube Pastor Steven Anderson, I’m sure you have all heard or seen his tangents online, but he insists nobody needs to repent to be saved. And many “Churches” today are embracing the LGBTQ lifestyle and declaring it acceptable. These are examples of total rejection of Gods calling us to holiness 

Now the question is “How can we become holy”? We all acknowledge we are sinners (Romans 3:23) even Paul acknowledge he was a wretched sinner (Romans 7:24) and Paul called himself “Chief of all sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) So we acknowledge our sinner nature and our desperate need for Jesus Christ. So how do we get to where go wants us?

The Apostle Paul says “Who has given us his Holy Spirit” (v8) This is why Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you can’t see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3) It’s only by the Holy Spirit we can become transformed, it’s only by the Holy Spirit we can strive to be holy, its only by the Holy Spirit we can follow the path of sanctification

The Apostle Peter said “Be Holy because I (God) am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16) We as Christians are called to strive to be Holy, to be filled with the Holy Spirit,  to be sanctified with our Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul said , “Walk worthy of our calling in The Lord”(Ephesians 4:1) Repent of your sins, be baptized by the water and the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name Amen!